Internet Atheism

This blog is based on some general observations of the new atheist movement on the internet, which I've followed for a few years. 

The first thing about this movement is that a significant proportion of its presence is online and as such brings aboard many of the negatives of an online based community. 

Internet atheism brings aboard aspects of internet culture - the anonymity, the trolling, the adhominem, liberal use of the strawman, and a general lack of substance. The whole meme culture of sites like reddit fuel this brand of atheism. A brand of atheism characterised by abrasiveness and general social ineptitude and a tendency to think that Richard Dawkins is a good philosopher.

Far from being intellectual it relies on catch phrasing and ideas developed in a vacuum. There is a pretense of skepticism and rational thought that is not even there in many cases. People rally around celebrity atheists on sites like freethoughtblogs and youtube, particularly those who like to give religion a good bashing, whilst often avoiding dealing with the issues in a honest and meaningful manner.

Besides the fact that cutting and pasting insults against a being you insist does not exist is not indicative of mental and social health, for all its bluster the new atheism has failed to demonstrate their charge and failed to adequately rebut the arguments of those such as William Lane Craig, who make a strong case that faith is reasonable.

That which has fostered an atheist community has created something by its nature sure to dwindle. Making lots of noise on the internet has limited possibilities. Its not something that can be sustained, especially in the face of the resurgence of apologetics and Christian philosophy and the fact that the internet brand of atheism doesn't translate well to the real world.