Atheists are ‘coming out’!

I didn’t immediately report on prominent Atheist Richard Dawkins’ ‘OUT’ Campaign, because I’ll admit my reactions were mixed. On the one hand, there seems to be something comical about Atheists coming out of the closet – labeling themselves Atheist on paper, confessing to their friends and family that they don’t believe in God; but I understand now that the stigmata against being Atheist in America is as bad or worse as being Gay – and in the beginning there was less support for the movement.

Admitting to Atheism sends a very strong, anti social message to a society where most people who don’t believe in religion still blithely call themselves Christian, or ’spiritual’, without really thinking about their beliefs. Being Atheist is anti-conciliatory; it says “I’m smarter than you, and you are wrong”.

Considering that Atheism as a movement and belief makes more logical/scientific sense than the mythological fables clung on to by organized religions, I can see how Atheists would get sick of being a misunderstood and disliked minority. Why should anyone be ashamed to say they believe in Evolution, Science, or the free use of Reason? Not only do they have the (religious) freedom to believe what they want about God, they also have the logical and very possibly the moral upper ground – what’s wrong with being Atheist? Nothing.

And though it may seem a little ‘In Your Face’ to brand yourself as an Atheist, Dawkins has created an identifiable community where previously there was not one – and this is massively important. I’ve said for years that Christians will be the winners of history, not because they’re right, but because they are a strong community with identifiable beliefs in common. They will support each other, vote with each other, and there are lots of them. Everybody else is kind of wishy washy, or ‘tolerant’ of religion.

Christians gained their power by being fundamentalist and ready to die for their beliefs; they beat out the Gnostics precisely for this reason (Gnostics had no such lust for death or martyrdom). Christianity will continue to thrive without an equally powerful opponent.

That’s why I’m so impressed that Atheism has suddenly become a strong cohesive movement with a direct agenda; bus advertisements and public billboards urging people to use reason instead of religion is helping to change the common preconception that having religion is somehow more moral or righteous than not having one.

Why I’m not an Atheist

Given my praise and support for Dawkins’ movement, you might wonder why you don’t find the following sign on my own website.

There are several reasons. First, although anti-religious, and definitely not believing in the personal God of the Christians, Atheism makes too sharp a cut between spiritualism and reason. There is a common, shared human experience in reaction to certain stimuli that develops in us a reaction. It can be ‘awe’ in the face of the grandness of nature, the appreciation of beauty, or even more mystical events felt during deep meditation, or half way to sleep. It doesn’t matter if these are ‘real’ – I personally believe them to be innate brain conditions, putting them in the realm of biology; however they are powerful experiences and rejecting them outright as tricks of the mind is not a tolerable solution.

If it is natural, or comforting for people to believe in some kind of God, or leave the question open to make room for the unexplained facets of human existence, as long as it doesn’t interfere with progress, reason, science and education, I see no harm.

Moreover, although I know it is possible for Atheists to be more moral than Christians – especially as they are more in control of their passions and thus their actions – I have seen no evidence for this. I think it is true that most people – even very intelligent people – need to find a reason to live a good live, to get better and improve themselves. Modern society is exceptionally lazy. We have nothing like the Greek quest for the well lived, well examined life. Rarely do people fast or meditate for ‘enlightenment’. Few people improve their shortcomings as rigorously as Benjamin Franklin.

Having a very simple conception of a life with meaning, a framework that gives validity to the idea that self-improvement is worthwhile in itself and not just for profit, is crucial for excellence in living. Atheism takes away such purpose. Why should men be good? Why should I become a better person? I don’t need to, Atheism says; I can if I want to and if it benefits me. For me, this isn’t enough. I’m not saying life has purpose or design, but concluding absolutely that it does not, robs me of many facets of life that I wish to hold on to.  (Ok – life is a cold, dark room, and I’m clutching a security blanket that gives me no warmth, but a little bit of comfort. Will you take it away from me because it doesn’t have a functional purpose?

