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Why I am an atheist
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by YankeeJim | July 28, 2011 at 06:07 am
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It didn’t just happen one day. It took nearly a lifetime. Actually, it took many lifetimes because I know my family history and can trace the thinking process to the point of my evolvement.
One grand ancestor worked for King James, translating the Bible. Another ancestor translated the Bible from English to Welsh. Before that, there were Jewish ancestors who traveled out of the land of Egypt through India, Iran, and Russia, through Croatia and onto to Wales. All of that time, many were religious men and women, speaking to their communities about love and tolerance for one another.
In the course of time, they adapted the stories passed down from fellow human beings who used them as a means to cope with the unknown and to establish rules of civility. Religious rules were for all mankind while kings and tyrants, tribal leaders, and eventually governments prevailed.
Discovering life’s truths is humbling. Studying science and the history of humankind creates a context for which there is no end in any direction. Whether we look outward or inward, what we find are more infinite details.
I was raised a Christian by deeply religious parents as were their parents. In the course of upbringing, I discovered two types of “believers” in my midst: 1) humble, kind, gentle, faithful people who could not and would not hurt a fellow human being as they would give all the benefit of the doubt and trusted in their “Lord” to find the right answers, and 2) confident, forceful, arrogant individuals who used their church to justify their being right in their mind about most everything because their “Lord” entrusted them with their being correct. There are many variations of these types of people in the world as we are diverse.
People who study people, formally or informally, people who observe and contemplate their own behavior may eventually see the light.
Human beings are unique among the living for having the capacity to imagine and to wonder. Those who keep imagination fresh and who keep on thinking will push the envelope of evolution. Those who stop thinking may be confined to their moment on this earth will see only what is before them. In either case, both have capacity to apply their brains to construct a better world or to make it worse.
At night I still think a simple prayer taught to me by my Mother.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray, my Lord, my soul to take.
I once contemplated that soulful energy might be real. I thought maybe Einstein had it right, that energy is conserved. All of that thought and emotion represented by an individual human being must not just go away with their death. It must be conserved somewhere, somehow.
Then a scientist friend reminded me that when the chemistry stops, it all goes away.
Yet, he is wrong to believe that chemistry stops, because it doesn’t really.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust is all a part of the grand scheme in which we are encapsulated.
Particles we are of something grander here and there, everywhere, we are.
Posted by Mollie
A few weeks ago there was quite a brouhaha over an atheist challenge to a street sign honoring 9/11 victims. The name of the street is Richards Street but underneath the sign at one intersection is another street sign saying “Seven In Heaven Way” to honor seven local firefighters who were killed on September 11. And so newspapers and media outlets ran with the story. Most news stories seemed fine. One, I recall included quite a few atheists objecting to the complaint on the grounds it was petty or hurtful.
Well yesterday American Atheists filed suit to prevent cross-shaped steel girders from the wreckage of the World Trade Center towers from being included in the September 11 memorial. American Atheists president Dave Silverman was quoted by Courthouse News:
Mincing no words, Silverman, who is not a named plaintiff, added: “It [the cross] has been blessed by so-called holy men and presented as a reminder that their god, who couldn’t be bothered to stop the Muslim terrorists or prevent 3,000 people from being killed in his name, cared only enough to bestow upon us some rubble that resembles a cross. It’s a truly ridiculous assertion.”
ABC wrote up the lawsuit:
Jane Everhart, who is part of the atheist’s suit, derided the cross as nothing more than “ugly piece of wreckage” that “does not represent anything … but horror and death.” …
“The Christian community found a piece of rubble that looked like an icon and they deified it. But really 9/11 had nothing to do with Christianity,” said American Atheists president Dave Silverman. “They want a monopoly and we don’t want that to happen.”
The article talked to the September 11 Memorial folks and they explained that other religious artifacts would also be on display, including a Star of David cut from WTC steel, a Bible fused to a piece of steel that was found during recovery efforts, and a Jewish prayer shawl that was donated by a victim’s family member:
In a statement to ABCNews.com, the memorial foundation identified the cross as a “symbol of spiritual comfort for the thousands of recovery workers who toiled at ground zero,” as well as an “authentic physical reminder” that “tell[s] the story of 9/11 in a way nothing else can.”
