Comments - This Atheism Article Rings True for Me - Theosophy.Net2024-03-29T15:03:31Zhttps://theosophy.net/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A14641&xn_auth=no
It's serendipitous that I d…tag:theosophy.net,2011-04-11:3055387:Comment:449362011-04-11T10:17:11.884ZDaniel Nogahttps://theosophy.net/profile/DanielNoga
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<p>It's serendipitous that I discovered this post now. I just come through a brush with atheism that was particularly challenging to me. Last week, I read a book entitled "<em>Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science and Bad Religion in a World Without God</em>." It was written by Greg Graffin, who lives the double life of being the frontman of one of the world's most well-known punk bands and working in the field of evolutionary theory, with a Ph D. in zoology. He has always been one of my…</p>
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<p>It's serendipitous that I discovered this post now. I just come through a brush with atheism that was particularly challenging to me. Last week, I read a book entitled "<em>Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science and Bad Religion in a World Without God</em>." It was written by Greg Graffin, who lives the double life of being the frontman of one of the world's most well-known punk bands and working in the field of evolutionary theory, with a Ph D. in zoology. He has always been one of my heroes. He's not in the same ballpark as Dawkins and Maher--he manages to oppose fundamentalism consistently, even within his own field, and also clearly holds compassion and tolerance close to his heart. Still, in his worldview there is no room at all for spirit. Even his relatively mild stance seems to incorporate the somewhat presumptuous idea that spirituality is a flaw or inefficiency--that spiritual beliefs are either an intellectual crutch that we rely on to patch up holes in our knowledge of the world, or a coping mechanism of some kind, and in either case it would be best not to consider them at all lest they weaken our grasp on truth. This seems arrogant to me even though I often challenge my own spiritual convictions on those very grounds. For example, does my belief in reincarnation ultimately stem from the intense fear of death I experienced when I was a child? I can't deny the possibility.</p>
<p>The evening I watched <em>Religulous</em> was the evening that I lost my respect for Bill Maher. It's one thing to reject a worldview if it doesn't ring true to oneself, but it's another to heartlessly and arrogantly rip others to shreds for holding a view contrary to one's own, and that is what he seems to do in that movie. Within many champions of atheism I perceive and incredible egotism, arrogance and cruelty--telltale signs that for many, the stance is indeed pure reaction, reflex, and even retribution against perceived wrongs committed by the religious. Such ire may be cathartic for those who harbor it and may make them feel vindicated, but it does nothing to help us all move forward.</p>
<p>This article is a breath of fresh air on the path towards mediation and synthesis. Thank you for sharing it with us, Susan.</p>
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<p> </p> Susan, I too found your artic…tag:theosophy.net,2009-07-22:3055387:Comment:162232009-07-22T18:50:21.339Zornamentalmindhttps://theosophy.net/profile/BillFaust
Susan, I too found your article compelling and well written.<br />
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While I claim little insight, I have been visiting both atheist chat rooms and web groups for at least a decade. I find it interesting to learn the thought processes underneath their belief structure(s) and/or that which they reject. In this vein, without fully understanding your use of “..turning toward something.”, as I grasp the notion, I find that many of the garden variety (not the few articulate and well publicized) atheists…
Susan, I too found your article compelling and well written.<br />
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While I claim little insight, I have been visiting both atheist chat rooms and web groups for at least a decade. I find it interesting to learn the thought processes underneath their belief structure(s) and/or that which they reject. In this vein, without fully understanding your use of “..turning toward something.”, as I grasp the notion, I find that many of the garden variety (not the few articulate and well publicized) atheists seem to be more in reaction mode. On the whole, I find, at least in the youth, the appropriate wish to disentangle themselves from belief structures that do not hold water for them.<br />
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I posited long ago that the relatively recent increase in self proclaimed pagans is more founded on a knee jerk reaction to the theological status quo in their community/family and their desire for things spiritual than stuff of much more substance.<br />
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Also, there exists the antagonistic atheist who remains in a self defended mode by attacking anything that reaches their consciousness that offends.<br />
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And, there are those who are more simple in their approach stating the obvious that they don’t know, [in fact agnosticism] but see no reason to embrace theism.<br />
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Well, I didn’t start with the intention of presenting a collection of sets of atheists so will leave the rest of doing that for another time. My main wish is to suggest that many atheists today are turning away from something rather than toward something. Not all of course, there being no one brand of atheist as there is not one brand of theist. Yet, we all are human beings with specific parameters and the associated commonality at least when it comes to the psyche. So, yes, many atheists do appear to be fundamentalists…as are theists. By the way, fundamentalism can arise in even a non religious context, so it is more a state of mind as I see it. And, one nature of being human is the attraction to the whole…whether it be a group or a concept, an ideal…a belief etc. This sense of unity is something that is innate and will find an expression in some way or another. Perhaps it is this that is meant by ‘turning toward something’? When asked if theosophists ar…tag:theosophy.net,2009-07-08:3055387:Comment:152212009-07-08T09:01:09.359ZAlan Hugheshttps://theosophy.net/profile/AlanHughes
When asked if theosophists are atheists, HPB (in The Key) says: "Not that we know of, unless the epithet is applied to those who disbelieve in an anthropomorphic God. We believe in a Universal Divine Principle, the root of ALL, from which all proceeds, and within which all shall be absorbed at the end of the great cycle of Being."
When asked if theosophists are atheists, HPB (in The Key) says: "Not that we know of, unless the epithet is applied to those who disbelieve in an anthropomorphic God. We believe in a Universal Divine Principle, the root of ALL, from which all proceeds, and within which all shall be absorbed at the end of the great cycle of Being." "Doubt transports you to the…tag:theosophy.net,2009-07-07:3055387:Comment:151632009-07-07T11:20:21.519ZBill Meredithhttps://theosophy.net/profile/BillMeredith
"Doubt transports you to the truth. Who does not doubt fails to inquire. Who does not inquire fails to gain insight. Without insight, you remain blind and perplexed."<br />
Al-Ghazali, Sufi master (1058-1111)
"Doubt transports you to the truth. Who does not doubt fails to inquire. Who does not inquire fails to gain insight. Without insight, you remain blind and perplexed."<br />
Al-Ghazali, Sufi master (1058-1111) Beautifully written, Thankyou…tag:theosophy.net,2009-06-30:3055387:Comment:147222009-06-30T03:54:54.339ZMikhayl Von Riebonhttps://theosophy.net/profile/MikhaylVonRiebon
Beautifully written, Thankyou Susan.
Beautifully written, Thankyou Susan.