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Breaking News from Imaginary Backwards Land: Atheists "worship at the altar of feminism."

The Scumbag Privilege Denying r/Atheism meme.

Paul Elam has apparently become something of a comedian – though not on purpose. In his latest post on A Voice for Men, he takes on the atheist community for being too in thrall to (wait for it) feminism.

I’ll let him explain:

[T]hey are too religious. Yes, I mean that literally. For when you wipe away all the bombastic bellowing about empiricism and the strident mocking of those who choose a life of faith, what you are left with is a population of people that surrender their reason and cognition as though they were at gunpoint; that hit their knees as fast as any Catholic…to worship at the altar of feminism.

His proof? Several years ago someone at Atheist Nexus posted a link to a Men’s News Daily column of his, and – get this! – some feminists responded!

You can go here to see all the horrible things these evil cultish feminist atheists said. Like, for example:

I guess I’m a feminist, but I really like men and these are some of the things I love about them:

Protectiveness is a positive trait in men that women who want to have babies look for. We also like passion and some recklessness, but you won’t get me to admit that to my daredevil husband…..

Confidence; men usually have more of it and it is mostly a postive trait.

The ability to make decisions quickly.

Physical strength and endurance are helpful in many family situations. Ahem.

Penises. You have them, lots of us like them. I know it’s not technically a “trait”, but I had to put that in.

You can practically taste the man-hate there!

Elam, I should note, ignores that comment. No, what’s got his underpants in a wad is this comment:

The whole web site mensnewsdaily.com is a sad overreaction to the growing equality of women in society.

Evidently he’s been stewing about this remark for more than two years.

In fact, if you go and take a look at it, the discussion on Atheist Nexus wasn’t … really … all that feminist.  Yes, several people criticized Elam and mensnewsdaily as “extreme,” but one of those people also criticized radical feminists as similarly “extreme.” Some of the commenters explicitly identified themselves as feminist; others explicitly criticized feminism. Nonetheless, the discussion somehow managed to be the politest conversation about gender I’ve run across online in a long, long time.

Seriously. Go take a look at it. Then consider how Elam sums it all up:

Apparently they can’t even handle 50 years of loud mouthed arts majors without drinking the Kool-aide and going brain dead. There was scarcely a voice among them that did not wallow in the ersatz enlightenment so common to feminist ideologues.

And then he moves on to whatever this is:

Feminism, as far as ideology goes, has been very effective at using human reproductive realities to co-opt other movements. In fact, from the American Civil Rights Movement to Occupy Wall Street, feminism has progressed without paying its own way, but rather by sending women in to other social arenas and wheedling men into supporting them. The Borg would be proud if they had emotions. Resistance is Futrelle.

Ho ho! Futrelle rhymes with futile! Sort of! Lest Elam and co. become too overwhelmed with pride for this clever wordplay, I should note that some junior high schoolers beat him to the punch back in the late 70s. Or maybe it was grade schoolers. I really don’t remember.

I’m less clear about the rest of his argument about “human reproductive realities.” Apparently it’s a fancy way of saying that dudes only support feminism so they can get laid. Another highly original notion.

Elam’s other piece of evidence that feminism has taken over the atheist community? PZ Myers.

He quotes this evil athio-feminazi ideologue arguing that if male atheists want to get more women involved in the atheist community, they should:

Learn to shut up and listen. Seriously. You want women to find your organization pleasant and interesting and worth contributing to? Then don’t form panels full of men trying to figure out what women want, talking over women who try to get a word in edgewise, belittling women’s suggestions with jokes, and trying to determine how We Well-Meaning Men can give Those Women what we think they want. You are assuming an authority and presuming that it is in your power to give it to the minority, when what you should be doing is deferring to that minority and giving them your attention, letting them speak and shape your organization.

God – or, if you prefer, Imaginary Entity – forbid that male atheists actually listen to women explain why they might feel unwelcome in the mostly male (and not particularly feminist friendly) atheist community.

