The Atheist Thirteen

13 June 2008

[In order that we might find out at least a little bit more about each other in the atheist blogging community, I've come up with a little meme. That, and I'm away this weekend at my sister's wedding and won't be blogging.]

If you’d like to take part, copy these questions, and answer them in your own words on your own blog.

Q1. How would you define “atheism”?

“A lack of belief in gods.”

Q2. Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?

My parents didn’t try to convince me that there was or wasn’t a god — it was never brought up. This doesn’t appear to be too unusual in the UK.

Q3. How would you describe “Intelligent Design”, using only one word?

Dishonest.

Q4. What scientific endeavour really excites you?

Astronomy. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with the night sky. And the sooner we’re probing Europa, the better (thanks, Arthur C Clarke!)

Q5. If you could change one thing about the “atheist community”, what would it be and why?

I’d like to encourage more “in the closet” atheists to make their voices heard. At the moment, I don’t think that our suggested numbers are anywhere near accurate.

Q6. If your child came up to you and said “I’m joining the clergy”, what would be your first response?

“That’s nice, dear. Would you like a cup of tea?”

Q7. What’s your favourite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?

The argument from personal experience. Not that there’s any refutation, but because it’s the last refuge of a scoundrel. Once you’ve got them there, there’s nowhere else they can go.

Q8. What’s your most “controversial” (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?

Most likely that I’m not completely convinced of anthropogenic climate change, which in turn in is probaby because I haven’t investigated it too deeply.

Q9. Of the “Four Horsemen” (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?

Harris — he has a brilliant way of getting straight to the heart of an argument.

Q10. If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?

Probably Tony Blair. It might humble him into evaluating his arrogant conviction that he can single-handedly put the world to rights (starting with the Middle East).

Now name three other atheist blogs that you’d like to see take up the Atheist Thirteen gauntlet:

1. Why Don’t You Blog?
2. The Freethinker
3. Pyjamas in Bananas

Possibly related posts:

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Tags: atheism, meme, nullifidian.net, personal

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44622 ResponsesThe+Atheist+Thirteen2008-06-13+01%3A10%3A41nullifidian to “The Atheist Thirteen”

13 on the 13th « Homosecular Gaytheist on June 13th, 2008 6:43 am

[...] 13 on the 13th Jump to Comments Well, it’s Friday 13th. There’s no better time than to answer Nullifidian’s Atheist Thirteen. [...]
Barry Duke on June 13th, 2008 6:53 pm

Challenge met â€“ and it’s still the 13th!
The Atheist Thirteen » Why Dont You Blog? on June 13th, 2008 7:13 pm

[...] has been a while, but it seems we’ve been hit by another “meme” – this time it is the Atheist Thirteen from Nullifidian. For anyone who has already read Null’s post, I must apologise that a lot of [...]
Ten is the New Thirteen « Jyunri Kankei on June 14th, 2008 12:35 am

[...] Ten is the New Thirteen June 13, 2008 Posted by Greg in Atheism. Tags: Atheism, Blogosphere, Meme trackback Another meme to circulate around the internet, this time from nullifidian. [...]
The Atheist Thirteen « Homologous Legs on June 14th, 2008 3:21 am

[...] Seeing that I’m an atheist and all, I thought I might answer the set of questions that nullifidian put out on his blog [...]
Triskaidekatheism « Five Public Opinions on June 14th, 2008 1:29 pm

[...] 14 06 2008 Reed Braden has nominated me for Nullifidian’s Atheist Thirteen meme, and since it’s been a long while since I’ve participated in one, how can I [...]
m.dorian on June 15th, 2008 3:59 pm

Terrific idea. I dig the questions. This “inquisition” got to the Chicken Girl’s blog, who mentioned that my blog (NYC-Atheists) was among the three she’d like to see take up the gauntlet. So of course I did.

Thanks for doing this. I will “meme” it along…
LemmusLemmus on June 15th, 2008 4:33 pm

My answers are here.
Atheist 13 meme (a few days late…) « Right To Think on June 16th, 2008 4:57 pm

[...] June 16, 2008 in Life, Miscellaneous Iâ€™m well and truly into this meme thing now â€“ I think it comes from an early love of filling in forms. Even as a child I was up for taking every survey, census and personality test going â€“ itâ€™s amazing the Scientologists didnâ€™t get me. The memes did, though ,so hereâ€™s the Atheist 13 Meme, courtesy of (((Billy))) and originated by Nullifidian. [...]
The Atheist Thirteen « Jim Aikin’s Oblong Blob on June 17th, 2008 12:42 am

[...] Atheist Thirteen Interesting post on atheism over at nullfidian.net. He poses ten questions for atheists; the last three items in the “thirteen” are [...]
Jim Aikin on June 17th, 2008 12:51 am

Thought-provoking questions! I’ve posted my answers at midiguru.wordpress.com.

–Jim Aikin
jdc on June 17th, 2008 12:09 pm

An atheist meme? That’s a mighty fine idea nullfidian. I came here (via the link on Pyjamas in Bananas) once I’d answered the ten questions and I just noticed that your answers to 1 and 3 were almost identical to my own. I like the definition of atheism as a lack of belief in Gods as it’s simple, itâ€™s inclusive and it makes no claims as to the non-existence of God. I also like that I’ve read several blogs that were completely new to me, purely on the basis that they undertook the same Q&A as me. Cheers, jdc.
Roger on June 18th, 2008 10:27 am

Better late than never – my answers are now online at http://rogrealm.blogspot.com/

Great idea, Nullfidian. Thanks
Atheist 13 Meme « Oz Atheist’s Weblog on June 20th, 2008 8:03 am

[...] 13 Meme AV at Five Public Opinions has nominated me for Nullifidianâ€™s Atheist Thirteen meme, and I thought I’d managed to elude this one? If you want to play too, just copy the [...]
Kieran Bennett » My Responses to the Atheist Thirteen on June 21st, 2008 1:26 pm

[...] it up after some leg humping action from Homologous Legs who was never bitten by meme originator nullifidian but decided to go a meming like a vampire [...]
raistlinsghost on June 23rd, 2008 5:49 am

Longtime lurker here. Great blog; the meme finally got me to comment. Posted my responses here
Mild As My Coffee - My Atheist Thirteen « PodBlack Blog on June 29th, 2008 3:44 pm

[...] again? Here’s my response to the Atheist Thirteen! Maybe they’ll smack me about [...]
The Atheist Thirteen Gauntlet » Tetherd Cow Ahead on July 12th, 2008 7:38 am

[...] go in for blog memes, but also that I do make the occasional exception. Yoo has thrown down the The Atheist Thirteen Gauntlet and so, in light of all the current religious insanity in these parts, and my increasing concern [...]
My Responses to the Atheist Thirteen | Kieran's Commentary on August 8th, 2008 3:51 am

[...] it up after some leg humping action from Homologous Legs who was never bitten by meme originator nullifidian but decided to go a meming like a vampire [...]
My Responses to the Atheist Thirteen | Kieran's Commentary on August 8th, 2008 3:51 am

[...] it up after some leg humping action from Homologous Legs who was never bitten by meme originator nullifidian but decided to go a meming like a vampire [...]
Stochastic Scribbles » Blog Archive » The Atheist Thirteen on September 3rd, 2008 6:51 pm

[...] I’m naming the following three blogs that I’d like to see take up the Atheist Thirteen [...]
Triskaidekatheism : Sean the Blogonaut on December 17th, 2008 5:55 am

[...] has nominated me for Nullifidian’s Atheist Thirteen meme. I generally don’t have the time for memes but I am feeling generous [...]