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[[File:Penn Jillette.jpg|thumbnail|205px|right|A [[National Public Radio]] reviewer of one of atheist [[Penn Jillette]]'s books found the book "showy and assaultive" in terms of its use of [[profanity]].<refname="npr.org">[httphttps://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/08/16/139669958/penn-jillettes-god-no-an-atheist-libertarian-on-tricks-bacon-and-the-tsa National Public Radio [NPR) review of the book ''God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales'' by Penn Jillette]</ref>]] The [[Barna Group]] found that [[atheism|atheists]] and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: '''[[Profanity|obscene language]]'''; [[Illegal drugs|illegal drug use]]; excessive drinking; [[fornication|sexual relationships outside of marriage]]; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage;[[gambling]]; [[pornography]] and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/[[bisexuality]].<ref>[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard Practical Outcomes Replace Biblical Principles As the Moral Standard], The Barna Group, September 10, 2001</ref>

In the journal article ''Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications'', psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on [[self-control]]/self-regulation.<ref>[http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications]</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications]</ref> Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in ''Psychological Science'' found that religion replenishes self-control.<ref>[http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/05/02/0956797611431987.abstract ''Religion Replenishes Self-Control'', ''Psychological Science'', June 2012 vol. 23 no. 6 635-642, Kevin Rounding, Albert Lee, Jill A. Jacobson and Li-Jun Ji at Queen’s University]</ref><ref>[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/qu-qsf012412.php Study finds religion helps us gain self-control]</ref> Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.<ref>[httphttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868765 Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. McCullough ME, Hoyt WT, Larson DB, Koenig HG, Thoresen C., Health Psychol. 2000 May;19(3):211-22.]</ref> <ref>[httphttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305900/ ''The role of spirituality in health care'', roc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2001 October; 14(4): 352–357.]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and hedonism]]

{{cquote|The problem with the book is that that same vibrancy, that same exuberance, eventually becomes performative and exhausting. Jillette's adoration of profanity is shared by plenty of great writers, and I absolutely believe in a "well-tempered *#@!-word,"... But there are places in this particular book where it feels showy and assaultive, as if the millionth *#@! will make a duck drop from the ceiling. As much as I enjoy profanity wielded for proper effect, that's how much I don't like it slathered on just to add a gratuitous sense of rebellion, just to rile up the kind of people you want to dislike your book.<refname="npr.org">[httphttps://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/08/16/139669958/penn-jillettes-god-no-an-atheist-libertarian-on-tricks-bacon-and-the-tsa National Public Radio [NPR) review of the book ''God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales'' by Penn Jillette]</ref>}}

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the internetInternet atheism]] and [[Richard Dawkins' battle with online fans]]

In February of 2010, the news organization ''The Telegraph'' reported that the agnostic and [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins|Richard Dawkins]] was "embroiled in a bitter online battle over plans to rid his popular internet forum for atheists of foul language, insults and 'frivolous gossip'."<ref>[httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7322177/Richard-Dawkins-in-bitter-web-censorship-row-with-fellow-atheists.html Richard Dawkins in bitter web censorship row with fellow atheists: Professor Richard Dawkins is embroiled in a bitter online battle over plans to rid his popular internet forum for atheists of foul language, insults and “frivolous gossip], ''The Telegraph'' By Heidi Blake, 9:25AM GMT 26 Feb 2010</ref> Richard Dawkins [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins|has a reputation for being abrasive]] so the behavior of his fans is not entirely surprising.

I replied by asking how they knew that God did not exist. I told them that if they could not give me some rational reason for denying his existence, then their position is held by faith.<ref>[http://carm.org/do-atheists-hate-god Do atheists hate God?]</ref>}}

The atheist/agnostic [[George R.R. Martin]] [http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism_and_obesity#George_R._R._Martin is overweight]. In 2014, ''The Guardian'' reported that George Martin became angry about some of his fans speculating about his health and the time of his future death. The fans were concerned that he will not finish his lengthy fantasy series before he dies.<refname="sites.google.com">[https://sites.google.com/site/martin938393/ George RR Martin gives impatient readers the finger] by Alison Flood, The Guardian, Thursday 10 July 2014 07.18 EDT</ref> In response, in 2014 Martin published a picture in ''The Guardian'' which featured him giving those fans a profane gesture using his middle finger (see also: [[Atheism and profanity]]).<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/martin938393/ George RR Martin gives impatient readers the finger] by Alison Flood, The Guardain, Thursday 10 July 2014 07.18 EDT</ref>   In 2014, Martin became angry about some of his fans speculating about his health and the time of his future death due to concerns that he would not finish his lengthy fantasy series before he dies.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/martin938393/ George RR Martin gives impatient readers the finger] by Alison Flood, The Guardain, Thursday 10 July 2014 07.18 EDT</ref> In response, in 2014 Martin published a picture in ''The Guardian'' which featured him giving those fans a profane gesture using his middle finger.<ref>[https://name="sites.google.com"/site/martin938393/ George RR Martin gives impatient readers the finger] by Alison Flood, The Guardain, Thursday 10 July 2014 07.18 EDT</ref>

