Atheism trusts in humanity's potential
Matt Schirano
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Ed-Op
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All you believers out there humor me for a minute (or more, depending on how fast you read). Use your imagination and run with what I'm saying, I think it's worth the time.
The argument between atheists and those who believe in a God, Supreme Being or deity is well known to most of us: followers of religion see atheists as shortsighted, immoral and self-centered. Atheists see the religiously devout as shortsighted, na've, and blind to reason.
I am an atheist, and I feel that many of my friends don't understand what atheism truly means, because frankly, it's a lot more than believing there's no God.
First off, there's a common assumption that being an atheist means we don't have faith. That would be wrong. Our faith is placed in human beings, not God. When you erase the element of God, all the things "he" has done in the past falls back to us.
All the credit people give to God, his glorious love and vengeful wrath, without him becomes our own doing.
This is a double-edged sword because it means man has a propensity for horrible atrocities as well as wonderful love, but it also shows us how amazingly diverse we are, that there are limitless capabilities even within just one person.
This is what my belief in atheism is based on, that throughout history Gods have stolen the credit for most great human achievement, while our faults have been the product of our ineptness and lack of devotion to him. Take away God, and all that is left is us, and I believe that to be much more comforting and inspiring.
How could it be more comforting? It means there's no heaven, our lives are the only time we have. And it also means no one is looking out for us, but that's not all there is.
Realizing that this life is all we have is the ultimate empowerment. When you're not living for the after life you live for today, and you utilize the precious time you have doing what's important to you, not what's important in the eyes of some omniscient God.
The argument between atheists and those who believe in a God, Supreme Being or deity is well known to most of us: followers of religion see atheists as shortsighted, immoral and self-centered. Atheists see the religiously devout as shortsighted, na've, and blind to reason.
I am an atheist, and I feel that many of my friends don't understand what atheism truly means, because frankly, it's a lot more than believing there's no God.
First off, there's a common assumption that being an atheist means we don't have faith. That would be wrong. Our faith is placed in human beings, not God. When you erase the element of God, all the things "he" has done in the past falls back to us.
All the credit people give to God, his glorious love and vengeful wrath, without him becomes our own doing.
This is a double-edged sword because it means man has a propensity for horrible atrocities as well as wonderful love, but it also shows us how amazingly diverse we are, that there are limitless capabilities even within just one person.
This is what my belief in atheism is based on, that throughout history Gods have stolen the credit for most great human achievement, while our faults have been the product of our ineptness and lack of devotion to him. Take away God, and all that is left is us, and I believe that to be much more comforting and inspiring.
How could it be more comforting? It means there's no heaven, our lives are the only time we have. And it also means no one is looking out for us, but that's not all there is.
Realizing that this life is all we have is the ultimate empowerment. When you're not living for the after life you live for today, and you utilize the precious time you have doing what's important to you, not what's important in the eyes of some omniscient God.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
LochRaven
posted 12/07/07 @ 6:33 PM EST
A voice of reason and logic. That theists misunderstand and misstate the atheist position is a given. The only drawback to articles like this is that, sadly, they more often than not end up preaching to the choir. (Continued…)
Allen Knowshisgun
posted 12/09/07 @ 3:42 AM EST
Many Europeans have only had two ways of looking at the world and it's either Bible or Science. If you look at both they do indeed conflict. However, I am American Indian from the Crow poeple, and we beleive very differently, you see it's an understanding of Spirituality and Science together which makes sense. (Continued…)
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