Perhaps it’s time for me to use my own voice. Maybe post my own words? My own thoughts? But then the question becomes: where do I begin? Should I create a mission statement? The truth is, I don’t have a mission statement. As yet, I don’t really have a purpose or an agenda driving this website. So, for now, it shall exist as a miscellaneous collection of rants, raves, musings, and quotes. Such as this one:
In a closed society where everybody’s guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.
-Hunter S. Thompson
So what shall be the point of this post, then? Why not dive into the deep-end and have a little chat about religion? Religion has been on my mind quite a bit lately. Not because I’m considering becoming a “born-again Christian” (One of the silliest terms I have heard – how do you go through the birth process again? Once you’re out of the womb, you’re out. There’s no going back). Actually, religion has been weighing on my mind for quite the opposite reason. A few months ago I finally decided to jump on the Atheist bandwagon.
And why not? Most Western religions got their footing through the masses jumping on the bandwagon. Catholicism started with the Romans following the elite classes away from Polytheism and embracing the Monotheism encouraged by the Bible. All of the variant sects of Christianity began in the 16th century when Martin Luther created a schism with the Church that, once again, benefited the elite society. Why should Atheism be any different? Why can’t there be an Atheist bandwagon, on which the masses jump as they embrace logic and reason? Why not?
I’ve been firmly opposed to the concept of religion since high school and an Agnostic since my second year of university. I wasn’t really ready to let go of the ideas of spirituality – the higher-being, the “big picture”, the afterlife. I needed these things to help me cope with the death of my 20 year-old cousin who was killed by a drunk driver. I needed to believe that there was a reason behind his promising life being cut short, and that maybe he continued living in a disembodied sort of way, still able to make a difference. However, with time comes reason, and while his death still hurts, I’m okay with admitting that he’s dead. Just dead, not in heaven, not floating around the Earth making a difference in other peoples’ lives. His atoms are still floating around somewhere in the universe, yes, but he isn’t. And I’m okay with this.
What pushed me over the proverbial edge, causing me to take that final step and identify as an Atheist isn’t all that clear to me. I’ve been harbouring a growing appreciation for science, yes. I’ve also been re-reading Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion and listening to Tim Minchin’s beat poem “Storm”. However, I’ve always appreciated science, despite resigning myself to never being able to understand it; I read The God Delusion shortly after it first came out; and I had listened to “Storm” almost ad nauseam whilst remaining an Agnostic. So why did I finally jump ship?
The evolution of reason and logic, I suppose.
Perhaps my conversion to Atheism stems from my distaste in the violence and hypocrisy that exists in religion. Or at least Western religion. The concept of religion, and its actual historical practices just don’t jive. On one hand, we have the holy figures preaching love, acceptance, tolerance, and peace. The other hand is far more nefarious as it calls the parish to war, condemns those who differ, burns those who cannot be explained, and shuns those who dare to disagree. If the Church were one of its parishioners, it would be going straight to hell in a whiskey bottle.
This, however, only explains my fervent distaste of the Church and organised religion on the whole. What about the disbelief in God? Maybe that stems from my ever-growing understanding and appreciation for science? Or, as I said before, with age comes a more mature form of logic and a greater ability to apply and apprehend one’s reasoning skills. Or maybe I’m just being far too analytical.
I had therefore to remove knowledge, in order to make room for belief.
-Immanuel Kant
If I take Kant’s view, than perhaps I’m too stubborn and too selfish to be willing to make room for faith or religion. I just find knowledge too precious, too exciting to be willing to sacrifice it in the name of “faith”.
Or maybe I’m just jumping on the bandwagon.
I'd have to posit that there are several reasons why people aren't quick to give up religion, or at the very least, spirituality, for atheism.
