Posted by Jim Henderson on: 04.07.2006 /
Want to Write a Book?
Enter Off The Map’s Friendly Atheist Contest
Because this experience with Hemant has drawn so much attention, a major publisher has approached me with an offer to find a friendly atheist to do the exact same kind of research Hemant has done for Off The Map and write about it with me. Hemant has decided that he is not interested in this project at this time. We know that there must be a number of people who would like this opportunity to get published and get their viewpoints expressed to a wider audience. We will choose a winner before next Friday
Email me at atheist@off-the-map.org with your recommendations. We are looking to get started right away so please send me your resume and tell me why you should be the off the maps next atheist for hire. Please attach photo and sample of writing if available.The winner will receive a contract with the publisher.
Please circulate this around in your atheist community circles.
Publishers Requirements (note these are non negotiable for this project- no hate emails please)
Male
Atheist
30 or under
Friendly
Can Write
Can work Sundays
Good with Media
Leave a Reply
Comment by: Mike C
1 04/7/06 3:54 PM | Comment Link |Jim,
I know you didn’t set these requirements but why are they only looking for males?
Just wondering…
Comment by: Jim Henderson
2 04/7/06 4:23 PM | Comment Link |Because publishers can - no other reason Mike
Comment by: TXatheist
3 04/7/06 4:35 PM | Comment Link |If they are flexible on the age thing by just a few years I’m your guy.
Comment by: Cully
4 04/7/06 5:18 PM | Comment Link |Yeah, under 30 puts me out too. Only by 4 years though. :(
Comment by: Steve
5 04/7/06 5:33 PM | Comment Link |I notice that “atheist” isn’t on the publisher’s list of requirements. :)
Comment by: Ir
6 04/7/06 5:57 PM | Comment Link |I posted this announcement on the IIDB website in case anyone there who meets the requirements is interested.
Comment by: Marty
7 04/7/06 7:45 PM | Comment Link |Hemant - what do we need to do to help you reconsider and do this project with Jim? Somehow it just doesn’t seem like anyone could replace you in this role. Jim didn’t initially choose (buy) you because you were suited to do this role - but it has become clear that you and Jim were brought together to do something special - and now you have a large group of people who very much want to see the two of you see it through - because the two of you (plus I still think Ir is meant to be Chaplin :-))have an opportunity to truly make a difference. It seems like most - and probably all of us on this board feel called/drawn to make a difference in this world in practical ways and let go of all the BS of dogma, prejudice, things that devide us, etc that keeps us from doing this together. We now have learned to respect each other - and even amazed ourselves how each of us have changed. I for one would be most delighted to see us Atheists and Christians band together in ways that this world has never seen and by example - rather than words or debate - move ahead together to make a difference. For those who need a scriptural basis to suppor this - turn to Hezakia 9:10 - 30 :-)
Comment by: Jim Henderson
8 04/7/06 10:39 PM | Comment Link |TX- they wont flex
Comment by: Jim Henderson
9 04/7/06 10:40 PM | Comment Link |Anyone with contacts with The Infidel guy - tell him to call me and interview me about this contest
Comment by: TXatheist
10 04/8/06 4:07 AM | Comment Link |Jim,
That’s cool and I wish you the best on the venture.
Comment by: Katie
11 04/8/06 1:58 PM | Comment Link |I find it very strange that the publisher requires that the person in question be male. What difference could sex possibly make in a project like this? A woman could be (and many I know are) just as qualified to a project like this as a man!
Comment by: Pixiepalace » Blog Archive » Publisher Requirements
12 04/8/06 2:22 PM | Comment Link |[...] Yesterday Jim posted that he had been contacted by a major publisher who was interested in publishing a book about such a project. Hemant wasn’t interested, so Jim posted the requirements on the blog and asked if anyone was interested. The project sounds wonderful to me. I’m incredibly impressed with what I’ve read on the blog and if the book seemed even close to this quality of thinking, discussing and writing I would absolutely buy and read it. My concerns were with the requirements. I actually got angry on reading them. Most of the people who know me will see my imediate reason why, but I’ll post them anyway before I say any more. Publishers Requirements (note these are non negotiable for this project- no hate emails please) [...]
Comment by: Ir
13 04/8/06 2:50 PM | Comment Link |If the publisher wants input from a person belonging to the demographic group “males 30 and under) then a woman is not qualified, no matter how friendly and articulate she is.
And the publisher not wanting input from a person belonging to another demographic group doesn’t necessarily mean they think women are inferior. They might, but we can’t know that just from the fact that they want input from a male 30 or under for this project.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
14 04/8/06 4:08 PM | Comment Link |Pixie
I understand your feelings about the gender thing. Nothing I can say but that is what they want. This might not help but if you wrote a play and there were certain roles in that play say for a mom or a daughter or a college aged male- would someones opinion of your play and how you decide to “cast” it make any difference to you? That’s all thats going on here. The Beatles aren;t singing “worship satan” when you play the song backwards.
Comment by: Julie C.
15 04/9/06 7:29 AM | Comment Link |I understand that people have their reasons for casting a male in this role, I just think they are stupid. when there is no apparent reason why a male is needed, it just reinforces gender steroetypes that value men more than women. typical of anything christian…
Comment by: Jim Henderson
16 04/9/06 8:25 AM | Comment Link |sorry you feel that way - it is unfortunately a truer statement than it ought to be.
