Kudos to the Owen Sound Sun Times for having the editorial gumption to allow me the bi-weekly space to offer its readers an alternative view. Here is my second article from the July 3, 2010 edition (please note that I don't choose the headlines):
Atheists no more likely to commit crimes or be incarcerated than theistsWe are here because one odd group of fishes had a peculiar fin anatomy that could transform into legs for terrestrial creatures; because the earth never froze entirely during an ice age; because a small and tenuous species, arising in Africa a quarter of a million years ago, has managed, so far, to survive by hook and by crook. We may yearn for a 'higher' answer---but none exists: Stephen Jay Gould, (as quoted in 2000 Years of Disbelief, Famous People with the Courage to Doubt, by James A. Haught, Prometheus Books, 1996).
This article was inspired by two issues that recently caught my attention:
1. the disturbing popular notion that atheists are either amoral or immoral; and
2. a Philosophy Bites podcast (freely available on iTunes) in which British humanist/gerontologist/philosopher Raymond Tallis discusses proposed British legislation that would allow assisted dying for terminally ill patients. Tallis made the point of mentioning, presumably with a straight face, that the proposed legislation would not allow euthanasia for those struck with "existential despair".
What exactly is "existential despair"? Essentially, it is a psychological crisis (presumably an overwhelmingly cathartic one) typified by at least three sensations:
1. The sense of being alone and isolated in the world;
2. A stirring realization of one's mortality; and
3. Believing that one's life has no purpose or external meaning.
Existential despair is also known as "existential nihilism". It is derived from a scientific analysis that shows that our existence can be explained solely by reference to the laws of science. With respect to the universe, a single human (or even the entire human species) is insignificant, devoid of purpose and can make no real change in the totality of existence. Stephen Jay Gould captures the thought quite well in the above noted caption.
As noted above, atheists are often criticized as being "moral nihilists"or, in other words, those that subscribe to the view that morality does not exist. If there is no universal morality, it is arguable that no action is preferable to any other. For example, a moral nihilist would say that killing someone, for whatever reason, is not inherently right or wrong.
I would like to propose 10 reasons why atheists (or at least most atheists) are not moral nihilists:
1.
We are humans with an evolved disdain for suffering. If you doubt this fact, ask yourself why you do not enjoy watching a dog being gratuitously beaten with a stick. In the unlikely event that you enjoy such a scene, it is because you comprise the roughly 5% of the population that is sociopathic (i.e. you have no conscience and enjoy the suffering of others) and not because you are an atheist.
2.
We are humans with an evolved tendency towards reciprocal altruism. Reciprocal altruism is a concept which suggests that mutual cooperation and the Golden Rule (i.e. treat others the way you want them to treat you) evolve naturally because they benefit us as gene replicating organisms.
3.
We genuinely love our neighbours. More to the point, we ask our religious brethren whether they really believe that they would be more likely to kill, rape or steal if all semblence of religion vanished from the world tomorrow.
4.
We don't need the "Good Book" or any other moral codification to require us to be decent. When we do good, it is not because we are trying to earn salvation in heaven or trying to avoid eternal damnation in hell - we do not believe in either.
5.
The existence of secular humanism as a worldwide movement.
6.
The use of applied ethics to better the lives of those who we have no reason to care about if we were moral nihilists. Exhibit A: Peter Unger's Living High, Letting Die (Oxford University Press, 1996). Exhibit B: Peter Singer's The Life You Can Save (Random House, 2009). These books should be required reading for both religious believers and non-believers alike.
7.
Professed atheists are less likely to be incarcerated than those who profess a religious affiliation. This is an admittedly contentious claim but the only point I want to make here is that there is no statistical evidence to suggest that atheists are more likely to commit crimes or be incarcerated than theists.
8.
Divorce rates are lower for professed atheists than conservative Christians. Believe it or not, that is what the statistics tell us. In any event, the point of this article is not to suggest that religious believers are more likely to divorce their spouses (although that may be true), just that there is no statistical evidence to suggest that non-believers are more likely to divorce. Source : Barna Research Group, 1999.
9.
No murder has ever been committed (or war ever been waged) in the name of atheism. Please note that I am not suggesting that atheists are incapable of killing – Stalin’s murderous regime outdid any religiously inspired war or inquisition. My claim is only that there is no evidence to suggest that disbelief in god makes people more murderous or willing to engage in war.
10.
We are just like theists in every respect aside from our rejection of what we consider to be irrational religious beliefs. We love our spouses, our kids and our pets. We feel guilty if we cheat. We like to leave tips for chamber maids in hotels that we may never visit again. We laugh at jokes. We cry at funerals. In fact, most of us even enjoy religious music, art and rituals - the only difference is that we are practically certain that they are inspired by myths.
