The Great Schism

NPR recently reported on a "Great Schism" between atheists? Is this simply overblown hype or is this something that atheists need to address? Discuss.

There is no doctrine to have a schism in! The concept is absurd.

Did they ever mention what the "schism" was about? Certainly not doctrine...perhaps in how we deal with the religious?

Schism? nah. Atheism is not a worldview, has no dogma or philosophy. I think they are blowing this way out of proportion.

herding cats.
What do you expect from a 'movement' that has as it's common idea "God doesn't exist"? Hardly anything follows from that.

Yeah, lots of disagreements, as to tactics and over things not related to our non-belief in god.

But in part, this is all good stuff - you get atheists publically arguing, and visible and out there - you've got the A movements which will attract some people to come out and other types.

I think Richard Dawkins would answer "yes" because I distinctly remember him talking about evolutionists and other atheists being angry at him for being so vocal. They were saying (paraphrased), "You're making people scared of evolution by being so vocal about atheism; people think that evolution will result in atheism."

I define the schism as those who have no belief, don't care about proofs of non-existence, simply avoid religious people as best they can, sometimes called the "nones" as in "none of the above" VS those who define their non-belief as a non-belief of deities that are currently worshipped and speak or act against actions they say are related to people having those beliefs, sometimes called "radical atheits". At the extreme of this side are those who think the way to deal with religion is to eliminate it, ethier by law or more violent means.

In the middle, I would use the term "atheist", someone who has considered religion, decided the cons outway the pros, maybe worked through arguments for and against belief, and gone with the logical choice, and accepts that the scientific method demands that there is a teeny tiny possibility that they are wrong. They are willing to accept that some aspects of culture require some temporary suspension of the laws of nature, but can still be concerned with how that can trespass on education, health and safety laws or interactions with other cultures. To put it mildly.

Hey you got your skepticism in my atheism! No you got your atheism in my skepticism. Mmmmm. Two great tastes...