Michael Enright called out for telling atheists to shut up

October 7, 2013 • 9:48 am

A few days ago I criticized an essay by Michael Enright’s broadcast on the CBC, “Could atheists please stop complaining?”  It was a particularly nasty piece, motivated by Ceiling Cat knows what.

But the Friendly Atheist, Hemant Mehta, had an even better post, “No, we won’t be quiet about our atheism.” Hemant’s site also put up a special cartoon by M. J. Shepherd about Enright’s piece, which was right on the mark:

Shepherd

On October 1, The Canadian Atheist website posted the cartoon, and among the comments was this one—from Enright’s executive producer!

Picture 1

The Canadian Atheist site updated the fallout yesterday, adding a link to the CBC’s compendium of reader comments about Enright’s piece. As the CBC notes, “The majority of the notes we received took Michael firmly to task.”  Among those notes were these two:

From Jason Rattray, in Regina:

“We’re done being polite.  And I mean forever.  Atheists are coming out in droves, some organizing and banding together in a more organized fashion, while others simply admit their beliefs and no longer just call themselves “undecided” or “don’t have a religion”.
The biggest benefit to a loud, aggressive and unapologetic atheism movement, is the safe foundation that it provides other atheists.
It’s ok to be atheist.  You don’t have to be aggressive, but you don’t have to hide anymore.
Human advancement has been stifled by religion long enough.
As long as debates such as ‘Creationism vs. Evolution’ continue, we can’t afford to stop complaining. And we won’t.”

This came from Hilary Knight in Victoria:

“Well, Michael, for years I have listened to your opinions, often agreeing with you, sometimes civilly begging to differ. But your remarks on atheism left me more steamed than my Sunday latte.
As an agnostic-listing-to-atheism, I will “whisper” my opinions when the shrieks of religious fundamentalists fall silent.  They do not howl their idiocies in a vacuum.  They hurt and destroy bodies and minds, especially women’s bodies and minds.
You made these comments shortly after the events in Pakistan and Kenya, perpetrated by ignorant barbarians convinced that their pet fairy tale is the Truth.
A raspberry to your “whispers.”  Silence is consent.”

That’ll show him! My faith in Canada is restored, as it was yesterday for Muncie, Indiana.  The more people who kvetch about inanities and religion-osculation like that of Enright, the more people will see that there are like-minded folks out there.

Oh, and apparently last week Enright had a discussion at a cathedral in Kingston with Anglican Bishop Michael Oulton on the topic, “Does God have a place in the 21st century?” The plan was “to explore the case for and against God (and the Church) in an intelligent conversation, where people of differing views listen to each other, explore common ground, and respectfully agree to disagree.”

That sounds like the conclusions were preordained, and lame.  I don’t want to respectfully agree to disagree, I want to agree to keep arguing. Now I’m not sure how this conversation went, or what Enright, an atheist-basher, said. If anyone was there, or finds a report of this discussion online, weigh in below.

h/t: Veronica

28 thoughts on “Michael Enright called out for telling atheists to shut up”

  3. “Does God have a place in the 21st century?”

    Which god? And what place?

    I’d say Orpheus most emphatically still has a place, for example, on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. As does Wotan, or any of an impressive array of other gods and goddesses. And not just in opera houses, either.

    But something tells me that that’s not exactly what they’re suggesting….

    b&

      1. I gave Baihu some lox off the bagel this morning, just for the halibut. He liked it. Then again, that’s not surprising…every time he tries to carry a tuna, he winds up swallowing it. Not sure if they’re African or European, though….

        b&

  4. Ugh I’m annoyed with the way the CBC conducts these discussions. Rex Murphy had one a few months ago shortly after the creation of the wasteful, useless Office of Religious Freedom which put at its head a dean of a Christian school. It excluded atheists and humanists.

    This of course led to an uproar and Rex Murphy hosted a show from BC that was broadcast across Canada. Basically everyone gave luke warm answers & bashed Dawkins.

    I suspect Enright’s discussion to be equally tepid.

  6. I’m glad that Mr. Enright got called out. I was quite disappointed to read his atheism piece. He usually sounds quite sensible.

  7. I would point out that Mr. Enright also acknowledged this on this week’s show, and he then read a number of the comments which included both the above from Jason and Hilary and the other listed on the CBC comments page linked to above. It also include his memorial of Hitch.

    1. Hopefully those comments changed his mind. I always found him to be a good journalist so let’s hope he has the open mind that his vocation demands.

  8. When I read ‘militant’ or ‘aggressive’ used to describe atheists it always brings a dimple to my cheek. When used to describe us it means we make jokes on the internet or ask awkward questions. Occasionally a militant atheist will unzip a jacket in a crowded place there will be a joke on a t-shirt! When it is used to describe someone religious its because people have been hurt and the other religious want to distance themselves from the violence their beliefs provoked. Just mentioning that is being and aggressive and militant atheist.

  9. This is the same crap that was thrown at Gays. Put your whistle away! …but we get it. Stop yelling! … but we get it. We don’t like your sequenced baseball caps! …but we get it.

    You don’t get it. Personally, I was raised in Pentecostalism and it nearly killed me.

  10. “Agree to disagree”

    Theist to English translation:

    “I don’t like what you’re saying, so we’re going to continue with business as usual, you’ll let us have our way (politically and otherwise), and you’ll shut up about it. Mkay?”

      1. It’s right there in their magic book:
        “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” (Matthew 12.30).

        In other words, the ethic of tribalism. Unfortunately, those following it have failed to notice that this is the 21st century, not the first.

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