Mailbag: Strong Beliefs
Subject: Curious
I have read some of the things you have posted on your site. Why have such a strong belief that something is not true or is non existent?
Celso never provided any examples of the material that prompted this message, so it's difficult to answer the question - I do not know, after all, what he regards as an expression of "a strong belief that something is not true or is non-existent." As a general matter, however, this is a very odd question because just about everyone has strong beliefs that certain things aren't true and that certain things don't exist. That an atheist might also is... well... hardly surprising.
Now, as to whether I have a "strong belief" that certain religious doctrines are not true or certain gods don't exist, well that depends upon which religious doctrines and which gods. In some cases I take a stronger position, in others I don't. Once again, that is hardly surprising - everyone else in the world adopts a similar range of positions when it comes to a variety of issues. Why wouldn't someone, including an atheist, do so when it comes to religious and theistic claims?
Why have a whole organization of people to deny something? What difference do you think atheism will make in someone's life? What are the advantages of being an atheist?
I'm not aware of any organizations created simply for the purpose of denying anything, including gods. There are atheist organizations, but their purpose is not to deny gods. In reality, their purpose is to educate people about atheism & atheists, to provide a place for doubters to learn more, to advocate for equal rights on behalf of nonbelievers, and so forth. Perhaps many religious people would be more comfortable if atheist organizations disappeared and the general public weren't reminded that atheism can be a reasonable, justified position, but that isn't going to happen.
As to the benefits and advantages: disbelief in gods can make the same sort of difference in a person's life and has the same advantages as disbelief in elves, disbelief in ghosts, disbelief in unicorns, disbelief in astrology, and so forth. Dealing with reality instead of fantasy allows a person to get on with living life instead of ignoring it. Exercising skepticism and critical thinking has advantages across all areas of life - and while atheists aren't automatically skeptics, an atheist who seriously weighs the arguments and evidence for both atheism and theism is likely to be a skeptical, critical thinker.
I would like to ask you something. When you die, where do you believe you are going?
I believe that I will be cremated and my ashes spread around a memorial tree. I believe this because it is what I have specifically requested be done. Now, for various reasons it might not happen, but hopefully it will.
And that's it - there won't be any "me" for anything in particular to happen to because once I die, everything that makes up "me" (memories, personality) will have disappeared once my brain died.
More selections from the Agnosticism / Atheism Mailbag...
Comments
What is the value of believing something is not true?
Well, if that issue/thing is destructive, then it is certainly better to have a proactive belief in its falsehood.
For example, racism. It is destructive for individuals or societies to believe that “race” determines characteristics and values (opposed to culture, enviroment, or individual characteristics). It is good and proper to espouse a strong belief that this is not true.
Your comparison to belief in elves was right on target. But the reason we don’t have organizations that tear apart elf myths is because there is not a large portion of the population that preaches elf worship. But if there was I would ‘Elf-Atheist’ organization. So the quick answer to your questioner is that atheist groups exist because religious groups exist.
Another reason why atheist organizations exist is because we are largely a scattered and closeted minority. Atheist organizations provide the social benefits of community. It’s essentially the same reason why churches exist.
Well, you are more reasonable and polite then I would be able to be in response to this inquiry.
My own response is: There is a need for secular and atheist groups online and in the world because the never ending proselytizing and manipulation of people’s minds by the religious needs to be answered.
Belief in magical and imaginary beings that affect human life is just stupid and the respect accorded these silly beliefs is disproportionate and harmful. Someone has to stand up and speak up for reason and simple common sense.
I know that some shy away from calling religious people “stupid”, out of some social contract that says that everyone else’s beliefs have to be “respected,” but I don’t find that my belief in the obvious is respected much; so I am comfortable with calling a spade a spade in the case of deluded people who force their goofy beliefs in “higher powers” and other superstitious nonsense. They are just dumb.
Well said, AnnaZed!
In just a few paragraphs you have summarised feelings I have had for years but didn’t quite know how to express clearly.
Thankyou!
You can respect a person’s right to believe what they want
without having to respect the particular beleif
I see no reason for any religion to be given a free pass from everything from parody or analysis - heck, most religious beleifs are so silly that you can’t poke fun at them any more than they do themselves
@AnnaZed
I wouldn’t say theists are necessarily dumb. Surely many are, but its not about intelligence. Its about information and the willingness to be critical of your own ideas and open to new ones.
I would venture to say that all religious people, without exception, are either ignorant, close-minded, gullible, fearful, or some combination of the above. You can’t always help gullible and fearful, so IMO the best antidote is education (various religions, logic, science, history, etc). Hopefully that opens their mind.
Having said all that, I can honestly say that I have never met a christian who was intelligent AND well-informed.
There is nothing wrong with strong beliefs. They make better hypotheses.