You really think feminism has taken over the atheist community? Take a look at Reddit’s Atheism subreddit, where, recently, a woman who recently described how she had been raped was attacked as a liar and a slut in a thread filled with rape jokes. Or go back a little further to the Elevatorgate brouhaha, where an atheist blogger who politely mentioned in a podcast that she doesn’t really like being hit on by strange men in elevators at 4 AM drew the ire of countless angry atheist dudes, including Richard Fucking Dawkins himself? (In case you want to revisit that bit of nastiness, I wrote about “Elevatorgate” in several blog posts; here are some reactions from decidedly non-feminist atheists.)

This is a movement that “worship[s] at the altar of feminism[?]” Not really seeing it, dude.

But again, congrats on the whole Futrelle/futile thing. Genius!

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Joanna
12 years ago

“Resistance is Futrelle”

Better than that fly poster, that’s for sure.

Jeff Fecke
12 years ago

PZ’s statement, by the way, is how every in-group should treat every out-group. It’s fantastic advice. That’s why it gets so much pushback from MRAs.

hellkell
hellkell
12 years ago

Oh, right, because if Elevatorgate proved anything, it’s that the atheist community is overflowing with feminists.

I guess Elam just couldn’t sit on that knot in his undies any longer. Couldn’t he find more recent things to raise his blood pressure over?

Kyrie
Kyrie
12 years ago

I feel insulted!
As an atheist, I only bow to kittens.

Quackers
Quackers
12 years ago

Ask the menz to listen to women? now that’s just going TOO FAR!!! women got the right to vote what more do they want amirite fellas?

badandfierce
12 years ago

I’m a bit surprised that actual atheist feminists didn’t come up, but I suspect he doesn’t really know about them. And also they laugh at him and his ilk when they want to take a break from pushing back against more complex, less cartoony messes like Elevatorgate’s (still continuing) aftermath and the bizarre boy’s club mentality that’s depressingly common across atheism.

Rutee Katreya
12 years ago

Once again, the MRAs talk about a movement in a way that makes it more attractive to me, but is also counterindicated by reality. Is there a word for this? I mean, I’d love it if the atheist community were solidly feminist and the government actually acted on feminist ideals, but neither is the case.

Lady Zombie
Lady Zombie
12 years ago

Elam is deluded or a fucking liar if he honestly believes that atheist communities are a hotbed for feminism. I’m an atheist and I have a huge problem with the rampant sexism in the various communities.

Yeah, the atheist community is rife with feminism. That’s why so many male atheists called Rebecca Watson a ‘cunt’ when she uttered those dreaded 4 words, “Guys, don’t do that.”

At least religious people have an excuse. Their god buddy tells them it’s okay to view women as lesser creatures than men. Atheists have no excuse.

So sorry you’re disappointed that the atheist community hasn’t told us atheist women to shut our big fat yaps and slink back in the kitchen. Maybe you should go to a ReasonFest and host a panel. I’m sure it’ll go over great!

Asshat.

badandfierce
12 years ago

Quick amendment to my above comment: Should have said “actual FEMALE atheist feminists.” PZ is certainly a feminist, but being a mangina chromosome-traitor and all, MRA’s probably react differently to him than to, say, Greta Christina or Jen McCreight.

Men's Rights Activist Lieutenant
Men's Rights Activist Lieutenant
12 years ago

PZ Myers really is a misandrist, though. He’s just a jerk. I don’t really have any strong feelings toward him, but he’s an arrogant jackass.

Rutee Katreya
12 years ago

I’m a bit surprised that actual atheist feminists didn’t come up, but I suspect he doesn’t really know about them. And also they laugh at him and his ilk when they want to take a break from pushing back against more complex, less cartoony messes like Elevatorgate’s (still continuing) aftermath and the bizarre boy’s club mentality that’s depressingly common across atheism.

