Question:

If Atheism is a false god, which god should we follow?

Background:

If you have looked at the outlook of strictly materialist Atheism, and decided that does not give a foundation for life, or a life you want to live, then it seems you have decided there are absolute values beyond matter than govern our lives. That leads to the question of how do we choose those values?

Ancient Greek mythology had many gods, representing the opposing forces people saw at large in this world. With the values of our Judeo-Christian heritage we would regard the behaviour of those Greek gods as most inappropriate for a “god”. But the Ancient Greeks themselves also had extensive moral values.

Our gods are not usually carved objects, they are whatever is the central focus of our lives, what provides us with our reason for living and our direction in life. And those gods tend to determine what values we hold in life, and how we relate to one another.

Examples of gods include :

• activities — sport, exercise, hobbies, work, shopping, dining, sex;
• objects or things — money, pieces of art, music, entertainment;
• people or groups — sports teams, intellectuals, celebrities, preachers;
• addictions — alcohol, drugs;
• philosophies and ideologies — Existentialism, Postmodernism, Nationalism, Environmentalism, Racism, Anti-Racism, Communism, Feminism, Individualism & Nihilism, Vegetarianism

Many of these activities or things may be perfectly worthwhile, but it is when they become the core purpose of life, rather than things that support us in our purpose, that they become our idols or gods. If you don’t think an ism like Communisim can be a god, would the sacrifice of 100 million lives in the 20th century to appease its needs be enough to convince you?

If we reject the idea of belief in a god, we then unconsciously become bound to a god, even if that god is Atheism itself, we see many zealous worshippers of Atheism in our world today. And we are then driven by the values associated with that god, without being aware of the impact of our choice. Values like greed, hatred, and violent emotions, can take over and become the operating force in our life. Perhaps the choice of the god of racism in Rwanda in 1994 is an example. It’s amazing to find that people who took part in that murderous rampage of genocide, when converted away from that god of Racism, can become very kind and caring people, reconciled to one another.

So, how to choose? The term I used in the question was “should we follow”, as this decision is too important to be made on the basis of “could we”. That may just lead us to choose what gives the most pleasure, which is already a choice to follow the god of hedonism. Does it matter that your choice of what god you follow may lead you to have values of aloof contempt, or hatred, for other people, or alternatively lead you help them? If so, that is already the beginning of a choice of values.

I hope this website will help you to explore the path of your choice.

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