Some have asked, am I Atheist or Agnostic?

The way I see it, gods have been created by human imagination in order to help people understand things they have yet to pin down in an unambiguous way. Religions appear to be designed to fill the void that reason cannot fill, or to address issues where it’s followers refuse to apply reason.

I have come to terms with a spiritual perspective that I feel a non-believer can hold. I have concluded that we are an assembly of parts. When we are no longer animate, we decompose, and we are no longer able to hold our form. Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. This accounts for the physical part of our being. No big debate here. Even theists will likely agree.

It would appear that where I part ways with the theistic proposition of spirits, is in the way individuals retain some earthly, or even other-worldly presence after death. I sense we are born on a moving train set in motion by our ancestors. To the extent that individuals had a role in the construction, maintenance and plotting the course of that train, their “spirits” live on. Individually, we have some small control over our own destiny, and through acts of courage, intelligence and persistence, we can make small shifts in the course for others. But the momentum of the train will continue to drive all of us forward in some way, as we all build from the same foundation.

Beyond this concept, the idea of an all powerful being, or consciousness, whatever you want to call it, is less evident. I believe in the power of all of us combined, as I just described, and that there is no way for us to escape the influence of our own history, human nature or the other natural influences. But I cannot attribute that to what people call a God, or any super-natural influence.

To call ones self agnostic, is to apparently remain open to the idea that a super-natural influence could exist. The problem with this idea, like so many other super-natural explanations, is that once it is revealed, and understood, it can no longer be called super-natural. We would then have some kind of explanation for it’s existence and some understanding of it’s nature. Many things may be possible, that we don’t currently have any evidence to support. Like the flying teapot, I see no value in pursuing these ideas.

A lullaby may comfort a child who is restless, a mythical story may entertain us, or reveal some interesting aspect of human nature, but they need not be taken literally in order to achieve their purpose.

I don’t need myths, or deities to make sense of the world, nor to have a “spiritual” connection with it. As long as I have a feel for my place in the world, and the role I have carved out for myself, I am satisfied. Which is not to say that I cannot be entertained or otherwise touched by mythical tales. I enjoy a good work of fiction as much as the next guy.

Which also touches on another aspect of my views on spirituality. The Arts. For centuries, artists have touched people in a way that nature or science cannot. Artists can reveal truth through fiction or representations of the world that provide perspective that cannot easily be achieved in other ways. We are sensitive, emotional beings. Dry science cannot always satisfy our needs when it comes to the big questions. We need outlets for our imagination, to display our sensitivity to the world around us. In so far as we are able to touch others with prose, music, paint, or sculpture, we need that kind of interaction.

I think many look to a fictional God, and the myths surrounding God to find a means of expressing themselves or gaining some common understanding of what they are experiencing in the world with others. Where their education has failed them they can find answers in religious teachings, where their community has failed to accept them, they can find acceptance in religious communities. Artistic expression can fill this void, along with social acceptance of their art. However, art can do it honestly, without the cover of religious dogma. And art does not provide a security blanket. Cruel criticism of your most personal thoughts can be the result. While religion has it’s method of dealing with those who express ideas and feelings that are contrary to their teachings, society has no set of rules for criticizing art.

At least with religion, you have some idea where their coming from, and you can predict a negative response to certain things before they are spoken. You can even do things to please th religious community by giving them what they expect. With art there is much more risk involved. However, I would argue that the process is more honest, the resulting dialogue more revealing of our true nature, and the end product is more constructive.

In the end, I say I am an atheist, but I’m not mad about it. I understand why people go for religion and wish to believe in a God, or leave open the possibility that there might be one. But I find no need to discuss the possibility of a God, as I see plenty to stand in awe of without it. The universe is full of wonder, and we humans have a unique ability to see, appreciate and understand it. There is plenty to see and do without giving the idea of God a second thought. And I do not see any value in examining the possibility, in favor of other pursuits, as I have seen no evidence to support it, and I think it is highly unlikely that I ever will.

For those who would argue that we have not established meaning in our lives without religion, or leaving open the possibility that there may be a God, I can only say that the universe is collectively a force we all have to reckon with. If you choose to view it as God, then so be it. I prefer to try and see it how it really is, as best I can, without trying to supply an other-worldly explanation for things I cannot understand.

I do wish more could dispel their notions of God or their belief in things metaphysical, as it would remove a veil that distorts reality and shifts people away from meaningful pursuits. Generally I deal with people who hold such beliefs by attempting to get them to see the constructive ways of dealing with such concepts using the methods that I have described above. We can all share a belief in something bigger than ourselves if we start from a foundation of facts we can all agree on, we accept our role in the big picture, and realize our limitations. We have no ability to alter the things that are bigger than ourselves by defining them to suit our needs, they are what they are. We can only try and understand what we can, and make the best of our opportunity to improve things for future generations.

In doing so, our “spirit” will live on.