What Is Positive Atheism?
Does Your Atheism Impact
Your Outlook On Life?
Is Your Atheism The Result
Of Your Outlook On Life?
Positive Atheism Forum
What Is Positive Atheism?
Does Your Atheism Impact
Your Outlook On Life?
Is Your Atheism The Result
Of Your Outlook On Life?
I don't feel it like that, but of course, if you compared it to being an theist, I guess it does rather a lot, in the sense that I do not spend any of my time wondering and praying to my god ...
One of my three quests in life is the quest for the truth. Whether I want to believe in a god or not is not really relevant. I guess you could call that my outlook on life, so yes, since I have found no evidence or reasons for one to believe in any god.
Bjarke Roune
I was born into the Church of England and have been if not religious then certainly spiritual most of my life. I entertained many ideas growing up and have been interested in Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism as well as Christianity. I was married in church but when I decided to have my daughter christened I came face to face with my first real crisis. The concept of original sin. I would have to accept the idea that my sweet new born baby girl was not automatically entitled to enter heaven because she was conceived in original sin. Well, I had long arguments with the minister but finally bowed to the wishes of my wife and the idea that it was selfish of me to impose my ideas, opinions and position on the head of my new born daughter. Later I became confirmed in the church (the United Church) so as to keep my family together and proclaim my humility to all.
But as my life developed, things became more and more complex. I prayed every night for guidance. I prayed for strength and courage and the fortitude to do and accept what I must in order to keep my family together. I prayed to become a better man, husband and father to both my daughter and my son.
Prayer does not work. I prayed fervently and sincerely every night. I asked nothing for myself but only that I might be up to the task of keeping my family together. Prayer does not work.
After my divorce I renounced god and any concept of a higher authority. I began reading books. I read Carl Sagan's Demon Haunted World, and many other books on science, evolution, cosmology, biology and anthropology. I read books such as Thomas Paine's Age of Reason, Dan Barker's Losing Faith In Faith. I read books on philosophy, especially books by Ayn Rand,and Nathaniel Branden. I read George H. Smith's book Atheism: The Case Against God and books by Dawkins, Dennet, Ingersoll and E.O. Wilson.
The more I read the more I realised just how marvellous a world we live in and how diverse its life really is. I realised that if I read several books every day for the rest of my life I still would not have made a dent in all the knowledge that there is to grasp. I was (and am) trying to conciliate all the knowledge I had so far learned into a comprehensible view of the external world, the cosmos and how our species relates to it all.
I accidentally came in contact with a young man via the internet who claimed he wished to know what my personal philosophy was. I was delighted to have a "pen-pal" and one who seemed to wish to trade thoughts on subjects I was interested in. We began to correspond. I soon realised he was a Christian fundamentalist but thought that would only add to our discussions. It gave me a chance to air my views, formulate my thoughts and come to grips with questions to which I had been searching for answers for a long time.
I used this opportunity as I told the young man, to firm up my thoughts so that they would be reasonable, rational and within the parameters of natural laws. I then soon discovered that he was sending my e-mails to an entire group (I often and perhaps unfairly referred to the group as a cabal). Members of the group were university students studying the sciences which really frightened me as well as a history teacher and a philosophy teacher (albeit from a bible college). I answered all the mail and argued my position. Some of the answers and questions posited by the group gave me pause but mainly they could be reduced to the typical arguments; the first cause argument, the argument from design and the argument from authority.
I successfully argued my position when predictably they resorted to ad hominem arguments and finally to out and out threats. Of course the threats were that I would burn in everlasting hell if I did not drop there and then to my knees and accept the lord Jesus Christ as my saviour. I pointed out that by any standards of debating or philosophical dialectics, I had won the debate since any participant who invokes threats of any nature real or imagined fails as soon as force or threats of force are used to bolster his position. I maintained that their position was therefore untenable and that I had "won".
The experience left me flabbergasted as I scarcely could believe the rabid vitriolic rhetoric which the group had used on me. I became then and there a militant atheist and champion for critical thinking. I have joined the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the James Randi Educational Foundation and am actively seeking other more local organisations to join with.
Sincerely,
Stephen A. Lonsdale
Atheism greatly impacts my outlook on life. Because I converted to atheism after being raised Lutheran in a very religious area, I have learned to stand up for my beliefs. Also, unlike many of my friends, I do not look to God for my comfort in bad situations. I have learned to depend on myself and have therefore learned a lot more about who I am. I have also learned to take action when I don't like something because I know I cannot leave it in God's hands.
