7 Questions For An Atheist
by Andrew Gonsalves
www.tfproject.org www.andrewgonsalves.com
What is an Atheist?
An Atheist is someone who doesn't believe in the existence of a god. They do not believe in the existence of a higher power, omniscient being, one true creator, or the supernatural. It seems like nowadays, one has to make a conscious effort to be an Atheist. There are so many things to believe and so much pressure to believe them, that you're almost forced to make a decision. I suppose that is why most Atheists I know are fairly solid about their position on the matter.
So, what are you then?
I am an Atheist, but I don't think that completely defines me. I only believe in what I can sense, and even then I am always questioning. I've never really believed in god. While I've been through church sermons, Sunday school, Jewish traditions and studies, and even going steady with a Mormon, I don't think I've ever felt the presence of anything more than myself. Even when I tried my hardest to believe in the supernatural, or that the spirit of my late honorary grandmother was looking out for me, I could never sense it. I've prayed, I've wished, I've loved and I've hoped, but I've never been convinced of god like the rest of society. I simply have not seen any evidence or felt anything.
What else do you believe?
I believe in the methods of science. I take comfort in science's pledge to seek out the truth, while never forcefully claiming that knowledge IS the truth. I love the method of reworking theories and ideas until a logic defines an occurrence. It brings me much more comfort than faith. I enjoy not knowing the answer because I enjoy the search for it. In contrast, I've always felt like faith is an over-eager attempt to define the world. While many religious people may claim that this great science that I praise is really the craft of God, it still boils down to the origin of it all. Do I know how it all started? Do I know how humans came to be? No, of course not. There is no evidence that rightfully claims that ONE idea is true, including the claim that God did it all. Thus, I continue to look to science to reveal a little more of the puzzle before I claim any more.
The origin of religious claims to knowledge date back before we had the slightest idea of what an atom was and before we discovered the Earth revolves around the Sun. The fact that people still hold on to many of the claims made back then tells me that religion is antiquated. It is nostalgia and an excuse to stop thinking. While many of my very decent religious friends claim to be seeking the truth, they only seek it within the bounds of religious context. Even things like science are attributed to the will of their god, which to me is an assumption that cuts short other avenues of knowledge.
What do you think happens when you die?
You just die. Your conscience fades out and you cease to live. The synapses in your brain stop firing and your body decomposes. Death is sort of scary to me for that reason; to know that I only have one chance at life and when it's over, I'm done. The feeling hasn't driven me to live like a maniac, nor has it motivated me to live without consequence. Instead, I cherish my life and I seek to make the lives of others more pleasant. I feel like the promise of more to come gives too many people the freedom of conscience to do bad things. If those bad things are in the name of their religion, they only see the afterlife in their sights as they tear the lives up of those around them.
If there is nothing beyond your lifespan, what is your motivation?
I have a unique philosophy that I don't think anyone else follows. I'm as unique as my freedom from conformed thought allows me to be. I suppose it's a complicated philosophy to follow, but I'll try to explain it. In much the same way most artists don't gain recognition until they are dead, and in the same way many people seek to be martyrs for a cause, I believe our personal legacy is more powerful than our individual lives. While one may die, their philosophy and passion will live on in the minds of those who knew them. I believe that if I live life in the public service of others, trying to make a difference in the world, even if I do not live to see the fruits of my labor, I can touch someone's heart who will then carry on my ideas.
One could just as well resolve to be forgotten. In that way, they will be remembered by less people and they will be lost in time. It's a decision we all make, usually determined by our mentalities. I think my philosophy creates a funny paradox in that it is impossible to achieve altruism. Even monks who set themselves on fire have an agenda, and they are very well remembered.
How can you have morals when you don't believe in anything?
Let's not call it not believing in anything. I am not a non-believer, I just don't believe what religious people do. To believe is to know, so I believe what I can observe, test and prove. However, as far as morals go, I can't claim to have any. This is another semantic matter where I think morals are a religious institution. I possess decency, kindness and compassion, but I evaluate things on a natural, animalistic basis. I guess you can say I live by the Golden Rule; that you do not do unto others what you would not like done unto you. It's a simple equilibrium that makes sure to keep you in check if you overstep your bounds.
I feel like "morals" are a means of control. Many people are uneasy with the idea of letting a man decide his own actions, so they determine for him the things he can and cannot do to make sure he is in compliance and to allow him to be punished when he crosses the line. Furthermore, I believe morals suppress individuality and understanding. When you enter a situation under the imposition of moral guidelines, your behavior is limited. This can be damaging and dooming for the more unique people of this world. Without morals, we would have no bad words and clothing would be strictly optional. I believe that defines real freedom. You have to admit, though, that if the word Fuck wasn't so vilified, many of us would have a hard time emphasizing our points.
If you don't have any morals, how can you be trusted?
It's a horrible misattribution to link trust with morals when religion is the greatest killer of men this world has ever seen. Less dramatically, there is a new documentary on the news every week about how another atheist in a country town has been ostracized from their community because they don't believe in the same thing everyone else does. Many religious people feel embarrassed by these reports, claiming they harbor all viewpoints. That doesn't mean they don't see themselves as going to heaven while all others will burn in hell. I have a problem trusting someone who believes they are destined for something higher than I; they in turn should not feel threatened by my spiritual flaccidity.
My actions are not compelled by anything more than survival, compassion and pleasure. These things, in their three-standard-deviations context are no more harmful to others than you humming your favorite tune to yourself. If you cannot trust these plain assertions, the onus is on you. Perhaps that is why so many faithful feel the need to impose their will on others. They feel just in judging not only that which they do not agree with, but also that which does not concern them. The feeling of being important, loved by a great creator is empowering. I feel the same way when my boss confides in me; I use my ego boost to delegate tasks to people who are not under my power, but who are under the power of my boss. The parallel is troubling when you think of god as the boss and you assume everyone else is under his supervision.
I hope I have shed some light on the mind of an atheist. I do not claim to know everyone's mind, as we all have our different motivations and each one of us is as unique as the freedom we operate under, but I feel like I've written a fairly good generalization of what we all feel. Have a good life.
DIGG