I wouldn’t say my atheist life is monochrome

[rug]

If Christianity were false, would y ou be sad? I really don't think I would be that upset. Tom Barringer gives an account of his view of the purposeful life.

Tom Barringer on Monday 15th February 2016

Unless you have no Christian friends whatsoever and a pathological fear of poster boards, you might have noticed that the Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union have been running a series of evangelist talks and blog articles called Everything in Colour this term. I would like to offer a response to Everything In Colour as an atheist, and since I can't afford to print posters or rent lecture halls, I thought I'd write this.

My subtitle is a clear rip-off of the title of the Everything in Colour blog post written by OICCU External Vice-President and fellow Hughsie Johnny Patterson, a man for whom I have a great deal of respect. I intend to do the same thing here that he did there: assume my worldview is correct, and explore the consequences of that. I hope to conclude that atheism isn’t as depressing as OICCU has suggested in this term so far.

So, let's start. After denying the existence of gods, where does that leave us? Well, it leaves us on our own. And this is where writing about atheism in a proactive, positive way gets quite hard. Because God is a really, really seductive idea. Johnny asks “If Christianity were true, would you want it to be?” My answer? Yes. If the very best form of Christianity existed, the form where God - the God - loved you and required in return only that you love him back and love your neighbour, then yes.

Atheism, on the other hand, is nowhere near as compelling at first glance. It’s seen as a denial of an idea, promising nothing, providing no support. Friedrich “God Is Dead” Nietzsche told the story of an atheist driven mad by this removal of structure to his life: “Whither are we moving? Away from all suns? Are we not plunging continually? Backward, sideward, forward, in all directions? Is there still any up or down? Are we not straying, as through an infinite nothing?”

http://www.cherwell.org/comment/opinion/2016/02/13/i-wouldnt-say-my-atheist-life-is-monochrome

http://oiccu.org/

[AtheistCrusader]

1. "Atheism, on the other hand, is nowhere near as compelling at first glance."

No fucking shit.

What IS compelling, through the lens of atheism, is THE ENTIRE FUCKING COSMOS.

[rug]

4. Atheism is simply nonbelief in god(s).

Your grandiosity is stretching the word into an unrecognizable lump.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. No, I see the Cosmos as it is.

That's the lens. The 'no boogeymans' lens.

If there IS a creator, I'll find it, or the toolmarks it left behind on the cosmos. I won't make one up or assume it on the basis of your insistence and good character. If it exists, it, or its effects, can be found. Otherwise, the universe is as it appears to be, which is grand enough to satisfy me.

[cleanhippie]

6. Bye, Feicia!

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

2. From the Christian coloring book...

"There is only one true god..."

They have dismissed many gods.
Only one to go!

Nearer to atheism than they thought.
Color that.

[Cartoonist]

3. They bumped it to three

The father, the son, and the holy ghost. When Mary's not busy cleaning or doing the laundry, they can play Bridge.