Angela Sette
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 23:23:37 -0800
From: Jerry Carlson
To: editor@positiveatheism.org
Subject: Outlook Results in Atheism
My atheism is the result of my outlook on life because in my life I have looked for what I can find out using the logic that I have found through my experiences in life. I wouldn't consider myself totally atheist, I am uncertain onto which is true atheism or religion. I want to believe in God. Mostly because of my peers, and a lot has to do with death. The problem is when I look back on history, I can see that people could have made God up, yet it is a big myth to start. But when people want to believe in an afterlife and a higher power, I see how it could have happened. I wish I knew there was an afterlife, it's rather painful when logically it doesn't seem to fit, I guess I will never know until I die. But I still got about 50 (at least speaking upon average) years to experience.
If I may go upon a seemingly unrelated topic, I feel that daily and almost every moment my mind seems to close. It's sad. I'm 17. I adapt to my surroundings, so when I have friends who are theists, I become more accepting of theism. I don't know if theism is bad. I wonder what a society full of atheists would be like. It's so hard to imagine since we are people and people usually act differently under different situations.
From: José Moreira da Silva
To: Positive Atheism <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 14:15:16 -0300
Many times I thought, what would I do if my son were a homosexual? I didn't like the idea very much since I live in a Christian country [Brazil] and being gay carries a stygma. But things have changed since I became an atheist. I thought about homosexuality and have come to the conclusion that the way one performs the sexual act does not reflect on the person's life in general. Gays are people just like anybody else. Today I believe I would accept my son even being gay. In my society being gay is quite a hindrance since there's so much discrimination. That's one of the reasons I would [not] like my son to be gay. But my reservations are about the way society treats gays and not the fact of being gay. I'm not gay, but now I respect that sexual choice. When I was a Christian I didn't.
From: Mary Eva Ann
To: Positive Atheism <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 09:24:56 EST
My thoughts on atheism is a result of events and occurances in my lifetime.
I have seen so much suffering in my line of work as a medical professional, I find many holes that exist in the theory of Christianity. If "God" is so loving, why would he allow all this suffering to happen? I never put down Christians for what they believe in, its their belief and they are entitled to it. Why must they put down us (atheism) for our belifs with so much hatred, say we are all going to burn in hell, harrass gays and anyone, who does not follow their train of thought. If "God said to love one another as I have loved you.", why must Christains be such hateful people. I am sorry, I cannot believe in something that constantly contradicts itself.
From: "Ann Murray"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: WebMaster:_Positive_Atheism_Index
Date: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 3:58 PM
I have long felt myself alone. My beliefs were hard come by, and not due to disillusionment, but came out of a quest for true spiritual connection with the Universe. In the beginning I felt cold because the security of "belief" was stripped away albeit by my own hand. Today --- peace, and the eternal quest pursued with a kind of intellectual joy. Thank You for being. I just found you.
Deeply moved by your presence, I close.
Ann Murray
From: "Melanie Walker"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Hello!
Date: Thursday, May 11, 2000 1:21 PM
Hi Cliff,
My name is Melanie and I am a moderator and partner in Cygnus' Study. I have been reading through your site and am finding it very interesting. I need to spend more time with it- and will continue to do so. I'd also like to invite you to check out our site. Please visit us and we'll do some networking. :)
As for your two questions:
"Does your atheism impact your outlook on life? If so, describe how" and "Is your atheism the result of your outlook on life? If so, describe how" I guess I will be lazy and copy and paste my "deconversion" story from our site and hope it gives you a sense of what I believe (or don't, as the case may be!) Here it is -- linked from this board:
Melanie, My father was Catholic, my mother Seventh Day Adventist. I am the youngest of 7 children -- and we all went attended mass and went to CCD. My mother did not convert to Catholicism and believed we should all form our own opinions about religion -- so when my father died when I was 6, we stopped going to church. Three of my sisters married Catholic men -- and I would occasionally go to mass with them -- but I never really bought it. My mother remarried -- a non-practicing Mormon -- and my stepfather didn't care for my declaration of religious freedom. He thought me an indignant child -- and I suppose I was. For him, god was something that you did not stop to question -- but, fortunately, he left the issue alone with me. We only had one significant run in. I was 9 when I came to the full realization of what "god" was about and I concluded that it was something I did not believe in. It seemed