Atheism And Leadership

From Conservapedia
Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins lost a significant amount of influence after his Elevatorgate scandal. See: Richard Dawkins' loss of influence

A major hurdle for atheist leaders and the atheist movement as a whole, is the apathy of most atheists when it comes to promoting atheism (see: Atheism and apathy).

Numerous atheists have declared that the "atheist movement is dead" or that it is dying (see: Decline of the atheist movement)[1]

In addition, the leadership status of prominent atheists/agnostics in the secular community at this present juncture is increasingly transient due to:

1. Atheist infighting (see: Atheist factions). See also: Atheism and women and Atheism and sexism and Western atheism and race

A recent example of the dissension within the atheist community is Richard Dawkins' loss of influence in the atheist community post subsequent to the Elevatorgate controversy (see: Richard Dawkins' loss of influence). Another example of internal dissension affecting an atheist leader is Paul Kurtz, the father of secular humanism, who left no significant legacy after he was stripped his leadership position.[2]

2. Fiscal mismanagement is common within atheist organizations (see: Atheist organizations and scandals). Recently, there has been a significant decline in the donations to major atheist organizations (see: Atheist organizations and fundraising)

3. The decline of liberal media market share (more difficult to be a celebrity atheist). See: Atheism and public relations

4. A loss of confidence within the atheist community. Currently, there is low morale within much of the atheist movement.(See: Decline of the atheist movement and Loss of confidence within the atheist population).

The British academic and agnostic Eric Kaufmann recently wrote, "Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence."[3]

5. The decline of global atheism (see: Global atheism statistics).

6. The secularization rate being zero in former areas of influence such as Protestant Europe and France. (see: Decline of atheism and Atheist factions).[4]

7. New Atheism failing (see also:Richard Dawkins' loss of influence)

Contents

Atheistic communism, mass murder and sociopathic leaders[edit]

Joseph Stalin's atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people.

See also: Atheistic communism, mass murder and sociopathic leaders and Atheism and human rights violations and Atheism and sociopathy

Historically, atheism has generally been an integral part of communist ideology (see: Atheism and communism).

According to the University of Cambridge, historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power."[5]

In a Washington Post article entitled Lessons from a century of communism Ilya Somin wrote:

“ Today is the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik seizure of power, which led to the establishment of a communist regime in Russia and eventually in many other nations around the world. It is an appropriate time to remember the vast tide of oppression, tyranny, and mass murder that communist regimes unleashed upon the world. While historians and others have documented numerous communist atrocities, much of the public remains unaware of their enormous scale. It is also a good time to consider what lessons we can learn from this horrendous history.

Collectively, communist states killed as many as 100 million people, more than all other repressive regimes combined during the same time period...

There is no doubt communist governments had more than their share of cruel and even sociopathic leaders.[6]

”

For more information, please see: Atheistic communism, mass murder and sociopathic leaders and Atheism and human rights violations

Skepticism about China remaining a global power[edit]

See also: Skepticism about China remaining a global power

China faces a number of serious intractable problems. A number of leading geopolitical analysts are pessimistic about China's remaining a global power (See: Skepticism about China remaining a global power). The American geopolitical analyst and author Peter Zeihan said in 2022, "I do not worry about China at all... I don't think that there is going to be a China for much longer."[7]

China has state atheism and the fall of the Chinese Communist Party due to economic and other societal problems would cause a large drop in the global atheist population (See: Future of atheism in China and China and atheism and Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union).

Chinese Communist Party and corruption[edit]

See also: Chinese Communist Party and corruption

China, which has state atheism, has the largest atheist population in the world and a large percentage of the Chinese are atheists (see: China and atheism).

