On readings

[xoder]

Found in 125 Street Station. No, I've not gone to the site.

I started reading 'The Portable Atheist', and I have to admit I feel very vulnerable when I do so on the train. I know it's not rational, but I recognise that atheists make up one of America's least favorite minorities. Don't believe me? There have been polls that showed that not only do a majority of Americans believe in angels, but an overwhelming majority believe that atheists are unfit to be president, or to teach.

Rational or not, I'm most worried that a casual aquaintance will think less of me for not needing or wanting a Supreme Being in my life. Frankly, I do not understand what triggers the Theistic Question in the first place. But back to my paranoia for a moment - see how ingrained the concept of 'atheism = moral failing' is? And this from a lifelong atheist.

Oh, and I want to talk about theodicy for a moment. Pope Guilty posted about it recently, and it turned out to be a word I'd been looking for. Out of space!

Comments

[erin-trying.livejournal.com]

I also dislike many famous atheists, Hitchens and Dawkins especially so. While I agree triumphalism is certainly part of it, what irks me the most is the denial of faith-based atheism. That any argument not seated in reason, especially one that isn't derogatory of theism, is somehow not atheistic enough. Consequently, I am less of an atheist because my disbelief in a divine power is purely volitional.

[electricpaladin.livejournal.com]

That's true, and I can see how that annoying narrowing of their perspective would have gone over my head.

In general, I think their attitude of 'if it's not based on reason it isn't valid' is extremely limiting. Reason is great, but it's highly overrated. I believe that what makes us exceptional creatures is that we are willing to go beyond reason. Animals have excellent reasoning skills. Bacteria are great at multiplication. Sea Slugs have done a difficult cost-benefit analysis and come to surprising conclusions. Only humans (and higher animals, like the charismatic megafauna that we're all so fond of) show signs of emotion.