Secondly, Atheism today is mostly a rejection of Christianity and organized religion, and the ridicule of superstition. I see no problem with this – I also don’t believe in Christianity. But the leap Atheists make from “Christianity is dumb” and “The church has done bad things in the name of God” to “therefore God doesn’t exist” is much too swift. People who don’t like Christians are finding refuge in the movement of Atheism as a place to vent their anger and frustration; this turns a community of intelligence into a community of bickering, pride and snide remarks – there is absolutely no dialogue between Atheism and Christianity; it’s a trench war, each side hurling abuse.

Choosing a side and waving a banner effectively kills the possibility of communication or dialogue; and as I’ve mentioned, I’m a mediator. A strategist, not a warrior. Mostly, I can’t see anything to be gained by the argument, whereas there may be something to gain by respectful, informed communication.

Anyway, I’m rambling, it’s raining, and I’m hungry.

2 Responses to “Atheists are ‘coming out’!”

1. Kittie Balsis says:

   March 26, 2010 at 10:44 pm

   Just wanted to stop by and say thanks. Enjoy reading your stuff.
2. Melissa L says:

   June 16, 2010 at 2:39 pm

   I find your article to be very intriguing. I don’t know if you know it but there are actually a few “closet Christians’ that I know, because they are afraid of the ridicule that might insue from their wanting to say that they love Jesus Christ, and that’s almost sad. If you’re going to believe something, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to flaunt it like the most flamboyant person in the world, but if you have a set of “moral regulations” that is based either on your beliefs or if your pulling it strictly from your chosen book of guidance (i.e. Bible, Torah, Qur’an), you ought to follow the things that you have established as a set moral basis. The problem for most Christians, is that the “rules” are often to strict for themselves to follow, and then when the rest of the world sees that they have screwed up, they get called hypocrits for mistakes.

   I will agree with you that most of what organized religion offers is a load, but a lot of people forget that although people want to seek out meaning, a higher power, nirvana or whatever you want to call it, people need to determine if they are willing to pay the price that comes with chosing one religion or another. Christians say that you need to seek God’s love and forgiveness, and the cost is to accept Christ as your personal savior and work your hardest at getting rid of the “sin” in your life (and I hate to say this but I’ve actually heard it said by one Christian that picking your nose is a sin, so my problem is knowing what the extent of things in life are considered sins). In Judeaism, you must follow the rules that are set in place that were supposed to have been established by God in the days of Moses. Islam follows similar tradition to Judeaism, but its only unforgivable sin is that God(Allah) could have ever come to earth in human form.

   As for what I believe, I do believe in Christ, and the Bible, because it is the divine inspiration of God Himself through mankind. I don’t know of any other book that makes that claim. And it has lasted throughout the ages. I will not speak against those who openly, or even secretively (really), because I do know that it too can be considered a religion, even if it establishes no set of moral basis, and determines this is the one life we have to live, nothing after death (how sad it sounds though).

   But I will say this: if you as an atheist have logically determined that nothing is to come after this life, not even some form of reincarnation, then what is the point of even living? If we work hard enough for our species to continue on until we eventually blow ourselves up because we eventually will (the whole hatred issue, hard thing to snuff), why bother with trying to continue your life if you eventually die, and what you leave behind ends up with the same fate? Nothingness. The Void. That’s awfully depressing. If I believed that I think I’d just slit my wrists.

   Fortunately for me, I believe in a loving God who’ll give me more in the next life than what I’ve gotten as my earthly blessings. I will spend eternity loving Someone who’s loved me since the day I was born, always watching out for me, even if I screw up bad enough to land myself in jail, getting beaten up by someone I thought was a friend because they really didn’t want to have to say goodbye when I moved, or seeing my family die in front of me, believing they will be going to where they’ll be loved by the Same One who loves me.

   And I believe in hell, and that my reason for loving and accepting God isn’t to stay out of the fire, but to avoid being separated from him so all I have to think about is being consumed by fire without ever actually getting consumed.