Being a “suspect” agnostic, I read the November issue article on “The New Athesists” with great interest. As a psychologist for 18 years involved in both research and clinical pursuits, I read it from that perspective, of course, and the article raised the following issues for me:
Despite the fact that we like to consider ourselves governed by logic and reason, human beings are, first and foremost, emotional, although often our actions can be tempered somewhat by reason. We make decisions emotionally and justify them later intellectually—any psychologist, or salesman for that matter, can tell you that. As the author says, “Logic doesn’t quicken the blood sufficiently.”
Human culture is therefore transmitted primarily through story, art, and music, with the understanding of right behavior and the promise of fulfillment of one’s life primarily dependent on story in its various forms, i.e. tale, parable, allegory, poetry. Who will develop atheism’s stories? Scientists? Atheist prophets? It must be done if atheism hopes to capture the human imagination and spirit in order to be a genuine option to religion.
Atheism in its current form also does not address the human, and certainly American, fears about death. Atheism cannot promise an eternal existence of happiness and peace, or even honor before God and mankind, as do major religions (even current Muslim extremism). “Fire insurance” is a powerful emotional bargain. What will atheism offer to the depressed, the addicted, the powerless? There is a reason that intellectuals in fairly comfortable life circumstances comprise the group primarily attracted to atheism. In addition, atheism does not offer power to its proponents, so there would be no “priesthood” to actively perpetuate its philosophy and make sure their charges do not lapse into superstitious behavior.
In short, atheism will need to develop an emotional imperative; logic alone will not get us there. Without achieving this it won’t survive as a viable guidepost for future humanity. From my perspective, the new atheism looks primarily negative—giving up a rich heritage, however disastrous for humanity’s future, for reason—devoid of the emotional fulfillment that humans require.
Can there be a transition that will offer individuals the emotional support in reason and naturalism that they now feel in supernaturalism? If not, I fear that one of my basic beliefs may be true—that we humans are not a very viable species.
Jan Amberson, Ph.D.
Prescott, WI