A requirement of being in the Chinese Communist Party is being an atheist and many of the elite Chinese government officials are wealthy and often corrupt (See: 'One million' Chinese officials punished for corruption, BBC, 2016).[8]

For more information, please see: Chinese Communist Party and corruption

2023 resignation of American Atheists board members who were dogged by misconduct allegations[edit]

See also: Atheist organizations and scandals and Atheist leaders and immoral relationships and Atheist scandals

In 2023, Mandisa Thomas resigned as a board member of the American Atheists organization amidst being accused of violating Black Nonbelievers’ code of conduct during the group’s annual SeaCon cruise and conference held on a Thanksgiving weekend. [9]

On February 1, 2023 the Religious News Service reported in an article entitled American Atheists board members exit, dogged by misconduct allegations:

“ Two board members of American Atheists, one of the nation’s best-known atheist advocacy organizations, resigned in the past month after ethical concerns were raised about their actions at conferences for nonbelievers.

Mandisa Thomas, president of Black Nonbelievers Inc., gave up her seat on the board of American Atheists on on Jan. 11, weeks after she was accused of violating Black Nonbelievers’ code of conduct during the group’s annual SeaCon cruise and conference held Thanksgiving weekend.

After the allegations became public, Thomas told Religion News Service that she had mishandled a “personal situation” during the conference and had apologized.

The ethics committee of the American Atheists board said in December it was aware of the matter but the organization made no mention of an ethics inquiry when Thomas resigned from the board....

Days later, P. Andrew Torrez, an attorney and co-host of the popular Opening Arguments podcast, sent an email to his fellow American Atheists board members announcing that he too was stepping down from the board...

At the time he resigned, Torrez had not been made aware that an ethics complaint had been filed with the board by an activist working with several women who accused him of sexual harassment, he told RNS. The women say Torrez sent them text messages, which they have shared with RNS, that they say made them uncomfortable.

The messages, which date from 2017 to 2022, appear to show Torrez, who is married, commenting on the appearance of several fans of the show, then apologizing when the fans push back against him, saying they are not interested.[10]

”

On December 20, 2022, the Religion News Service reported:

“ The annual SeaCon cruise and conference is meant to be a high point of the year for members of Black Nonbelievers Inc., a nonprofit that offers community to Black Americans who live “free of religion.”

However, this year’s conference, held from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, has left a rift in the organization, with leaders at most of the group’s local chapters quitting and raising questions about one of the most prominent Black atheists in the country.

In a statement dated Dec. 5, leaders from five chapters — in New York; Detroit; Portland, Ore.; Louisville, Ky.; and Washington, D.C. — said they were cutting ties with Black Nonbelievers and its president, Mandisa Thomas.

The letter mentioned “events that culminated horribly” during the cruise but did not give specifics.

“As leaders, we should take pride in modeling and rewarding the right way to treat people who follow our example,” they wrote. “While certain behaviors may be acceptable even as key goals are met, we conclude that to permit unethical behavior(s) behind the scenes will lead — and is leading — to a loss of good people and reputation for the organization that we love and spent ten years to build.”

Before the letter from chapter leaders was made public, Black Nonbelievers had 8 local chapters, though some were dormant.[11]

”

Sexual assault allegations against David Silverman and Lawrence Krauss in 2018[edit]

See also: Atheism and sexism and Firing of David Silverman from the American Atheists organization

David Silverman served as the President of the American Atheists organization. [12] In 2018, Silverman was fired due to allegations of financial conflicts and sexual assault.[13] Silverman, through his lawyer, denies any wrongdoing and indicates he has never had a non-consensual sexual encounter.[14] In his book, Fighting God, Silverman indicates that he is a “proud feminist.”[15] In 2018, the atheist Lawrence Krauss also faced sexual assault allegations.[16]

Atheist PZ Myers on the atheist movement and leadership/other positions[edit]

See also: Atheist cults and Atheism and groupthink

In 2018, the atheist PZ Myers wrote: "I noticed the “troubling turn” about 8 years ago, as more and more atheists began to rally around two themes: the Glorious Leaders who were fonts of inarguable Reason & Logic, and a definition of atheism that exempted them from all social responsibility or ethical obligation."[17][18]

Myers also wrote: "... the optimism is fading and is being consumed by a new anger at the incompetence and betrayal of the self-appointed atheist leadership."[19]

PZ Myers said about the atheist Seth Andrews:

“ Here is another problem though with the atheist movement. That we tend to inflate people beyond their capacity.

