Atheism (Not a Hard Science Post)

Someone asked why so many scientists are "Atheists". Don't really know what others reasons may be, but, maybe if they're a teeny bit like me, this is why.

The existance or non-existance of God cannot be proven either way. Since this cannot be proven either way, arguments using or requiring God are also unprovable. Scientists don't really like untestable arguments and hypothesis.

And arguments using logical fallacies like those on the list at ( http://www.logicalfallacies.info/ ) will win no friends. Ever.

So, perhaps they actually believe. And then find that much they believe can be tested. That some of it (most, actually) contradicts the "Bible". Crisis of faith time. Since science has been blowing holes in the stories, they either give up religeon and faith, keep the faith but realize that religeon is a load of horsewash or leave science. Some try to do many of these at the same time. Poor people.

Notice, and this is very important: Religeon requires "God" or "gods". "God", or "gods" do not require religeon. Arguing that you cannot seperate the two is a logical fallacy. Unfortunately, "Areligeist" is not a proper word.

For those who are curious, I'll tell you what I believe. For those who don't care, you can stop here.

For me, there will be two main branches when I die. Both of these concern "God". Other branches could exist. Valhalla and Odin, Krishna, Flying Spaghetti Monster. But, I am only concerned here with questions of "God".

One branch is no results. There is no God. In which case I do not care becuase being dead means you aren't there to be able to care.

On this branch, I win. I have not wasted my life on reliegon or churches (which love the word "tithe"). And, since I have lived my life by moral (some say "secular") principles like charity, kindness, help those you can, do no harm, do unto others as they would have you do unto them, think of family first, friends second, society third but be ready to put the needs of the whole human race above your own, I have also won on moral grounds. I have done that which the religeous claim to exemplify for no reward or expectation of reward or punishment.

On the second branch, there are three corollaries. God exists. In this case, one of the following three things happen.

First corollary, God says that because I did not believe, I will be sent to "hell" where I will burn in the lake of fire for all eternity, never dying or being allowed to go mad. Permanent state of torured burniness and hurting where the demons/angels of Satan will bite my ass.

I'm sorry, but this makes God a psychopath. And, it makes those that feel this is a good thing also psychopaths. Fallible humans feel that torturing someone by peeling their skin, burning their flesh and other atrocities is very evil behaviour. We condemned Hitler for this sort of thing and he, personally, never weilded the knife or torch.

This variation is alluded to obliquely in the bible, but the distortions, deliberate mistranslations and cherry picking of interpretations makes this one more than a little untenable. It's also very "primative man" thinking and makes you wonder if those who adhere to the Fire and Brimstone idea are even normal human beings at all.

Second Corollary, God says that because I did not believe, I will die a second death. This is somewhat ambivalent. On one hand, I get to say goodbye one final time to those I missed saying it to in this life before they died. On the other hand, I might make those puffed up self righteous types feel good about themselves. And then I stop caring.

This is only a step above the previous corollary. Seems rather sophomoric and juvenile, doesn't it? Why bother bringing anyone back who is going to be killed a second time, anyway? So those who make it can go "Nyah, nyah!"? Maybe it's to scare those who make it so they'll toe the line?

Third corollary, God says "One last chance. Will you follow me?".. to which I reply "Sure thing, Boss. Now that I have real proof.". In this scenario, God could still judge us or have our parents and/or victims judge us, but the result is pennance that means something. A growth and learning experience.

Since the first corollary is unlikely and the second is so peurile it is also unlikely, the two choices I face make a win/win situation out of being an Atheist like me.