Atheism isn't a belief, but antitheism is

Essay/rant in which I examine a particular brand of atheism which looks remarkably like a religion - and a rather nasty one at that. Hate speech (not merely criticism or insults) is hurled at non-believers, counter-evidence ignored, even slight criticism is shot down, free speech is denied, and history is revised to suit an agenda. Adherents are held to be better people than non-believers and granted a peculiar freedom to abuse that would be described as the very problem they claim to be trying to solve.

Part 1 examines the usual agnostic/atheist/antitheist perspectives. I contend that atheism is a belief, not merely a lack of belief. Belief isn't intrinsically right or wrong, but pretending atheism isn't a belief at all (as some are wont to do) is daft. Atheism might not be a fully-fledged religion, but some staunch anti-theists are practically indistinguishable from religious fanatics.

Part 2 (http://astrorhysy.blogspot.cz/2015/01/the-unthinking-atheist.html#more) can probably be read independently of part 1 and looks at the behaviour of certain antitheists. Comparing moderate theists to rapists because they profess a love of a deity is hate speech, not a critique of religion. The blind assumption that all religious people believe the literal truth of the Bible is daft. And the notion that by being an atheist automatically makes you a better person is a stupid as the assumption that believing in God does the same.

With full supporting cast of world turtles, UFOs, climate skeptics, polar bears, Rowan Atkinson and an invisible goat.