The Atheist
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The atheist, too, has a god, and it is himself.
The idolater at least understands there is something greater than him, something beyond the grasp of his physical senses, some external forces to which he is subject.
But for the atheist, all the universe is defined by his own understanding, all ethics are subject to his approval, and even he himself is an artifact of his own mind. He is a self-made man, for he creates his own universe and squeezes himself inside it.
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Latest Comments:
I'm an atheist and I must admit this did not exactly reflect my views. By definition atheists do not believe in gods, therefore they cannot worship any. This includes any "gods of self." Only LaVeyan Satanists can truly be said to worship themselves.
I never noticed I was an atheist when I realized that to appreciate the vastness and beauty of the universe, one must have humility and realize that his limited life and perceptions are nothing compared to an eternal universe.
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Nice to see I've got someone thinking.
If I would believe that angels have some power over me, autonomously from their Creator, yes, I would then be a polytheist.
If I believed in nothing else but a purpose of being that supersedes my own immediate gratification, I would then be a monotheist.
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There was a mistake made on my part. I now believe that there is a power beyond what is, a Cosmic Organizer outside of creation.
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The Atheist takes the role of many and then hides this and says "I take the role of none-I am only being myself" The Atheist loves no religious group because religon scares him and miracles are a bore to him so a person like me should shut up and keep it shut. Especially, a person like me who loves putting efforts into G-D-I'm a threat to any atheist. And even though I know quite a few I keep going anyway-They are surprizing because they keep it going too-in quite an effortless way-While we bow our heads in prayers they swing their arms up to worship what seems to be their arms in the air!
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Rabbi Freeman:
A quote from one of the founders of The United States Of America.
Though you reside in Canada, Rabbi, this quote is appropriate here.
It goes like this:
"Infidelity (to G-d) is not in not believing in Him. It's in professing to believe in Him when you don't."
This also means believing in Him, no matter how sincerely, but attributing things to Him that are false.
If you even so much as believe things about G-d that are false, no matter how sincerely, eventually you are going to act falsely in accord with that.
How much better then is it to not profess HIs name at all, expects perhaps very selectively, if at all.
So who was this 'founder'? He also went on to write: "I believe in one G-d and one G-d only"; and-"The Jews say J---- C----- is not the messiah (Moshiach), and
I believe them."
His name was Thomas, and, contrary to what some claimed about him, he was not an atheist.
Some rabbis found him to be a 'paine' though.
Sorry!
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If belief in something larger than yourself automatically translates to g-d then yes, I would say many "atheists" are "believers" to an extent.
Most people ARE atheists. There is a large list of gods that most people do not believe in: Zeus, Ganesha, Allah, the list goes on and on. These are the anthropomorphised versions of many ideas and concepts. One can believe there is an energy that is present in all things, which by default, means belief in things much bigger than ourselves. To believe in a consciousness making decisions is another story.
I love concepts in many religions but choose not to subscribe to one in particular, though Buddhism and Judaism speak to me more than anything else due to the universal knowledge. For me personally, I benefit very much from Buddhist meditation which compliments other concepts in science and Judaism nicely. Rabbi is correct in saying that it is the clergy that is frustrating but for me its also the baggage that comes with the concept of g-d.
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The word "atheist" means a person who does not believe in God. Period. It does not necessarily mean a person who believes in no other things that are greater than he is.
A person can believe any other thing greater than he is, as long as that thing, whatever it is, is not God, and still be an atheist.
Saying that only God can be greater than a man, and yet calling oneself a Rabbi is an oxymoron, because it denies the parts of the Torah that speak of angels and other supernal beings (elohim, plural, not singular, in the Hebrew) that are greater than man, but are not God. To say everything greater than oneself is a God is to say all these things are Gods, a pagan belief, and an oxymoron in any monotheistic religion.
Calling oneself an atheist and believing in a thing greater than oneself is no oxymoron, if that thing is not God.
For example, believing the dictionary is greater than the man Rabbi Freeman, but also believing the dictionary is not God, is no oxymoron.
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A few readers made comments about atheists who believe in something greater than themselves. The oxymoron of their words seems to evade them.
The question is: How many genuine atheists are there really? Simply because someone calls himself an atheist means nothing. Perhaps all he means is to express his disdain for clergy of the church and dictated belief systems.
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It's hard to believe that one is an atheist even in their dreams and subconscious mind. Actually it is impossible...as staunch as ones convictions are, deep, deep within there must be an open door to G-d.
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You wrapped it all up so well and so quickly. We all have to be careful to put G-d in the center of our universe, as much as possible and as often as possible. It's so easy to fall into the physicality of the world, and then we are a shtickel like atheists, G-d forbid. G-d is the only reason why everything happens. We have to think "G-d" and thank G-d, all during our day, whenever possible. It's the only way to stay connected. Thank you for your article. It helps me keep connected to G-d.
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