An email about humanists not being atheistsI led me to thinking about humanism (both secular and theist varieties)and exactly what they believe as I have always assumed that they were not theists. This narrative from the British Humanist Association seems to suppost this view:
"Humanists do not believe in a God or gods, or any other supernatural or divine entities. Humanists do not think that the universe needs a divine power outside of itself in order to have value. We, inside the universe, determine its value. We think that other people, for example, are moral concerns, not because they are made in the image of Something Else, but because of who they are in themselves."
So I have, most respectfully, to point out to those who have written (often moaning about the comments process on Google) saying that they were not atheists, "You're obviously syncretic humanists! You call yourselves humanist but in fact your merely agnostics in that you are obviously skeptical about the existence of any divine or supernatural power but you claim not to be atheistic!"
I'd like to pose a question. It's one I'm struggling to answer and would love any passing humanist (secular or theist) and anyone else to have a go at.
During my theological journey I was taught that having a 'god' was part of the psychology of religion. A tribe would create their god (or if we are considering things pantheistic, gods) so that they had someone to cry out to in their need, appeasing where supposed ills had made god (or gods) angry and praising when things were hunky dory. The god of choice was the source of all good and the focus of all praise and yet there was someone else (eneter the devil).
It seems to me that some people struggle to avoid having a god and yet find it easier to have a devil. For some it is a supernatural being, force or energy and for others it is America, consumerism, capitalism, communism or the Western/Eastern world.
We might not need something or someone to praise and worship, but we all create our own devils to excuse us from our failings. You know the stuff, "My father was an alcoholic and beat us kids up and so that's why I do it now - he's the demon behind my failings, etc, etc."
Seems to me as I engage with humanists (secular, rational and atheist) that whilst many struggle to reject a god they find it much easier to embrace a devil.
So (at last) the question:
Is it easier (and even more logical) to have a devil than a god and which do you have?
You can consider the question - 'and why?' as well if you like.
You may turn over your paper.
Pax
2 comments:
For this generation? Yes its easier.
If you believe and accept an real an anthropomorphic personality then you must accept the 'rules' around that personality.
for example, if you believed in a god of wine he must naturally be a little tipsy all of the time
With all the manifest 'evil' in the world it is very easy for people with no religious affiliation to want to attribute this to some malignant being.
Now here is the important but - beliving in that being doesn't actually make any demands of you. You might adopt some supersticious practices to 'ward him off' or you might simply choose you get tattoos of him because its manly and tough to walk around with a devil on your arm.
Now the nature of God is well documented - the rules if you like of his personality. He is love and more important he loves all of us, even when we fall. More than that he sent his son to die for us - by which we mean you.
And there is the rub - to believe that God exists. The same God as described by Hebrew scriptures and then by Greek documents all bound together in the Bible. To believe that That God exists immediatly poses questions on the persons lifestyle.
It is impossible to believe (genuinly believe) in God - in what and who he is - and choose to sit on the fence. You cannot do it and so at the point of accepting that God exists the individual is immediatly challenged about their lifestyle and beliefs.
Or to put it another way - to accept the existance of God is to then turn your gaze on yourself and see how you have responded to this God who loves you so much.
I think people are frightened to do that so they stop short of acceptance. They don't let themselves go far enough because they know in their heart that they might not like the implications of what they find.
Me? I believe in both.
Sorry - that turned into a bit of a rant.
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