a ludicrous concept to me. I was asked to say "grace" at a family dinner -- and I refused, saying that I would not "pray" to something that did not exist. I, of course, was sent to my room without dinner -- but the issue never really came up again. I didn't push it and they left me alone. I began a journey of tentative exploration -- wondering what was out there and why I was here. I was 14 when I firmly settled into an existentialist reality -- but Catholicism still had a claw or two in me. I struggled with residual guilt and would spend large amounts of time considering my place in the universe. I ended up attending a Jesuit university -- and it was there that I finally had a breakthrough. I had a "religious experience". Now, I use the term rather loosely -- as I know that a "religious experience" generally involves the "knowing of god" -- but everything I felt fits the requirements. I became friends with one of the priests at school. He is originally from Portland -- so he would occasionally come home for holidays and weekends- and would offer students a ride if they needed it. I came to Portland with him a couple of times- and we would have long talks about what I believed and what I felt. Then -- during one of our talks in his office at school -- he said something that changed everything for me. He said that he believed that god respected my pursuit of truth and that I was using the intelligence that he had given me to find my way. What kind of god would give me this kind of intelligence -- and then ask that I not use it? What kind of god would bless me with logic and then ask that I reject logic in favor of faith? Well, I doubt that "Father What-A-Waste" (that's what all the girls called him because he was a hottie!) expected that his words would have the effect that they did -- but what he gave me was a permanent reprieve from guilt. I was finally absolved of my Catholic curse and I was able to move on with my life. It changed things for me- gave me a new direction and a new confidence. I left the university and moved to Portland -- and have since devoted my time to living a life that exceeds any gods' expectations -- because my judgment of myself is far more relevant and rigid than any gods' could be. So... I am an atheist who is at peace with who I am and what I believe. Because I am at peace -- I can accept others for who and what they are and I don't feel threatened by differing belief structures. It doesn't get much better than this. |
Sam (Cygnus) and I live in Beaverton with my two children. Sam and I are planning to attend the Atheist/
Hope to hear from you soon!
Melanie
From: (Chaplain Al Holm)
To: Positive Atheism <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: via What is Positive Atheism
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 20:00:28 -0700 (PDT)
WHAT A DELIGHTFUL SUBJECT. I have asking myself that and other related questions for more than half a century.
One of the first things that I must confess is that I am an ordained minister in the Christian faith. At least I was for many years. Now, I think that I am an atheist when it comes to the god of many churches. I have to agree with Dr. Gerald Mann when he said that if you belong to a church that worships a vengeful and angry god, you are in a sick church. And, I agree with Spong when he suggests that we must ask the question of not who is God but What is God.
I also had the pleasure of meeting and learning many new ideas from a man named Rocco Erico. His teaching along with Spong's concept of the Hebrew Lord have certainly secured many new ideas about the whole situation. Yes, I am theist, but not a theist of the first century religion. I am also an atheist to the religions of the 20th or 21st century in most churches.
I think I have to join Bishop Spong in declaring myself to be a christian in exile.
http://community.webtv.net/livingministry/AnInterfaithChapel
From: "Jeremy & Shawn Dicken"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
Date: Sunday, April 16, 2000 7:38 PM
I know that we only exist by chance and are completely coincidental. I do know that someday I will die and that will be the end. I know that it is highly likely other life forms exist in the universe (after all, we do exist), however, they may not be similar to us at all. I believe in evolution, that we evolved (from carbon and sulfer). I also believe in the big bang theory. I'm 26 now, however, even as a 3 year old child I questioned religion. I never understood how someone could believe in something mythical and not believe in dinosaurs or evolution, for the answers are right in front of us.
Sincerely,
Shawn
From: "Georgia Kelly"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: via What is Positive Atheism
Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 9:53 PM
Hi! I want you to know that your page has offered me a great deal of comfort. I'm 18 years old and have extensively explored all the major religions. I never found the answers I was looking for. Guilt and dissatisfaction were all that I was left with. When I began to explore science I discovered not only the answers I was looking for but also I found a sense of peace. I found that many truly brilliant individuals shared my beliefs. (It almost seems as if there is a correlation between extreme intelligence and atheism.) Thank you for your site. You've done a marvelous job of offering support to a much slandered group of people (non-believers).
