The blessings of atheism
This widespread misapprehension that atheists believe in nothing positive is one of the main reasons secularly inclined Americans — roughly 20 percent of the population — do not wield public influence commensurate with their numbers. One major problem is the dearth of secular community institutions. But the most powerful force holding us back is our own reluctance to speak, particularly at moments of high national drama and emotion, with the combination of reason and passion needed to erase the image of the atheist as a bloodless intellectual robot. …
IT is primarily in the face of suffering, whether the tragedy is individual or collective, that I am forcefully reminded of what atheism has to offer. When I try to help a loved one losing his mind to Alzheimer’s, when I see homeless people shivering in the wake of a deadly storm, when the news media bring me almost obscenely close to the raw grief of bereft parents, I do not have to ask, as all people of faith must, why an all-powerful, all-good God allows such things to happen.
It is a positive blessing, not a negation of belief, to be free of what is known as the theodicy problem. Human “free will” is Western monotheism’s answer to the question of why God does not use his power to prevent the slaughter of innocents, and many people throughout history (some murdered as heretics) have not been able to let God off the hook in that fashion.
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If they spent less time trying to convince others how happy they are someone might actually, believe, them.
viking01 on January 8, 2013 at 11:09 PM
…why an all-powerful, all-good God allows such things to happen.
This is why nobody likes you guys. I don’t even believe in God, and I don’t like you. It’s waiting frantically for some way to get in cheap shots against believers that lead people to dismiss you.
If you have something to offer then tell us what it is.
sharrukin on January 8, 2013 at 11:11 PM
And that blessing is bestowed by…?
malclave on January 8, 2013 at 11:20 PM
Perhaps it would be profitable for Jacoby to do some self-examination on why that is so.
INC on January 8, 2013 at 11:32 PM
FTA….
Atheism always boils down to someone wanting to tell God what He should have done.
Fighton03 on January 8, 2013 at 11:32 PM
1. I find the fact that she’s using the term monotheism to be kind of amusing. The only two groups I know of are Christians and Jews (Islam is not of the West).
2. That over-generalized statement is also not true. Generally speaking the libs retreat behind that one rather than get into a discussion about Sin and Evil.
INC on January 8, 2013 at 11:35 PM
I was an atheist until The Messiah descended, walked on
watera water bong, appeared on the scene — as the Keynote Speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, reading from a teleprompter like no other before had — and four years later promised to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet … and four years after that, promised to tax “rich people” or something.An awesome one is he, Praise be to Obama. Now the rest of you just need to have a little good old faith in Teh One — despite all rational evidence to the contrary — oh ye of so little …
/Proselytizing, formerly-secular Obama voter
ShainS on January 8, 2013 at 11:49 PM
LOL.
Complain about atheists being seen as believing in nothing positive (which, in itself, is not positive).
Describe a few of not positive things about atheists and in not positive ways.
Say negative things about people who believe differently than atheists and call that something positive about atheism.
She was really on a roll.
Dusty on January 8, 2013 at 11:51 PM
The blessings of literal belief in nothing are…nothing.
Much as in politics you actually have to stand for something in order to get something.
You don’t get something for nothing.
(have I totally confused y’all yet? good. lol, kidding.)
MelonCollie on January 8, 2013 at 11:52 PM
I was on the subway in Manhattan yesterday, and this attractive yet accessible blonde was sitting next to me reading an article on her iPad.
Nosily, I peeked and saw “The Blessings of Atheism.”
Moments later, as I looked around, I looked six inches down and to my right at a metal side bar on the end of the bench. I saw a tattered, torn, and worn sticker that read:
“Jesus loves you! Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light.”
I was astonished by the juxtaposition in my midst. To my left, a modern, attractive woman reading about the “blessings” of atheism. To my right (definitely ironic, with the words of being at “His right hand”), a tattered, torn, stained sticker pronouncing the wonders of Christ.
Just wanted to share.
blatantblue on January 9, 2013 at 12:00 AM
Nope…TANSTAAFL. I understand it well.
Fighton03 on January 9, 2013 at 12:06 AM
No, it is ONE of Western monotheism’s answers. Another is God’s absolute sovereignty – that, like it or not, it is His will that innocents get slaughtered, and He uses it to further His good purpose. The fact that we can’t see the end from the beginning simply make it difficult for use to understand or accept.
