Church of the Non-Belivers? You can keep your Church.

 There is a new breed of atheism in the world and as Gary Wolf wonders, “are they winning converts, or are they merely preaching to the choir?” Wolf's, Nov, 2006 article titled, The Church of the Non-Believers, takes on this argument. Gary Isaac Wolf is a contributing editor for WIRED magazine. Wolf is also a book writer and columnist with titles such as Supermemo and  Quantified Self , (co-authored by Kevin  Kelley). These writings delve mostly in mathematical science, in conjunction  with statistics and weather patterns. 

             WIRED magazine is a science and technology periodical and on-line distribution relating their subject matter to current events. It utilizes various fields of science within the "tech" sectors to promote material to a core audience of "tech junkies" , "geeks" and "political enthusiasts".  Not all of its audience is young and crazed with technology addiction. They also cater to an audience of  mature and philosophically motivated people that enjoy reading about current events and world development.  The core purpose of this particular article in WIRED is a hard one to digest. There isn't much technology talk at all.  So it will not only attract the intuitive “techy” but will also be an appealing article to it's secondary audience.  Both argumentative and informative.

             In the exchange of human discourse there is a massive philosophical conflict between theism and atheism, this has been going on for quite a long time. Today, this topic is evolving and shifting as the world progresses to be more knowledgeable and informed.  In the discussion of  the “New” Atheism  there is currently a  translucent rift as of late. Much of this is argument based on etiquette and feelings. Gary Wolf set out on a journey to help him understand the real reasons behind the now very prevalent and growing movement of atheism in America today. Wolf is admirably able to grab the attention of a few of the worlds current leading and well known atheists in order to perform his obejective. These men are: Sam Harris, Dan Dennet and Richard Dawkins.

            Dawkins is a Oxford University professor , writer and lecturer.  He is known world wide by many titles given to him by friends, colleagues and foes. One example would be, “Darwin's Rottweiler”. This comes from his background as a superb Biologist and profound defender of Darwinian evolution and has written many best selling books on the subject. While discussing atheism with Dawkins, Wolf seeks to understand Richard's hard-lined point of view on religion as a morally bankrupt intellectual crime that needs to be eradicated.

            In their conversation, key points to Dawkin's agenda relies upon the evangelism of the atheistic movement and scientific awareness. He stresses that in order to spread the correct information, religion has to be met with equal pressure and intolerance of its myth. He also expresses his disagreement with the ability of parents to force misguided ideas and myths upon their children. This is talked about in more detail while discussing the concept of the “meme.” This idea of Dawkins talks about how, thoughts, ideas, beliefs and mental attributes passed down through the generations are like genes in the human body. This explains how religion has been around for so long and remained prevalent throughout the ages, all the while evolving in its own way. These myths are then bent to suit current history and political agendas.

            Gary Wolf takes Dawkins with a teaspoon of salt and  seems a bit argumentative. He says that he may be causing more harm to his movement than good by being so obvious in his disdain.  “If the solution to the spread of wrong ideas and contagious superstitions is a totalitarian commissariat that would silence believers, then the cure is worse than the disease.” - Wolf. This is the point at which Gary is not showing good signs of deep and reasoned thinking.  The cure is far worse than the disease? Since when is it wrong to have people understand actual truths rather than wild superstitions? If Galileo never attempted to shut down early religious “scientists” in the church, we'd still be walking on a flat earth. If  Charles Darwin hadn't swallowed his own attraction to old world thinking, the achievements in understanding biology would never have occurred. This would have destroyed any semblance of modern medicine today and how we understand our ecosystems.  What would be the point of teaching at all if we were only to adhere to fossilized thoughts? The Disease in this instance has been silencing “non-believers” and “heretics” for thousands of years. Only scientific and political perseverance has the strength of the illness been met with a suitable medication and is curing the laryngitis of  reason and truth.

            The next discussion takes place with the writer and freethinker Sam Harris. Harris has written a few books called, The End of Faith and A Letter to a Christian Nation. He talks about the future of religion and the ending of faith based approaches to politics and foreign policy. He isn't so much bent on the material proofs of atheism but more concentrated on the harm that religion has, can and will inflict upon the whole of humanity.  One of the prime reasons for Sam to start writing so much on the subject came after 9/11, which we all know was committed by religious extremists. Harris sees what could happen if religions are given a fairway to their ideologies, though he is not all 'doom and gloom.'  Sam has optimism for the future. He attributes his optimism to the recent rise in freethinking and atheism in the world. Sam believes that a new system or order should arise, not through the churches, but through science and understanding. This would allow people to work towards more humanist and realistic goals. “There would be a religion of reason” and “ We would have realized the rational means to maximize human happiness.” - says Harris. Now, most atheists would cringe at this sort of statement and I think Wolf takes it out of context as well. I believe the statement was meant to be taken jokingly. Though Wolf runs with it, trying to paint atheism as another religion and working under the same pretenses as any other supernatural belief. Wolf makes up an atheist prayer, where he is obviously trying to throw atheism into the same box asreligion again.   “Here is the atheist prayer: that our reason will subjugate our superstition, that our intelligence will check our illusions, that we will be able to hold at bay the evil temptation of faith.” Although I feel he is mocking us, I must say that I agree with the context.

