I was reading an online United Kingdom newspaper which discussed a new
"atheist map" showing where atheism is prominent in the world. China is
prominently featured as a country where half the population is atheist.
The comments are always for me the most fascinating part of any story. I
saved one from "Julia" who opined:
Depressing in our Age of Reason that so many people still
believe in a sky god no one has ever seen. There will only ever be peace in our
world when the whole globe is free from these myths which have caused untold
bloodshed over the centuries with every religious person believing only their
god is the right one and many willing to kill for it.
Ignoring the shallowness of the invisible sky god jab, what I believe is
the main myth of modern atheism is the idea Julia express: if only religion was
rejected in toto and atheism embraced instead, then, finally, there would be
world peace and all the warring and killing would stop.
Anyone who understands human nature to any degree at all must surely
realize that the true cause of "untold bloodshed" is rooted there, within a
person. The dark aspect of human nature is completely compatible with unbelief
as well as belief in god(s).
It seems to this blogger that an overly strong sense of ego is the root
cause of violence. Being right is more important than being kind, when all is
said and done. The stronger one's sense of self-importance and the rightness of
their ideas, the more willing one will be to engage in aggressive and
violent behavior to sustain that.
Religion will not turn nonviolent souls into aggressive killers; neither
will nonbelief turn the violent into pussycats (however, both are handy
excuses). In fact, I routinely see "debates" waged online that - if conducted
with the same tone and measure of aggressiveness - would surely result in
fisticuffs and bloodshed if they were held in person rather than online.
Age of Reason?
How about Age of Arrogance? Humans have always been more arrogant than
reasonable.
It is interesting to read comments like that from people who pride themselves on being rational and evidence based, in contrast to believers like me. For the historical data actually says the opposite!
ReplyDeleteI have just finished researching about half a dozen studies by competent historians, examining the causes of wars over millennia (as well has the historical data allows). And they generally show that only about 5-10% of wars have major religious causes, that most wars have quite clear causes in power, competition of land, etc, regimes with an atheist basis have a far worse record than regimes with a religious basis, and religion and irreligion can be co-opted by ruthless dictators for their own ends.
But the myth continues to be perpetuated despite the evidence, even by people who should know better. See a summary at Does religion cause wars?.
The subject and history of war both fascinates and saddens me. It is a dark stain on humanity.
DeleteIntelligent, thoughtful atheists need to move the discussion from atheism vs religion to humanism vs religion. Atheism has nothing to offer regarding morality, ethics, or worldview. Humanism, on the other hand, is a full-orbed moral and ethical system providing us with way forward from religion.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting thought, Bruce. I wonder, though, if you aren't in the minority among atheists.
DeleteWay too many atheists are busy raging against religion to consider how important it is to embrace, support, and advance the humanist ideal.
DeleteIf atheism is the lack of belief in the existence of deities, in what possible way can any sort of morality come from that base, naked statement?
Sadly, atheism doesn't equal careful understanding of the world. Way too many atheists are little more than children, thinking that having a s$&t throwing contest with a Christian makes any difference.
After six years of swimming in the atheist pool, I am weary and disheartened over the infantile, ignorant behavior I see by my fellow atheists.
It seems to me you make a powerful case, Humanism can be a rallying point for all of us. War, then, would be unthinkable.
DeleteYou know Bruce, I remember as a Christian thinking humanism was worse than atheism. It didn't seem hopeless. At least an atheist could still be evangelized or so we thought. Humanism was looked down on because those people had the audacity to believe that they could change the word and make it better. The very concept was easy to mock (from the vantage point of being one of God's chosen.)
DeleteUnfortunately, mankind will always find a reason to have wars. For many, aggression and arrogance is like a drug that dances seductively hand in hand with each other. Those in power and those who aspire to be in power too often times act like drunken fools who need to cause a barroom brawl to stroke their own ego and feel powerful.
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement. I don't see "war" ever ending. It will always exist even as various religions and secularisms evolve or devolve as the case may be. It's also a money-making venture.
DeleteI was watching a documentary this week on how World War I got started. What a crazy web of arrogance, power and I have to wonder? . . . mental illness that got it all started. Almost an incestual soup. I actually found myself spinning. Did they just say the head of Russia was the cousin to the guy in Germany and they were cousins with the guy in France and possible England? And he's married to his cousin and good grief on it went. Scary stuff. I am amazed humanity has made it this far.