Part of the pain of managed the Atheist Blogroll is the occasional Christian (and Islamic) blogger who tries to sneak on. To combat this, I read several posts from each blog. I find one or two stealth Christian blogs each month. I don’t know why they want on, but they sure are persistent.
I’ve let one agnostic on the blogroll who built a good case for his position. He believes there may be a god, but he is not religious and is firmly agnostic. We talked for a few weeks before I let him on. I read his blog weekly. I think I made the right choice.
I received an email from Jonathan Weyer of The Thomas Society requesting membership.
I would like my blog, The Thomas Society (www.thomas2026.wordpress.com) to join the atheist blog roll. But, before I get too far into it, I should tell you that I'm a Christian minister at Ohio State. However, our blog has Christian and atheist posters on it. So, I know we don't strictly meet the qualifications in this regard, but we have a high degree of credibility in the atheist community, including myself being on the Secular Student Alliance's speaker's bureau.
Here are some links to prove that:
http://www.secularstudents.org/ (look up the speaker's bureau section)
If we don't meet the qualifications, I completely understand.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Weyer
I said no to the request, but thought I would run it by the larger community. I’m curious, what do you think?
Logging you in...
dwasifar · 813 weeks ago
Maybe you could let him in on a trial basis and just keep an eye on the place for a while.
mikespeir · 813 weeks ago
toomanytribbles · 813 weeks ago
Krystalline Apostate · 813 weeks ago
I'm w/dwasifar - trial run would be okay.
CamelsWithHammers · 813 weeks ago
But this blog roll has a different function than that. This is a partisan blog roll. It's important that we have contexts in which we engage and other contexts in which we help form our own identity. I think of the atheist blog roll is an identity and community building exercise that should keep a consistent identity accordingly.
On the other hand, Friendly Atheist has at least one Christian listed as a contributor... But again, blogs which are overwhelmingly atheist can have a Christian contributor (I personally know so many incisive Christians that it's extremely tempting to me to have some occasional guest posts from some of those deep Christians) and still be on the blog roll. But, that site is ultimately run by Tom and he's a Coalition For Christian Outreach guy and that's a proselytization organization. However sincere he may be about genuine dialogue, the guy is paid to evangelize on college campuses, he doesn't belong on the atheist blog roll.
Hemant · 813 weeks ago
So who better deserves to be on the atheist blogroll? Atheists who write about everything except "our" issues? Or Christians who write about atheism and atheist issues specifically? :) Something to think about.
Buffy 83p · 813 weeks ago
dromedary hump · 813 weeks ago
Over the past few months, as a result of my Eternal Earth-Bound Pets post rapture pet rescue website I have received alot of emails from Liberal Christians who are about one step away from being agnostic. They have a curiosity about what it's like "on the dark side", and I have established a few close internet "pen pal" relations with them.
This has opened my eyes to the fact that not all theists are proselytizing, holier than thou, supernaturalists with closed minds. Something I think we all need to be reminded of from time to time.
Being listed on the Atheist Blogroll doesn't diminish the listing. It doesn't put us in jeopardy of promoting theism. If this guy is associated with or is tolerated by the SSA, heck..that's good enough for me. Whats the worst that could happen?
I 'd favor letting their blog in. If they start hanging crosses in the comment's sections of our blogs, we can have them flogged and crucified in short order ;)
Efrique · 813 weeks ago
I think you probably made the right choice, but if you'd gone the other way I wouldn't feel like you were crazy.
This is a blog I'd consider reading regularly, but it's not really an atheist blog. The difference in overall theist content from something like "The Friendly Atheist" (which has/has had a number of theist contributors) and this one may not be all that large, but I think you have to classify it as "atheist-friendly blog", rather than an "atheist blog".
You have to do what you think is right, but I think it doesn't quite qualify.
Brucker · 813 weeks ago
No2Religion 85p · 813 weeks ago
Jennifurret · 813 weeks ago
stuffed 77p · 812 weeks ago
ANyway you draw the straw, the final choice is yours.
SB Wright 110p · 812 weeks ago
NE White · 812 weeks ago
I can honestly say that the only reason why I joined the Atheist Blogroll was because I thought I was joining a like-minded community. It is hard where I live to find anyone, and I mean ANYONE, that I can talk to openly about atheism and my thoughts on religion.
