If I would be in a debate or be holding a speech on a
religious topic of sorts, I would probably use the following methodology to
start off on.
I would point to a closed door and ask people: there is an
astronaut behind that door. What information do you have about that astronaut?
I think people would say: none.
Which is true and wrong at the same time. If there is
something I call an “astronaut” behind that door, nobody inside the room knows
whether it is a male or a female
astronaut.
Nobody knows how tall that astronaut is.
Or whether wearing glasses.
What eye colour.
What political inclination.
Sense of humour
Punctuality
Honesty
of that astronaut.
We don’t know any of that.
But what we can
deduce is that, because this is an astronaut, this person does not require a
wheelchair and is reasonably fit, both mentally and physically.
If I say that there is a vegetarian behind that door, we have eliminated all further
possibilities of having any knowledge whatsoever of what kind of person is
behind that door.
We have only 1 single piece of information about that
person: the lack of eating meat.
We can’t say how strong a vegetarian this is, whether an
occasional fish-filet is ok or whether eggs are not. We know one thing and one
thing only: this person does not like eating red meat.
Now if I say there’s an atheist
behind that door and ask: what information do you have about that atheist?
There should be a single answer: this is a person who does
not believe there is evidence for the existence of gods.
Nothing else. It does not provide any indication on the level of this belief or make any claim
regarding the knowledge of the possibility of the existence of a god.
Regardless of what size fireworks go off in a person’s brain
about atheists, if anyone thinks about it rationally for just 2 seconds, they
will realise that this is the only information they really have. There is no
atheist narrative, an atheist agenda or an atheist worldview. Atheists can’t deny or hate gods. That would
be absurd. Most importantly, atheists don’t make claims. An atheist only reacts to claims. Claims made by theists,
who believe there is evidence of gods. Well, their favourite god at least.
Atheists are also passionate people with likes and dislikes,
who do make claims about all sorts
of things, depending on their individual personality. Because atheists are
allowed to be individuals and are not required to fit-in with a restricted
group culture. Atheists can work in accounting, as a taxi driver, a carpenter
or a teacher. An atheist can be interested in or knowledgeable about science or
not.
An atheist can be an agnostic atheist and an agnostic
anti-theist as well as an atheist, it depends on the individual. Which means
that atheists disagree with each other and argue about anything and everything simply
because there is no common understanding above and beyond the lack of a belief
regarding gods.
Any claim over and above the evidence of gods made by me or
any other atheist is not because we are atheists but because we are humans.
And if we are not only atheists but also astronauts, we
don’t worry about asking for permission to leave Earth, which direction to pray
in when we are orbiting Earth and what animal to sacrifice when.
}K33:33
“O company of jinn and mankind, if
you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then
pass. You will not pass except by authority [from Allah].”
}K2:149
“And wherever you come from, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque”
“And wherever you come from, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque”
}K2:67
“Moses said to his people: "God demands that you sacrifice a cow,"
“Moses said to his people: "God demands that you sacrifice a cow,"
We have left that behind.