Sincerly,
Tracy Kelly
From: Anthony Negron
Sent: Friday 19 February 1999 1:48
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via Q and A: Atheism and Outlook
Hello... it's great that you advocate atheism! I myself detest religion and I detest family values; yet I am not an atheist, I'm agnostic. I base my life on logic and reason, and I, like you, need solid evidence that God or an afterlife exists. Yet I must disagree how you state how an atheist must act or think. Isn't atheism about being able to express yourself freely? Putting ourselves in little boxes of rules is very unhealthy! Faith is like a political spectrum; a hodgepodge of different beliefs all going to various degrees. On the extreme left you have total atheism, and the extreme right are fundamentalist cults (including satanism, all religion is the same; worship of a fairy-tale idol). I myself am like the centrist in the political spectrum... I'm agnostic. I detest the religious but not the spiritual. The advantage of agnosticism is that I can openly listen to both sides of the spectrum, and in turn, formulate logical judgements and at the same time, dodge the rules that are dictated to me from both sides. Yet my beliefs do not stem from a fear of death or from insecurity in my life.
Please reply me with your thoughts on the subject of agnosticism.
From: Raymond Warmington
Sent: Tuesday 23 February 1999 7:31
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via Q and A: Atheism and Outlook
Question #1: I believe the question to be redundant as being an atheist must impact ones outlook on life because that outlook would, by definition, be different if one was a theist. I realize that atheists and theists see many things the same but atheists don't spend this life preparing for a nonexistent afterlife. Atheists choose to live their lives by certain precepts and laws, not because they are written in a special book but, because they believe them to be good precepts and laws to live by. Theists are bound by faith to follow the teachings of their religion regardless of how illogical many of those teachings are. Christianity teaches that this world was created by a superior being approximately 6000 years ago. To accept this one has to ignore many facts and much evidence that this couldn't possibly be the way the earth began. Christianity teaches that there was a great flood that covered the earth approximately 3500 yearts ago. To accept this one has to ignore many facts and much evidence to the contrary. This is what faith does to people. Atheists are free of the faith that requires them to accept totally ludicrous themes and concepts.
I realize that I have chosen some of the most glaring themes from one religion and that not all Christians agree with these teachings. I just used them to try to show that ones outlook on life has to be impacted by whether or not one believes in a deity. At least, that's the way I see it.
Question #2: I guess I would have to say my outlook on life is the product of my intelligence and being an atheist is a by-product of that intelligence. (I try not to use the word "atheism". I really hate the word because, by definition, an "ism" is a belief or doctrine and, by definition, an atheist is one who has an absence of belief).
I was born into religion. I was reared as a Christian and was baptized by choice when I was thirteen. For the first 17 years of my life I believed it all because I had been told from birth that that was the way it was. It didn't take me long to change my mind once I got out from under the religious influence.
Although it took an awful long time before I actually referred to myself as an atheist, it didn't take me long to become one. Once I realized that religion was a foolish concept then my outlook on life took a big leap in a different direction. I stopped living this life preparing for the next life and I began looking at life with a different perspective and, over the years I believe that I learned many things about life that I probably wouldn't have learned had I remained religious.
As I age my outlook on life is constantly changing because of my life experiences. Each day I learn knew things and understand more. I believe that many of these things wouldn't have been learned had I gone through life with the closed mind of a religionist.
Well, there you have it. Thanks.
R
From: Ted R. Smith
Sent: Saturday 27 February 1999 6:04
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via Q and A: Atheism and Outlook
Definately! By accepting known facts, I can safely state that there is no proven instance in which a basic law of physics (ie thermodynamics, power of fusion, etc.) has been violated (ie a miracle and/or god). I am guilt free. This was a major improvement than when I was a fundamentalist Baptist. I no longer get onto myself for accidently not following an outdated, overtly oppressive agenda with no clear benefits (10 commandments), I no longer think I'm possessed by Satan, and I don't have to worry about holy retribution.
Plus, I can now have self-esteem. See, when I believed in God it seemed that every bad thing I did was because of myself, but every good thing was because of God. That does a number on your self esteem.
Atheism has also made me more of a positivist. See, most Christian fundamentalists believe (and always have) that the earth will end in their life time. Therefore the earth is ALWAYS in a crisis. I now put things in perspective and realize that there was more death per capita back when Christianity ruled supreme than now.
From: Ted R. Smith
Sent: Saturday 27 February 1999 6:15
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via Q and A: Walk Equals Talk
1. Seeking knowledge -- REALLY religious people believe knowledge a negative thing, since a little thought and Christianity is exposed.
2. Extending life -- True theists want the better life of heaven.
3. Christian rationalists -- Try to unite theism with atheism (does that count?)
4. Expanding human control through science =- Science has always been viewed as a modern Tower of Babel.
5. Not going to church -- Supposedly less than 20 percent of Americans go to church. In France 85 percent of the pop is Catholic, yet only 5 percent go to mass.