Are Atheists 100% free of gender stereotyping?- wow
Comment by: Jim Henderson
17 04/9/06 8:29 AM | Comment Link |BTW- no men (Christian or Atheist exccept for Mike C above who got a little close to asking) interestingly enough have voiced disapproval of the gender issue only the age issue.
just noticing…
Comment by: Rick
18 04/9/06 9:45 AM | Comment Link |Jim asked:
To a great extent its true. I won’t mind hiring a woman to fix the windows, nor would I mind a man working at manicure salons. Breaking of gender stereotypes is one of the side effects when many people go through the de-conversion process. Though I would be cautious using 100% figure. Like always, there are exceptions in every demographic. Atheists [or freethinkers] can also be inflexible to the patriarchal roles of genders in a society.
I had notice the gender issue when I saw this posting on Friday, but was insanely busy to post.
On a side note - I qualify as someone in the age group of under 30, am a male, friendly - but I don’t fit the description of an “atheist”, but an humanistically inclined freethinker. That in additon to my doctoral research. :(
Comment by: Julie C.
19 04/9/06 10:00 AM | Comment Link |I said that about christian stereotyping mainly because I was assuming this was a christian pubishing company making these rules. I guess I don’t really know - and shouldn’t judge them for being christian, just sexist ;)
Comment by: TXatheist
20 04/9/06 11:07 AM | Comment Link |yes, but the bible is sexist, one more reason my wife is glad I don’t subscribe to it
26:14 A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/apo/sir026.htm
Comment by: Mike C
21 04/9/06 12:07 PM | Comment Link |Of course, there are plenty of us Christians who recognize that the Bible is a book written from within the context of ancient patriarchal cultures, and so often speaks to that reality without necessarily establishing those particular gender dynamics as absolute commands for all times.
In fact, within the historical context of those patriarchal societies the Bible is actually quite revolutionary in its attitude towards women. It holds them in much higher regard and gives them far more rights than any other culture of that time period and region of the world. In other words, it pointed people of that era in the right direction which has eventually led to the equality that we still struggle for today.
In fact Galatians 3:28, written by the Apostle Paul in the first century AD, was the first statement of gender equality (and racial and socioeconomic equality too) in all of human history and literature. He says:
“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus… There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Comment by: Lisa
22 04/9/06 2:09 PM | Comment Link |Imagine you have a movie to make like “Tuesdays with Morrie”. The movie is based on a true story. It wouldn’t have worked with a female playing the journalist because it was a discussion between two men in real life. Same deal here. It’s simply a matter of sticking with the original life script. Nothing more. I say, Pick your battles carefully.
This is not a sexist matter, imo.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
23 04/9/06 3:19 PM | Comment Link |TX- why were you so slow to catch this? No mention in your first response…
Comment by: TXatheist
24 04/9/06 4:56 PM | Comment Link |It’s the Sabbath so I move a little slower:) Didn’t really think about it, more excited about the project than the gender requirement.
Comment by: Eliza
25 04/9/06 5:45 PM | Comment Link |What, no requirement on skin color?
As Hemant said in his writeup on St. Sabina Church bible study:
I know the publisher has already decided what type of co-author will be acceptable, but if Hemant isn’t free then how about a different agnostic/atheist writer for each of N chapters? Get perspectives from people w/ different backgrounds, etc.
Comment by: Peter in Pennsylvania
26 04/10/06 7:35 AM | Comment Link |Jim writes
Actually, the gender thing was what really got my goat, I didn’t post right away on that, wish I had…
I will probably buy this book, and send an angry letter to the publisher when I do on this very issue. I totally understand the under-30 requirement, they’re looking for people who were brought up in a certain environment/culture. The gender thing is so disturbing…
Hemant, reconsider!
Comment by: Marty
27 04/10/06 10:43 AM | Comment Link |Jim wrote an “Ebay Atheist Update” that is on the Off The Map website. Here is the link.
Comment by: Marty
28 04/10/06 11:02 AM | Comment Link |Jim: I assume you have already fully considered taking the materials from Hemant’s visits, what has been said on this blog and the discussion board - plus the behind the scenes stuff that you and Hemant (and others) have talked about and make it into a book, TV Special, movie, etc. Everyone I talk to about the adventures of Hemant and the Atheist/Christian dialogue immediately see this. Do you not see this? Does this publisher not see this? Are you and Hemant not willing to do this? The Hemant, Friendly Atheist, story and the dialogue that evolved from that has emerge so naturally and has had its own life. By the time Hemant completes his visits, there is a lot more press/tv/etc and Hemant (and hopefully many others of us) join you in Seattle - there must be a very powerful story that is meant to be told. I could almost see it as the next “Tuesday’s With Morrie” sort of series on Nightline. Is it true that the reason the publisher wants a less than 30 year old atheist male is because he really wants to be able to capture another Hemant? Why not the real thing?
Comment by: Lon
29 04/10/06 12:53 PM | Comment Link |Have I missed something? Where are these requirements … I don’t see them in the original post.
Anyway, no, atheists are not 100% free of prejudice in general or gender stereotyping in particular. Neither does Left wing equal atheist, nor vice versa. We got all kinds.
Comment by: Lon
30 04/10/06 2:15 PM | Comment Link |Never mind. I’m an idiot, it’s right there in front of me.
For what it’s worth, here’t the most right-wing atheist I know of
http://www.compleatheretic.com/
Others I’ve dealt with are the Ayn Rand types, who embrace her philosophy with a liberal dose of libertarianism, forcing them to defend the current capitalist framework and ethos.
Comment by: Marty
31 04/10/06 2:28 PM | Comment Link |Lon - I looked shortly after you posted asking for the requirements - and they weren’t there. They had been before and they are now back - but the digital gods chose to play a trick on you in the mean time :-)