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Philosophy of Atheism.
(excerpt from an article at the Ethical Atheist)
posted on 2nd February, 2005
An Ethical Atheist is someone who lives by a personal desire to do good things in their limited life on Earth. They don't believe in any god, religion, or an afterlife. But, that doesn't stop us from living an ethical life and attempting to co-exist with our fellow man in a peaceful, rational manner. We have many atheist, agnostic and religious friends. Generally, we accept them as they are and respect everyone's right to have beliefs other than our own. We listen to others with conflicting views and realize that we cannot change these views. We try to accept others beliefs and keep our mouth shut. However, if religious people push their views and criticize us, we will not remain quiet. If they insist on educating OUR children in falsehoods, we will not remain quiet any more than if someone taught our children that dirt was water, or that the sky was rock. We respect everyone's belief in religion, so long as it doesn't censor another's beliefs. We believe that males are equal to females. We believe that heterosexuals are equal to homosexuals. We believe that children are equal to adults, they just lack experience and education - are you willing to provide an unbiased, truthful education to them?
The ethics of our children, and thus the ethics of future societies, is completely in our hands. Children do not know hate at birth. They do not know Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, East or West, Sinner or Divine, God or Devil, our country or their country. They know love, yet do NOT know hate. Whether you know it our not, you are giving your children these faculties.
If you teach your children to hate and to be intolerant of conflicting religions: they may grow up to be suicide bombers and they may even become the next Hitler. If you let your children grow up watching violent television, your children may grow up to have little regard for life; they may kill others or promote war; they may torture animals; and they may have no concept or desire for peace on Earth. On the other hand, if you raise your children to understand morality and ethics; and to live by these rules, the world just might be a better place. If more truth and honesty existed in educating our children around the world, we believe that chance would exist for peace and reconciliation.
Atheists have been long termed as "sinners" by the so-called believers. Atheism has given to the human race the intellectual monarchs of the world. When the great Darwin discovered the law of the origins of species, he was called an Atheist because he disproved the special creation of Man. When the Chemist went into his laboratory and discovered the indestructibility of matter, he was called an Atheist because he proved the impossibility of a Creator. When the Astronomer pointed his telescope to the sky and explored the regions of unlimited space, he was called an Atheist because he found no God within the confines of space, no heaven within the region of his explorations. When the Geologist determined the age of the earth through it's rock and soil and formations, he was called an Atheist because he, too, destroyed a belief in the special six-day creation, and exposed the falsity of the divine cosmogony. When the Physician sought to alleviate the pain and suffering of Man, he was called an Atheist because he refused to accept disease as a special visitation of a vengeful God.
Religious people should ask themselves the question, "Why have atheists given us most of the greatest scholars and scientists we've ever known?" Or, "Why did we murder, torture and imprison scientists that were helping us understand the world in which we live?" Or, "Why did Christianity carry out the Crusades?" Or, "Why does our Koran teach us to kill the infidels?" Is it the earliest or most recent religion that deserves to be treated as true? In either case, it appears that most religions are ruled obsolete. Where does that leave most religious beliefs? Answer this question on your own. Your answer will not be graded.
We believe in living in peace with our fellow man. Without a belief in the afterlife, this life is all we have. We cherish it and are grateful for our time alive on this planet. We have a strong desire to avoid conflict. We also have a strong desire to educate our children with what we have learned during our time on this planet.
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