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 3 of 26)
31. Carol, I can't speak for everyone who has posted but most of these posts including mine are certainly not attacking Christians. We're just trying to make the point that we are no less human for our lack of belief. And to the rest of your comment, I can't make myself believe in something just b/c it might be nice if it were true. Some of us just aren't wired that way. Even when I accepted the idea of a God I could not believe that the events in the bible were literally true, b/c what I knew about the world allowed me to conclude that these events were impossible and were stories written by men thousands of years ago.
Brian at 5:18PM on Apr 18th 2007
32. Jesus said, In THIS world you will have trials and tribulation,but be of good cheer,I have overcome the world. People of faith know that when they die,their spirit returns to the Lord.
That is how we find peace in times of despair.
God has never stopped evil. We all have free will and bad things happen to good people.I know that I will live after I die. Do you have that hope? The bible is a great place to start searching for answers. The reason that we see doctors is because we are of an intelligent design. God gave us brains to use. He will not be tested and does not perform magic, although miracles do happen. Thank you Lord for taking the innocent victims of VT to be with you and comfort them. I pray for all the victims and their families and all the students and teachers.
I also pray for all the people in this world.
ALYSE at 5:23PM on Apr 18th 2007
33. Wow, Mr. D'souza. How do you know there have been no atheists at any of these gatherings? Perhaps you think atheists wear some sort of scarlet letter. Or maybe that is just how you would like it, eh? Furthermore, why in the world would you think it at all appropriate for Dawkins to be invited to speak at any function associated with this tragedy? The Pope hasn't been invited either, so will you ask where are all the Catholics? For the sake of Stanford, resign your current position, there are plenty of high school students that need a job and that could write more cogent arguments than yourself.
koszmic at 5:37PM on Apr 18th 2007
34. in the name of atheists who don't have time to explain why youre wrong, i'm just going to say two things.
you are an asshole.
god is a lie.
Zack Derouiche at 5:37PM on Apr 18th 2007
35. Not in MY name, Zack. That was super-uncool.
Lynn at 5:46PM on Apr 18th 2007
36. Someone earlier said that god "loves us and wants us to love him." I've always wondered...believers say that god is as superior to us as we are to, say, a paramecium.
Why does your all-powerful, all-knowing god want to have a loving relationship with a paramecium?
orogeny at 5:47PM on Apr 18th 2007
37. Just what do you think atheists look like? What a load of crap. You don't know anything about atheists except the weaknesses you project upon them.
What did you expect them to do, jump up and shout "I'm an atheist, and despite the fact that I'm comprised only of molecules and chemical reactions I grieve just as the rest of you do"? If anyone actually had done that, you would have excoriated them for injecting their religious beliefs where they don't belong.
Just. Like. You. Did.
Your hypocrisy and ignorance is astounding.
Caro Cogitatus at 5:48PM on Apr 18th 2007
38. I know where the atheists are not. I know they're not trying to use this tragedy as an excuse to attack people who disagree with them. That's probably out of respect for the dead.
Clayton at 5:55PM on Apr 18th 2007
39. As an Atheist who has studied the Bible and sought Jesus many times, I am often aware of how much support theses beliefs give some people. In living my life, I have been acutely aware of right and wrong, even though I was never brought up in a Christian church or teachings. I have no idea why Mr. D'Souza thinks you need a book to tell you what is right or wrong, good or bad.
If anything, I have been very convinced that Atheists are sometimes even more spiritual, moral and forgiving than those who claim an affiliation. This came to me one day when a coworker found out I am an Atheist. Her response: "But you are such a spiritual person!?" True. And I define the right brain as 'soul', the left as 'mind', the spirit is the combination of the two- the ideas and conclusions that are the result of clear thought and reasoning.
If some Atheists with spiritual beliefs that include nurturing, loving and healing, were invited to speak at such a vigil, more people might find comfort in their words as well. I doubt they would be uncomforted or feel excluded as atheists usually do in these convocations.
