So is there an alternative to religion, a framework for living that doesn't suffer the drawbacks of the dogmatic and irrational? It is routinely claimed that:
- atheism provides no ethos for living as a human being;
- atheism doesn’t address the “spiritual” dimension of being alive; and
- there are key questions that atheism (reason or science) can’t answer.
Let’s examine these claims.
Atheists are ethical!
Just about everyone bases their ethics on the values of reason and compassion, respect and goodwill. You could sum it up something like this:
Love and respect yourself, others and the environment
We think that these values evolved naturally. They began as a way for humans to act together to survive. Later, we made those values universal when we recognised that other living things were inherently like us and deserved the same respect, compassion and opportunity to live their own lives that we did. They are a heritage shared by atheists and religious people alike. We simply drop the supernatural stuff to be “good without God”.
Atheists are joyful!
We too feel and express the wonder and joy of being alive. We do it freely and creatively, in a “rationally irrational” way, not dogmatically. You don’t have to believe in spirits to be spiritual.
Atheists are reasonable!
Reason is the best tool we have to explain the evidence and always tries openly and honestly to improve our understanding. Reason and compassion, not dogma, are the best way to solve problems when people have different opinions about things.
Science is reason applied to the natural world. It allows us to explain important things such as how the universe works and how life on Earth, including us, evolved. The explanations that science provides may not (yet) be able to answer every question we may have. But they explain an immense wealth of things and are responsible for much of the quality and richness of life that many of us enjoy today.
The positive atheist outlook
Everybody looks for:
- a purpose to their lives;
- loving, caring relationships;
- a sense of community; and
- ways to celebrate the wonder and joy of existence (some call this their “spirituality”).
We think that everyone should be free to create their own purpose, have the kinds of relationships they want and celebrate life in their own way, provided only that they don’t hurt or restrict others. Living our lives this way, free from religion and the supernatural and the problems they cause, is what positive atheism is at heart about.
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