Humanism, atheism and other freedoms

This is something an atheist hears a lot from believers. When I explain that, no, I’m not agnostic, I don’t believe in god at all, the response is likely to be, ‘How can you be so sure?’. It’s often accompanied by a patronising or pitying smile, as if to say, ‘You’ll be sorry if you’re wrong’.

This is, of course, tied to the old, rather solipsistic, argument that it’s better to play safe and believe in god – that way, if he does exist you won’t have pissed him off during your life and you’ll be safe after death. It’s rather like sucking up to the boss even if you secretly believe you’ll never get that promotion.

Atheists have nothing to gain during life and everything to lose after death, the argument runs. Aside from the fact that the first part of that assertion is so completely wrong (atheists gain an immense freedom of thought and action by not being dictated to and limited by religious dogma), the argument is fatally flawed – to a level that makes it idiotic – by the fact that it presupposes one god.

Of course, true believers are certain that there is only one god – theirs. A Roman Catholic knows that Muslims, Jews – in fact, everyone but Roman Catholics – are backing the wrong horse. What they don’t seem to acknowledge, or are too afraid to consider, is that maybe they are wrong – that even if they spend their lives in deep devotion, regularly flagellate and abase themselves, give up any pretense at rational or free thought, they might still go to hell for having picked on the wrong deity.

Indeed, the question – ‘how can you be so sure?’ – is revealing. Believers are people who need certainties. That is why they will accept an entire system of belief even though it contains many palpable absurdities. A rigid system of thought helps exclude the scary possibilities that life, before and after death, is uncertain. Just recite the catechism, perform the rituals and whatever you do, don’t think for yourself.

How can I be so sure? Simple. There is no need to believe in god, there is no evidence for god, there is no rational line of thought that leads to god and his existence is so profoundly improbable.