As far as what I may be giving up if I am wrong. I am only able to believe in the possibility a just, loving and forgiving God. If I someday find that God judging me, I have no concern about what s/he would know about what has been in my heart and mind. If such a God must be worshipped in order to allow good people into an afterlife, I guess it explains why the world is such a mess.
As far as Cho being evil. He was apparently a victim of depression for some years, and possibly other psychiatric issues like personality disorder. I have been in and out of depression several times. It does horrible things to your brain, thinking and feeling. About the only thing you can feel are some levels of anger. Cho's flat affect that is described by so many fits this to a T.
As for Mr D'Souza being Rishwain Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. The Hoover Institution and the fellowship are most likely funded by rich conservatives. Check the titles of his books at "read more"
'There are no atheists in foxholes' isn't an argument against atheism. It's an argument against foxholes. -- James Morrow
Ginny in CO at 5:58PM on Apr 18th 2007
40. This is contemptible. People are dead and you dare to invoke this tragedy to attack people you consider your foes.
You have no shame or compassion. Mr. D'Souza you sicken me.
CSM at 6:00PM on Apr 18th 2007
41. Atheists are pretty much banned in this country of so-called "equal rights." Anytime someone says something bad against God, they are automatically the bad guy. If someone says someting bad about Atheists, everyone in the room agrees and nods their head. This is a largely Christian nation, and we obviously don't all have equal religious rights. Have you listened to the Pledge of Alleigance lately? 'Under God.' What if there was a Hindu in the classroom, and he was forced to say this? In his belief, he would automatically be damned to a hellish reincarnation. We Atheists are largely disrespected in this country.
Also, they invited Christian, Muslim, and Jewish priests to speak. All three believe in the same God. Coincidence?
Ryo at 6:08PM on Apr 18th 2007
42. Hey Andy: "...How many Athiest wars have you seen? How many have died in the name of Athiesm?"
Well let me see: WW2, and the many millions more Stalin and subsequent USSR leaders killed via the communist system in the Soviet Union. The people of China have suffered greatly under the effects of atheistic communism.
Also if I recall, the French Revolution, while maybe not atheistic, was definitely anti-religious. North American slavery was nothing less than a perversion of everything true and decent, and while Southern Christians tried to justify it, they were wrong and Northern Christians (notably the Quakers, but other Christians groups as well) were instrumental in advancing the idea of Abolition of slavery. Lincoln certainly was no atheist.
No, atheists did not help free one slave, or save the world from the nazis, or from murderous tyrannical communists. The Catholic church was among the few groups (the secular media calls them NGO's) who, after the UN and all the secular diplomats ran, actually stayed in Ruwanda and tried desparately to help; they are still there helping. Where were your dear atheists then?
Ken Berg at 6:13PM on Apr 18th 2007
43. Andy
You asked how many have died in the name of atheism? Have you never heard of the Soviet Revolution, The Maoist Revolution, etc . . .
The last thing I would try to be in your shoes would be a moral elitist!
dalosophy at 6:25PM on Apr 18th 2007
44. what a pointless piece of religious propaganda,
this article makes no valid point, and just takes the opportunity of a horiffic happening like this and molds it into a pathetic attack at atheism.
Do you want to know why there were no atheist speakers? because the USA is a profoundly religious nation, this very article gives proof to the point that in the USA atheism is frowned upon, so a religious speaker would be more accepted
in times of need people turn to the thing they see as being beyond this universe, God, just like the berieved families of the deceased seeing haluccinations of their dead relative, people like to live in ignorance so they can kid themselves that everything is fine and their beloved has gone to a 'better place'
as they say 'ignorance is bliss'
Matt at 6:26PM on Apr 18th 2007
45. "To no one's surprise, Dawkins has not been invited to speak to the grieving Virginia Tech community."
Neither have you. Apparently this makes you evil as well.
Dawkins, however, is at least fair-minded and perceptive. That you can try pin this tragedy on godlessness (where was your compassionate, omnipotent deity, by the way? Not in Blacksburg, I guess) or "the best science has to offer" reflects both a barren intellect and a craven, opportunistic streak.
kemibe at 6:36PM on Apr 18th 2007