Actually, it's theists who believe in nothing, quite fervently

[BurtWorm]

The title of this thread is by PZ Myers, who also wrote and posted this accompanying essay on Pharyngula:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/scienceblogs/pharyngula/~3/247435305/actually_its_theists_who_belie.php

One of the reasons we atheists have to be loud and assertive is that we are floating alone in a vast sea of ignorance. Case in point: here is an artist who has obviously never met an atheist.



I am expressing my feeling towards the very Idea of Atheism. I almost pity those who have such beliefs. I'm not saying they are wrong or right. I'm just saying that what they believe in is more depressing than any other possibility.

So I made this simple picture to express my feelings for somebody who believes in nothing.

here we see a person sitting in a blank room without any doors or windows. What is most troubling is the fact that this person wants to be here, and is unwilling to move from his chair. Alone, neglected, and lost to the ravages of time. without anything to grab onto and hold as a symbol of his own identity. Those who seek nothing as a reward shall ultimately receive it.

I don't think Atheists can even believe in love, which is the saddest part.

If this picture offends you, remember that it is not directed at you. Even if you are an atheist.

Atheists don't believe in love? Where does this nonsense come from? This fellow is a fool who sits alone himself, imagining what atheists must think, and he conjures up this ridiculous picture based on the idea that atheists are lonely nihilists who believe in nothing. I know a lot of atheists, and no, his portrayal is not accurate.

I'm not offended by the picture — I'm just sickened by the smug ignorance of its creator. There are a lot of comments over there, too, all of which are getting hidden away by the host, which tells us who has got his eyes firmly closed in this debate. I think he needs to retitle his picture to "Self Portrait."

This atheist simply believes in all that is (which is quite a lot), and doesn't believe in that which isn't (which denial, to some theists, seems to represent a complete denial of the universe…which tells us more about their deluded mindset than ours.) Since the artist doesn't understand that we do believe in something (including love), here's a short, simple creed for the godless.

An atheist's creed

I believe in time,
matter, and energy,
which make up the whole of the world.

I believe in reason, evidence and the human mind,
the only tools we have;
they are the product of natural forces
in a majestic but impersonal universe,
grander and richer than we can imagine,
a source of endless opportunities for discovery.

I believe in the power of doubt;
I do not seek out reassurances,
but embrace the question,
and strive to challenge my own beliefs.

I accept human mortality.

We have but one life,
brief and full of struggle,
leavened with love and community,
learning and exploration,
beauty and the creation of
new life, new art, and new ideas.

I rejoice in this life that I have,
and in the grandeur of a world that preceded me,
and an earth that will abide without me.

[angrycarpenter]

1. I see an atheist as

the only person with a set of bolt cutters in a world full of chains.

Atheists use reason to try to understand the world. Reason walks hand-in-hand with doubt. Make a christian doubt his faith even for a millisecond and you have made an enemy for life.

I see picture as a representation of faith except they have painted the walls with gaudy pictures of pearly gates and harps. There is still a void beyond the walls and if an atheist tries to cut out a window and let in fresh air they will fight him.

[hifalutin]

2. I beg to differ

as Christians we all struggle with doubt, after all none of us is perfect.

The only difference I see between myself and an atheist is faith, some have it, some don't and that's the way it is supposed to be.

[angrycarpenter]

3. I have no problem with faith

But when faith is used in an argument as somehow trumping rationality, when atheists are branded as blind then I have a problem.

I believe that when we die we are gone. You can have faith that it is otherwise but as far as this world is concerned that is the truth.

Painting a human face on the void may give comfort to many but to me it has as much depth as a layer of paint.

To me an attack on atheists is an attack on rational thought. Rational thought is the only reason we are not still living in caves and sacrificing virgins.

I envy you your faith, it must be such a comfort. My faith is in what is knowable and verifiable. Everything else is doubtful.

[cynatnite]

7. Sorry, but that's utter crap...

I'll never understand why christians think that they corner the market on faith...as if it soley belongs to them and no one else.

I've got news for you. I'm an atheist and I've got plenty of faith. I have faith in my husband, my kids and the rest of my family. I have faith the world will someday have peace and that humanity will rise above the pettiness. I have a hell of a lot of faith.

I resent this notion that christians have faith and atheists don't. It's crap.

[hifalutin]

9. Correction

'The only difference I see between myself and an atheist is faith, some have it, some don't and that's the way it is supposed to be.'

The only difference I see between myself and an atheist is faith in GOD, some have it, some don't and that's the way it is supposed to be.

[cosmik debris]

10. maybe you should look a little closer. n/t

[hifalutin]

11. A little closer at what?

?

[cosmik debris]

12. If this statement is true

"The only difference I see between myself and an atheist is faith in GOD..." Then you are missing a lot. But that's OK. You should have a lot of fun discovering all the other wonderful differences.

Good luck!

[hifalutin]

13. I don't believe

I am missing anything.

At my age, my life is exactly where it should be.
Filled with love, compassion for my fellow man, joy and peace in my heart and nothing but good will and blessings towards all.

I have learned a lot on my long journey through life and I know that God has been with me every step of the way.

[cosmik debris]

14. You don't seem to have learned a lot about atheists. n/t

[hifalutin]

15. You are

right on there.

[cosmik debris]

16. And that is why I doubted your statement

"The only difference I see between myself and an atheist is faith in GOD..."

I hope your journey toward enlightenment is enjoyable.

[hifalutin]

17. Yours too!

Thank you and God bless.