The article ends with competing quotes. One is from the rescue worker who found the cross after digging three bodies out from the rubble of the collapsed Twin Towers. He says he was overwhelmed upon its discovery and believes it’s a beautiful symbol of faith and freedom. He argues that it’s a “natural artifact” from Ground Zero. The other quote comes from the communications director for the American Atheists who says she can’t visit the memorial so long as there’s a cross there.
The article is fine but I wonder if it wouldn’t have been improved by including the voices of atheists who are not fans of this lawsuit. Otherwise it gives the impression that all atheists think lawsuits against featuring the remnant beam from the World Trade Center are a good idea.
One other thing. USA Today basically just quoted extensively from the American Atheist press release (which was unwise considering it had some errors of fact). But it mentioned that one of the plaintiffs was a man whose brother had done rescue work at the World Trade Center for two weeks following the attack and died in 2005. We’re told that the man wouldn’t want a cross to honor his brother unless it’s a Lutheran cross.
Now, as you may have picked up from previous blog posts, I am Lutheran. And I have literally no idea what a “Lutheran cross” is. I mean, is it a crucifix? We do like our crucifixes. Is it a plain rustic cross? I guess not, since that’s what the cross in question is. Is it something to do with the Lutheran Rose? What is it? I have no idea.
Image via Wikipedia.
Written by: Mollie on July 28, 2011”
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YankeeJim
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (29)
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downtown dave (not verified)at 08:43 on July 28th, 2011
We are dead in our sin, and the only way to be "alive" is to receive Jesus as the One who saves us from judgement.
at 08:47 on July 28th, 2011
Thank you for that Dave. Lest not judge yet it also happens to you.
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"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)at 09:46 on July 28th, 2011
If you don't believe in a God you shouldn't be upset by the erection of a cross by those who do. The act should be as meaningless as you declare is your belief. Hypocrites.
at 10:26 on July 28th, 2011
This atheist doesn't really care.
I suppose you care that the Muslims wanted to build a sanctuary in the World Trade Center neighborhood. That was perceived by some to be insensitive.From a Muslim viewpoint who may have also lost friends in the terrorist attack, it may just be another way to cope and return to normalcy.
Everyone has a perspective. In a democracy, my opinion is that everyone should have a right to their corner of what is shared and common among us. In fact, I believe that all natural resources should be shared and common.
I gave to you a recommend so that you can call me an atheist socialist liberal.
at 10:50 on July 28th, 2011
Two thoughts on this..
(1) How can you not believe something you don't understand ?
(2) Why is this even an issue for someone who has belief but no religion ?
What you should ask yourself is, 'who are you'..
1
at 11:01 on July 28th, 2011
I may believe that I understand within my human capacity to do so, if you are referring to "religion" in general or acts of faith in particular.
If you are referring to the cross at the trade center site, I have compassion for the people who find something of value in any artifact associated with the tragedy. I don't care about its religious significance as much as I care about the people who care.
I am a caring person with many disabilities and flaws that come with being human.
at 11:25 on July 28th, 2011
Maybe you should ask yourself then what is it to 'care'? I bet even sam_micheal
can't mathematically define 'care'.
What is the life force in you. What meaning does it carry for you?
To think I am, so I must exist doesn't really answer who you are..
1
at 11:58 on July 28th, 2011
I appreciate the questions.
"Life force in me" has a foundation in how the DNA came together to make a human being, propelled along a path of existence to 1) stay alive, 2) wonder why, 3) enjoy the surroundings, 4) keep safe and healthy to contemplate the questions.
We have come to know that when one is wrapped up in staying alive, there is little time for anything else. One may become so obsessed and desperate doing this they can't care about anything else. Somewhere along the line, wisdom struck and individuals discovered that working together is far better than going alone.
In my opinion, people also have the ability to make life more complex than it need be. Introducing rules that inhibit individual freedom of thought and deeds is a complex and risky undertaking. Sometimes, we get it wrong.