Well, PZ is a feminist, but no female feminists really came up at least. You’d think we’d at least have Rebecca Watson namedropped or something.

Men's Rights Activist Lieutenant
Men's Rights Activist Lieutenant
12 years ago

Doesn’t he teach Biology 101 at podunk dipshit university? Whoa there, don’t strain yourself, PZ.

Caraz
Caraz
12 years ago

I think it’s worth pointing out that ‘resistance is Futrelle’ was included in our make shit up about David Futrelle day that lasted several days.

Even when Elam tries to be clever he’s beaten to the punchline…

Kendra, the bionic mommy
Kendra, the bionic mommy
12 years ago

I’m laughing so hard at Elam’s assertion that atheist communities are full of feminists. I wish. Elam could find a way to say that sammich jokes are feminist. “See? These wonderful men think you’re good enough of a cook to make sandwiches for them. Only a misandrist would take offense to such a great compliment!”

Men's Rights Activist Lieutenant
Men's Rights Activist Lieutenant
12 years ago

Sometimes I fantasize about becoming a famous something just so I can pointedly snub people like PZ and have it actually mean something to them.

blitzgal
12 years ago

Oh, right, because if Elevatorgate proved anything, it’s that the atheist community is overflowing with feminists.

THANK YOU! This was the exact example I was going to provide, as well as the sixteen year old self-identified atheist girl who posted a picture of herself with her Christmas gift only to be deluged with “suck my dick” and “I’d hit that” comments.

mythago
12 years ago

It’s like that old joke about the Jew reading Der Sturmer.

katz
12 years ago

Once again, the MRAs talk about a movement in a way that makes it more attractive to me, but is also counterindicated by reality. Is there a word for this?

Big Gay Disney World, IIRC.

Holly Pervocracy
12 years ago

It’s like that old joke about the Jew reading Der Sturmer.

It really is. Wow, women and children enjoy excellent social services, equality has long since been achieved, and feminism is widespread in atheism too! I’m so happy about this world I live in!

Unfortunately in the real world (trigger warning for link),
some atheists aren’t so amazing.

Tabby Lavalamp
Tabby Lavalamp
12 years ago

There is no current brouhaha in the atheist community where many men (and a few women) are falling over themselves to defend Penn Jillette’s use of the word “cunt” when talking about a female writer. No-siree. Not at all. Nothing to see here folks, the atheist community is a feminist utopia.

katz
12 years ago

Or what was the other one? Something about a country-wide rave?

M Dubz
M Dubz
12 years ago

@ Lady Zombie- re: misogyny in theists vs. atheists.

The problem is, I think, that many atheists break away from belief in God without breaking away from the rife misogyny and other problematic attitudes that can make religion so poisonous (and I totally own that religion can be poisonous, as a religious person). They still get to be TOTALLY PRIVILEGED DUDES with the added bonus of looking down on people’s wordviews that they deem “illogical.”

I feel like the feminist theologians and feminist atheists need to hang out more. The more we coordinate the voices yelling against kyriarchal asshattery, the better.

Lady Zombie
Lady Zombie
12 years ago

Not that he is representative of the atheist community (thank fuck for that), but he has a large fanbase, is an outspoken atheist, and most recently has developed a bit of an MRA following.

May I present the bloated TheAmazingAtheist. On ShitRedditSays, we have this lovely offering by TAA. He goes by the name terroja.

“I will make you a rape victim if you don’t fuck off.”

Link text

Bravo, TJ. Keep it classy, shitheel. But there you go, Paulie boy. A feminist haven!

blitzgal
12 years ago

And of course we’re currently going through an internet argument with Penn Jillette and his wife about why it’s not at all sexist in any way to call a woman a cunt — and furthermore, that it’s not at all a complete overreaction to said woman’s rather mild article mocking the Super Bowl commercials. With atheist friends like these, who needs enemies?

PZ Myers
12 years ago

“evil athio-feminazi ideologue” must go on my CV now.

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