Thanks A Lot
For Getting Others
To Think!!
Kristopher J. Purzycki
From: "Kristopher J Purzycki"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: WebMaster:_Positive_Atheism_Index
Date: Friday, August 25, 2000 5:14 PM
Greetings...
I am fascinated by both atheism and theism, as I call myself neither (and simultaneously everything). Out of curiosity, don't you think (believe, know, think you believe, believe you think, know you believe, believe you know, etc) that atheism takes as much energy as theism does? If you believe in God (etc, etc), you accept your submission to something you don't know, whereas if you don't believe in God, you accept you submission to something you don't know as well.
I don't know anything, believe in anything, and by accepting and submitting to this, I accept all of it, in an "i am therefore i think" sort of thing.
thanks a lot for getting others to think!!
sincerely
benjamin
From: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: "Kristopher J Purzycki"
Subject: Re: WebMaster:_Positive_Atheism_Index
Date: Friday, August 25, 2000 5:42 PM
don't you think ... that atheism takes as much energy as theism does?
One either has a god belief (however vague) or one does not have a god belief (however vaguely). I do not recognize any middle ground (what some call agnosticism), and would be very concerned if any of my friends or relatives claimed to be simultaneously theistic and atheistic (so-called omnitheism, which states that all religious claims are true). For an agnostic to claim agnosticism as a third alternative is to misrepresent the historically accepted meaning of the word atheism: atheism is simply the lack of a god belief, it is not necessarily the assertion that no gods exist (though a few atheists do mane this assertion). True agnosticism is either theistic (a god exists but that's all we know) or atheistic (I don't know whether or not a god exists).
So, to answer your question, yes and no: atheism is more work in one sense and less work in another sense.
Atheism requires less work simply because theism is an additional belief that is tacked on to one's observations of his or her environment.
Atheism requires more work in that an atheist must think for him- or herself rather than (conveniently) rely on alleged "revelations" from a supposed deity. Of course, some atheists take their orders from this or that philosopher (Marx; Rand) and some theists do think for themselves on all matters including those of religion (many Unitarians; many Pantheists; many liberal Christians). Also, all theists decide which system they will follow, and some only become "sheep" once this decision has been made. But the basic idea behind Freethought (one brand of atheism) is that you are responsible for developing your own outlook.
Atheism is no fun at times: it's cold and lonely out her and we have no comforting myths to carry us through life's tough moments.
The fact that a believer is happier than a sceptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
-- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
Preface to Androcles and the Lion
I don't know anything, believe in anything, and by accepting and submitting to this, I accept all of it, in an "i am therefore i think" sort of thing.
Are you sure you're gonna be okay?
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
Material by Cliff Walker (including unsigned editorial commentary) is copyright ©1995-2006 by Cliff Walker. Each submission is copyrighted by its writer, who retains control of the work except that by submitting it to Positive Atheism, permission has been granted to use the material or an edited version: (1) on the Positive Atheism web site; (2) in Positive Atheism Magazine; (3) in subsequent works controlled by Cliff Walker or Positive Atheism Magazine (including published or posted compilations). Excerpts not exceeding 500 words are allowed provided the proper copyright notice is affixed. Other use requires permission; Positive Atheism will work to protect the rights of all who submit their writings to us.