I am a thought-filled person as a product of evolution. I have capacity to create and enjoy, love and respect. I also have the capacity to become jaded and hateful. So managing the propensity to swing in one direction or the other takes a lot of work.
Religion surely influences me, though in my wonderment, I think that those values and experiences might have been delivered more efficiently and effectively than being shrouded in mythology. However, without the myths, the journey may not have captured my immagination and attention.
at 13:03 on July 28th, 2011
And I appreciate your answers YJ..As you state above..
"Life force in me" has a foundation in how the DNA came together to make a human being..
DNA has physical properties. It can be explained and defined. What are the properties of 'life force' ? What is life force ? Were does it exist ? How is it explained ? Why does any living thing without it die ? Were does it come from ?
at 13:23 on July 28th, 2011
Humility must couch the response.
We can observe the forces of nature at work. Scientists can explain how chemicals came together, likely by chance, to produce a solution beginning as single cells and thereafter becoming more complex.
The same physics and properties used to explain the microscopic happening apply to our macroscopic universe as far as we can see. Because we are constrained by human capacity, albeit evolving and continuously improving, we can't see forever in any direction neither can we explain all things apparent to us.
I don't know the limits nor do I believe there is a single source for anything. It is only a human invention that attempts to explain all in the image of a superior version of himself.
at 16:08 on July 28th, 2011
Per your above comment YJ (14:23 on July 28th), even though you choose to explain infinite life force in finite physical terms; and seem to suggest that human capacity to explain all things is constraint; that 'we can't see forever in any direction neither can we explain all things apparent to us'; you've chosen to explain the most fundamental and powerful (life) force in all living things by saying 'it's how chemicals came together, likely by chance, to produce a solution beginning as single cells and thereafter becoming more complex'.
I would assume from your thought, that no life force would have existed before the creation of some single cell living thing in the universe ? That the creation of a living cell created this life force ? Thus the universe created itself from what exactly? What is the universe. Is it simply physical things that came from what exactly?
at 17:47 on July 28th, 2011
It depends on your definition of life form. I suspect that there are many things about which we are unaware that from a different perspective and in some dimension for which we are not equipped to penetrate, there are other things or "beings" with their view about what is living and such.
I don't claim to know very much, but am able to think about the possibilities. I have often wondered about existence in other dimensions yet to be discovered.
As I have said, I don't know if there is an end point to anything in any direction. Then again, there might be. If we humans are supposed to discover it, we will.
In the meantime, we are free to imagine and invent as we wish. My only concern is making sure that what others think are not an imposition on anyone else, because no one knows that answers to the unanswerable in our time.
at 19:26 on July 28th, 2011
Yet in stating you are an atheist, you contradict in several ways what you suggest above at 18:47..
Maybe you're more on the fence still_which isn't a bad thing.
at 02:44 on July 29th, 2011
I have conversations with my angels, if that's what you mean.
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"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)at 15:00 on July 28th, 2011
No I didn't care that Muslims wanted to build a landmark Islamic sanctuary in the neighborhood where their fellow adherents had chosen to destroy an existing national iconic building and a New York City landmark in the name of Islam. What I debated when the subject came up was the fashion in which people chose one cultural/religious expression as a right over the other, and pointed out the hypocrisy in doing so. Just as I have with statements that, allowing that everyone has a perspective, there are those who use ridicule and derision to "putdown" an opposing view. Who go so far as to suggest that something, say religion, that has no value to them, and therefore it ought not to have any value or be expressed by any other. As with the atheist and the ground zero cross, and their court case to have it removed from their sight. Even though it has no meaning and is not material to their lives or thinking.
at 17:50 on July 28th, 2011
Thank you for that.
