August 12, 2011
Do atheists reject god?
From reader John, I received a link to this interesting video combating the notion that atheists are 'rejecting' god.
I am a theoretical physicist and currently Director of UCITE (University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education) at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. I am the author of three books: God vs. Darwin: The War Between Evolution and Creationism in the Classroom (2009), The Achievement Gap in US education: Canaries in the Mine (2005), and Quest for Truth: Scientific Progress and Religious Beliefs (2000). Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are my personal ones and are not those of UCITE or Case Western Reserve University. If you wish, you can send me an email by clicking here.
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Comments
I think the theist is angry at the atheist because s/he understands that the atheist feels the same way towards the believer's beliefs as the believers feels towards other cults, myths, superstitions, and "wrong" religions-- often for the very same reasons. It's easier for believers to reject the messenger then to hear the message implied by the very existence of atheists.
This video seems a bit of a straw man argument. The descriptions of Theresa's emotional reaction to Anthony's rejection is possible, but not the only emotional reaction. The following step into biological reductionism decreased the effectiveness of the argument. In my opinion.
I don't think he interpreted the analogy correctly. If I tried to set a friend up on a blind date, and they refused and told me they didn't believe the other person even existed, even though I just told them I knew the person, I'd take that as a personal rejection, and for good reason. Any time you tell someone you don't believe them, you're rejecting them in an important sense. No schizophrenia is necessary.