>I am also atheist. And a radical one. But all my family are catholic, and
>you can imagine what is this in latin american country. In my childhood I
>was afraid of God. And my parents wasnĄt in science. But more I learned
>about science, history and the way humans are more I doubted it. The fact
>that I donĄt believe in religion anymore, which I undertstand sometimes is
>necessary and suportive, came from my education, which was most influenced
>from other people than my parents, or a failure in the transmission of idea?
>
>Best regards
>Eduardo Mauro
The message was from Christ to you. Maybe you did get it, and it is your family that is caught up in a too-literal interpretation of things. Why argue about abstract nothings when the real issues of happiness and satisfaction are right in front of you. If you can use the metaphor of God to put your people at ease and point them in the right direction...why not? If one of them becomes skeptical, you can discuss your athiesm with them in depth, and tell them the whole story of your path. I think it would an inspiring story, and it might change their perception of what "Athiesm" means.
We are each mortal, with finite resources. Why piss what we have away in an existential void of ideology? If people are hungry, we have to figure out how to make them fed. When God serves as a tool to that end, then I am willing to serve God. When God contradicts that end, then I stand in defiance. What could be simpler?
The problem is, too many people are afraid to argue with the infinite. Instead, they choose to deny that it exists. That is delusion.
Reed
Reed Konsler konsler@ascat.harvard.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------