The character of modern religion is so contorted that the most logical step up, for the slightly reasonable person, with little loyalty to tradition, is atheism. One cannot hold atheists accountable for their moral perversion of faithlessness. It is a straightforward result of the absurdities of religion itself.
In their studies on the brain, cognitive scientists have traced the progress of human cognition across millennia. As the cognitive scientist Merlin Donald broadly categorises it, cognition evolved from the initial Mimetic domain, moved to the Mythic, ending at the contemporary Theoretical domain.
The torch bearers of modern atheism like to make the self-congratulatory use of the ‘absurdities’ and ‘depravities’ of scriptures to punch religion right in its face. You have to hear Richard Dawkins cheekily say, “It’s ridiculous to believe that Muhammed would fly to heaven on a winged horse”, as if he had made a killer move and declared ‘checkmate’.
Atheists love to snuggle in the warm protective folds of the scientific institution for almost every argument. Science is the only good way, they repeat ad nauseam. The only good way for everything; values and ethics included. Really?
Dear atheist, knocking down the cardboard cutout of an opponent is easy. It makes you smug to win against a comic book superhero or super villain (atheists won’t mind) of a God. It is easy, it really is. Incidentally, you fight against a doddering, sluggish opponent and that does not make you the strongest. Not your fault, that.
Existential angst is a hallmark of the human condition. We might live in comfort and ease, we may be rational and intelligent, but unanswered questions about our essence still bother us. What is the meaning of my life? How do I lead my life? What is important; what is not? In fact, atheism itself is a journey of such existential questioning