In another response, I pointed out the desperate need for validation shown by the "New Atheists." The subsequent torrent of incoherent caterwauling indicates that I hit a pretty raw nerve. Methinks they doth protest too much.

One of the most substantive — and I'm being generous here — responses was to challenge my assertion that was any substantial faction of "New Atheist" who has exhibited this "need for validation." I would think that the OP and the overwrought responses to my observation would prove sufficient evidence, but I decided to do a little research and come up with some actual examples.

In 2005, a guy named Brian Flemming produced a film entitled "The God Who Wasn't There." Did it make a splash in theological circles? Yeah, much like a turd landing in the commode. A fair and succinct review from the Baptist Council on Ethics ends with this:

The films structural and factual shortcomings are discussed in much greater detail at other sites. Among many examples is the movie using an image of a amulet known to be a hoax. The film's maker responds that any claims about the validity of this artifact do not affect the overall truth of the movie. That may or may not be true, but they certainly affect the credibility of the movie. Obviously, if the film-maker had any clue that the artifact was a hoax, it wouldn't have been included, but the only thing Brian Flemming needs more desperately than a clue is VALIDATION.

After "they" came, "they" saw, and "they" ripped this shoddy film to bits, the religious community went back about their business — particularly since Flemming has steadfastly refused to engage any theologian or Biblical scholar in a dialog or debate (two years running!). Frustrated that his film wasn't getting enough attention, in 2006 Flemming announced his "war on Easter" which involved distributing 666 copies of the film (I get it! 666! That's awesome, Beavis!) to churches. Fans of the film were instructed to go into churches and leave copies of the film in the pews.

This puerile taunting produced no results. The people watched the films, consulted with knowledgeable clergy and scholars on the contents, discovered is was a load of Blavatsky and went on with their lives.

Not having sufficiently been an attention-seeking dick, Brian Flemming then launched to retarded "blasphemy challenge" in which people with similar emotional problems could taunt Christians via YouTube. Using a distorted interpretation of a single line of Scripture (always the hallmark of the intellectually bankrupt), he invited people to "blaspheme the Holy Spirit" on video, offering a copy of his "hit" film (which he seems to give away an awful lot of copies of) to the first 1001 contestants. Currently on the project site is a video of a guy wearing a T-shirt that says, "Fuck Jesus." What a rational adult.

You might be tempted to declare Harris and Dawkins to be above this circus, but, in fact, they contributed to Flemming's film, support it and promote it. Flemming has is also associated with the "Rational Response Squad," an organization promoted to "eliminating religion" — the site seems to imply that this will be done by harassing theist with more desperate attention-seeking behavior. One of their promotional images:

Another suggested "link to us" boilerplate offers the text, "The Rational Response Squad is my favorite atheism and religion site! It's got atheist radio and atheist forums and they know more about Jesus Christ and God than Christians do!" If this knowledge was gained from the widely debunked claims in "The God Who Wasn't There," then this claim is clearly false.

Some of you may claim that "I just live my live according to my own beliefs (or lack of beliefs) and don't care what the theists think of me." You can't claim that honestly, however, unless you haven't already posted in this thread with a shrill, emotional ad hominem-heavy attack on my observations that the "New Atheists" seem bent on defining themselves by their desperate need for a reaction from theists.

Well, my ill-advised foray into the cesspool of R/T is done. Later.