The bible supports the latter answer. When Joseph confronts his brothers about attacking him and leaving him for dead, he says, “You meant it for evil, but God MEANT IT for good.” In other words, his brothers were doing evil according to God’s will in order that good would result.
The Rogue Tomato on January 9, 2013 at 12:13 AM
ShainS appears to have identified a third form of monotheism for INC.
malclave on January 9, 2013 at 12:16 AM
Maybe because atheists use the force of government to destroy the culture and history of the people in the name of fairness.
Mormontheman on January 9, 2013 at 12:32 AM
You might want to double check what region of the world all three of those religions came from. None of them are of the West. They’re all Middle Eastern religions.
Dan_Yul on January 9, 2013 at 12:55 AM
I see her point: believing that a dying child’s soul is actually just going to disappear into non-existance – indeed, that it never existed at all, and all of your interactions with and feelings for her were the result of chemical processes in the brain, that she was nothing more than an organic android – is much more comforting than the idea of free will.
Theodicy is only a “problem” to weak personalities unable to come to terms with misery and barbarism being the natural state of humanity.
pauljc on January 9, 2013 at 1:13 AM
Identity politics, much?
What’s next, going to claim that you were “born that way” and you need government programs to address the “disparity”?
Rebar on January 9, 2013 at 1:52 AM
You may want to check your premises. He didn’t say where they came from. He’s referencing what the article is talking about regarding religion in the Western World went the writer speaks specifically of “western monotheism.” Try again.
njrob on January 9, 2013 at 2:01 AM
I cannot agree more!
Othniel on January 9, 2013 at 2:17 AM
Why does she feel the need to comfort those with loved ones dying or help the homeless at all? In Atheist states neither of these actions would have been seen as important at all. Why does she think that they are?
29Victor on January 9, 2013 at 3:46 AM
Not really. You just keep offering the existence of evil as evidence that God doesn’t exist, and here we are again, a couple of dogs running around a weary tree with a well-worn, circular path at the bottom. I’m not sure the question is entirely rational, let alone feel compelled to revisit it every time something happens that I wish didn’t. It’s your constant question, not mine, and you keep asking it, not me.
I just want to mention that you never actually got around to listing what atheism has to offer. It may have something to offer, but you meandered away in the article.
Axe on January 9, 2013 at 3:52 AM
So is one of the blessings of Atheism straw-men or is it authors writing about topics they don’t fully understand?
Go take a look at reddit’s atheism channels,read militant atheist books or visit a college campus and what you’ll mostly run into is this kind of armchair theologian, weak tea, criticism of religion. It misrepresents Christianity’s theological positions, asks “gotcha” questions and poses “irreconcilable problems” of faith that are only of interest to those so ignorant of the topic that they don’t know that those problems are either misstated or were resolved in scripture or in the centuries following.
29Victor on January 9, 2013 at 4:01 AM
They aren’t the only ones. Though the need to destroy the old, Christian way in order to found the new, secular way in recent history is pretty glaring. Marx, Lenin, Bakunin (the anarchist) — basically the entire population of France — all wrote copiously about how necessary it was for Christianity to go away for them to accomplish what they wanted to accomplish. Some thought it could be left to atrophy, some thought it needed a stake, but they all thought it an impediment.
Not arguing your point. Just talking.
Axe on January 9, 2013 at 4:06 AM
Left out “biblical inconsistency.”
In the description of the books, I’d add “Purple passages of aloof, comical, cavalier blasphemy.” Some authors seem to enjoy the shocking “naughtiness” of that, too.
Axe on January 9, 2013 at 4:12 AM
Shouldn’t you be in bed? Go poof
DarkCurrent on January 9, 2013 at 4:13 AM
Actually, that is a question asked by atheists much, much more than by Christians. For most Christians, in good times and bad, it’s a non-issue.
tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 4:15 AM
But it’s a God thread, DarkCurrent! Shouldn’t you be attacking someone?
I am supposed to be working, though.
Fine.
Axe on January 9, 2013 at 4:18 AM
Rather hear from him than the resident apologist for a neo-fascist China.
sharrukin on January 9, 2013 at 4:18 AM
I’m slacking today
DarkCurrent on January 9, 2013 at 4:21 AM
Good morning sunshine!