1. Set up ideologies as god -- Ayn Rand and capitalism, Kant and altruism, Rawls and Justice, Marx and Communism. all atheists, all religious.
2. Irrational atheists -- Religious people are irrational too
This is good content now that I'm thinking of it! I'm going to put on my website too!
Socratic seminars are cool. I think I'll utilize it on my site. Might want to make a guestbook that makes the answers public.
Ted
From: Stephen A. Lonsdale
Sent: Thursday 22 April 1999 21:17
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
I find myself very sceptical of any claims made that ensure health and happiness by adherence to some external source. This includes all the new age religions and alternative health modalities. I am also somewhat sceptical of information received as news via the networks and cable companies. I prefer to read/listen/watch news regarding important events from a variety of sources so as to gain a broader insight. I often seek overseas news sources to gain a fresh perspective.
Having not watched news for almost a year as a result of cancelling my cable, I was astonished at just how much the TV/News anchors try and slant the stories, always looking for the optimum sentimentality or maximising the tragic at any cost so as to exploit the human interest angle.
I find it is not easy being atheistic in this society where approximately 97% of the population is theistic. At times I feel quite anxious and question myself especially when tragedies such as that which took place 48 hours ago in Littleton, Colorado occur. I completely empathise with the parents, children and the entire community. I, as I am sure all members of society were, stunned by this tragedy. What freezes my blood (aside from the obvious dilemma of why teenagers would act out in so horrific a way) is all the talk of god and prayer. None of that seemed to help PREVENT this horrific act from taking place.
It is espoused that god is omniscient, I fail to see how that could be in light of this carnage or could he not act to stop it? Does that mean he is not omnipotent? I know what the answer will be. God works in mysterious ways and this was all in his plan which we are incapable of understanding such is the nature of god.
I do not accept that! Anyone killing and maiming innocents to promote a personal and/or political agenda is a terrorist. If some god used these two angst-ridden children as agents of death to promote his "plan" then he is not a god but a terrorist. I would not want to be in a heaven sitting beside such a monster as he for all eternity.
I have worked with troubled youth as a correctional officer and while I certainly do not have any answers, it does seem that a strong desire for psychological visibility might be considered as part of the explanation. We all of us wish to be seen as having value, neither exaggerated nor devaluated, but as having some value nonetheless. Being cast out or ostracised from the mainstream was in ancient times a form of capital punishment. How much more excruciating must it be for angst-ridden teens? We as adults unwittingly play apart in that process. While our intentions are no doubt good and honourable, we nevertheless assist in creating at least the mentality of an us-and-them social strata which our children cannot help but buy into. We need to accept young people for what they are and not continually subject them to value judgements. I fear now for the so-called "Goths" who will no doubt be vilified by their peers as the backlash response to the tragedy manifests itself. Indeed, the media is already playing up the idea that the two young gunmen were hunting for minorities even though only one innocent young man was of Afro-American descent. I hope that all of us black, white, red, yellow whatever our colour can see past racial issues and understand that this tragedy speaks more to the angst of adolescence more so than it does racism. I also hope that youths who dare to be individuals by virtue of their fashion, music or associations are not needlessly targeted for revenge or further disenfranchised from the mainstream.
Adolescence is a very difficult period of growing up and in my experience adolescents are unpredictable as a result of this process. Mix the availability of firearms and the violent nature of American society in with this angst and you have a recipe for disaster.
I am a British-born Canadian citizen living here in New Jersey and so I do not understand the emotional attachment Americans have to their constitutional right to bear arms. Living by Camden New Jersey and Philadelphia, I do however see the toll that "right" takes on the communities in the number of young people dying from gunshot wounds.
Prayers and belief in god have not helped stem the tide of dead bodies so far; why not try revoking the right to bear arms? Why not try communicating with children, listening to them and trying to understand their world instead of forcing our own version on them? It is especially hard on me as I have two school age children in Canada and by the infinite wisdom of the judicial system in both countries combined again with emotionalism instead of rationality, I am not allowed to see them. That however is another issue.
I sincerely feel for all those young people and their families in Colorado. I hope there can be an end to senseless violence. I hope that as the rest of the populace turn in December to celebrate Christmas they might refrain from buying their youngsters toy guns and violent video games.
