A Set Of Views
So Loose
As To Be Solid
Dr Dan Buch
From: "Dr Dan Buch"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Date: May 17, 2002 1:13 AM
It is with a mixture of both sadness and joy to thank you for your efforts to bring a sense of "Positive Atheism" to the world. I feel sadness that we live in an age when those of rational thought and goodwill must hide and feel outcast; I feel joy in finding that I am indeed not alone in my views.
It is quite lonely living in my country; a country which monetarily subsidizes religious belief; a country which validates religious belief with government sponsored religious messages via its broadcasting network. To live in my country, I have had to learn to close my eyes and ears to the madness I see daily. My country has built a wall of hypocrisy so solid, it has managed to frighten and badger even apparently sane and educated men and women into submission. I live in the United States of America.
It is a crime to the ages that in this era of ubiquitous communication technology, diversity, availability of scientific education, and availability of historical literature that our collective societies continue to allow generation after generation to be subdued by the fallacy of religious belief.
I will not expound my personal history, nor will I recite my reasoning here; history has well documented the voice of reason from better minds than my own. (Your web site has thankfully given some of these voices new and louder life.) I would however like to give mention to some feelings that I can not escape.
I feel that, for all of the "light hearted" and "positive" atheistic views presented so well by your web site, unless atheists are able to sound a common voice, the ages are doomed to an eternity of religious oppression by the belief de jour. This creates a fundamental problem, for how can a group of people un-united by "faith" form strong community groups to become collective political powers? Perhaps what unites us is a set of views which are so loose as to be solid (like the United States Constitution, whose strength lies in its intentional ambiguity). Such a set of views may look something like this:
• | We believe there is no eternal being which guides the universe. | ||
• | We believe that by understanding (or choosing not to understand) our universe we may learn more of our place within it. | ||
• | We believe that truth, as determined by fact, is stronger than belief which is determined by "faith." | ||
• | We believe that human beings can do more harm in the name of their belief than they would ever do in the absence of a belief. |
I would welcome the day when I can contribute funds to my government subsidized group of like-minded individuals. I would welcome the fellowship of a community grounded on sound reason rather than based in fear, ill-will and ignorance. For now, web sites such as yours must, and will serve as such a community. For that "let us be truly grateful."
Dr. Daniel Buch, B.S., D.C., Q.M.E.
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