The Human Question

Why does one call oneself an atheist? One reason might be because one is opposed to the narrative of theism (OT stories, Inquisition)?  In as much as one could reject theism on this basis alone then one is a reactionary, inasmuch as one is opposing the theism of the Abrahamic faiths. Or is one an atheist for principled, philosophical reasons (problem of evil; the alleged incoherence of the very notion of a transcedent personal being)  In such a case, one would also have to be a materialist .  But such an anti-metaphysics makes no room for a notion of the common good that would be adhered to by any virtuous person.  But atheists need not see this logical implication.  And inasmuch as they do not see it, they are inasmuch as they have virtuous convictions, inconsistent with their materialist convictions.  But inasmuch as they are consistently materialist (and I means consistent), they are either manifestly wicked OR the basis of their morality looks...

The atheist may say that he/she can be just as moral, to which I would reply, "Your morality is parasitic upon your upbringing," and then ask: if you found someone living a wicked life, how would you be enabled by your atheism to motivate that person to reform?  If you met an atheist skin-head, how would you you motivate him/her to change his/her way of thinking?

If you have a utilitarian understanding of God (as beholden to the principle of seeking the greater good for the greatest number), then a philosophical reflection on the problem of pain is capable of making you an atheist.  And as a matter of fact, a lot of pain related arguments against the existence of God rely upon a utilitarian understanding of good and evil.  But to make such an objection is to assume that the only or best reason for affirming God's existence is likewise utilitarian. Perhaps the uitilitarian/deist thinks that God made the world for God's pleasure, and has since left it alone (as in "been there, done that").  But such basis for theism, if it exists, would be a straw-man.  If you are a theist in the face of pain, it is because you have a non-utilitarian understanding of God: God wants you to be fulfilled in the exercise of your freedom by living that freedom in communion with Him.  God wants you to be childlike in your trust, but an adu...

Are there reasons why some might wish that there is no God? Certainly, if there are if one sees belief in God as cramping one's lifestyle for one reason or another. The desire to live a more satisfactory lifestyle may (mistakenly) motivate one to presume that atheism is correct or to adopt atheism when the arguments for it are weak or to look only into arguments for atheism and neglect to look into arguments for theism. That said, the fact that some may adopt atheism simply because they find it more comforting to despair of God's existence does not prove that atheism is false--not any more than the fact that some adopt theism because of the comfort that its hope offers. But it's worth pointing out that wish fulfillment is a two-way street.