So Seth Andrews, he's got really good voice. OK, I will admit that. Ah, his position ought to be, you know, reading out transcripts of things that people more qualified, more intelligent than he is have written out. Ah, but no, he's now an atheist thought leader and I have heard anything from him that I have found particularly thoughtful.[20]

”

The current lack of a leading spokesperson for atheism in the Western World[edit]

See also: Decline of militant atheism in the West

In his 2004 book The Real Face of Atheism, the Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias wrote, "Atheism has never lacked a spokesperson".[21]

New Atheism is a form of militant atheism in terms of its rhetoric. Since the new atheist Richard Dawkins ' book The God Delusion in 2006, Dawkins' has been the face of atheism in the Western World. Post the Elevatorgate incident in July 2011, Dawkins had a major loss of influence however (see: Richard Dawkins' loss of influence).

In 2007, Dr. Theo Hobson wrote that atheism is "pretentious and cowardly".[22] See also: Atheism and cowardice

Theo Hobson wrote in The Spectator in 2013:

“ The atheist spring that began just over a decade ago is over, thank God. Richard Dawkins is now seen by many, even many non-believers, as a joke figure...

Atheism is still with us. But the movement that threatened to form has petered out. Crucially, atheism’s younger advocates are reluctant to compete for the role of Dawkins’s disciple. They are more likely to bemoan the new atheist approach and call for large injections of nuance. A good example is the pop-philosopher Julian Baggini. He is a stalwart atheist who likes a bit of a scrap with believers, but he’s also able to admit that religion has its virtues, that humanism needs to learn from it. For example, he has observed that a sense of gratitude is problematically lacking in secular culture, and suggested that humanists should consider ritual practices such as fasting.[23]

”

YouTube atheist Thunderfoot said about the atheist movement after Reason Rally 2016 had a very low turnout:

“ I'm not sure there is anything in this movement worth saving. Hitchens is dead. Dawkins simply doesn't have the energy for this sort of thing anymore. Harris went his own way. And Dennett just kind of blended into the background. So what do you think when the largest gathering of the nonreligious in history pulls in... I don't know. Maybe 2,000 people. Is there anything worth saving?[24] ”

In addition, in recent times, there have been some notable instances of atheists being reluctant to debate (see: Atheism and cowardice and Atheism and debate).

Prominent atheists admitting that fellow prominent atheists are arrogant[edit]

See also: Atheism and arrogance and Atheist movement

PZ Myers

John W. Loftus, one of the more prominent atheists in the atheist community, cites John Draper (a Canadian atheist blogger), saying about prominent atheist PZ Myers: "According to PZ you either agree with him or you are the scum of the earth. If anyone is giving atheists a bad reputation it's PZ - he shows no tolerance or respect for anyone other than himself."[25]

PZ Myers wrote: "But see, this is why the atheist movement can’t have leaders. The ones we’ve got, informally, all seem to think they’re like gods and popes, infallible and unquestionable, and that normal, healthy, productive criticism within the movement is all a conspiracy to dethrone them."[26]

Cultish characteristics of the New Atheism movement[edit]

Please see:

Token efforts to extend racial minorities leadership positions in atheist organizations[edit]

On October 9, 2014, the atheist Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson declared:

“ Despite frequent tokenistic calls for “diversity” within the “movement,” there are virtually no people of color in executive management positions in any of the major secular, atheist, or Humanist organizations —notable exceptions being Debbie Goddard of Center for Inquiry and Maggie Ardiente of American Humanist Association. People of color are constantly bombarded with claims of separatism, reverse discrimination, and “self-segregation” when they point to the absence of social justice, anti-racist community organizing, coalition-building, and visibility among secular organizations. After the Washington Post article, the vitriol and denialism among the “We are All Africans” white atheists was off the chain. This illustrates yet again that sticking a few of us on conference panels or secular boards is nothing but cheap appeasement.[27] ”

Racial minority atheists vs. prominent, white atheist lead organizations[edit]

Sikivu Hutchinson speaking ath the Center for Inquiry.

