The Atheist and the Astronaut

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”

}K2:67
“Moses said to his people: "God demands that you sacrifice a cow,"

We have left that behind.