So, I don’t believe in God, but I’m also not an atheist. You know the Universe is Chaos, but Chaos plays favorites. — Pat the Bunny
There’s an argument that happens badly a lot. Religious folks say something like, “Atheists can’t be as moral as religious people.” Atheists respond with something like, “I believe in the Golden Rule because it makes sense.” And then both parties do the rhetorical equivalent of making faces at each other and calling each other poopy heads.
Generally, the somewhat cooler and more rational minds tend to be those of the atheist/agnostic crowd — usually.
Maybe you’ve seen these arguments; maybe not. What is more likely is that you live in a city in what is — for better or worse — modern secular liberal society. In a secular liberal society, your expressions of belief and your lifestyle are mostly not dictated by authority figures you don’t choose. That’s all ‘secular liberal’ means, in context.
If you live in such a modern society then you’ve probably seen your share of situations in which religious folk have failed to do what Jesus would do. You’ve probably seen plenty of examples of folks with no religious inclination behaving poorly as well. But, because no one has ever asserted that simply not having a religion is enough to make one a good person you’ve probably never counted the bad behavior of an irreligious person as a point in religion’s favor. Maybe you have. I don’t really know.
Either way, as contemporary urbanites, our experience tells us that religious affiliation does little to nothing to make a person less of an asshole. Ironically, that same sentiment is actually quite thoroughly articulated in many religious texts and by religious leaders of small, humble congregations.
All that said, here’s the curve ball:
No, an atheist cannot be as morally upstanding as a theist can be.
But!
Nothing about being a “religious” person actually makes a person a theist. And, nothing about being a theist makes a person automatically any more morally upstanding than anyone else. This is why developing a sense of the difference between what is necessary and what is sufficient is so important.
In this chapter, we will explore the deceptively simple reason that a sense of divinity is essential to avoid the traps of the most infectious evils. We’ll look at some questionable yet common interpretations and abuses of scripture and statements from our most lauded religious leaders. We’ll investigate the error of conflating faith with belief — an error which can easily ruin your entire life. And! We’ll dig into a bizarre principle embedded into the design of religions which could be the unlock to an unknowable number of social design problems.
Look.
If you can read between the lines of the above paragraphs, you know that I’m willing to piss off religious authorities, atheists, agnostics, and anyone camping in the margins — all to help people get closer to the truths that defy easy answers. Don’t leave me hangin’. Sign up for updates and please, please give me the benefit of the doubt. I am doing everything within my power to contribute to a more sensible, empowered, and dazzlingly beautiful world.
I can’t do it without you. Let’s stay in touch.