Sincerely
Stephen A. Lonsdale
From: Stephen A. Lonsdale
Sent: Thursday 22 April 1999 22:10
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
I was born into the Church of England and have been if not religious then certainly spiritual most of my life. I entertained many ideas growing up and have been interested in Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism as well as Christianity. I was married in church but when I decided to have my daughter christened I came face to face with my first real crisis. The concept of original sin. I would have to accept the idea that my sweet new born baby girl was not automatically entitled to enter heaven because she was conceived in original sin. Well, I had long arguments with the minister but finally bowed to the wishes of my wife and the idea that it was selfish of me to impose my ideas, opinions and position on the head of my new born daughter. Later I became confirmed in the church (the United Church) so as to keep my family together and proclaim my humility to all.
But as my life developed, things became more and more complex. I prayed every night for guidance. I prayed for strength and courage and the fortitude to do and accept what I must in order to keep my family together. I prayed to become a better man, husband and father to both my daughter and my son.
Prayer does not work. I prayed fervently and sincerely every night. I asked nothing for myself but only that I might be up to the task of keeping my family together. Prayer does not work.
After my divorce I renounced god and any concept of a higher authority. I began reading books. I read Carl Sagan's Demon Haunted World, and many other books on science, evolution, cosmology, biology and anthropology. I read books such as Thomas Paine's Age of Reason, Dan Barker's Losing Faith In Faith. I read books on philosophy, especially books by Ayn Rand, and Nathaniel Branden. I read George H. Smith's book Atheism: The Case Against God and books by Dawkins, Dennet, Ingersoll and E.O. Wilson.
The more I read the more I realised just how marvellous a world we live in and how diverse its life really is. I realised that if I read several books every day for the rest of my life I still would not have made a dent in all the knowledge that there is to grasp. I was (and am) trying to conciliate all the knowledge I had so far learned into a comprehensible view of the external world, the cosmos and how our species relates to it all.
I accidentally came in contact with a young man via the internet who claimed he wished to know what my personal philosophy was. I was delighted to have a "pen-pal" and one who seemed to wish to trade thoughts on subjects I was interested in. We began to correspond. I soon realised he was a Christian fundamentalist but thought that would only add to our discussions. It gave me a chance to air my views, formulate my thoughts and come to grips with questions to which I had been searching for answers for a long time.
I used this opportunity as I told the young man, to firm up my thoughts so that they would be reasonable, rational and within the parameters of natural laws. I then soon discovered that he was sending my e-mails to an entire group (I often and perhaps unfairly referred to the group as a cabal). Members of the group were university students studying the sciences which really frightened me as well as a history teacher and a philosophy teacher (albeit from a bible college). I answered all the mail and argued my position. Some of the answers and questions posited by the group gave me pause but mainly they could be reduced to the typical arguments; the first cause argument, the argument from design and the argument from authority.
I successfully argued my position when predictably they resorted to ad hominem arguments and finally to out and out threats. Of course the threats were that I would burn in everlasting hell if I did not drop there and then to my knees and accept the lord Jesus Christ as my saviour. I pointed out that by any standards of debating or philosophical dialectics, I had won the debate since any participant who invokes threats of any nature real or imagined fails as soon as force or threats of force are used to bolster his position. I maintained that their position was therefore untenable and that I had "won".
The experience left be flabbergasted as I scarcely could believe the rabid vitriolic rhetoric which the group had used on me. I became then and there a militant atheist and champion for critical thinking. I have joined the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the James Randi Educational Foundation and am actively seeking other more local organisations to join with.
Sincerely,
Stephen A. Lonsdale
From: Stephen A. Lonsdale
Sent: Thursday 22 April 1999 22:44
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: via What is Positive Atheism?
Atheism, by definition is not a belief system or a methodology for discerning truth from falsehood. Atheism is simply without belief in god. The prefix "A" meaning without and "theism" meaning belief in god.
I would respectfully posit reason as the only method of gaining knowledge. Our senses provide us with information which our reason identifies and integrates with what knowledge we have accumulated. The best method our species has for determining truth from falsehood is the scientific method. In his book, Why People Believe Weird Things, Michael Shermer, professor of History of Science and editor of Skeptic magazine, defines science as "...a set of methods designed to describe and interpret observed or inferred phenomena, past or present, and aimed at building a testable body of knowledge open to rejection or confirmation."
Of course science and its methodology is more complex than just that and it is neither infallible nor omniscient but it is the best method we have. Atheism or without the belief of a god might be the resultant conclusion based on scientific evidence and/or lack of quantifiable evidence from theists, but "atheism" per se is not a method or modality for discovering truth or anything else.
