I really wish that there were some way I could assure my Christian friends that I really am doing well and am happier as an atheist.
When I was clearing out my Christian books the other day, I put a bunch in a box to send to some friends who had given them to me out of their personal library when they moved. I figured it was the right thing to do, rather than throw them out.
I wanted to enclose a letter, letting them know how things are going for me, but I kept getting hung up on the fact that I know they cannot believe that anyone can be alright without Jesus. No matter what I say, it will be a sad and painful experience for them to receive the books from me, knowing that I have rejected god.
The thing is, these are people who are in a lot of ways not happy. I mean, I don’t know how they are right now, since I haven’t seen them in well over a year. But, before they moved, they were pouring everything into their ministry and had become very overwhelmed and very overweight. They were both having health problems due to obesity and money problems due to how much they were giving to others.
I imagine what it would be like if they saw me now. I have changed so much. I am much happier and less stressed than I was before. I have developed a healthy selfishness, since becoming an atheist, where I now take time for myself and take care of myself. I have lost 20 pounds, so far. I am doing things that make me happy, without the guilt. All of my relationships have improved. My life is going great.
How could they explain that away? How would they be able to reconcile their belief that a person needs god and my experience that I am better off without belief?
The answer, of course, is satan.
The Christian explanation for the happiness and success of non-Christians is that Satan, the prince of this world, will give you everything you want in this life, if you turn from god.
If you are miserable in faith, it’s because god is testing you and making you more like his son – but, you’ll be rewarded in heaven. If you are happy in atheism, it’s because you turned from god and satan is trying to deceive you into thinking it’s the better life by rewarding you with earthly pleasures – but, you will not be truly happy in the long run without god, the source of all things good, and you’ll be punished for eternity, on top of that.
There really is no winning that argument.
Obviously, I made a deal with the devil, to be happy and healthy.
Of course, my eternal soul will suffer in hell. But, at least all the fun people will be there.
Charity,
I believe in The Almighty Spirit (THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, 1951). The Almighty Spirit is part science, part Tinkerbell (chaos theory). Now, what do you think of the “if there is no God, then everything is permissible” debate? It would seem to be an argument for unrestrained Capitalism, Wars of Plunder, Lust, Hatefulness and Crime. How’s come the Capitalists are behind this new Christian Fundamentalism? As I recall, the quote from the Big D was about if there is no God, there is no need for virtue, since virtue is meaningless. Either the Christian definition of God has been ‘Corporatized’ or God Itself has no rules about virtue, morality, humanity? Whadaya thunk?
“Now, what do you think of the “if there is no God, then everything is permissible” debate? It would seem to be an argument for unrestrained Capitalism, Wars of Plunder, Lust, Hatefulness and Crime.”
Then, since we have all those things, there must be no god, right? (I’m only kidding. That was a logical fallacy.)
That’s a common anti-atheism argument you are making. I disagree with it, though, as you might guess. Everything isn’t permissible. Even the worst offender against humanity can admit that he would think it was wrong if someone did the same to him. We know what is wrong to do to other people by what we wouldn’t want done to us.
As social creatures, we depend on each other, so we kind of need to maintain at least a base level of decency for that reason. And if we want to have a good life, we really need to go beyond that.
I think most people want to be good to others, just because it feels better. And those who are assholes will be so whether or not there is a god.
Religious folk behave just as badly as non-believers, and non-believers have an equal amount of goodness.
Just a few random thoughts on the subject. I am not really up to a more cohesive argument today. Too sleepy.
Oh yeah, and the corporatized Christianity was a big problem for me when I was a Christian. It is so self-contradictory. American Christianity is just like everything else “American” – flashy, glossy, big, expensive, and obnoxious!
There is a whopping contradiction in the whole GOP-Christianity love affair.
You forgot “shallow”. We’re talking America, here.