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A little philosophy inclines man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy brings men's minds about to religion. - Francis Bacon I’ve had the same experience

A little philosophy inclines man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy brings men's minds about to religion. - Francis Bacon I’ve had the same experience myself. I’d reckon it’s because ‘atheism’ in the modern western sense is really just a kind of aimless post-Christian pseudo-humanism. Its amorphousness doesn’t lend itself well to providing any deeper meaning to life.

goto11 6y ago
Because atheism is not a religion. It is literally just the lack of belief in any religion. It is not an ethical system or philosophy or ideology or explanation of anything beyond that. Atheism just means you have too seek meaning somewhere else than in religion. It does not in itself provide that meaning.
- ceilingcorner 6y ago
  The concept of contemporary atheism is directly traceable from Christianity, the enlightenment, and western civilization as a whole, just like other ideas such as democracy or human rights. The term ‘atheism’ makes no sense in a Buddhist context, for example. Fundamentally, the word ‘religion’ is just misunderstood by most people, or ascribed only to a narrow institutional or literalist sort of belief. Much of what one believes is unconscious or behavioral, rather than explicitly stated in words. Many/most of the people whom call themselves atheists today (especially the so-called New Atheists) also tend to still maintain this Christian ethical and political heritage (belief in democracy or the essential equality of human life, for example), even if they don’t realize the origins of their beliefs. Many of these beliefs can be described as ‘humanist’. Hence my calling them ‘post-Christian pseudo-humanists.’
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - goto11 6y ago
    I can believe there is a correlation between atheism and democratic/humanistic values, at least among modern western intellectuals. But Pol Pot was also an atheist, so it is not like it follows by necessity. I'm really just pointing out that atheism does not imply any particular philosophy beyond the rejection of religion. The grandparent comment sounded to me a bit like "I tried not believing in Santa Claus, but it didn't really give my life meaning." Well no, but it's not supposed to!

goto11 6y ago

Because atheism is not a religion. It is literally just the lack of belief in any religion. It is not an ethical system or philosophy or ideology or explanation of anything beyond that. Atheism just means you have too seek meaning somewhere else than in religion. It does not in itself provide that meaning.

ceilingcorner 6y ago
The concept of contemporary atheism is directly traceable from Christianity, the enlightenment, and western civilization as a whole, just like other ideas such as democracy or human rights. The term ‘atheism’ makes no sense in a Buddhist context, for example. Fundamentally, the word ‘religion’ is just misunderstood by most people, or ascribed only to a narrow institutional or literalist sort of belief. Much of what one believes is unconscious or behavioral, rather than explicitly stated in words. Many/most of the people whom call themselves atheists today (especially the so-called New Atheists) also tend to still maintain this Christian ethical and political heritage (belief in democracy or the essential equality of human life, for example), even if they don’t realize the origins of their beliefs. Many of these beliefs can be described as ‘humanist’. Hence my calling them ‘post-Christian pseudo-humanists.’
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- goto11 6y ago
  I can believe there is a correlation between atheism and democratic/humanistic values, at least among modern western intellectuals. But Pol Pot was also an atheist, so it is not like it follows by necessity. I'm really just pointing out that atheism does not imply any particular philosophy beyond the rejection of religion. The grandparent comment sounded to me a bit like "I tried not believing in Santa Claus, but it didn't really give my life meaning." Well no, but it's not supposed to!