hockeyfan70 Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Has anybody been following this story? Basically it's about an atheist organization who contracted Neil Carter (Godless in Dixie blogger) to do some work for them and then some crazy shit happened and meanwhile their director left suddenly and all of these "non disclosure agreements" are flying all over the place. Neil's version can be found here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2016/05/05/nice-reputation/ So what the hell is going on? I actually checked into joining this group, but they sound almost as bad as a church denomination. Is it just people who like power moving from church leadership to a different organization leadership? Thoughts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TABA Posted May 18, 2016 Moderator Share Posted May 18, 2016 Wow, what a mess. Without having heard both sides of this complicated story, I guess my reaction is along the lines of some of Neil's closing comments. I think we all agree here that you can be good without God, that shedding religious beliefs doesn't make us immoral people. But some atheists seem to think that being non-believers automatically makes us better people. With or without religion, we are what we are. Rivalries, greed, backbiting, one-upmanship are all human flaws. Elevating leaders in the 'atheist community' to some kind of saintly status comes with all the pitfalls that we see in the elevation of religious leaders. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 I have been following Neil's side. I too, considered joining this organization, but now i am not sure. I like some of what I have heard/seen from Darrel Ray, but I cannot say that I am interested in the organization, especially considering what is happening with Neil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyfan70 Posted May 18, 2016 Author Share Posted May 18, 2016 Here is someone who is kind of on both sides I guess? He is a friend of Neil's but is also the one who was trying to sort out the whole Sarah Moorehead leadership mess with RfR. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2016/05/recovering-from-religion-will-waive-the-nda-against-sarah-morehead-if-she-waives-the-one-against-rfr/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Its hard to see my biases at work in this situation. As with most situations like this, there probably is fault on both sides. But I like Neil and his writing resonates with me in many ways. It is in this facet that I am biased towards him. I really dont know what to think of this whole thing, because I really don't know the whole story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wittyusername Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 I'd never heard of any of them before, but to quote judge judy 'it has the ring of truth'. I like this Neil guy and he sounds like a man of integrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midniterider Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 I guess doing work you enjoy doesnt always work out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted May 18, 2016 Super Moderator Share Posted May 18, 2016 Being an atheist doesn't exempt one from dealing with politics and human lust for power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midniterider Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 Maybe Neil could mail this guy a copy of the applicable state extortion law. "Come back and work for me or I talk shit about you...." Sounds illegal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyfan70 Posted May 18, 2016 Author Share Posted May 18, 2016 Yeah, that's the part that really bothers me. "If you don't work for us, then we will defame your character." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffodil Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 I've been following it. Neil strikes me as a very honest person trying to help people. I know we don't have the full story from both sides, but the fact that an agency of that kind would be so secretive sends up red flags for me. Any group that receives money from donors has to be transparent. The really sad thing for me is that the stated goals of this group are really good, and I think that whoever is pulling the strings may ultimately destroy what could be a really valuable resource for people struggling to leave religion. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milesaway Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 I'd heard about this, and like others here, I considered joining as a way to show support. After this shit, no way. It's like trading one toxic environment for another, where the shit will hit the fan eventually. It's pretty sad to see an organization with this much potential going postal like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyfan70 Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 More on the issue: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2016/06/01/telling-the-truth-but-telling-it-slant/ I don't get it. Why do organizations of faith or anti-faith have to pretty much suck when it comes to business sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Les Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Seems like he's trying to make money off of people's emotions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Les Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 *they, not he Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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