See also: Western atheism and race

Atheist Sikivu Hutchinson wrote:

“ The recent merger of the secular organization Center for Inquiry (CFI) and the Richard Dawkins Foundation (RDF) has been dubbed atheism's supergroup moment. Acknowledging the two organizations' outsized presence in the atheist world, Religion News Service acidly declared it a "royal wedding". The partnership, which gives Richard Dawkins a seat on the CFI board, smacks of a vindication of Dawkins' toxic, reactionary brand of damn-all-them-culturally-backward-Western-values-hating- Muslims New Atheism. As one of the most prominent global secular organizations, CFI's all-white board looks right at home with RDF's lily white board and staff.

Meanwhile, atheists and humanists of color have been going against the white grain to address issues that much of organized atheism and humanism are resistant if not outright hostile to.[28]

”

The secular humanist document Human Manifesto II, which was written in 1973 by Paul Kurtz and Edwin H. Wilson, decried racism and it declared:

“ The beginnings of police states, even in democratic societies, widespread government espionage, and other abuses of power by military, political, and industrial elites, and the continuance of unyielding racism, all present a different and difficult social outlook. In various societies, the demands of women and minority groups for equal rights effectively challenge our generation.[29] ”

RationalWiki/RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation[edit]

See: RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation

Atheist leaders and misogyny[edit]

See also: Atheism and women and Atheism and sexism

James Randi is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:

“ But I no longer identify with this community of benevolent know-it-alls, because not all of them are the best folks in the world. In fact, a good percentage of the top ten worst humans I’ve ever met are prominent members of the skeptics’ club. They’re dishonest, mean-spirited, narcissistic, misogynistic. Pick a personality flaw, and I can probably point you to someone who epitomizes it. And that person has probably had a speaking slot at a major skeptical conference.

I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued.[30]

”

Firing of David Silverman ex-president of American Atheists[edit]

See also: Firing of David Silverman from the American Atheists organization and Atheist organizations and scandals and Atheist feminism and Atheist hypocrisy

David Silverman served as the President of the American Atheists organization. [31] Silverman was fired due to allegations of financial conflicts and sexual assault.[32] Silverman, through his lawyer, denies any wrong doing and indicates he has never had a non-consensual sexual encounter.[33] See: Firing of David Silverman from the American Atheists organization

In his book, Fighting God, Silverman indicates that he is a “proud feminist”.[34]

Concerning Silverman's scandals and subsequent firing, atheist and feminist PZ Myers said, "It's a terrible day for organized atheism."[35] Myers spent $1200 for a lifetime membership with American Atheists because he was impressed by the way Silverman went after the “anti-feminist” atheists.[36] See also: Decline of the atheist movement

American Atheist replacement of David Silverman. Commentary by atheist Ed Brayton[edit]

See also: Atheism and sexism and Western atheism and race

When David Siverman was replaced by Nick Fish who is also a white male, the atheist Ed Brayton wrote:

“ In the wake of the firing of David Silverman after allegations of sexual and financial misconduct, American Atheists has named Nick Fish, formerly the national program director for the group, as the new president to replace him. I find this news to be quite disappointing and it has nothing to do with Fish personally.

...I’m disappointed that they didn’t take the opportunity to appoint a woman to lead the group. Especially in the wake of Silverman’s actions that led to his downfall, I think that would have sent a very important message. More than that, it would have helped bring a perspective that is far too often ignored, dismissed and even denigrated within the broad atheist community.