Issues of ethics and/or morality are separate concerns. Being an atheist does not therefore make a person either good nor bad, positive or negative but only implied or explicit. One who has never been exposed to the concept of god can not therefore espouse a belief in god and is therefore an implicit atheist. A new-born baby as an example or some hitherto unknown group or society not exposed to the god concept for instance. Someone such as myself on the other hand who has been exposed to the concept and indeed indoctrinated with the god concept but who nevertheless rejects such a concept is an explicit atheist.
The action of employing critical thinking, reasoning and the scientific method is the only way, in my opinion, that we can determine if not truth then a provisionally agreed to conclusion. Truth will not belong to any one group, theist or atheist, truth or reality does not depend on our awareness for its own existence but it might be of survival value to our species to realise what that truth is.
Sincerely
Stephen A. Lonsdale
From:
Sent: Saturday 24 April 1999 18:03
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
One of the toughest decisions in my life was to turn away from all the beliefs I had been taught growing up and decide to go my own way. My whole foundation of what I knew and how I looked at life had changed and it was not in conjunction with what I had been taught. Atheism affects my outlook on life by making me more responsible and more understanding as a person. Instead of believing in a G-d that controls what we do or how we do it, I see that I am in control of my life and responsible for those around me. My experience as a Chrisitan has taught me what it is like to believe in a G-d, so I can understand and relate to my friends that follow that path without getting angry. By becoming an atheist, I am more aware of how people relate to each other instead of looking at everyone as being "under the influence of a devil". I believe my step toward atheism was a good one and has improved my outlook on life by putting responsibility on people, not on deities.
From: Alexis
Sent: Monday 26 April 1999 22:27
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
Hi, I'm 15 and from NJ. My parents weren't too strict on religion when I was younger. For years, I had questions that were unanswered. Praying was useless. I went through some really hard times in my life, and "God" did not help me. I finally decided to abandon my religion. I had tried to go to other churches, but nothing helped. I just recently decided to become an atheist. I am happier now, but I am just at the beginning of the beginning. Even though my friends are Wiccans, they totally support me; and I support them.
Alexis
From: greg kuiper
Sent: Saturday 1 May 1999 15:24
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
Atheism enables me to resolve real problems with logical and rational thought and not a dependency on a spirit to guide me. Nature is my guiding mechanism. I have no fear of death because you dont know you`re dead. We are no more, nor less than any other organism and have our place on this planet that was ordained by nature.
Kupe
From: "Anita"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: via What is Positive Atheism?
Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 4:27 PM
We know God (according to one of the classic philosophers) through the 'via negativa.' We know that he doesn't exist in time, he doesn't have form or mass, he doesn't take up space. To believe in him requires a leap of faith. Why bother?
I have a sense of humor and I love my fellow humans up to a certain extent. I will always love my grown children, remembering their sweet childhood innocence and feeling a deep connection to them. I believe we are social beings, as are wolves, elephants, dogs, etc. We don't need to believe in a personal god to motivate us to help, care for, and want to be with other people.
From: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: "Anita"
Subject: Re: via What is Positive Atheism?
Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 5:41 PM
I've always wondered: If God does not exist in space and time, could it be that God doesn't exist at all? In other words, if God is not this and not that, is He even anything at all?
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
From: "Matthew Gosselin"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: via What is Positive Atheism?
Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 5:29 PM
Hello.
Enjoyed your article on positive atheism. However, I would note that a good intro to atheism might include a brief discussion of what could be called "basic atheism." This would interpret atheism literally as a-theism, or the lack of belief in god or gods. I look forward to continuing reading Positive Atheism.
Matt
From: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: "Matthew Gosselin"
Subject: Re: via What is Positive Atheism?
Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 5:51 PM
I noticed this as I was reading that section last week. I had such a discussion there at one point, and got lots of flack over it, because it was more a discussion of the basic issues pertaining to atheism than a discussion on how Positive Atheism differs from either. Then I became very busy and lost track of what I was doing with that piece. I think it is time to consider moving some of these discussions we've been having on the Letters forum over to the What Is Positive Atheism section.
Meanwhile, the letters linked from the Michael Shermer letter: "Atheism, Agnosticism, Theism, And Keeping A Level Head" by Johan Grahn and "Semantics and Gawd: On Michael Shermer's Response" by James Beacham cover this topic nicely, as do the two pieces by George H. Smith, "Defining Atheism" and "The Scope of Atheism." We agree with Smith's definition of atheism as expressed in these two pieces, and I am constantly referring readers to them.
