A certain woman I know is what one might call a "seeker": she seeks a spiritual ground upon which to stand firmly, her heart beating mightily, but her blessed intellect given over entirely to god. The intellect (nous, in Greek) is today given short shrift -- not because of its latent power to uncover cosmic and terrestrial "mysteries" (we all know the amazing discoveries in astrophysics in recent years), but rather because many are afraid of what Archibald MacLeish memorably descibed as "...the black pall / Of nothing, nothing, nothing -- nothing at all" ("The End of the World").
The intellect, when left alone by the Big God in the Sky, will tell you -- mind and heart -- that we are definitely not "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) but rather just a tad short of cursed. Recall these words of Kierkegaard: "Hear the cry of the mother at the hour of giving birth, see the struggle of the dying at the last moment, and say then whether that which begins and that which ends like this can be designed for pleasure." But of course there is pleasure in life: the album by Chick Corea to which I am now listening; the softess of my girlfriend's hands; the three little birds outside my window, singing to me a message of love ... But why must we allow these things to be subordinated to the power-hungry monster in the sky?
In the classic defense of atheism, The God Delusion (2006), Richard Dawkins observed (as Gore Vidal did before him) that the Old Testament god is the most unpleasant character in all fiction (Harold Bloom thought otherwise; but he also thought that Poe and Tolkien sucked -- so much for him as a critic). What amazes me is the profound (I'd prefer to say profoundly stupid) excuses that believers give for the genocidal mania of this so-called god. Needless to say, a god who demanded totaI war against unoffending nations is the last thing we need to study today.
I recently spent a very disturbing afternoon discussing theology with two Mormons. After politely listening as they explained their myth -- which I will not even begin to summarize here; instead go to: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Mormonism.html. I asked them (not quite politely) if what the world needs now is another mythology, instead of a more devout attitude towards science, philosophy, history, and the humanities? They had no adequate answer, as one would expect; but they did point me to this passage from the Book of Mormon (clearly directed at me):
Behold, I [the angel Moroni] am laboring together with them [unbelievers, Yours Truly] continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble [I was far from trembling, I assure thee, my brethren] and anger against me [I wasn't angry, just sadly amused]; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death ... (Moroni 9:4-5)
The potent arrogance of this passage -- and the context of its usage -- aside, whoever wrote this magnificent piece of modern mythology obviously misunderstood atheism. Atheists have no fear of death -- for there is nothing to fear! Oblivion, especially for those who suffer from depression, addiction, poverty, abuse, is a blessing if ever there was one! Further, sharp words demanding that I accept your god only make me feel sharp myself, and ready to get into a down-and-dirty debate. Alas! One cannot really debate with brainwashed people. They just smile and quote from their scriptures. Such people should have no place in modern society -- unless they change their views. Yes, that sounds fascistic; but hey -- if it works ...
I would say the same words as Dawkins, in reference to this problem (and it is a problem: the fact that otherwise intelligent people -- and the Mormons to whom I spoke were far from stupid -- spend their time studying either an authentic Bronze Age / Roman era set of texts, or a recent fabrication by a bona fide loon, instead of putting their considerable mental power to the service of science and human progress in general). Here is Dawkins: "I am not in favor of offending or hurting anyone just for the sake of it. But I am intrigued and mystified by the disproportionate privileging of religion in our otherwise secular societies" (The God Delusion, p. 27).
It is very dangerous to give equal voice to a Harvard-trained scientist and a believer in an angel named Moroni (an apt name). Let us, instead of attending Wednesday night bible studies, go to lectures or symposia by academically trained scientists, philosophers, cultural critics, et cetera. Keep the religionists out, and let the free thinkers in. Am I pissing on the First Amendment? You bet. 'Tis time to shut up the religionists. Not out of hatred, but out of respect for the complex and highly intelligent beings that we are (most of us, at least). One can only imagine the cultural change in this country if believers finally learned that there is no god, and gave their mental powers to the actual physical -- for we are purely physical beings (the soul is a myth) -- needs of our fellow humans.
As I write this, I am listening to NPR discuss the Pope's new enclyclical on climate change. Why anyone living in the twenty-first century would pay a stick of attention to what a believer in a virgin birth has to say about anything baffles and sickens me. The Pope should stick to preaching about the Assumption and stay out of politics. Let us rid ourselves of mythology. Understand that Christ has no more reality than Zeus or Kali or Thor.
It is time for us, as a society, to grow up. As unpleasant as the thought of a life that begins and ends with suffering (to recall Kierkegaard's words) certainly is, we must be strong enough -- intellectually -- to accept that reality. And in the meantime, let us do what we do best: learn about our world, and leave mythology behind.
