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The Rational Response Squad returns to atheist activism
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The Rational Response Squad
A number of years ago, a small group of local Philadelphia atheists put together an internet radio show called The Rational Response Squad. Their purpose of the show was to respond to irrational claims especially religious ones.
Brian Sapient, Rook Hawkins, Kelly M, and Yellow Number Five, made up the core of the team, but the show resonated so well with young atheists that the Rational Response Squad started to expand their network and create a strong community of atheist activists around the nation.
The group made national headlines when they teamed up with Beyond Belief Media to present the Blasphemy Challenge on YouTube. The challenge encouraged atheists to step out of the closet. The first 1000 people to make videos denying the Holy Spirit received a free DVD of the film, The God Who Wasn’t There. Even after the 1000 DVDs were handed out, more and more people continued to post Blasphemy Challenge videos.
Then there was the infamous NBC debate in which Sapient and Kelly M squared off against Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort. The Rational Response Squad soon after that debated Liberty University’s Ergun Caner. According to reports, even many Liberty University students thought that Rook Hawkins and the rest of the Squad defeated Caner.
The group’s best contribution to the atheist community had been the community that they built and fostered. Week after week, the Rational Response Squad interviewed and promoted other atheists and their projects, books, music, and ideas. Unfortunately, the core group members had gotten caught up in various dramas, personal lives, and family life. While the Rational Response Squad website continued to operate and the forums continued to keep many in the community active, the core members took a break from shows and activism.
Now, Brian Sapient has announced that while some of the core members have moved on to other projects, he will be working to return the Rational Response Squad community back to activism. The in-your-face activism which helped to push atheism into the mainstream will hopefully be playing a great role in the religious conversation in America.
Many atheists take issue with those who are willing to be more vocal about their disbelief. The Rational Response Squad is as vocal as they come and we are not afraid to let theistic believers know that their beliefs are ridiculous and silly. I am glad to see the return of this voice in atheism. Please check out the Rational Response Squad website at RationalResponders.com and follow them on Twitter.
Atheism 101 Articles:
Atheism 101: What is the difference between atheism and agnosticism?
Atheism 101: Is there moral grounding without God?
Atheism 101: The Purpose of Life
Atheism 101: Is the Bible the inspired word of God?
Atheism 101: The anti-intellectualism of religion
Atheism 101: Why has Christianity demonized nudity, sex and sexuality?
Atheism 101: Does it take more faith to be an atheist?
Atheism 101: What came before the Universe?
Atheism 101: How to respond to the ex-atheist
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Comments
- Atheism 101: What is the difference between atheism and agnosticism?
- Atheism 101: Is there moral grounding without God?
- Atheism 101: The Purpose of Life
- Atheism 101: Is the Bible the inspired word of God?
- Atheism 101: The anti-intellectualism of religion
- Atheism 101: Why has Christianity demonized nudity, sex and sexuality?
- Atheism 101: Does it take more faith to be an atheist?
- Atheism 101: What came before the Universe?
- Atheism 101: How to respond to the ex-atheist?
