They Call Him Plankeye

I lifted this quote from Vox Day’s website. I attempted commenting on it at his place, but his nifty new commenting system dispelled my brilliance into the aether, so I thought I’d reiterate it, here, for everyone’s edification (WARNING! Foul Language Ensues):

Most of us know why theists cling so pathetically to their incorrect definition of the word "atheism". And the clinging truly is pathetic-- the atheists on this group state in plain English that they simply lack a belief in God like they lack a belief in other fictional characters. Theists know that when the burden of proof is shifted where it belongs--on them, for making the outrageous assertions in question--they are thoroughly fucked. Since they realize they cannot carry out a debate honestly--and let's be honest with ourselves, none of them can--they cling to this strawman like a beloved childhood toy they can't bear to part with.

If this particular atheist looked up “Projection” in the dictionary, he’d see a picture of his own goofy face as an accompanying illustration. Of course, that’s assuming he owns a dictionary and understands how to use it—a highly dubious proposition, given the mountainous evidence to the contrary. Apparently, accusing others of one’s personal faults relieves guilt. I’ve participated in countless discussions with atheists online, and, without exception, they distorted the definitions of words, twisting them right out of their conventional meanings. They made Bill Clinton resemble George Washington during the cherry tree incident. It’s as if dissemblance is an inherent trait in the atheist personality. Sure, one can be a liar without being an atheist, but it seems one can’t manage acceptance of atheism without a toxic dose of dishonesty. “Lying is OK, as long as I’m doing the lying,” is not a proven method for winning friends or building respect. Conversely, it guarantees that people despise you as a hypocrite. It’s just more of that typical hubris so prevalent amongst the godless.

As I’ve said before, and will no doubt say again, atheism goes beyond mere unbelief. It’s a positive assertion of a negative: There is no God. The reason why we have words like “atheist” and “agnostic” is not that we love linguistic variety; these words are not synonymous. Rather, we need different words describing distinct philosophical outlooks. An atheist is not the same animal as an agnostic, as a brief perusal of Webster’s will attest. If you use these words interchangeably, you demonstrate your own ignorance or willingness to move goalposts at the drop of a hat, in service to your agenda.

If atheists want to influence their surrounding society for the better, they first must stop griping about the motes in others’ eyes, while tripping over the planks jutting from theirs. It’s worth noting that following this advice means shedding that armor of prevarication, which puts one squarely on the road to recovery from atheism. So your choices seem clear: discard atheism, or continue in your role in most people’s minds as Rat Fink of the Century. You decide.