{"id":474,"date":"2010-10-14T15:20:03","date_gmt":"2010-10-14T05:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asktheatheist.com\/?p=474"},"modified":"2011-02-23T10:33:24","modified_gmt":"2011-02-23T00:33:24","slug":"what-gives-you-the-right-new-sticky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asktheatheist.com\/?p=474","title":{"rendered":"What gives you the right? (New Sticky)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hypothetical question from Effigy2000 on Metafilter<\/a>, i.e. “So if I were to ask this person a question I’d ask…<\/strong>
\n…What gives you the right<\/em>, f*%#-knuckle?”
\n
\nAnswer by SmartLX<\/a>:<\/strong>
\nWhat gives me the right to speak for all atheists everywhere? Nothing. I don’t have that authority. And it’s not just me here either. Perhaps the site’s name suggests such things, but askANatheist.com<\/a> was taken, as was asktheatheistS.com<\/a> (to which I also contribute).
\n
\nWhat I can do is speak for atheism – as defined by enough atheists, and enough prominent atheists, to make for a working<\/em> definition. I can speak against<\/em> arguments for the existence of gods when their flaws are evident. And as in all things, I can bloody well speak for myself.
\n
\nIt’s been helpful, I’m sure, to a great many people over the years<\/a>. Some don’t have a single self-declared atheist in their lives that they could name, much less ask about atheism. This is how myths about atheism get dispelled in communities where it’s a negligible minority: some brave believer<\/a> goes looking for a spokesperson. It’s also why the great big arguments<\/a> don’t go unchallenged as often as they might.
\n
\nWelcome to the Metafilter community, by the way. Thanks to Paragon<\/a>, who I’d never heard of, for the link.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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