Notice something interesting about the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings? Atheists are nowhere to be found. Every time there is a public gathering there is talk of God and divine mercy and spiritual healing. Even secular people like the poet Nikki Giovanni use language that is heavily drenched with religious symbolism and meaning.
The atheist writer Richard Dawkins has observed that according to the findings of modern science, the universe has all the properties of a system that is utterly devoid of meaning. The main characteristic of the universe is pitiless indifference. Dawkins further argues that we human beings are simply agglomerations of molecules, assembled into functional units over millennia of natural selection, and as for the soul--well, that's an illusion!
To no one's surprise, Dawkins has not been invited to speak to the grieving Virginia Tech community. What this tells me is that if it's difficult to know where God is when bad things happen, it is even more difficult for atheism to deal with the problem of evil. The reason is that in a purely materialist universe, immaterial things like good and evil and souls simply do not exist. For scientific atheists like Dawkins, Cho's shooting of all those people can be understood in this way--molecules acting upon molecules.
If this is the best that modern science has to offer us, I think we need something more than modern science.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 26)
16. Jacob, I appreciate your response. But to me, the freedom of choice is the religiously-skewed way of saying people act in accordance to their mental/physical health. People who are ill do ill things. It's that simple. More people who own guns DON'T kill. If a sicko doesn't have a gun, he'll use a knife. Or a car. Or poison. Whatever.
You can't praise or blame a higher power in the same breath that you claim freedom of choice. It's like athletes or award winners who thank God for a win. If God doesn't take sides, and it's about free choice, why are you thanking God? It's all you, baby! You did it.
I'm not even an atheist, but I don't believe in God the way Christians insist God exists. "Organized" religions are essentially businesses, mostly corrupt and existing to manipulate. They are inconsistent and self-serving. For me, faith means believing we're all connected by one source, and people don't exist in a vacuum. So "do unto others..." is a fine philosophy. Stop inserting God into human issues as a source of responsibility or reason.
The concept of God has led to more turmoil, heartache and death than anything else in the history of the world. That's pretty telling, isn't it?
Lynn at 3:56PM on Apr 18th 2007
17. I am an atheist. I used to be a believer, and still consider myself Christian philosophically. That is, the tradition of my upbringing is still a major part of who I am, and I agree with many of the moral teachings of Jesus, although I do not believe in the supernatural. So where was I on Monday? I was at work here in the DC area when I learned of this tragedy. I was shocked and saddened by it. I imagined what it must have been like for the victims, I wondered what kind of person could so easily kill another person, and what kind of rage, loneliness, or delusion could drive such an act. I have at least two friends who were connected to Virginia Tech by family, including one who knows the girlfriend of a young man who was killed. Reading your article, I also wondered what religion or the lack thereof has to do with this. You obviously were waiting for such an event to exploit, just to attack a [relatively] silent and misunderstood minority. Atheists are human beings who feel sadness and anger, just like believers. I can assure you that I'm not riding around in my limousine drinking champagne, chuckling about the cruel randomness of the universe. I do not believe that this violence was a part of some larger plan, which only makes it that much more painful for us nonbelievers. My lack of belief in a supernatural being who loves and watches over us is exactly why I believe that we need to love and watch over one another, and do whatever we can to prevent such suffering in the future.
Brian at 4:08PM on Apr 18th 2007
18. The author relies on many misperceptions about atheism to make a point which simply isn't correct.
Atheism isn't a religion, or a philosophy. It doesn't have any mechanism for offering comfort or consolation. It doesn't offer explanations of origins or morality. Those things transcend atheism and are typically addressed by philosophies and sciences.
I'm not *just* an atheist, I'm also a human being. I can feel sad about this tragedy, I can mourn the loss of life and offer consolation to the grieving - but I won't be making up stories or excuses. I won't pretend that the dead are "in a better place" or that the gunman was the tool of some evil entity.
I'll deal with reality head-on. I'll grieve the loss of life as a real loss and not rely on the wishful thinking that waters down the truth to make it easier to take.
Where are the atheists? Well, here's a blog entry from one of the atheists students at Virginia Tech. (http://gnosos.blogspot.com/2007/04/reflections-on-mourning-for-virginia.html)
Quite frankly, I think the words of this individual speak volumes and completely refute the thoughtless attack of D'Souza.
Matt Dillahunty at 4:12PM on Apr 18th 2007
19. My heart goes out to the victims and families of Virginia Tech. May they find solace in the love of God.
Most importantly, I pray for all the athiest; they will not wait untill they die to find out that there is a God.
Scientist can only prolong your life for as long as God allows them to..... after that.... it's just between you and God baby!
sandra at 4:13PM on Apr 18th 2007
20. Lynn,
I agree with what you're saying. I just wanted to give a believer's answer because it was stated that Christians always avoid the question, "Why do bad things happen?". I believe that people's mental health and physical health come into play of course, but their own active choice does too. The gunman chose to pull the trigger on all those people - he had a choice and free will to make that choice.
