Geoff Coupe's Blog

Reflections on life at “De Witte Wand”…

The Atheist’s Creed

PZ Myers responded to a particularly stupid portrayal of an atheist by an artist with something that summed up my attitude to life perfectly. I give you:
 
The 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.  
Damn, I think I may even have this read out at my funeral.
 
Addendum: One of the comments on PZ’s piece quotes a statement from Madalyn Murray O’Hair, which I think is also of value:
An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god.
An Atheist thinks that heaven is something for which we should work for now – here on earth- for all men together to enjoy.
An Atheist accepts that he can get no help through prayer but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, subdue and enjoy it.
An Atheist thinks that only in knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment.
 
Therefore, he seeks to know himself and his fellow man rather than to ‘know’ a god.
An Atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a church.
An Atheist knows that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said.
An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death.
 
He wants disease conquered, poverty vanquished, war eliminated. He wants man to understand and love man. He wants an ethical way of life. He knows that we cannot rely on a god nor channel action into prayer nor hope for an end of troubles in a hereafter. He knows that we are our brothers’ keepers in that we are, first, keepers of our lives; that we are responsible persons, that the job is here and the time is now."  
What I find depressing is what happened to Madalyn Murray O’Hair. We humans are a species in need of much improvement. But the bottom line is that it is down to us, not to any mythical and supernatural god, to do it.
The job is here and the time is now.
Never was a truer sentence spoken.

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9 responses to “The Atheist’s Creed”

  1. Gelert Avatar
    Gelert

    That artists picture was the stupidest thing I ever saw. However, as I do point out to you, both sides present similar stupidities.
    The atheists prayer I actually agree with myself but for the ‘impersonal bit’, otherwise I’m with you all the way.
     
    The last bit,
    An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god.    – why instead of? Why not both? see, that’s almost as silly.
     

    An Atheist thinks that heaven is something for which we should work for now – here on earth- for all men together to enjoy. – well, so do I.

    Therefore, he seeks to know himself and his fellow man rather than to ‘know’ a god.  – again, why not both?
    An Atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a church.                          – well, if it came to a choice, I agree of course
     
    An Atheist knows that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said.                        – prayer is not about asking or copping out, and deeds are what we are meant to do with it, not sit on our butts praying to the ceiling.
     
    An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death.   – so does the believer.
     
    For Pete’s sake, there is so much misinformation and bollocks from both sides here. Don’t we already have enough of that?
     
    Pardon me, I’m in no mood for pussyfooting tonight, though that’s what I’ve been trained to do – pussyfoot, appease, not upset, not disagree with. Tonight, I’m not in the mood.
     
     
     

    Reply
  2. Geoff Avatar
    Geoff

    Gelert, glad you’re not in the mood for pussyfooting 🙂
     
    You write: "An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god.    – why instead of? Why not both? see, that’s almost as silly". Erm, what part of the definition of an atheist do you not understand? If a person believes in a god then that person, by definition, ain’t an atheist. Sheesh! Likewise for the "impersonal universe" – if it’s anything else, then the person characterising the universe as "impersonal" can’t be an atheist. Although, as an aside, I do wonder whether a deist might still characterise the universe as "impersonal" given that the deist believes in a non-onterventional god?
     
    Miaouw!
     

    Reply
  3. Geoff Avatar
    Geoff

    Oh, and I think the point of O’Hair’s statement was to attempt to redress the perception, particularly strong in the US, that atheists are amoral, and not worthy of US citizenship (thank you, George Bush Sr.). You did read that quote from Life magazine that O’Hair became "the most hated woman in America", right? The whole point is that we can hope, dream, and act out moral lives without the need of belief in a god…

    Reply
  4. Gelert Avatar
    Gelert

    I’ve not made myself clear – something I seem to have elevated to an artform –
     
    ‘An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god.’    – why instead of?     – I meant – why should a THEIST not be able to do both? The suggestion in the line above is that where atheists love their fellow man INSTEAD of God, that therefore  a Theist must love God INSTEAD of his fellow man. My question was, why should you have to love one instead of the other, why not both?
     
    I’m even less in the mood for pussyfooting today.

    Reply
  5. Gelert Avatar
    Gelert

    and the impersonal was from my viewpoint, not assuming an atheist would, obviously.
     
    As for the defense against atheists being amoral etc – that too is clear bullspoop – just from my side of the fence not yours.
     
    I of course agree we can all live out our lives in hopes, dreams, and morally without God – of course we can – I don’t believe in God because I have a need for ‘him’ or because ‘he’ is needful for me to do these things.  Sometimes I’d like to bash the stubborn heads of the end spectrum of both sides of this debate together and let them count the resulting stars.

    Reply
  6. Geoff Avatar
    Geoff

    Gelert, aah, OK I now understand the point you were making. I can see why you would rail against the implication that "therefore  a Theist must love God INSTEAD of his fellow man", and indeed it is a valid interpretation. I would just submit that it is probable that, given the circumstances, O’Hair probably came across lots of instances where the valid interpretation was that theists, by their actions, were actively demonstrating their love for god at the expense of their fellow men. Lord knows, I see a lot of it about still today.
     
    And I still can’t get my head around why you are a theist. It really would be helpful if you were to put forth some of the rationale that lies behind it. And honestly, if your response is that you have faith, then I think there is no further discussion possible (he said, in as friendly a tone as he could muster).

    Reply
  7. Brian Avatar
    Brian

    if your response is that you have faith, then I think there is no further discussion possible  Drb.oynfw I.ruu frg er frg abe I.n.py a ecoo.pkcj. ,cyd yday oya.m.byv  <df co rb bry lroocxn. yr dak. a jrbk.poaycrb ,cyd orm.rb. ,dr aed.p.o yr uacyd rb yday k.pf ogxh.jyZ  C-m ogp. .k.b Ea,tcbo ece ydayv  Cb abf jao.v I.n.py-o mcbe co ,rpyd ecllcbi frgp yr.o cbyr yday ,ay.pv

    Reply
  8. Geoff Avatar
    Geoff

    Pity, I had hoped for more.

    Reply

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