Mail from an Angry Young Atheist (I am a disgrace)

Tuesday

Dec082009

20091208 at 19:12

I’m quite willing to accept that some people aren’t prepared for life without god and/or religion.

That Marvin [not his real name] apparently has anti-social tendencies and hostility for large swaths of the population is much more of a concern to me than whether or not he is religious. He’s well past his teen angst years, and much too young to make a habit of statements such as “I do not care if the world ends tomorrow.”

I’m just going to have to assume that he has found no salvation in Atheism, and that Atheism has disappointed him deeply. I urge him to try to find in himself some kindness, humility and empathy for others, however he can. The argument I make is that one can be a civil, moral and ethical person without the crutch of any religion, dogma or label. A sense of humor goes a very long way, but he doesn’t betray one, more’s the pity. More things he does very well, that he didn’t mention:

Compliment himself, without reason to;
Denigrate others without giving sufficient reason

“Whiny, disagreeable and emotionally incompetent” describes everyone in some group except him. I don’t think he should be so hard on himself - I’m sure he could be that way if he tried hard. Wait a minute! His rant below is whiny, disagreeable and emotionally incompetent. I think he doesn’t want any group that would have him as a member. It does seem he suffers from common problems — excessive hubris, impatience, intolerance of differing opinions, and inability to negotiate and argue successfullly.

Marvin: (not his real name)

As purely an exercise in acidic hyperbole and sarcasm, let me respond to you.

On Sat, Dec 5, Marvin wrote: [emphasis mine]

I used to be a member of the [place elided] Atheists and now I am a sometimes- participant in [place elided] atheist meetings since moving here to complete my PhD. I have been a philosophically well read atheist with anti-theist leanings since perhaps the age of 7.

Fortunately, there is no purity test or academic requirement for adopting the label “Atheist” or “Anti-theist.”

The purpose of this e-mail is to address the angry, frustrated comments of this ongoing e-mail debate accusing people of being too atheistic, not atheistic enough, too conservative, not conservative enough etc.

You perceive frustration and anger — is that a complaint, or just an observation? I wish you would have made an affirmative statement as to what you want out of the group, or “ongoing email debate.”

I say the following as an academic in training, as someone with an intelligence, an intellectual background and an ability to articulate that far surpasses that of my peers - I am almost entirely indifferent to the social happenings of my country. I have never voted in any of the mid-term or presidential elections, I have opinions but a distaste for political activism in regards to gay marriage, abortion rights, universal healthcare, women’s rights, labor unions/work reform and any and all international disputes between our country and any other. I am, with the exception of my family and very close friends, indifferent to the suffering of others.

What a terrible burden to be so much more gifted than one’s peers. At least you aren’t over-burdened with modesty. I’m afraid I can’t accept your ridiculous level of cynicism, since you don’t give the reason you became so embittered and indifferent. I suppose you may feel it’s your “right” because we live in a “free country.”

I think you should reconsider your extreme position. If you plan on working in academia, I doubt your churlish attitude will get you very far. At the very least you should give better reasons for refusing to do your basic civic duty.

I do not care if the world ends tomorrow so long as my family and I do not suffer. If my family were threatened I would kill whoever threatened them without a flicker of conscience.

So I take it you don’t blame your family for your bitterness. These statements are so repellent and upsetting I can only assume you were grievously harmed. If you are suicidal, please talk to someone. I think you should talk to someone about being “indifferent to the suffering of others,” and how you justify “kill[ing] whoever threatened them without a flicker of conscience.”

My only hope as a young atheist growing up was to find some group where I belonged that offered a significant degree of solidarity without intellectual and emotional disparagement. This is the hope of all humans to a greater or lesser degree. As an atheist, groups such as this one were, for a long time, something I hoped to find brotherhood and companionship in. Alas, no matter how “intellectual” and socially “sophisticated” atheists and academics claim to be, they are, in every instance, whiny, disagreeable and emotionally incompetent. I have, as I said, more or less withdrawn from all social circles as atheist groups are not the only groups, of course, to allow an emergent tribalism and exclusivity to dominate relations. This is also the very reason I ignore and dismiss political activism.

I am 23 years old. I represent the new generation of atheists very well - indifferent, disillusioned and resentful. You atheist americans that came before me are a disgrace and have soiled the potential that atheism offers.

Marvin

You claim to be of superior intelligence well-educated and yet are uniquely cold and amoral for someone of your years.

What a nasty dismissive and unsupportable little comment you ended with there. At the very least, you should support your argument that “You Atheist Americans that came before me are a disgrace and have soiled the potential that atheism offers.”

On the other hand, please don’t. You’ve already managed to appall me and bore me at the same time.

Sincerely,

Richard

P.S. Heaven have mercy on your soul! I certainly have no such obligation.

whiny, disagreeable and emotionally incompetent.