The National Atheist Party - The Thinking Atheist Radio Podcast #41

If people agree on the rejection of gods, can they find consensus and be effective as a political party?

We speak with Troy Boyle, President, and Jacob Kramer, VP of Outreach for the National Atheist Party (http://www.usanap.org), plus your calls and emails.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• The Thinking Atheist
• atheist
• atheism
• agnostic
• politics
• National Atheist Party
• Atheism Political Party

[TheDethBringer666]

It's hilarious listening to TTA trying to say that Atheists aren't mostly progressive in nature. It sounds like he's in denial xD

[TheThinkingAtheist]

@TheDethBringer666 Some of us in the atheist camp care more about a nuclear North Korea than we do about global warming. We distrust another bloated government program which promises to cure our ills and alleviate our pain. We believe in hard work and a free market. We don't believe that success should be penalized. We support alternative energy without claiming that fossil fuels are evil. We also support science, stem cell research, choice and gay rights. Not denial of any kind, my friend

[Ryakki]

Atheism is a base determiner of rationality. A moderate, reasonable atheist is someone I'd vote for over any religious candidate, period.

It's not a very cohesive group, admittedly... atheist views on everything but religion are... all over the place. However, I think a middle of the road atheist candidate could really appeal to a lot of people.

[TheThinkingAtheist]

@Ryakki Unfortunately, there are non-believers (many of them) whose rejection of gods doesn't translate into maturity, education, leadership or vision. And while I've met a great, great many wonderful, thoughtful atheists, I've also seen an alarming number of whiny children, immature malcontents and raging lunatics.

Don't let atheism be your only qualification as you accept friends, promote causes and embrace candidates. Every camp has its bad seeds.

[superrrnova1986]

I am an Atheist, and I think the NAP is a very confusing idea. One point I'd touch upon. The reason there is mass consensus on political talking points is down the NAP having an extremely Liberal manifesto. Most Atheists are Liberal which explains why the NAP members agree on everything. The people running NAP should have considered running as a Democrat. Sorry for stating the obvious.

[iconografer]

@Ryakki i don't think seth's position is viable-the fact is, we're pretty close on most things with each other, it's a myth that atheists can't be cohesive. if you respect the evidence, if you're reasonable--which most atheists are, we end up very close to each other on the issues.

[Heklep]

Christians often ask "How can you have morals? You're an Atheist" So you can't figure out that murder is bad by yourself?

[waltermh111]

@MrGreeneggsnham I wont disagree with that, but may better say a need isnt just in the sense of oxygen.

A need can be something you can live without but at a detriment to physical or mental health.

Entertainment (for most) is a need of a sane mind.

Social contact is also a need of a sane mind.

Sex (for many) is a need of a sane mind.

So its both subjective as we are all built different, but also not as narrow as its narrowest definition.

[TheDethBringer666]

@zevon1964 Oh great, someone who seems to fear government like the plague. There is no productive argument to be had here. Good day.

[zevon1964]

@KidInTheSweater I shut it off at 12 minutes.

[zevon1964]

@TheDethBringer666 Sorry, you have no empirical evidence to back up that statement. Humanist does not equate to progressive. There are a tremendous number of Libertarian humanists. Objectivists are atheists. Many Goldwater conservatives are atheists. Perhaps you exist in that intersection of the Venn diagrams for atheists and progressives and that is skewing your perception. Progressive atheists have merely supplanted the religion of the state for the gods of theism.

[zevon1964]

@TheThinkingAtheist Atheist is not a synonym for progressive. But, I fear that, as the left so often does, it is trying to dominate the discussion.

[TheDethBringer666]

@zevon1964 Because the majority of Atheists are liberal in nature. That is a fact. What do you think Humanists are? Conservatives? Fascists? You must not go much beyond theology when it comes to contemplating the world in which you exist if you hadn't learned that already.