            Gary then makes his way to an evangelical/charismatic church  called Angelus Temple in Echo Park, LA.  There he met with its leader, Pastor Matt.  The underlining idea before the talk reads, “While the New Atheists are arming themselves against faith, faith itself renews its arms”. Gary explains the atmosphere in this church as being lively and full of enjoyment to many. He does mention that he sees some odd things he isn't used to seeing in other churches. For instance, the obvious attraction to having people “give” and “donate” to the lord . . . a lot. As well as some major differences in its scriptural approaches than from other church counterparts. What catches his senses the most is the message. It is open to a wide range of Christian beliefs and is not itself set in stone on many issues. The message purely concentrates on the holy spirit and the human connection to the love of God. It is not so much worried intellectual disputes and scriptural talk. Gary notices that the message is much different and geared to the emotions of the young and old, speaking to their everyday experiences and hardships. Pastor Matt props up his flock spiritually by helping them to cope with life's hardships, calling them, “Kings anointed by God.” This gives them purpose and a path. Gary sums up this visit with this line. “...We practiced reasoners and sincere pilgrims on the path of non-belief, may find something in it that makes sense. Not withstanding the banality of the doctrine, its canned anecdotes, and its questionable fund raising, Pastor Matthew offers a gift to his flock. They sow their seeds, and he blesses them. Its a direct exchange.”

            Too me this sounds more like the capitalism of the emotions. Pay up, and I'll make you feel good with false hopes. Here again, I witness Mr. Wolf's compassion for the church and its direction. I feel he is still missing the mark. Its not about ones feelings its about truth and reason and the stability it brings. Feelings are getting the best of Gary. I'm sorry, as a “practiced reasoner”, I don't see it “making sense.”

            The final individual in Gary's trek leads him to conversation with Dan Dennet, a world leading philosopher and professor. Dan is a humble and respectful man. In his evaluation he sees that Dan, although 'evangelical' like Dawkins and Harris, comes with his own brand of reasoning. More thoughtful and reasoned, an experimentor of ideas. Like most philosophers, he is open to all ideas being put to scrutiny. Though unlike some atheists he believes that all religions should be taught in schools with accurate historical teaching. This, would keep religion in its place and would be more understood by the masses. Technically, this should be widely excepted, although it seems to go against  Thomas Jefferson's wall. (separation of church and state) “Keep the bricks coming, Mr. Jefferson!”, I say.  I do understand where Dan  is coming from, though I don't see it happening without a few broken bones and teeth along the way, especially in America. Dennet has a wonderful line that mustn't  go unmentioned; “ if you have to hoodwink – or blindfold – your children to ensure that they confirm their faith when they are adults, your faith ought to go extinct.” In Gary's observation of Dennet, he finds that Dennet is a different sort of atheist. Dan sees that not all ideas can be truly relied upon based on reason alone and that faith, not necessarily a virtue, does have a use and wont go away. We should not forget our “default settings”, meaning those things that drive our internal ethical compass. “No rational creature would be able to do without unexamined , sacred tings” says Dennet. These things are a human protective mechanism. One could be the most rational person in the world but they still hold onto something. Gary then asks Dennet, if by this line of thinking, he is admitting that religion is found in everyone and everything. “This would make our “defaults” a religion, unimpeachable and implacable gods” Dennet replies that “exceptions can be made.” I'm guessing he means as long as it doesn't get out of hand.

            In the end Gary comes to his finale. “ Myself, Ive decided to refuse the call. The irony of the New Atheism – the prophetic attack on prophecy, this extremism in opposition to extremism – is too much for me”. He goes on to talk about how he thinks it is all just hypocrisy in the end. Well...as  I am sure you have figured by now,  I don't agree. Gary seemed to be completely open-minded throughout his essay, I did get the sense that he had already made up his mind long ago. He did play the part of a good fence sitter and I give him credit for the act.  He was able to talk to some of the smartest and most intelligent men on the scene today and still he failed to understand  the core principles of atheism. I don't know whether it was emotional or just a willingness to stay neutral out of fear of ridicule. I see it as more of an apathetic approach and an unwillingness to see passed the “movement” of atheism rather than what it actually is. Atheism is not a religion and does not have a requirement of faith. In his cherry picking of ideas and out of context approach , Gary misses the direct definitions required to make a correct conclusion. Atheism means, “without a belief in a god” ...period.  Atheism is not out to release someones emotional baggage, it is out to release the mind. The movement comes from a sickening sense that something is terribly wrong with the world. Ninety-five percent of the worlds inhabitants are religious, and something isn't working. In the world, most of the progress for curing disease and educating the masses is taking place in the science labs and in Ivy league universities, not churches and temples. Behind the scenes there is a marginalized group of people in the world who no longer adhere to religious dogma and superstition. They rely of the perseverance of  human ingenuity and want for happiness. This is not a religion but a necessity, to bring about a long and prosperous survival for mankind. Mr. Wolf, sadly, has stubbornly let this one fly over his head and let his feeling get in the way of better judgment and understanding.

Wolf, Gary Isaac. “The Church of the Non-Believers.” WIRED Magazine. Time November 2006: Issue 14.11. Web. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/atheism.html