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Neither is it a euphemism for devil worshipper, totalitarian dictator, child molester or moral-free heathen who reads “Nietzsche for Dummies” for philosophical reference.
An atheist is simply a non-theist, meaning one who does not believe in the existence of gods.
Notice I did not say non-theists lay claim that there are no gods, as making such a claim would require evidential proof (of which there is none for either side), but instead that there is no evidential proof for any supernatural existence at all.
Zero.
In fact, 100 percent of the empirical data collected since the beginning of recorded history points in the other direction, thus heavily inclining rational thought to one very specific corner of logic.
So calling someone an atheist is not an insult, much less a dirty word, and when done so is merely the reflection of a theist point of view towards scientific facts the theist obviously refuses to acknowledge.
Non-theists do not claim ownership of any truths, yet all theists do to some degree. A non-theist will only claim a truth based upon knowledge (not beliefs) of provable facts, which are based upon available data at the time of the claim.
Theists need to understand that there is no philosophy of atheism, no school to attend, no particular view of the world to follow. Atheism is not a faith, a religion, or even a way of life; it is simply a refusal to deny the obvious.
Some non-theists do, however, insist on forming clubs, calling themselves Freethinkers, Humanists, or even the sadly patronizing, “Brights,” but this serves to do little more than antagonize theists and promote fear of a societal “Scarlet A” for those wishing to come out of the god closet, so to speak.
Every human born, since the moment our frontal lobes evolved to the point of self-realization, began life as a non-theist. It has only been as periodic explanations for the unknown that the supernatural “magically” popped into mankind’s existence, thus becoming an unfortunate long-lasting anomaly against rational thought, but a brilliant short-term strategy for leaders to exploit.
From the gods who made the sun rise each morning (revered more than 30,000 years ago in European cave paintings) to the one who currently (and evidently) instructs his followers to kill all those who don’t believe in kind, our species has been quite literally overwhelmed by beliefs as opposed to knowledge.
And these beliefs in the supernatural are based upon facts reached by consensus, not any scientific process, yet all scientific knowledge remains on an ever-lasting fence because it is continually subjected to revision when better explanations or evidence is collected or discovered.
So where belief in the supernatural represents the sum total of our ignorance and lack of knowledge as a species, gods are the personification of that ignorance.
That is not an insult of any sort, just a simple (and certainly not unique) observation.
A non-theist has optimistic confidence in nature, of which man is the dominant species, while a theist has faith in the supernatural, of which there is not even the slightest hint of empirical evidence for its existence.
A non-theist looks at a child and sees the future of our species, while the theist sees a new generation to further their version of ancient beliefs.
A non-theist seeks shelter from a hurricane while trying to figure out methods to better adapt mankind to nature’s wrath. A theist seeks shelter while praying for the well-being of themselves and others.
A non-theist yells and screams for their team to score a touchdown and defeat their hated rivals, while a theist prays for supernatural intervention in helping their team win.
A non-theist understands that when a biological entity dies it is the end of the line. No magic dust, no make-believe soul, no next life, etc., it simply ends, and that is why they care so much about life and living in the here and now — it’s the only one each of us will ever have.
To that end, there is no greater gift a parent can give a child than honesty, and future generations deserve nothing less.
Accept the fact that both non-theists and theists steal, cheat, lie, commit evil acts of murder and get DUIs, and although the non-theist might not accept responsibility for his actions, he most certainly will not claim to have been “forgiven by a higher power” the next time he gets behind a wheel.
To quote author Bill Bryson, “We enjoy not only the privilege of existence but also the singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better.”
Atheists and theists should both endeavor for the same lofty goal.
Richard Carnes of Edwards writes a biweekly column for the Daily. He can be reached at poor@vail.net.
An atheist is simply a non-theist, meaning one who does not believe in the existence of gods.
Notice I did not say non-theists lay claim that there are no gods, as making such a claim would require evidential proof (of which there is none for either side), but instead that there is no evidential proof for any supernatural existence at all.
Zero.
In fact, 100 percent of the empirical data collected since the beginning of recorded history points in the other direction, thus heavily inclining rational thought to one very specific corner of logic.
So calling someone an atheist is not an insult, much less a dirty word, and when done so is merely the reflection of a theist point of view towards scientific facts the theist obviously refuses to acknowledge.
Non-theists do not claim ownership of any truths, yet all theists do to some degree. A non-theist will only claim a truth based upon knowledge (not beliefs) of provable facts, which are based upon available data at the time of the claim.
Theists need to understand that there is no philosophy of atheism, no school to attend, no particular view of the world to follow. Atheism is not a faith, a religion, or even a way of life; it is simply a refusal to deny the obvious.
Some non-theists do, however, insist on forming clubs, calling themselves Freethinkers, Humanists, or even the sadly patronizing, “Brights,” but this serves to do little more than antagonize theists and promote fear of a societal “Scarlet A” for those wishing to come out of the god closet, so to speak.
Every human born, since the moment our frontal lobes evolved to the point of self-realization, began life as a non-theist. It has only been as periodic explanations for the unknown that the supernatural “magically” popped into mankind’s existence, thus becoming an unfortunate long-lasting anomaly against rational thought, but a brilliant short-term strategy for leaders to exploit.
From the gods who made the sun rise each morning (revered more than 30,000 years ago in European cave paintings) to the one who currently (and evidently) instructs his followers to kill all those who don’t believe in kind, our species has been quite literally overwhelmed by beliefs as opposed to knowledge.
And these beliefs in the supernatural are based upon facts reached by consensus, not any scientific process, yet all scientific knowledge remains on an ever-lasting fence because it is continually subjected to revision when better explanations or evidence is collected or discovered.
So where belief in the supernatural represents the sum total of our ignorance and lack of knowledge as a species, gods are the personification of that ignorance.
That is not an insult of any sort, just a simple (and certainly not unique) observation.
A non-theist has optimistic confidence in nature, of which man is the dominant species, while a theist has faith in the supernatural, of which there is not even the slightest hint of empirical evidence for its existence.
A non-theist looks at a child and sees the future of our species, while the theist sees a new generation to further their version of ancient beliefs.
A non-theist seeks shelter from a hurricane while trying to figure out methods to better adapt mankind to nature’s wrath. A theist seeks shelter while praying for the well-being of themselves and others.
A non-theist yells and screams for their team to score a touchdown and defeat their hated rivals, while a theist prays for supernatural intervention in helping their team win.
A non-theist understands that when a biological entity dies it is the end of the line. No magic dust, no make-believe soul, no next life, etc., it simply ends, and that is why they care so much about life and living in the here and now — it’s the only one each of us will ever have.
To that end, there is no greater gift a parent can give a child than honesty, and future generations deserve nothing less.
Accept the fact that both non-theists and theists steal, cheat, lie, commit evil acts of murder and get DUIs, and although the non-theist might not accept responsibility for his actions, he most certainly will not claim to have been “forgiven by a higher power” the next time he gets behind a wheel.
To quote author Bill Bryson, “We enjoy not only the privilege of existence but also the singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better.”
Atheists and theists should both endeavor for the same lofty goal.
Richard Carnes of Edwards writes a biweekly column for the Daily. He can be reached at poor@vail.net.
