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Hi I'm Brian Dalton from the Mr. Deity show and I've been hearing a lot of talk about
the role of atheism in the skeptical movement. In essence the question is, can you be a good
skeptic without being an atheist. Of course anyone who knows me from the show
knows that I'm about as ardent an atheist and anti-theist as they come.
But I honestly don't know why following the principles of skepticism necessarily leads
to atheism. Sure God is the single most extraordinary
claim ever devised by the mind of man, and sure that claim is lacking all extraordinary
proof whatsoever. But is that all skepticism is? A method for
rational thought which demands parity between a claim and its supporting evidence?
I hope not! And here's my top five reasons why such thinking
can and will damage the skeptical movement. Skepticism is and must remain a method without
dogma. We can't start telling people they can't believe
this or they can't believe that. If a good skeptic wants to believe that the
moon landing was a complete hoax filmed on a Hollywood sound stage, who are we to call
bull**** on that? Except- that's kinda what we do.
For skeptics to stay competitive we cannot require higher standards of ourselves than
our competition. If Catholics can practice birth control, and
Jews can eat a western bacon cheeseburger, then By Darwin, skeptics can believe in God,
Jesus, Allah, Muhammad, Thor, Brahma, Marduk, Ganga, Yu-Huang, Odin, Nintu, Inti, Geong-Si,
Demeter, Zeus, Balder, and of course the great Ju-Ju at the bottom of the sea.
Skepticism should not impinge on anyone's lifestyle.
Sometimes that nonsense can really come in handy.
"Oh Wow Sagittarius cool! I'm a Gemini, so I do everything at least twice if you know
what I mean baby, right?" And some of that woo stuff can be an enjoyable
distraction. A hobby if you will.
Oh Boy, she's pulling' oh ya, oh ya, we got something, we got something. Yes! Oh Yes,
Jedi, what did you get? Jedi?
Following one's principles when it's convenient to do so if fine, but if those principles
are going to cause someone some existential angst.
Or rob people of the comfort they're desperately clinging to, I say "Go to hell!"
Except I don't, 'cause I'm an atheist. Before we start getting all uppity about our
principles, we have to first consider the effect on fundraising.
Sure, God and religion are often the gateway drug to every other form of woo.
And it's true, water dowsers and UFO nuts never fly planes into buildings.
But we have to consider the fact that wealthy people who might otherwise support the cause
of skepticism may not do so if it's suddenly plastered with a big scarlet A.
Sometimes the soft sell is best. And I'm just the guy to do that.
As a former Mormon, or foreman, I know all about the soft sell.
You can't introduce people to the mind numbing bull**** of Mormonism with magic underwear,
or the idea that God may have multiple wives. You have to east people gently into that kind
of absurdity. And trust me, transparency is way overrated,
especially when it comes to the bottom line. So if your skepticism doesn't quite lead to
atheism, relax. There are Christians who don't believe in
an historical Jesus and Jews who understand that teh exodus never happened.
Consistency really is the hobgoblin of small minds
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to see my homeopathist about these chest pains I've
been having. Very painful.
But to you Mr. and Mrs. skeptical believer, I say "Stay strong, even if you are doing
it wrong."