Quote:
Originally Posted by peter12
But the term, militant, is simply used to describe a behaviour. You wouldn't deny that some atheists are more militant than others?
|
Militant is such a bad word in this case, passionate, fed up is more like the truth. No atheist is going to kill you over a belief, blow up buildings, or any such nonsense.
For thousands of years the truly militant have been religious leaders who speak loudly, rudely, and aggressively to anyone who don't share their viewpoint.
Even Dawkins isn't even close to militant, as much as he's very firm and not trying to be the longstanding closet type atheist who tries the friendly approach.
Certainly the religious don't try the friendly approach to atheism, and now that we are a vocal minority and they don't like it; they resort to calling us fundamentalists, militants, zealots, 'as bad as any religion,' etc..
So because some of us are blunt, feel passionately about the need to have the debate in public; its not even close to being a militant. We are reasonable people, we live by logic and reason and not absolutism and dogma.
So yes, militant is the worst word you could use.
Now if you called Pat Robertson militant, we could agree
