On Thanking God

[alcibiades_mystery]

Yes, I had to weigh in.

First, I am an out-and-out atheist. Have been for years, maybe forever. I was "raised" Catholic, but I remember even at a very young age coming home from catechism to hear my father call that stuff "all bullshit." And I kinda believed him, even then. So, that point's settled.

But I don't care if people thank God in a speech. Here's one point that anti-Thankgodders always make: "I'm sure God really cares that YOU won the Super Bowl/ World Series/ Oscar/ Grammy. Yeah, sure!"

This is a stupid point, and people should stop making it. People who do thank God don't really mean that God planned specifically for them to win such-and-such award, so attacking them on that point is unfair, dishonest, or plain stupid. What they mean, even if they don't say it, is that they thank God for the specific configuration of the world such that it was possible for them to achieve. This may have nothing to do with the thanker personally. The thanker is extending gratitude for a WORLD, not an award. And that is meaningful.

Now, like I said, I am an atheist. And, quite frankly, I'll admit to a small measure of contempt for those who aren't atheists. I think they're being foolish, essentially. I still like them. I still think they're wise in other ways. But there's still a small part of me that thinks the God stuff is FOOLISH, just as there's a small part of the believers that thinks - whatever they might say - that Otherbelievers and atheists are foolish (don't bother denying it - you only make yourself look silly).

That said, I think we should all express gratitude for a WORLD from time to time, however we may do it. Believers have it on us on that point - we atheists. Even if we think that the world is this throbbing mass of electrons and forces, when you extend a generalized gratitude for it, you are grounding yourself in it, and acknowledging that it could be otherwise. There need not be an agent at the other end of your gratitude. My God is the God of Spinoza, the immanence of world and its relations. And once in awhile, whether it is when I win an award, or put my daughter to sleep, I want to thank our great, throbbing, glorious relationships in and of it.

Thank "God" for that.