Let’s look at the relationship between atheism and selfishness. Let’s be clear: I am not discussing atheists and accusing them of selfishness. Many of my secular friends are generous, kind, hospitable, friendly folks. I don’t think, in general, that they view the world strictly through the prism of evolutionary logic. But what I do want to make clear is how atheism, if followed strictly, is an inevitably selfish worldview. (Please notice how I define atheism).
Doubting
A variety of articles regarding our doubts, especially the intellectual and existential problems of atheism.
Atheism, Evil and Despair
Have you ever felt wretched, just sick to your stomach, over how you’ve hurt someone else? I want to talk about how atheism deals with these experiences. (Please notice how I define atheism).
At a time in my life when I should have known better, I put myself in this position.
Are Christians Evil?
One of the most notable and repeated ways that atheist leaders such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have attacked religion is by attacking religious people. Quotes abound, but here are a few particularly juicy ones. No matter what you think of the content, you have to admire the punchy, clever style of their writing.
Richard Dawkins:
Atheism, Morality, and Nature
As a response to an earlier discussion of atheism and morality, one person wrote, writing, “Atheists have morals and act morally because morality isn’t related to existence of gods.” I think this raises a very interesting question: if atheism is true, what is morality related to? Granted, it wouldn’t be related to the existence of gods! But that’s a negative answer, a non-solution. A more interesting question is the positive version of the question, namely: if atheism is true, what would morality be related to? (Please notice how I define atheism).
Richard Dawkins Helps Answer Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens, in his Introduction to the Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever, has a witty counter to those who claim that religious people are especially good:
My own response has been to issue a challenge: name me an ethical statement made or an action performed by a believer that could not have been made or performed by a non-believer. As yet, I have had no takers (xiv).
I’d like to take up Hitchens’ challenge.
Atheism and the Naturalistic Fallacy
Atheism – the worldview, not the people group – has a problem with evil. (Please notice how I define atheism).
The problem is sometimes called “the naturalistic fallacy,” which states that “you cannot derive an ought from an is.” In ordinary language, that means you cannot go from a description of how things are to a prescription about how things should be. An example may clarify this. Consider this situation:
Atheism and Purpose
It seems the atheistic universe has no room for purpose. (Please notice how I define atheism).
Its important to remember that I cheerfully acknowledge that many atheists take themselves to be living purposeful lives. (Not that the consistent atheist, who finds no purpose to their life, is likely to object! What would be the point?).
Atheism and Hope
There is a tension within atheism (Please notice how I define atheism):
1. On a personal level, many if not most atheists are generally hopeful people.
2. On a philosophical level, atheism as a worldview cannot sustain hope.
Together, these two ideas lead to the conclusion that:
3. Atheists who choose to be hopeful are making a leap of faith.
Comparing Christianity and Secularism
In an chapter in Passionate Conviction, which is a superb collection of essays, Craig Hazen argues that, among all the great religious traditions in the world, Christianity is the best place to start a search for truth. He offers four reasons:
1. Christianity is testable. In particular, Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15 that the truthfulness of the entire religion is dependent upon the historical occurrence (or lack thereof) of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. By contrast, many other major world religions (like Hinduism and Buddhism) focus on inner, personal experience.