I think it would be especially helpful for some of the other prominent New Atheists to try toning down their rhetoric against their “accomodationist” critics. On several of their blogs, I have read posters accusing some of these critics – including myself, Nick Matzke, Roger Stanyard and Dale Husband, among others – as those in dire need of mental health treatment.

And I think it would also be helpful for many of those labelled accomodationists to tone down their rhetoric.

See what I did there? It’s all the same, and if both ‘sides’ don’t agree that they should do the same, it will continue to be polarized as it is now. There is actually, as noted in other posts here, a range…spectrum if you will, of opinions on the best strategy.

I personally, find the majority of those labelled as ‘new atheists’ to be somewhat in the middle of the spectrum, i.e. those who prefer a louder, more aggressive stance for themselves, but acknowledge that there is room for other, less aggressive and dare I say, accommodating, views. Even PZ falls into this category, and you can find many instances of him saying so.

Here’s the rub, though. Many, or at least the loudest, or those saying that religion and science can exist quite happily together, go significantly beyond that into realms that Greg has pointed out above are quite fallacious. In addition, those same people suddenly stop espousing their friendly inviting views when confronted, even by distant proxy of a blog post on some else’s website, with views that are different than theirs.

As with many things, it’s the hypocrisy that makes it so hard to resist tearing into them. And Kwok, you are clearly one of the worst in both the dishonest and hypocritical camps.

I don’t agree with much of Laden and others blog, but at least they are (seemingly to me, at least) consistent and lacking in hypocrisy.

If you can post that addendum (@ 72) there then I think you’d find me virtually in agreement with what you posted.

An interesting post, but I disagree with some of your observations, but respectfully, with this being the most noteable:

“This is the point where I tell you to drop the word ‘but’ from your vocabulary. Atheists, even highly annoying ones (whichever set that may be for you), have made major accomplishments in the past couple of decades. Best-selling books, wide blog readerships, social mobilization for political action, communities that support out atheists and those who have left religious communities, successful events at the regional to international level, cogent social criticism, historical scholarship, increased visibility of abuses of power despite a hobbled press.”

I think your point isn’t exclusive to atheists. For example, I can cite similar success by a noted agnostic, astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson, or by another physicist who is quite sympathetic to faith; Brian Greene. If one were to use popularity as an important criterion, then I think it could be argued persuasively that both Tyson and Greene have been far more popular than virtually every atheist, with the possible exception of Dawkins.

I am certain that if Greg Laden thought that Rational Wiki entry on me was an issue, then he wouldn’t allow me to post here. Moreover, he was the first one to wish me a happy birthday back in January at Facebook.

Thanks for proving my point and that entry was written by some rabid New Atheist acolytes of several prominent New Atheist bloggers. I pointed it out to Massimo Pigliucci once, and he just laughed it off, telling me “Congratulations, you’re famous.” Another frequent blogger, Dale Husband, regards that as a juvenile kindergarten exercise that ought to be removed.

I wouldn’t feel the need to “go after one side” were it not for certain attitudes and behaviors that I see all too common from that side; ones which I noted earlier this morning. I think we can have reasonable disagreements without accusing someone of being in dire need of mental health treatment, which I have read all too often from certain zealous New Atheist posters elsewhere online.