I also like you don't like when athletes thank God for a win. God doesn't give them a win in a basketball game! I'd much rather them say that they want to thank God for giving them the health and strength to play, not that He was the direct reason for them winning over another team.
And I agree sadly that most organized religion can seem fake and corrupt on the surface and turn MANY people off. It's like Ghandi said, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Christian literatly means "Christ-like" and unfortuantely that is not the impression many Christians give off.
But please don't see any religion as corrupt. One thing I hear is how it's all just a corrupt money game. Well, there are pastors like Rick Warren, who reverse tithes and gives 90% to the church for missions, charities, etc. and he lives of 10% of his income. Also my church, the Free Methodists, have an amazing well program to build wells in countries in Africa. We raised over $27,000 for the wells last year and every single penny is used strictly for wells, no fees taken out. So while many out there are smearing the name of Christ, there are just as many truly trying to live a God honoring life.
Thanks again for the reply back! I appreciate hearing different point of views like that and you have good perspective. Hope you have a great day! =)
Jacob at 4:18PM on Apr 18th 2007
21. Sandra -
I do understand and appreciate your thought. But what are your prayers going to do for any of us? We have free choice, remember? God doesn't intervene (obviously). So, why pray? Many people pray every day for the safety and happiness of their loved ones, but that doesn't secure it, does it?
You know what? I live a very loving and good life. I volunteer every week, I take care of everyone around me and of myself. In general, I'm an actively GOOD person. I don't believe that any God is going to have issue with me and how I lived my life. My God isn't a vindictive, judgemental, abusive, passive-aggressive one.
My God will show itself in the warmth, comfort, compassion and healing powers of others.
Lynn at 4:27PM on Apr 18th 2007
22. Dinesh, you're firing on all cyliders today!
My son is a Physics/Mathmatics major in college and he has explained to some that he would easily reject the knowledge of God if they could disprove him, but he has already experienced Him. Additionally, there are literally thousands of scientists that believe in God and Intelligent Design who argue that there is just as much if not more science for the reality of God than those who argue against Him.
dalosophy at 4:33PM on Apr 18th 2007
23. Even though it was long ago, I like how old Chesterson put it (paraphrasing): "If there was no God, there would be no atheists."
Ken Berg at 4:35PM on Apr 18th 2007
24. to those of you who ridicule Christians for believing in God, i want to ask: if i spend a lifetime believing in God and trusting Him for my salvation and i die and i'm wrong, what did i lose --- on the other hand, if you choose to spend your lifetime denying God, when you die - what have you lost?
carol at 4:36PM on Apr 18th 2007
25. The bodies are still warm and the Christian vultures like Mr. D'Souza already are feasting off their flesh for political gains. Then they have the gal to consider it a virtue and to excorciate atheists for not doing the same.
Maybe we're not spouting our spiel because we're too busy grieving or consoling the grieving. Unlike the vultures.
BlackBloc at 4:36PM on Apr 18th 2007
26. Maybe the reason that there are no athiests is that people who dont put all thier eggs in the religeon basket dont have to come up with a reason things happen. People dont get shot because god needed them in heaven, they get shot because some people are nut jobs......explain gods reasoning for all of these people who died. Because according to the bible thumpers, there is a reason for everything. Maybe sometimes you just have to look at it as some people are just crazy. I also dont see any athiest protesting Soldiers funerals because the country allows gays.
Andrew at 4:37PM on Apr 18th 2007
27. Do any of you religious types ever consider the fact that the vast majority of wars and violence are in the name of religion. How many Athiest wars have you seen? How many have died in the name of Athiesm?
Andy at 4:37PM on Apr 18th 2007
28. Cho was merely exercising his "Free Will"
I own a gun to prevent "God given free will," from being exercised on me.
breckandy at 4:38PM on Apr 18th 2007
29. When God, who is purely Good, is removed (he's not allowed in schools) then we open the door for Evil. God brings peace. The Devil bring death and destruction. The fact that we don't see him doesn't mean he doesn't exist. We can't see air either, but it certainly doesn't stop us from breathing. We can't be so quick to discount what we don't understand. As for evolution...who made the ape? God is real. One day, " Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
Shirley Carter at 4:41PM on Apr 18th 2007
30. Wow, Denish, this Stanford thing is a lie, right? People have to have brains to get into Stanford. You must be writing to us from Stanford Community College in Montana or something. I mean, I just get done reading your idiotic comments, saying that blowing people away is part of our
"constitutional right," and now I click onto this junk. Didn't you hear about the gunman's note? Have you heard it railed against religion, amongst other things? Religion can give comfort to some people, but it can deny certain freedoms and comforts to others. Just ask women is some parts of the Middle East. Mix that up with being isolated socially from others, and you've got a dangerous combination. But enough of that. What's the mascot name for Stanford Community College, anyway? The Gaseous Weiners? The Dorks, maybe?
keepondenying at 5:11PM on Apr 18th 2007