Atheism isn't intellectually bankrupt. It's just grounded in a bit of empiricism... and that's about all. It's not a philosophy or a moral ethic. You can't make it into one.
Atheism is the lack of belief in a God or gods. That's all it is. There is only one logically sound reason to be an atheist, and that is that you don't believe there's enough eveidence to convince you that God exists. Most atheists, as much as they'll tell you they are motivated by rationalism, aren't. That doesn't mean they're not atheists. It just makes them stupid.
It's important to note that most Atheists are/were also Anti-Theists.
The way society encourages Anti-Christian behavior means that lots of Atheists stall out and get stuck in their hate for religion (Christianity in particular.) They wind up defining themselves through opposition-- and it's usually rooted strongly in emotion.
Until these Anti-Theists abandon hate for religion, they can't reason their way through any Theological question. It's nothing but knee jerk & rationalize. 'Reason' is nothing but camouflage for these types.
Anti-Theists like JSG will grind that axe rather than think. Their hostility towards others' beliefs moves the locus of control right outside their person, and makes them worse people because (oh irony of ironies) just like fire & brimstone zealots--- they condemn because they cannot accept that which they don't approve of. It's pure Intolerance.
Atheism isn't intellectually bankrupt. It's just grounded in a bit of empiricism... and that's about all. It's not a philosophy or a moral ethic. You can't make it into one.
Atheism is the lack of belief in a God or gods. That's all it is. There is only one logically sound reason to be an atheist, and that is that you don't believe there's enough eveidence to convince you that God exists. Most atheists, as much as they'll tell you they are motivated by rationalism, aren't. That doesn't mean they're not atheists. It just makes them stupid.
It's important to note that most Atheists are/were also Anti-Theists.
The way society encourages Anti-Christian behavior means that lots of Atheists stall out and get stuck in their hate for religion (Christianity in particular.) They wind up defining themselves through opposition-- and it's usually rooted strongly in emotion.
Until these Anti-Theists abandon hate for religion, they can't reason their way through any Theological question. It's nothing but knee jerk & rationalize. 'Reason' is nothing but camouflage for these types.
Anti-Theists like JSG will grind that axe rather than think. Their hostility towards others' beliefs moves the locus of control right outside their person, and makes them worse people because (oh irony of ironies) just like fire & brimstone zealots--- they condemn because they cannot accept that which they don't approve of. It's pure Intolerance.