We need more women in positions of leadership, and more minorities as well. We need to stop being a community led mostly by old white men like me.[37]

”

Atheist feminists/progressive atheists attempting to get Atheist Alliance International to fire David Silverman[edit]

See also: Atheist feminism

In October 2019, David Silverman was hired to be the Executive Director of Atheist Alliance International.[38]

There are atheist feminists/progressive atheists attempting to get Atheist Alliance International to fire David Silverman.[39]

For further details, please see:

David Silverman on post 9/11 atheist leaders of atheist organizations[edit]

David Silverman said post 9/11 when atheism experienced a surge, there were a lot of unqualified/inexperienced leaders who were hired that subsequently performed poorly.[40]

Many atheists see atheist leaders and an oxymoron[edit]

A significant portion of atheists believe an atheist movement and atheist leadership is pointless. In short, they see no point to organized atheism or organized religion.

The atheist François Tremblay pointed out that atheists: are not a coherent/concerted group, atheism has no proof and evidence for its claim that there is no God and that atheism is not an inspiring ideology. As a result of these attributes of atheism and the atheist population, Tremblay indicated that endeavoring to rally atheists is like trying to herd cats.[41]

Chinese communist leaders are panicking about the rapid growth of Christianity[edit]

Communist China has the world's largest atheist population and China's atheist leaders are panicking about the explosive growth of Christianity in their country.[42]

Currently, global atheism is in decline in terms of its adherents and global market share and the decline of atheism is China is expected to play a major role in terms of 21st global desecularization (see: East Asia and global desecularization).

RationalWiki and its poor leadership[edit]

See also: Atheism and social skills and Internet atheism

RationalWiki is a politically left-leaning website that skews towards atheism/agnosticism in terms of its worldview. RationalWiki has a small fraction of the web traffic it had in the beginning part of 2019 (see: RationalWiki and web traffic).

RationalWiki has a history of having poor leadership (see: RationalWiki and its poor leadership).

On July 14, 2022, during the election process for the RationalMedia Foundation board of directors, RationalWiki users admitted that RationalWikians were offering weak candidates so far.[43]

Atheist leaders and immoral relationships[edit]

See also: Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships and Atheism and women and Atheism and rape

An essay by the Christian apologist Dr. James Spiegel describes Bertrand Russell as a "misogynistic and a serial adulterer; a chronic seducer of women, especially very young women, even in his old age."[44]

On June 14, 2012, an article entitled Atheist leaders and immoral relationships declared:

“ The website Submitted to a Candid World is written by an agnostic and the website was praised by the prominent atheist PZ Myers in the past.

On April 20, 2012 an article appeared in Submitted to a Candid World which declared:

'Several of my close friends — coincidentally, all extremely intelligent, math/science oriented, and leaders in the freethought/rationality/atheist communities — find themselves practicing and promoting an arrangement they term “polyamory.” Essentially, this describes a post-jealousy, highly rationalized state where participants date each other, and several others simultaneously...

In the ideal polyamorous relationship, one man is seriously “dating” several women, each of whom is in turn dating several men.'[45]

”

The article Atheist leaders and immoral relationships further declares:

“ Several leaders of the "freethought"/atheist community are practicing and promoting polyamory. This is not going to help the poor reputation that atheism already has among the public. The Mormons promoted bigamy for a while and later retracted their position due to the public outrage.

