On the spiritual condition of the atheist ideologues

Hannon writes:

While posting at the Secular Right thread, I detect a consistent undercurrent of depressing negativity from the people there that is subtle yet pernicious. As though they were operating out of some dark, cold cave on Mt. Truth—but they know every bit of data about that cave! I sense a real unhappiness among them, in spite of their “rightness.” It seems likely that religion will hold on, if for no other reason than fellowship and kindness and all the related benefits. Atheism? It provides justification for suicide or living, but who cares? Among their kind, ultimately, WHO CARES?

Of course one can pick up a decent moral code and exhibit mercy as an atheist, but how long would that hold up—and how would it hold up—if they were in the majority (or the minority) and running things? Rationality, reductionism, and efficiency would take charge, and that is I think my whole point through all my posts on that thread.

So, with my last post on that thread, Daniel Dare writes:

“Also you are right to note that when challenged I will defend. There is a reason for that. I, together with some of the other more-experienced rationalists, attempt to expose the weakness of the arguments of the believers, because there are some of ours who might be fooled. They need to know that it is possible to defend pure reason. They need to be shown how.” [emphasis mine]

Who is “ours”? “Fooled” because their rationalism would fold at some point? Doesn’t that just sound creepy? Like they are the Brights and Common Purpose rolled into one.

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Gintas writes:

Hannon writes,

Of course one can pick up a decent moral code and exhibit mercy as an atheist, but how long would that hold up—and how would it hold up—if they were in the majority (or the minority) and running things? Rationality, reductionism, and efficiency would take charge, and that is I think my whole point through all my posts on that thread.

If they were running things, the rule would be of cold, heartless technicians devoted to pure detached reasoning, parsing the finer points of law and science. It’s what I noticed about graduate school (at an engineering school): these were people who were intensely focused on characterizing the vibrations of rotating machinery. The art would be abstract shapes made of stainless steel, the music would be “industrial noise”, and the theater would be all science fiction starring Spock characters and shapely female robots.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at February 18, 2009 11:47 PM | Send