[[PZ Myers]] is a [[militant atheism|militant atheist]].<ref>http://www.atheistrev.com/2008/03/pz-myers-on-eliminating-religion.html</ref> His language is extremely militant at times, and laced with expletives.<ref>[httphttps://creation.com/evolutionary-equivocation P.Z. Myers’ evolutionary equivocation My brush with P.Z. Myers at his anti-creationist talk in Minot, ND, USA] by Greg Demme</ref> In a diatribe in which he described those who believe in the Bible as "lunatics" and "bigots," Myers said:{{cquote|I say, screw the polite words and careful rhetoric. It's time for scientists to break out the steel-toed boots and brass knuckles, and get out there and hammer on the lunatics and idiots.<ref>httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20070420142719/http://pharyngula.org/index/weblog/comments/perspective/</ref>}}[[File:Ophelia Benson.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|Orphelia Benson <br /><br /> <small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ophelia_Benson_at_CFI_WIS-May_18_2012.JPG Wikimedia Commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]

Ophelia Benson is an American atheist, [[feminism|feminist]], [[author]], editor and blogger. She is known for using the word f*#@wit and she claims the word is not a vulgar word.<ref>[http://www.skepticink.com/avant-garde/2014/07/27/ophelia-benson/ The Ophelia Benson canard]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/07/26/joint-statement-by-ophelia-benson-and-richard-dawkins/ Joint statement by Ophelia Benson and Richard Dawkins] (see comment section)</ref> Despite commonly using this vulgar epithet, she published a joint statement with the agnostic and [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] indicating that atheists should behave in a civil manner in disagreements with each other and not engage in uncivil behavior such as the use of vulgar epithets.<ref>[http://www.skepticink.com/avant-garde/2014/07/27/ophelia-benson/ The Ophelia Benson canard]</ref> See also: [[Atheist hypocrisy]]  American society and other societies in the world see the use of profanity by women to be particularly unmannerly. Woman who engage in profanity are commonly deemed to be vulgar/uncouth individuals and this is especially the case in religious areas of the world. For example, in 2014, a mother in [[South Carolina]] who swore in front of her children in public was arrested for disorderly conduct.<ref>[httphttps://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/08/15/mom-arrested-for-swearing-in-front-of-kids-at-the-grocery-store-but-what-the-woman-who-tattled-on-her-did-afterward-is-just-as-surprising/ Mom Arrested for Swearing in Front of Kids at the Grocery Store, but What the Woman Who Tattled on Her Did Afterward Is Just as Surprising], ''The Blaze'', Aug. 15, 2014 4:41pm</ref>

*Gottesdiener, Laura (February 23, 2010). [httphttps://www.salon.com/2013/02/23/10_celebs_you_didnt_know_were_atheists_partner/ "10 celebs you didn't know were atheists"]. Salon. Retrieved on October 3, 2014.

*"I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." [httphttps://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript&#93;] (January 10, 1996). Larry King Live. Transcript retrieved from CNN.com on October 3, 2014.</ref>

<br /><br /><small>(photo obtained from [httphttps://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]

In November of 2010, ''Discover Magazine'' published survey results published by the World Values Survey which showed significant differences between the percentage of men and women who are [[Atheism|atheists]] for various countries.<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ Sex differences in global atheism, part N]</ref>

A 2009 article in LiveScience.com entitled ''Women More Religious Than Men'' reported: "A new analysis of survey data finds women pray more often then men, are more likely to believe in God, and are more religious than men in a variety of other ways...The latest findings, released Friday, are no surprise, only confirming what other studies have found for decades. <ref>[http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html ''Women More Religious Than Men'']</ref> In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.<ref>http://www.livescience.com/culture/090227-religion-men-women.html</ref>

In a an August 21, 2013 blog post entitled ''Civility, Negativity, and Atheism-as-Identity'' the Christian blog ''A well Spent Journey'' wrote:

[[Image:Tolstoy.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|rightleft|[[Leo Tolstoy]] ]]

Atheists are well-known for engaging in online bullying behavior (see: [[Atheist bullying]]).<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2012/07/atheist-trolls.html Atheist trolls]</ref><ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/01/mailvox-distribution-of-atheist.html The distribution of atheist intelligence] by [[Vox Day]]</ref>

Atheist online bullying has contributed to atheists having a bad reputation among many members of the public (see: [[Views on Atheists|Views on atheists]]). For example, Dr. [[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement. [[Sam Harris]] is quite aware of the stigma surrounding atheism and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007). [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"]. News21. Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref><refname="questionevolution.blogspot.com">[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/10/5-reasons-why-atheism-will-be-long-term.html 5 reasons why the Atheism+ movement will fail]</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007). [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"]. News21. Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref><ref>[http://name="questionevolution.blogspot.com"/2012/10/5-reasons-why-atheism-will-be-long-term.html 5 reasons why the Atheism+ movement will fail]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]

*[[Atheist cults]] *[[Atheism and education]]

*[[Moral failings of the atheist communityAtheist population and immorality]] *[[Atheism and culture]]

*[[Global atheism|Decline of global atheism]] *[[DesecularizationAntitheism and antisocial behavior]]

*[httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDmJls73HF4 Why do atheists like Penn Jillett use God's name as profanity?] - video