Atheist thumper
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| − | '''Atheist thumper''' is a usually pejorative term used to describe "[[atheist fundamentalism|fundamentalist atheists]]",<ref>It is often argued that there can be no such thing as a "[[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[atheist]]" anymore than there can be a fundamentalist "Anti-[[Flying Spaghetti Monster]]ist" | + | '''Atheist thumper''' is a usually pejorative term used to describe so called "[[atheist fundamentalism|fundamentalist atheists]]",<ref>It is often argued that there can be no such thing as a "[[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[atheist]]" anymore than there can be a fundamentalist "Anti-[[Flying Spaghetti Monster]]ist".</ref> or anyone perceived as aggressively pushing their disbelief in fairy tales upon the [[faith]]ful. It is a play on the phrase "[[Bible thumper]]", which is a reference to the tendency of [[Godbotherer|holy rollers]] to thump their [[Bible]] while preaching to the faithful and heathens alike. What exactly the atheist thumper is supposed to be thumping remains undefined - a [[stereotype]] may suggest ''The Origin of Species'', but as [[evolution]] has nothing to do with [[atheism]], perhaps something by [[Jean Meslier]] or [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] would be appropriate. In more recent years, the book in question might be something like [[Richard Dawkins]]'s divisive tome ''[[The God Delusion]]''. |
As an insult, its target domain is broad, and can extend to anyone engaged in a public show of [[secular humanism]] or anyone in the insulter's eye seen to be wielding [[science]] as a weapon against their [[religion]]. | As an insult, its target domain is broad, and can extend to anyone engaged in a public show of [[secular humanism]] or anyone in the insulter's eye seen to be wielding [[science]] as a weapon against their [[religion]]. | ||
Revision as of 19:41, 12 February 2011
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Atheist thumper is a usually pejorative term used to describe so called "fundamentalist atheists",[1] or anyone perceived as aggressively pushing their disbelief in fairy tales upon the faithful. It is a play on the phrase "Bible thumper", which is a reference to the tendency of holy rollers to thump their Bible while preaching to the faithful and heathens alike. What exactly the atheist thumper is supposed to be thumping remains undefined - a stereotype may suggest The Origin of Species, but as evolution has nothing to do with atheism, perhaps something by Jean Meslier or Friedrich Nietzsche would be appropriate. In more recent years, the book in question might be something like Richard Dawkins's divisive tome The God Delusion.
As an insult, its target domain is broad, and can extend to anyone engaged in a public show of secular humanism or anyone in the insulter's eye seen to be wielding science as a weapon against their religion.
Contents |
Thumpin' atheists everyone knows
Notable individuals that have been or could be accused of being atheist thumpers include:
- Richard Dawkins wrote The God Delusion.
- Paul Zachary "PZ" Myers, famous cracker collector, appreciator of left-handed fruitbats, world's greatest lover.
- AC Grayling[2] wrote Against all Gods.
- Mao Zedong destroyed a billion peoples' "immortal" souls. Bastid!
- Karl Marx said "Religion is the opiate of the masses" (or something similar); tried to take away their drugs.
- Bertrand Russell wrote such blasphemous tracts as Why I Am Not a Christian.
- James Randi all-round troublemaking skeptic.
- Christopher Hitchens wrote god is Not GREAT.
- John "we're bigger than Jesus" Lennon tried to debauch the world's youth by exhorting them to "imagine no religion"
- Robert Ingersoll wrote The Gods; was a New Atheist before it was cool.
- Penn Jillette
- Ayn Rand, creator of Objectivism
- Friedrich Nietzsche famously declared "God is dead". Now he is, too.
Far more obscure atheist thumperers
- Edgerunner76 - RationalWiki user and professional jerkass
- Proxima Centauri - On-and-off RW user, admin of Atheism wiki
Hives of thumpery
Places they tend to congregate to organize their thumping include:
- Freedom From Religion Foundation - members brainwash their children to believe what they don't.
- (UK) national secular society - yup! we're over here too.
A joke one person likes
Perhaps "atheist Thumper" describes a famous bunny rabbit after his friend Bambi was shot. Seeing all the pain and suffering in the world, highlighted by the deer's demise, said rabbit went on to ponder at great length the problem of evil. However, this statement is unfortunately unsupported by any real "facts".
See also
External links
- If you think we are pulling your leg with this one, just google it - it's been all over the blogs for years!
Footnotes
- ↑ It is often argued that there can be no such thing as a "fundamentalist atheist" anymore than there can be a fundamentalist "Anti-Flying Spaghetti Monsterist".
- ↑ A C Grayling homepage