[cosmik debris]

18. Please allow me to help you with that journey

Saying "God Bless" to an atheist is a mild insult. Unless you intended to insult me, that was not an appropriate comment for friendly discourse.

Since it is obvious that you are unaware of that, I will not take it seriously, but rather consider it an opportunity to contribute to your enlightenment.

Good Luck!

[hifalutin]

20. Thank you and I hope

you will forgive my ignorance.

I always say 'God bless you' as I leave a friend or end a phone conversation, only because I believe God loves all of us, warts and all.

Perhaps I'll just say it under my breath (to myself) when I meet a stranger, until I get to know them better. I'd certainly not want to offend anyone, not in my nature.

Thank you again.

[skepticscott]

19. And why

do you need faith for ANY of that? Why should faith, why should believing in things without evidence, or even in the face of contradictory evidence, ever be considered a virtue?

[Silent3]

23. What's amusing about your reply...

...is that someone was clearly talking about you missing something, as in something having escaped your awareness, yet you go off trying to defend how your life has been fulfilling.

I have no doubt that a person can feel fulfilled yet still be ignorant or unaware of many things.

[cyborg_jim]

29. That's why we call it a Red Herring

Let's answer a different question instead, shall we?

[and-justice-for-all]

4. that picture is utter nonsense...

and so is that rediculous idea of Atheist being empty and void simply because they do not have invisible friends.

[Evoman]

5. The atheist in that room is probably pretty fucking happy.

No religious people flapping their gums at him. Fucking paradise.

[cosmik debris]

8. That's the way I saw it

The atheist is basking in enlightenment while the rest of the world is exiled to the blackened darkness of ignorance.

To me, the imagery is clear. Light = knowledge and truth, dark = ignorance and superstition. Atheism is enlightenment, and the walls are keeping out the hate, ignorance, prejudice, and domination of "the dark side".

We should all be so lucky to have such protective walls around us to keep the darkness out and to keep the light in.

It is sorta funny that the artist implies that the atheist would be better off if he left his protective lights and walls and wandered out into the darkness.

[More Than A Feeling]

6. I would change that to "A Naturalist's Creed"

because there is a lot in that set of statements that goes way beyond "the god question." Other than that, i think it's great.

[Jim__]

21. I'd like to see this "artist's" picture of "The Rewards of the Theist".

A pinata of toys and candy raining down from an imaginary sky god?

[Dorian Gray]

22. That atheists creed

is not so different from what I, as a Roman Catholic, would state myself. Yes, I of course believe in God, but I don't blindly believe He is the answer for everything. I am still naturally curious, and I think that creed is beautiful. And nothing is opposed to what I believe, really. The one line: reason, evidence and the human mind, the only tools we have," is the only one that I would disagree with, and that's because I would add faith to it. There is nothing in that creed that many religious people around the world don't experience.

[trotsky]

24. Really?

I believe in time,
matter, and energy,
which make up the whole of the world.

Right there is a huge disagreement with the vast majority of religions. No acknowledgment of supreme beings.

I believe in reason, evidence and the human mind,
the only tools we have;
they are the product of natural forces
in a majestic but impersonal universe,
grander and richer than we can imagine,
a source of endless opportunities for discovery.

Another huge disagreement - you may accept the use of reason as our tool for learning, but few religions think those things are "the product of natural forces" alone, or that we are in an "impersonal universe."

I believe in the power of doubt;
I do not seek out reassurances,
but embrace the question,
and strive to challenge my own beliefs.

I think there are several religions open to doubt, but by and large I don't see how this can honestly be asserted. Officially the Catholic Church only allows minor disagreements in theology. You're put to death for apostasy in many Islamic countries.

I accept human mortality.

VERY few religions are OK with that.

We have but one life,
brief and full of struggle,
leavened with love and community,
learning and exploration,
beauty and the creation of
new life, new art, and new ideas.

And the few that may have been ok with the idea of mortality you've knocked out with that. (Strikes down reincarnation, etc.)

I rejoice in this life that I have,
and in the grandeur of a world that preceded me,
and an earth that will abide without me.

That part's pretty universal though.

[Dorian Gray]

25. You argue about each of those things

as though it's impossible for a religious person to believe that time, energy and matter make up this world. And religion is all about mortality. Most religions (with the exception of those that believe in reincarnation) will assert an afterlife, but many of us would be quite happy with the idea that we have one life and we should spend it learning and exploring, enjoying the beauty and creation of new life, new art, and new ideas.

Of course I believe in a Creator, but I don't see how that contradicts most of the life affirming nature of the creed. I believe that we should embrace questions and doubt, educate and explore, believe in time, matter and energy, and appreciate the grandeur of our world. It's a beautiful world, and I'm happy that can be appreciated by people who don't share my beliefs. It should be appreciated by everyone.

[trotsky]

26. No, not at all.

It's not that believers can't "believe that time, energy and matter make up this world" but that those are the ONLY things, and that they arose with no supernatural intervention. That's just not in sync with the major religions, nor most of the minor ones either.

many of us would be quite happy with the idea that we have one life

That may be true, but it's not the point. Do you BELIEVE we have just this one life, and no immortality?

See the distinction here?

[Meshuga]

27. The artist generalized a group based on his own limit

since he is obviously not able to see beyond the walls of his own room, which is likely without doors and without windows. He obviously cannot understand groups who live outside those walls because he can't see what is behind them, otherwise he would realize that his little art piece is nothing but a self portrait.

[pingzing58]

28. Buddhists don't believe in a God. We are all God in their cosmology.