ReplyDeleteThe first is that a belief in God, or any higher being, really, is a safety net, and you'd have to argue that most people are inclined to emotional response vs. logical response. People are, at base, irrational. The universe also appears to be irrational, and as we attempt to make sense of the apparent illogical reality we exist in, something that allows us an understanding that alleviates our fear of the unknown while still catering to our emotional selves inherently has more appeal than a logical, rational approach, which - as you indicate in your post - offers us little to no emotional comfort, merely the idea that these are the facts. Very few people are comforted by scientific facts; they'd much rather the emotional safety net that's doled out by many religions with offers of an afterlife or reincarnation.
That's mostly the reason that atheism will likely never uproot religion and become a dominant belief system; many people find it simply too "pessimistic" to want to join in. In a sense, you could argue that, beginning in the 19th century, the Western world has moved steadily away from religion toward a more scientific and logical realm, but even as we've become increasingly less attached to the dominant, and in many cases, institutionalized, forms of religion, there have been revivals (think Wicca and paganism, which have been regaining ground), and many Westerners have turned to "alternatives", religions that aren't usually associated with the West, such as Buddhism, Sikhism, and Islam. Indeed, what's happened, rather than an eradication of religious belief, is a movement toward the diversification of belief: each person is entitled to his or her own choice of belief and value system. This is another point against atheism becoming a dominant force: in a world of pluralism, it becomes increasingly difficult to establish a single dominant stream.
Finally, while we have to argue that many religions are founded upon sound philosophies (Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity all have underlying philosophies which are partially undermined by the mysticism and power dynamics overlaid on them by centuries of additions and reinterpretation), we'd also argue that this obscuring of the fundamental principles of the philosophical underpinnings allows for the irrational to creep in at every level. Thus, if atheism were to ever become popularized, we'd likely witness a similar erosion of the basic tenants of the belief system, through the simple intervention of humanity's inherent irrational disposition.
Keep in mind this is entirely from a Western, and specifically Canadian, point of view, and there are many, many other opinions on this subject matter. Feel free to argue with me on any of these points.
I like it when someone smarter and more eloquent than myself decides to engage in a dialogue! I learn stuff. Moving on.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'd argue that Buddhism, Confucianism, and like religions have a stronger merit as a philosophy or moral code, and is weaker in their worship of a deified being. Or at least as I understand it, this is the case. Please feel free to prove me wrong. However, I agree that pluralism makes a single dominant stream impossible. I just believe that if one is an Atheist, one should not feel ashamed or pressured into silence in order to maintain one's status or perceived community integrity. It may not become a dominant stream, and I wouldn't expect it to, but why is it so difficult for Atheism to become an accepted stream?
Secondly, you pointed out that many people find Atheism far too pessimistic, which is true. It is also quite misguided. Why does one need a personal God to find happiness? Can't we find happiness in the beauty and complexity of the world around us? When a loved one passes, why must we take solace in the belief that they are "in a better place," why can we not take solace in the remembrance of the time we shared, the life they lived? Atheists can be very positive, and are often very happy people.
Finally, thank you so much for commenting on this shindig! It makes me feel awfully special. x
I can't speak for any atheist but myself, but this atheist is a pretty happy bunny.
ReplyDeleteI know many people find anxiety and fear in the idea of life ending, or of never seeing loved ones again. I find great comfort in that simplicity and in the fact that in the end, none of us really matter. We'll all be forgotten eventually, as will our success and more importantly, the failures that taunt us throughout our lives.
I miss the friends I have lost, of course. I miss their company, their stories, their smiles and humour. I miss sharing life with them. But that's the point. That was life. Life ends.
I find no comfort in the idea that they're hanging around waiting for me to croak it and join them. If there were life after death, I would miss the friends and loved ones I leave behind as much as I miss those friends I have lost. Where's the comfort in that?
I agree 100%. Sometimes I think Atheists are happier people than most Christians. Probably because there is a lot less pressure to act in a certain manner in order to avoid eternal damnation. There really isn't much I can add to what you said, as you said it so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading and commenting! It definitely put a nice, big smile on my face. xx