The theist reaches out to a concept of God to help him understand the universe. The atheist simply reaches out to the universe itself. They both seek knowledge of the nature of physical, psychological, political and cultural entities. Some of these are listed below:
- The nature of the universe
- An identification of the smallest possible particle leads the thinker to wonder how it can be further subdivided.
- An identification of the size of the universe leads the thinker to wonder what lies beyond.
- An identification of the age of the universe leads the thinker to wonder what happened before it began.
- The nature of death
- Is it possible that a loved one can suffer after death and if so, what can be done to provide relief?
- The nature
of birth
- When holding a newborn in ones arms, one can find oneself extending gratitude towards the heavens for such a magnificent gift.
- If indeed we are created, it could have been in a different manner.
- Instead, we find ourselves continuously entrusted across all of the generations of man.
- We see our children then as a most overwhelming expression of love and benevolence towards us from our creator.
- We begin to understand that our wish to express gratitude is best met in the manner in which we raise the innocent under the sight of our beloved God.
- The nature of conflict
- Man, standing on different sides of a battlefield, have always emboldened themselves with separate notions of a God who is urging them forth to battle in the name of all that is good.
- The nature of race
- In our infancy and toddlerhood, before we have learned that colors can have names, we have no concept of race and no problem in considering any child to be as one of us.
- Somehow, we get from there to here where racial distrust is the norm.
- We learn this from our parents, siblings, classrooms and cultures.
- If we are created, we are left to wonder why we are created in races.
- How can we learn to love each other as naturally as we did when we were children?
- The nature of
culture
- Man evolves in the separate cultures inherited from his ancestors.
- Man develops a sense of debt and honor with regard to the work accomplished by his parents and the founding generations of his culture.
- Man sometimes carries this to an extreme in an adoption of a belief that their ancestors could not have been mistaken in their published notions of God.
- Born and raised under the cultural norms of their era, the children given to us as perfect find it impossible to trust and love each other across the cultural divide.
The theists will work with the atheists to engineer an epoch where political decisions are entrusted to the atheists who are the middle ground, unencumbered by divisive religious notions. Before that can happen however the theists need to understand the concepts that the atheist use as their moral guide. For example, one might consider that it was theologically inspired notions such as “Love they neighbor” and “Do unto others” that enabled freedom to begin to flourish across the earth. While those theological associations with general advice can bring with them divisive political thought in the various interpretations of the remaining multitudes of the scriptures, still, the general notions have served as a reliable guide.
What moral guide is proposed by the atheists and for what reason is it proposed? The atheist will consider that the theist’s assumption as to the existence of a benevolent God can indeed serve to suggest rational modes of conduct for man whether or not she does indeed exist.
Once that future state exists, another state can begin to exist, one where theists and atheists are trusted partners in government. The atheist might consider the ultimate state as one where the thinker no longer needs a concept of God. At the same time, he himself will understand the theist view when he holds a newborn in his arms. There is nothing left to do but to get along.
So, how do we get from here to there? Before one can answer that question, one must strive to discern the most accurate definition of that future state. This would include a definition of the political state.
- Is there a true equalization of opportunity for each newborn child?
- Are resources shared equally?
- Is there an equality of education available to all?
- Are the rights of children spelled out, including the rights against psychological manipulation towards one belief system or another?
We are absolute beginners, peering through time to envision a future state and we are making our plans to get there. And when we get there, our progeny will look back at us, here in the years 2000 and they will see clearly the path that we followed and so we know the path is there, we just have to find it.
And all the while, if indeed we are created, Thea nudges us forward, expressing her belief in us with each newborn child. Our ancestors look on as well, frustrated at our notion that the things they said and wrote were perfection, waiting for us to observe the universe with our own eyes instead. We will join them someday. Will we have improved things in this respect?
That child in your arms is innocence personified. Will you corrupt her or will you keep her?
