In a recent conversation with a fellow journalist, I voiced my exasperation at the endless talk about faith in God as the only consolation for those devastated by the unfathomable murders in Newtown, Conn.


b_b:

The author doesn't touch on what I find to be the largest blessing of atheism, which is that life has no inherent meaning. I see this as a blessing, because the only meaning we are left with in life is that which we ascribe to it ourselves. That is, for an atheist, life is what you make of it.

Also, while I respect her enthusiasm, I'm not sure I agree with her speaking of atheists as a monolithic bunch who should be doing some community outreach. Personally, I don't think there is a unified atheist ethos, and that is why we're relatively invisible in society, despite being so numerous. But that's the catch 22. If we want out voices heard in politics, we have to act like a bloc. But being part of a bloc, with its rules, stated principles, ideologies, and groupthink mentality, is one of the many things to reject about a unified ethos.


posted 4126 days ago