|
The Atheist Devotional
Timeless Meditations for the Godless
by
M. Moore
Copyright
ã 2008 M. Moore
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
This is a book of Christian apologetics.
It is written in a satirical vein.
If you are an atheist, and you can't handle blunt challenges to your belief system, you are advised to shun this book at all costs.
If, however, you are open to considering arguments against atheism, and you have the stomach for biting satire and pointed sarcasm, please read on.
You are most welcome.
- Foreword -
What Is an Atheist Devotional?
Well, that’s a silly question. An atheist devotional is (what else?) a book written to inspire and encourage the godless in their blind prejudice...er, I mean wishful thinking...um, excuse me...their clear-eyed, realistic, rational skepticism. Yeah, that’s it. Oh all right, who am I kidding? We all know that atheism is as much a matter of faith as any religious belief. It’s certainly not rational. To think that the entire universe just popped into existence uncaused, to think that all the marvelous order of the universe and of life just spontaneously built itself up, to think that human consciousness and the human soul are just properties of dumb matter...these beliefs require an effort of faith far beyond any belief in a personal God who created everything. And that’s exactly why atheists need a devotional. To encourage them to persevere in their disbelieving faith. To keep them from straying from the straight and narrow path of true godlessness. Thus this book—a book of meditations on readings from some of the great godless writers of all time. Inspiring? Let’s hope so. But rational? In the words of that great anti-rationalist Nietzsche: “LOL!”
- Preface -
A Note from the Author
I’m probably not the most likely choice of a guy to write a devotional for atheists. I believe in God. Worse yet, I’m a Christian. I think atheists are...well, blinded and irrational. So naturally I decided to write a devotional for atheists. I’d better explain. My rationale went like this: A lot of Christian ministers don’t believe in God in the least. Look at the Reverend Barry Lynn, for example... Okay, just kidding. Actually I have no idea whether Barry Lynn of “Americans United for the Separation of Church and State” believes in God or not. But it’s a fact, incredible and sad as it may be, that our more liberal churches and seminaries are full of ministers and teachers who don’t believe in God. So I thought to myself: If atheists can pretend to be Christian ministers, why can’t I (a Christian) be a writer of devotionals for atheists? Turn the tables for a change, infiltrate the other side like they do us. Sound stupid? Well, as Forrest Gump said, “Stupid is as stupid does.” Somehow that saying seems appropriate for a book on atheism... And so, my fellow atheists (wink wink), brother and sister agnostics (nudge nudge), and skeptics of all stripes, let us begin. Peruse with me these selections of great godless writings, and be inspired and uplifted!
- Reading Number One -
Darwin: Always Comforting to the Atheist
Excerpted from: Darwin, The Origin of Species, Chapter 4
Our first reading comes from that classic piece of anti-God twaddle...er, I mean scientific literature, Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species. Inspiring? Yeah, whatever. We’ll start with the basics, then, beginning with the next reading, things will get really interesting. Okay, take it away Chucky.
If under changing conditions of life organic beings present individual differences in almost every part of their structure,
What could be more inspiring than to hear Darwin stating his classic Theory of Evolution by Means of Natural Selection? It all sounds so reasonable, so soothing to the mind. So soothing it’s almost mind-numbing. Let’s just sit back and soak it in...
... if there be...a severe struggle for life
Individuals differ...life is a struggle. Already I’m starting to feel the pull of The Inevitability of Evolution. How about you?
...then...it would be a most extraordinary fact if no variations had ever occurred useful to each being's own welfare
“Most extraordinary” indeed! Preach it, brother Charles!
...But if variations useful to any organic being ever do occur, assuredly individuals thus characterised will have the best chance of being preserved in the struggle for life; and from the strong principle of inheritance, these will tend to produce offspring similarly characterised.
There you have it! The weak die and the strong survive and reproduce. Overwhelming evidence that we all evolved from an amoeba! Of course, I’m rather easily overwhelmed...
This principle of preservation, or the survival of the fittest,
Of course, we know that “this principle of preservation” was known well before Darwin, even by creationists, who regarded it simply as a way of keeping a population of animals or plants strong by weeding out the unfit.
I have called natural selection.
But even though Darwin didn’t discover the idea, he did something far more important—he gave it a catchy name!
It leads to the improvement of each creature in relation to its organic and inorganic conditions of life;
And now we see Darwin’s greatness. From the idea that the strong survive and reproduce, he makes a bold leap of faith. A leap of faith to the idea that this means they will always be continually “improving”! What daring! What brilliance! What a load of...ahem, excuse me. Where were we? Oh, yes. Improvement. But now, what does he mean by improvement? Let’s find out...
and consequently, in most cases, to what must be regarded as an advance in organisation.
“An advance in organisation.” Ah, that’s what he means. Well, since we’ve swallowed...er, I mean, accepted...the “improvement” idea, why not go whole hog and make the next leap—to the idea that “improvement” equals “advance in organization”? Improvement, progress, things getting more complex and organized... Sure, sounds good to me. (Note: for true happiness and fulfillment as an atheist, you sometimes have to avoid thinking too critically.)
Nevertheless, low and simple forms will long endure if well fitted for their simple conditions of life.
Yes, well. Darwin recognized that there’s that embarrassing fact that not every creature has constantly gotten more complex over the ages of evolutionary time. We still have bacteria and worms and such. But that’s because...well, they happened to be well fitted to their “simple” conditions of life! Yeah, that’s it. That’s what’s so wonderful about the theory of evolution. You can always come up with some after-the-fact explanation that sounds good!
[From earlier in the chapter] But to suppose that most of the many now existing low forms have not in the least advanced since the first dawn of life would be extremely rash; for every naturalist who has dissected some of the beings now ranked as very low in the scale, must have been struck with their really wondrous and beautiful organisation.
Ah, so what we think are “low” life forms are not really low after all, but wondrously organized! I guess Darwin was just kidding when he called them (later in the chapter) “low and simple.” The man was a genius, a true inspiration! He always had a way to change things around according to the needs of the moment! May we all be so flexible.
Next: Reading Number 2: How Darwin Smuggled Intelligence Into His Theory of Evolution |