Of course, atheist leaders engaging in and promoting practices such as polyamory is one of the many reasons why atheism has such a bad reputation in the world.[46]

”

Celebrity atheists[edit]

See: Celebrity atheists

Quotes[edit]

See also: Atheism quotes

"Atheism, I think, is a weird movement. I don't know if we can even call it a movement. To have a movement, you must have followers. And atheists are not followers." - Dan Barker, co-founder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation[47]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

A number of articles have been written about the poor leadership skills within the atheist community and its contributory effect on the decline of atheism:

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Paul Kurtz: Another atheist failure who left no legacy
  3. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth
  4. ↑ Brendan O'Neill, The Telegraph, How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet, August 14th, 2013
  5. ↑ Investigating atheism: Marxism. University of Cambridge (2008). Retrieved on July 17, 2014. “The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.”
  6. ↑ Lessons from a century of communism by Ilya Somin, Washington Post
  7. ↑ Energy at the End of the World | Part 4 | Demographics | Peter Zeihan
  8. ↑ Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society, International Business Times
  9. ↑ American Atheists board members exit, dogged by misconduct allegations, Religious News Service 2023
  10. ↑ American Atheists board members exit, dogged by misconduct allegations, Religious News Service 2023
  11. ↑ Black atheist leaders quit Black Nonbelievers over alleged misconduct by president
  12. ↑ http://www.atheists.org/about/Board_of_Directors
  13. ↑ This Firebrand Atheist Was Just Fired After Allegations Of Financial Conflicts And Sexual Assault
  14. ↑ American Atheists President David Silverman Fired After Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Christian Post, 2018
  15. ↑ David Silverman was a “Proud Feminist”
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ Get out of my head, Eiynah! by PZ Myers
  18. ↑ A shambolic atheist community faces some tough choices by Denyse O'Leary
  19. ↑ The Atheist Disillusionment by PZ Myers, September 27, 2014
  20. ↑ Seth Andrews Gaslights His Critics: w/ PZ Myers & Kristi Winters
  21. ↑ The Real Face of Atheism by Ravi Zacharias, page 23 (paperback)
  22. ↑ Atheism is pretentious and cowardly by Dr. Theo Hobson
  23. ↑ Richard Dawkins has lost: meet the new new atheists by Theo Hobson
  24. ↑ Even atheists bash 'Reason Rally'
  25. ↑ Can PZ Myers Change His Ways? Should He? By John W. Loftus at 7/30/2012
  26. ↑ The delicate ego of Mr Michael Shermer by PZ Myers, 16 January 2013
  27. ↑ Atheism and social justice: Sikivu Hutchinson on the first People of Color Beyond Faith conference, Chris Stedman, Religious Service News, Oct 9, 2014
  28. ↑ #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice by Sikivu Hutchinson
  29. ↑ Humanist Manifesto II
  30. ↑ Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). "When will this situation improve?". Freethoughtblogs.com/Pharyngula.
  31. ↑ http://www.atheists.org/about/Board_of_Directors
  32. ↑ This Firebrand Atheist Was Just Fired After Allegations Of Financial Conflicts And Sexual Assault
  33. ↑ American Atheists President David Silverman Fired After Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Christian Post, 2018
  34. ↑ David Silverman was a “Proud Feminist”
  35. ↑ David Silverman fired from American Atheists by PZ Myers
  36. ↑ David Silverman was a “Proud Feminist”
  37. ↑ Nick Fish is New Leader of American Atheists, Ed Brayton, 2018
  38. ↑ David P. Silverman Appointed Executive Director
  39. ↑ David Silverman (Former President of American Atheist) talks to us about allegations against him.
  40. ↑ Our Disharmony w/ David Silverman & the "Atheist Movement"
  41. ↑ Herding Cats: Why Atheism Must Lose by François Tremblay
  42. ↑ China's atheist leaders and intellectuals are panicking about the rapid growth of Christianity in China
  43. ↑ RationalWiki users admit the election for its Board of Trustees is offering weak candidates so far, Examining Atheism blog, July 14, 2022
  44. ↑ The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief By James Spiegel, page 72, Moody Publishers, 2010
  45. ↑ Atheist leaders and immoral relationships
  46. ↑ Atheist leaders and immoral relationships
  47. ↑ Dan Barker "Outspoken Atheists: Help or Hindrance to the Secular Movement?"

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