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
From:"W Dickinson"
To: "Positive Atheism Magazine"<editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: PA-via_Q_and_A:_Atheism_and_Outlook
Date: Friday, September 15, 2000 5:06 PM
I must say, having been a Christian for thirteen years of my life, that my atheism is most certainly a result of my outlook on life. Before I get into how, I suppose it would be best to give a bit of history about myself: I have always been very down-to-earth and individualistic. I draw much of my strength as a person from my individualism. Given this, it was only natural for me to question Christianity and its popularity. I wondered whether it was the actual religion or the comfort it provides that is so appealing. I was skeptical of the former simply because I saw too many contradictions in the Bible and the faith itself as well. I am and have always been very science oriented and science does not bode very well for the existence of the biblical miracles or for a God. Alright, that's enough background, now for the actual point of what I'm writing:
Christians often defend their faith in God with "I don't see how anyone could want to give up the possibility of unconditional and eternal love from a higher being." Well, if needing love from a higher being makes you happy, then that's great for you! But, what if that doesn't make you happy? For me, personally, needing to believe in a higher being to feel loved and significant just makes me feel weak. The main reason that I turned to atheism is that it makes me feel better about my life and who I am.
Another reason that Christians give for believing in God is that they want to be comforted by the prospect of existing in eternal paradise after death. Again, needing to be comforted about death made me feel weak. As crazy as it may seem, I felt much better confronting and accepting death rather than living in optimism. I did indeed struggle and it was a very scary thing, but when I became comfortable with death, it was quite liberating. I find the notion that I am okay with such a disturbing idea to be empowering in the same way that I draw strength from individualism. The fact that I do not have to seek refuge from the harshness of life in a religion actually gives me the strength I need to take on this harshness.
And one final thought: "Religion is the opiate of the masses" -- Karl Marx, and I don't do drugs!
From: "Steven McCarty"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Is_Your_Atheism_The_Result_Of_Your_Outlook_On_Life
Date: Saturday, December 23, 2000 11:52 AM
Yes, my outlook on life made me an atheist. In fact I've struggled to quantify my outlook with some guidlines that once followed can only have led me to become an atheist. Follow D's 41 Directives.
Don't Deny, Delay, or Dwell on a Difficulty.
Deal with the Demonstrable Details Diligently.
Decline to Discuss the Deficits of your Detractors.
Determine your Decisions in Data your eyes Discover.
Disregard the Distracting Demands of your Dissenters.
Do not be Detoured and then Delineated by small Degrees.
Define your answers with Data, Don't Declare them as Decrees.
Deliver not Dictate your ideas, Debate should't Demand a Defeat.
Do your Duty, Dispense, Disengage, but Do not Depart.
From: "RCJ21483"
To: "Positive Atheism Magazine" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Does_Your_Atheism_Impact_Your_Outlook_On_Life_9907
Date: Saturday, January 27, 2001 7:50 AM
Cliff,
In response to this question, I must give a firm "yes." Unfortunately, atheism gives me a negative and positive outlook on life at the same time, but the positives I see greatly outweigh the negatives, so I remain an atheist.
I like how the term "free-thinking" is applied to atheism. It's absolutely correct! Atheism leaves you free to yourself, you can believe what you want to believe and there is no way that anyone can prove you wrong since atheism has no firm doctrine to draw information from. Atheism leaves a person with an independent mind and an inquisitive nature to seek evidence of an assumption or argument rather than to smile like an idiot and have garbage shoved into their brains and accept it as all-good and true without needing any proof.
Unfortunately, not everybody has a free mind. Being an atheist is not always easy when rivals approach you about religion and encourage you to join it. In admitting to someone that I'm an atheist, I'm frequently told to "give [a] religion a shot," or I simply frighten them away. Theists have worked a view of atheism into their followers that says that atheists are missing something and that they're unhappy being atheists, or that they're purely evil and should be avoided.
I wish that misconception could be avoided more often, that's the only drawback I see to atheism -- the oppression from theists. Aside from that, though, atheism makes my life more interesting for me by always leaving me with something to learn. I never have to accept "God made it that way," I always find myself wanting thorough, existing information to enhance my education. And since I'm not quite 18 yet and am still in high school, I'm well aware that I have questions now and will have more in the future that I'll be trying to answer with reasonable logic and study, and not simply put faith in something that may not be more than a figment of the imagination.
- R.J.
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.