I've been thinking about athiests a lot lately. More specifically, I've been thinking about the nature of atheism, and what causes it. I think I've got an idea or two. I'm writing on-the-fly, so we'll see where this goes.
First of all, let's take a look at our culture. I've wondered more than once why missionaries can go to poverty-stricken countries and see tremendous conversions to Christ. How people in countries where Christianity is illegal (and punishable by imprisonment or death) will meet in standing-room-only rooms, under cover of darkness, just for an opportunity to hear the Scripture. It truly boggles the mind when, in the US, church members will stay home from church when it's raining. And raining plain ol' water, not bullets.
Not to go all Tyler Durden here, but I think consumerism may be part of the cause. In Western countries, we're advertised to CONSTANTLY. We're made to think that our lives are lacking if we don't have the latest gadget, the fastest car, the whitest teeth. What this causes is a society of consumers. And what do consumers do but, well, consume? Everything in our lives is focused on drawing in - on pulling things towards ourselves. We become black holes at the center of our own little universes and, when we are at the center of the universe, it becomes difficult to perceive anything else as being more meaningful than our own existences.
I think that this is where atheism springs from. If we are our own gods, what use have we for any others? Indeed, it becomes galling to even consider our focus wavering from ourselves. When our lives are full of our stuff and our own concerns, where is there room for God? So many of the atheists I know have such scorn for Christians. I know that I hated Christians before I became one. I think this contempt is a product of the perceived weakness of a group of people who would willingly submit to another entity, especially one that you can't see.
"We don't need God. You want me to believe in God? I'm going to need you to put him in this box for me. I'm going to need him to show himself to me, personally."
There is no room for faith in this thinking. Instead, it's a demand for a more self-focused approach. More consuming for the consumers. We want God to come to us. We want God to be a product that we can digest. What we don't want is something to be subservient to. We're far too proud and intelligent and self-gratifying for that.
And most of us Western Christians display these characteristics, too. This explains why the flashiest churches have the highest attendance - they have the best, shiniest product. It's also why, in any given Western church, maybe 20% of the population does all of the work. The rest of us don't want to stop focusing on ourselves - to stop consuming - long enough to truly build a relationship, either with God, or with our supposed brothers and sisters in Christ.
I think it's interesting that - as far as I know - every major society in the span of human existence has believed in and worshipped one or more deities. That being the case, is it completely unreasonable that - maybe, just maybe - there's something to that? That maybe you are NOT the center of the universe?
I'm not bringing all of this up to pick a fight. Truly. Atheists, I used to be where you are. I used to be you. Then, I was broken. I reached a point in my life where my own deity (myself) failed me. I turned to God in desperation and, while my life certainly hasn't been all puppy dogs and ice cream since then, I've been more filled up than I ever was as an atheist. My sincere prayer for you is that you are broken to the point where your own deity is insufficient. Not because I want bad things to happen to you, but because I want to share what I now have with you.
Hope to see you on the other side.
You make a lot of excellent points about consumerism, but it is insulting to conflate this with atheism.
ReplyDeleteI am atheist because I don't believe in invisible, supernatural beings. That is the definition of atheism and it is as simple as that. Whether we are talking about Santa Claus, God, Harry Potter, or Flying Pink Unicorns, they are all in the same category in my mind - imaginary friends. I stopped believing in these things about the age of 9-12, when I learned the Easter Bunny was also fictitious. This is a common time for a lot of atheists to lose belief in the supernatural.
I can appreciate that religion can help people give meaning and purpose to their lives, especially in dark times when they need a helping hand. I can appreciate that it gives you a moral code to live by. I can appreciate the sense of community that it gives you. I can appreciate that it feels good to imagine that someone/something out there cares about you and looks after you. But religion is just a structured, written framework to provide these positive things; it is NOT necessary to have religion to have these things in your life. You can create your own structures, moral code, and community. Write your own Book. I am more "moral" than most Christians.
But here's the real answer to why some people are religious and some atheist - it's genetic.
Imagine you're alone in the African Savannah 100,000 years ago. You see a moving shadow in the bush... is that a hyena or just a shadow and/or trick of the wind? If that's a lion in the bush and you don't pay attention, you're DEAD. The people who "saw things" survived, even if they were wrong 99% of the time (shadows), because the 1% they were right (lions), they ran, and survived. The gene to "see things" where there is nothing there conferred a survival advantage. "Seeing things" people survived and reproduced more than people who were not as adept at "seeing things". Many thousands of years go by and "Seeing things" leads to belief in ancestral ghosts, angels, devils, animal spirits, natural spirits, gods, you name it.
However, despite that massive survival advantage and genetic dominance, nature has a way of ensuring variation in the gene pool. No two people are the same of course, and some of us (a small minority) are simply not born with the "seeing things" gene.
I "see" none of those things and never will. I think it's all patently absurd. No amount of convincing will ever change my mind, not even a deathbed. You might as well try to convince me my eyes are green or my hair is red. And likewise, this discussion with you will go nowhere - I might as well be telling you that you have blue eyes and blonde hair. You will tell me I'm being absurd and vice versa, ad infinitum. We were born the way we are. There is a scale of course, so some people can be on the fence, but I am extremely atheist, while you seem to be moderately-to-strongly a believer (I don't think you're extremist thankfully).
So there's your answer - it's genetic.
This is why I never discuss religion with you - it's a fool's errand and a waste of time on each side. You can't help how you were born, and neither can I. We are who we are and I love you as a brother anyway.
Go enjoy your faith, your community, your family, be good to people, and make a positive difference in your corner of the world. That should keep you plenty busy without having to worry about such a small percentage of the population that doesn't want your help and find it insulting/patronizing. Let Go and Let God deal with us heathens ;)
-Zachary Niemann
Zach, I'd like to make a couple of points regarding your arguments:
Delete1. Saying that you're more moral than most Christians is nothing but hyperbole. Unless you were referring to your assertion of making your own moral code - that you are more moral because you're following your own, personal morality. Even then, that assertion becomes meaningless because we would all have our own moral codes, to which we are all the most faithful adherent.
2. Religion is genetic? That's a new one to me. I have literally NEVER heard that (from ANYONE) before today. Anecdotally, I could introduce you to multiple atheist friends whose parents are devout Christians. I would concede that a child is more likely to follow in their parents' footsteps, but that's about as far as I'll let that go. We are all personally responsible for our decisions. You even assert as much, right before you tout your morality (or impugn the morality of Christians - take your pick).
3. You say you never discuss religion with me. In fact, every time we've been together (in recent memory), you've discussed religion with me. You've asked many thoughtful, poignant questions. Maybe answering your questions was a fool's errand. But I don't mind being foolish for people I care about (like you).
4. You offer thanks that I am not an extremist in the same sentence in which you assert that you are "extremely atheist". Why is it OK for you and not for me?
5. In your last paragraph, you tell me, in essence, to leave atheists alone and be content with the other Christians. Let me ask you a question: If I were in the street and a bus was bearing down on me, would you yell at me to get out of the way? Would you maybe even push/pull me out of the way? I sincerely hope the answer is yes :-)
From where I stand, YOU are in the middle of the street, with a big bus bearing down on you. I'm trying to help you to get out of the street, and you're telling me to mind my own business. If you accept that I believe that what I say I believe, you would understand why I'm trying to reach out to you "heathens". I love you and I don't want you to get hit by a bus.
-Ben