at 11:15 on July 28th, 2011
two statements struck me above: "..wonder" and "their god, who couldn’t be bothered to stop the Muslim terrorists" if we live without wonder, we're kinda dead inside .. YJ's treatment above was one of the most sincere and balanced perspectives i've seen about atheism. perhaps the most. kudos dude .. it's difficult to get me to shut up about Christian smugness so you won't find much balance from me about the topic.. i pretty much hate all religions for the same reason .. about the second statement: it's not God's job to stop Muslum terrorists - it's OURS. [section auto-deleted by NowPublic 'nasty word' editor] God cannot solve human problems. if there IS a God, there was only one purpose - to create NOT interfere with petty human squabbles. [wow, my train of thot was really interrupted by the auto-editor]
at 12:01 on July 28th, 2011
I would elaborate but they would think we were conspiring.
at 12:16 on July 28th, 2011
Religion is supposed to be a way of life but for some it is opium of some sort. Some have painted God so weak that they have to take up arms against their fellow men just to prove a pointless point. Sad to say history has it that they did not even spare those who share their faith. That is why we have seem Catholics kill Catholics, Protestants Kill Protestants, Muslims Kill Muslim, e.t.c yet they all share the commandment, "thou shall not kill". As if such command were giving to Trees, Mountains, Rivers e.t.c.
Man's failure to live by God's standards is NOT an indication that there is no God, but an indication of the fact that we are all given the gift of free will.
So the decision is left to man to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, anything short of that is contrary to his arrangement for man.
Even demons who oppose the worship of the true God Jehovah believe in God as shown below
(Matthew 8:29) And, look! they screamed, saying: “What have we to do with you, Son of God? Did you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
(Luke 4:34) “Ah! What have we to do with you, Jesus you Naz·a·rene′? Did you come to destroy us? I know exactly who you are, the Holy One of God.”
So denying the existence of God is like desending the the lowest level of ?
at 12:28 on July 28th, 2011
I enjoy your opinions. I don't believe in heaven or hell, but I recognize all the space around us.
at 15:21 on July 28th, 2011
"I don't believe in heaven or hell" is an ambiguous sentence. When you say you don’t believe in heaven do you mean to say just as we have the globe called the earth, there is no place high above the circle of the earth called heaven? Or by that do you mean that you don’t believe the good heads to heaven when they die. And does the fact that you don’t believe in hell also mean there is no literal place of eternal torment called hell or is it that hell means something else to you? Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
at 17:56 on July 28th, 2011
I believe that we can define good and evil. I would hope that my fellow man would be able to know the difference. I would hope that good people are remembered by those who care for their positive contributions. As for the evil, if they hurt others in various degrees, I hope that good people are able to limit their transgressions and harm and prevent anymore. I don't believe in capital punishment and I do believe that the patterns leading to crime can be broken by positive intervention.
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duddits (not verified)at 15:19 on July 28th, 2011
When Christians and Muslims stop killing each other in the name of God" I will feel more inclined to accept their arguments about the divine feelings associated with religion.I use to pray to god for relief of the DEPOPULATION AGENDA OF THE NWO. No help there" I recently tried to contact an alien race from "Galactic Federation Of Light" to intervene, and yeah you guessed it" No help there! I guess this means I am on my own, and must figure out a way to fix these very human issues by interacting with other humans to come up with sustainable answers that address the needs of all. Novell concept.
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Elaine May (not verified)at 18:00 on July 28th, 2011
Cybernazis kill in the name of the state. Some improvement over killing over God...
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cybersluth (not verified)at 18:44 on July 28th, 2011
Christians, Muslims, Jews and the rest?
Just imagine, but that is what John Lennon did and possibly why he had to die?
Imagine.
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Imagine there's no countries (not verified)at 22:25 on July 28th, 2011
The Military Oligarchy programmed someone to kill Lennon because Lennon opposed the war in Viet Nam, cyberidiot.
at 02:46 on July 29th, 2011
Didn't happen. To them, Lennon was a small fish.
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"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)at 23:10 on July 28th, 2011
There is not much point in imagining the ideological perfect world if one can not cope with the imperfect reality. Understanding human behavior as I do. I doubt we would be long in the embrace of the ideological perfect world before conspiracy raised it's head. For some the world will always conspire against them. And with imperfect people living in a ideologically perfect world -conspiracy would be pandemic.
at 02:46 on July 29th, 2011
Insightful, interesting, and consistent with your theme of late.