When I joined the blogroll and perused some of the blogs, I was literally in tears. Finally, people just like me (and my husband).
My blog is not just about atheism. As a matter of fact, I think I only have a few posts and they are written from a very personal perspective, but I do enjoy the idea of belonging to a certain community with shared sentiments.
I'm for creating a separate blogroll for Open-minded blogs that would include both theist and atheist blogs. As for the Atheist Blogroll, please leave it to smack-talking infidels in all of us.
kevinbbg 62p · 812 weeks ago
Camels With Hammers · 812 weeks ago
NiroZ 2p · 812 weeks ago
Paulo · 812 weeks ago
Should we not be open and welcoming to ppl that can offer a different perspective? Which is different from trying to convert or preach, simply a different voice, as we ourselevs have been?
Procrustes 57p · 812 weeks ago
2. Precedent/floodgate/slippery slope argument: Once you break the rules you've established for one, does that mean others will follow? Will the rules steadily become weaker, less enforced, irrelevant? Will this become a "Whatever" blogroll, "as long as you mention 'atheist' somewhere in your blog"?
3. Argument from establishment: A blog run by a Christian is a blog run by a theist is a blog run by someone who is, by definition, the polar opposite of an atheist. Putting that blog on an atheist blogroll steers atheists and people who want to visit atheist blogs to, instead, a Christian's blog that merely allows chats about atheism. It's kind of like establishing a secular charity and then indicating to its members that it will be giving a portion of all donations to the Catholic church. Even if the church does something good with the money, the setup is wrong in principle. I honestly don't want to share this establishment with a Christian, regardless of how "fair" he may be. If he doesn't like it, he can become an atheist like the rest of the rational world.
4. Argument from minority: We atheists are members of the most shunned minority in history, and much of what we do is to contest with the imbalanced influence of Christians in the U.S. It's not utterly useless to share the stage with Christians in a debate, but when Christians already have the ear of the government, the hearts of the people, and the money from tax exemptions, what purpose does it serve our cause to give them a little bit more? If this were a "rational thinkers" blogroll, or something ambiguous with regard to theism, I wouldn't be making these arguments. It's not, however. It's an "atheist" blogroll, and we need as much atheist support as we can get.
5. Argument from numbers and pride. I don't believe pride is a sin, and when I look at the swelling membership of the blogroll, I feel proud that the atheist community has an effective online connection. Add a Christian to that members list, and it nullifies the effect of "here's a list of blogs run by atheists -- see, we're many and we're strong." I'd hate the blogroll to have to run a disclaimer, "oh, except for that one Christian we let in because he lets atheists chat on his blog; he's nice, though, you'd like him."
6. Social club argument: We're not getting government money for this. It's a privately run, privately funded operation. There's no good reason to let someone in who clearly does not fit the membership requirements or spirit of the endeavor. Would the DNC allow a Republican member?
7. Elitist argument: I consider myself an elitist, at least to an extent. Perhaps I'm a wannabe elitist, but my point here is that I sincerely want to see Christians fail. I want to see irrationality wiped clean from this planet, from the public schools, government, and all facets of life. I want people to embrace reason, and I want people who do to be placed on pillars and admired. Dawkins, Stenger, Hitchens, Harris, Myers, Condell, and others just like them are people who deserve to be praised and admired (no, not worshiped) for their good works and courage, and, most of all, for their rationality. And, like the selfish person I am, I want others to think of me in positive ways, at least with regard to rationality, and I want to know and associate with others worthy of respect for their attempt to infuse the world with a bit of reason. I cannot bring myself to acknowledge or respect in that manner a person who still calls himself Christian. (There's a different level of respect for a Christian who does good things, but it's not the same). And I believe this blogroll should be reserved for those who do deserve that higher level of respect that comes with intellectual honesty and integrity.
Camels With Hammers · 812 weeks ago
dromedary hump · 812 weeks ago
Uh...have you seen MY face??
---> http://theatheistcamelchronicles.blogspot.com/
Heck.. have you seen MOJOEY's face??
any more questions?
Camels With Hammers · 812 weeks ago