DarkCurrent on January 9, 2013 at 4:22 AM
Mornin’
sharrukin on January 9, 2013 at 4:23 AM
funny!
nathor on January 9, 2013 at 4:59 AM
This is true psychobabble. Supposedly god is the ultimate good except when he does what sane people perceive as evil. In those cases god is working in what many call ‘mysterious ways.’ One of the cornerstones of religion is narcissism. It is so easy for the believers to hear of one person being the only survivor of a tragedy that has killed a thousand and proclaim it as a ‘miracle from god’ while this same entity, were it to exist had just killed a thousand and gets no blame.
Annar on January 9, 2013 at 5:19 AM
Why not?
I don’t think God really cares all that much about the evil that men do. We care because it causes suffering and mortal death and we don’t like. From God’s perspective there is no death so why should God care about mortal death. From our perspective we don’t know and have to have faith that mortal death is not the end. Some of us just don’t have that faith but, yet are still restrained from doing evil. Why? I’ve always thought that great evil comes from godless people. They know with absolute certainty that there is nothing after death so they can do evil deeds knowing that it just does not matter. They are nothing more than animals and sociopaths.
Dr. Frank Enstine on January 9, 2013 at 6:54 AM
You’re confusing sane with reprobate.
tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 7:12 AM
God could prevent the death of every human being but according to the Bible, Satan (evil) has been allowed, by God, to roam the earth. Humans are free to choose to stand against evil or join in.
There are also differing interpretations of Bible verses. Maybe the brothers were not doing God’s will. Maybe they were choosing evil instead of good but God can bring good out of bad situations. He can heal where evil can only bring destruction.
Now I don’t think that natural disasters that cause human suffering are God’s will, they are just the earth being the earth, and our lot as humans is to deal with that.
I have come to this way of thinking by logically pursuing Jesus’ example of prayer-why would He ask us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,” if God’s Will is always done everywhere by everybody? Because His will isn’t always done. Bad things happen that God does not will.
Just my POV. I am fine with people choosing to believe otherwise.
2L8 on January 9, 2013 at 8:18 AM
So the wanton slaughter of children is actually ‘good,’ you see, because it’s part of “the plan.”
Hitchens was right.
Good Lt on January 9, 2013 at 8:21 AM
I’m reminded of all those secular hospitals I pass by daily…
anuts on January 9, 2013 at 8:23 AM
You mean the ones that use all of that scientifically-derived medicine and technology?
One wonders why they don’t just use faith healers instead.
Good Lt on January 9, 2013 at 8:44 AM
Evil is allowed to persist for a while. He hasn’t explained it to me, but I blame you. He calls the game today, you get thrown on the fire today, and I don’t think he’s willing for that to happen.
God knows why.
Strange listening to people at war with God whining about him allowing them to continue to exist.
Axe on January 9, 2013 at 8:45 AM
Is God able to stop evil but unwilling?
Then he is malevolent.
Good Lt on January 9, 2013 at 8:47 AM
I think he’s able to stop evil and unwilling.
Axe on January 9, 2013 at 8:50 AM
Then he is malevolent.
Good Lt on January 9, 2013 at 8:51 AM
*PS: Hitchens being right. About what exactly? Just curious. I’m not familiar enough to be able to recognize the reference, but I’d like to.
Axe on January 9, 2013 at 8:51 AM
How many secular hospitals do you see throughout your travels? Does that number contribute to the “dearth” community institutions that was written about?
anuts on January 9, 2013 at 9:11 AM
I don’t know. Seems to me it’s more of a Greek pantheon….
GWB on January 9, 2013 at 9:30 AM
Lol, good to know.
It’s as true a principle for morals as it is for economics, you still cannot get something from nothing. The pillars of justice and order to hold up a society must be made out of the sturdy Rock of Ages. A society that tries to build its foundations out of the termite-ridden Lincoln Logs of man’s inventions will fall as surely as one that thinks Communist economics are the way to go.
MelonCollie on January 9, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Hospitals deliver medical care. Medical care and medicine is a derivative of science, which is not faith-based.
How many faith healers do we appoint to heal in hospitals, regardless of whether they’re run/funded by a religious organization?
Good Lt on January 9, 2013 at 9:46 AM
No he’s just. The question isn’t why do bad things happen to good people. There are no good people. The real question is why does he elect to save anyone.
tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 9:53 AM
Science is just another aspect of faith in what God has shown us of his creation. Which is why the Church invented the modern university system.
tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 9:57 AM
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