After backlash, atheist author cancels ‘God is an abusive boyfriend’ book

[cbayer]

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/08/07/new-atheist-picture-book-compares-belief-god-domestic-abuse/

Chris Stedman | Aug 7, 2014

UPDATE: One day after launching the book’s Kickstarter campaign, Mehta has announced its cancellation: “Even if I believe the concept behind the book is a valid one, the execution was poor and it upset a lot of good people. My apologies to anyone in that crowd.”

ORIGINAL POST: Yesterday (August 6), “The Friendly Atheist” blogger Hemant Mehta announced his newest project: a fundraising campaign for a book entitled God is an Abusive Boyfriend (and you should break up).

Featuring artwork by Tracey Moody, the picture book will draw parallels between belief in God and an abusive relationship. While initially describing it as “the most fun I’ve ever had on a writing project,” Mehta acknowledged that the subject might be controversial to some.

“We understand some people will have strong feelings about this project, but it’s certainly not our goal to offend anyone,” he wrote on the book’s Kickstarter page. “If you’re religious, we hope it nudges you to think differently. If you’re not religious, we hope you find it entertaining and informative.”

- See more at: http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/08/07/new-atheist-picture-book-compares-belief-god-domestic-abuse/#sthash.B4kY6CBY.dpuf

[intaglio]

1. At least he listened n/t

[cbayer]

2. Yes, he did. I have always liked him and was disappointed

that he had chosen this particular project.

But my faith in him is restored with this cancellation, and he did it in a very classy way.

[edhopper]

3. It's interesting

He probably thought (correctly) that people would be offended by God being portrayed as abusive. But they would have to then counter his points. Which would be fine.
What he didn't realize is that this would also be offensive to abused women, since he wasn't making light of that.
But some did see it as trivializing a serious problem, so he made a proper choice.

[cbayer]

5. God being abusive was not the issue that people voiced objection to.

It was the trivialization of domestic abuse that caused the furor, as you point out.

I agree that he made the right choice.

[edhopper]

6. Well i think he was prepared for

people to be offended bu the abusive God thingie, but didn't foresee the reaction about real abuse.

[Jim__]

4. Good for him!

[Htom Sirveaux]

7. He did the right thing.

Last edited Fri Aug 8, 2014, 10:41 AM - Edit history (1)

No doubt he'll learn from this, and if he does end up publishing another book, it will be a much stronger book as a result.

[edhopper]

8. I commend his decision

to broach this with humor, he just needs to find a different approach.

[okasha]

9. That was done with grace and class.

Kudos to the gentleman.

[rhett o rick]

10. He should have asked Salman Rushdie for advice before he started. nm

[pinto]

11. Good, smart turnaround. It was amazingly tone deaf to the context.

I wonder if anyone along the way took him to one side and said "Do you realize how this reads?"

[cbayer]

12. He's generally a good guy and I think he did this innocently,

but it is a reflection of how oblivious he is.

But he listened and learned and I really respect that.

It's a lot more sincere than posting a long and excruciatingly boring response on why he is right and everyone else is wrong, lol.

[pinto]

13. Yep, there's that. He kept it clear and simple. And it sounds sincere.