It Is Impossible To Be An Atheist
72
"There are no atheists in foxholes", as they say
As mere humans, we tend to dismiss or disbelieve those things that we cannot see, explain or comprehend. For example, because I have never seen an abominable snowman or any convincing proof that there is such a thing, I do not believe that sort of a creature exists. In my opinion, that particular animal is nothing but a myth and the product of overactive imaginations.
On the other hand, however, I have not completely closed my mind on the matter. For all I know, a team of explorers will capture one of the creatures some day and bring him/her back to civilization for all of the world to see.
What I am driving at is I have reached the point in life where I keep an open mind on just about everything. Over the years, I have learned that a belief that I have held all of my life can be wiped out in the blink of an eye. As an example, I never even dreamed that a black man would be elected President of the U.S. as early as 2008. In my opinion, such an event would not occur until around 2020. But, of course, my view was wrong, very wrong.
That brings me to share a (hypothetical) story about a self-avowed atheist who was unwavering in his belief that God does not exist. His name was Barkley Henderson and he had it all. He was a member of a wealthy New England family that could trace its roots to the Mayflower. He was tall and quite handsome with thick blond hair and deep blue eyes. Although he was only 35, he held a high-ranking position in one of the largest corporations in the U.S. and earned a seven-figure annual salary along with the high six-figure bonuses that he received each year.
And he resided in a spacious, luxurious penthouse -- that overlooked Central Park -- on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and he also had an opulent summer home in the Hamptons.
Now, as I stated before, Barkley was a self-avowed atheist. In his way of thinking, there was absolutely no such thing as God and all human beings were “fully in charge of themselves”. It was his firm opinion that the only people who believed in God were lowbrow types who were so lacking in the area of intellect that they could not think for themselves, and so backwards that they believed in ancient myths and tales that should have ceased to be a part of the human psyche centuries ago.
Yes, Barkley was “his own man” and no one or no thing could ever convince him that some gigantic figure or entity in the sky had everything to do with his life let alone with what went on in the world as a whole. He was a rugged individualist from the Ayn Rand school of thought. Back in his youth when was attending Harvard, he was heavily influenced by the recorded thinking of the likes of Immanuel Kant and Sigmund Freud, and later on, he became quite interested in the teachings of the atheist Marilyn O'Hare who was regarded by many as the "Mother of American Atheism". And while in college, he arrived at the conclusion that Karl Jung was a fool.
Anyway, one evening in early November, 2009, Barkley took one of his lovely lady friends to a swanky restaurant in Manhattan . The two had been having a wonderful time for about an hour-and-a-half when he excused himself from the table to go the men’s room.
Then, just as he was walking towards the door to leave the restroom, there was a huge explosion that knocked him off his feet. Moments later, thick black smoke began billowing from out of the vents and he heard loud, panic-stricken screams and shouts for help coming from the dining area of the establishment.
Gathering himself, Barkley struggled to his feet and moved towards the exit but when he touched the door it was so hot that it sent a shock of pain throughout his entire body and his breathing was being hindered by the strong odor of burning wood and other materials.
Now, he was scared, very scared, and beginning to wonder how he was going to get out of the place alive. Making matters worse, the smoke was getting even thicker and his breathing was becoming even more labored. And finally, he collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath while experiencing more fear than he had ever experienced in his life.
Feeling physically ill, trapped and desperate he began hoping -- yes, hoping -- that he would get rescued. Where is the fire department he lay on the floor questioning himself. I wish somebody would come in here and save me he thought further. Somebody, please get me out of here, he pleaded to himself. Oh please help me, he cried out in a faint, raspy voice.
Moments later, Barkley succumbed to the smoke and passed out.
A little over an hour later, Barkley came to and found himself lying on a gurney in a hospital emergency room. One of the first things that came to mind was he could hardly believe that he had been rescued from the inferno that he had been trapped in before. The situation had seemed so hopeless.
As he continued to lie there, a wide range of thoughts began streaking through his mind like shooting stars. He wondered who, exactly, was he calling out to for help when there was no one in sight? What or who was he HOPING would save him from the certain death that was staring him in the face? Why had he lost all confidence in himself and been overcome by a feeling that he needed help from some thing or some one else. To whom was he appealing to save his life? To whom did he finally cry out?
“There are no atheists in foxholes”.
The Clearstone Project by Julius Hannon
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Chasuk, you really did fail at your attempt to convince me and others that there are "plenty of atheists in foxholes".
What was striking about the list of military members (and self-avowed atheists) that you sent me to is that the vast majority of them did not go on active duty until relatively recently, the 80s, 90s and 2000s.
Well, the thing about warfare today is that there is not very much fighting done from foxholes. Because of advanced technology, contemporary combat personnel are pretty much kept out of harm's way (which is why the numbers and rates of KIA and WIA in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts were and are very low in comparison to the numbers and rates in prior conflicts).
There were not very many personnel on that list who had served in such relatively low-tech wars as WWII, Korea and Vietnam -- the wars that were fought from foxholes.
I didn't try to convince you that there are plenty of atheists in foxholes. First, because there are not plenty of atheists. Second, because it wouldn't be true. I tried to convince you that here are "some" atheists in foxholes, versus your claim of none.
Chasuk, what you are actually attempting to do is show me up. And perhaps you are succeeding.
However, it does not matter to me one way or the other, because Jesus is my guide.
That might because they would have been "red alerted" by Christians in the military. It wasn't until the last couple decades it wasn't safe to be an atheist in the military. A lot of the military regs dealing with discrimination, sexual harassment, racism an what not, were added to the military from the sixties forward, progressively allowing acceptance of anyone. Lets not forget its only been safe for African Americans and other non-white groups since after Vietnam. Not that these groups weren't in the military, but that they weren't completely accepted in the military systemically as far as equal pay and promotion and what not. The military has changed as far as what it has accepted inside the culture of the military as equals. So it make sense that there would be more atheist now verse before the 80's when it was less culturally accepted in the military.
So, there's no good way to gauge talking about Vietnam era "self-proclaimed atheist" because they wouldn't have been "self-proclaimed" openly to their unit for fear of mistreatment that would in all likelihood happen.
You also have to understand what the internet did for atheists in the 90's and 00's, we did not have meeting halls like other faiths. We had no way to know each other, no groups to identify with. With the internet suddenly we have a place to find other atheists, make friends, and build social networks, outside of the general bigotry and unacceptable. Also, since the mating patterns of atheists are no where near similar to religious folk, we've never fostered a ongoing community. Atheists are sprinkles that fell of the doughnut.
Izombiheartzoey, "Atheists are the sprinkles that fell off the doughnut" heh.
Well, you said it, I didn't.
And what are "African Americans"?
One more question: Did you ever serve in the U.S. Armed Forces?
Would answering that question change the truth of my comments about the military? I think its better that you don't know. That way you can base your opinions on what I said not upon the experience I may or may not have in talking about the subject, because I feel my statement stands on its own and doesn't need extra quantification.
For example.
Between classes, there was this African American talking about how gays shouldn't be allowed in the military. She knew from her experience in the marines that gays get treated badly and would end up being hurt by all the bigoted people in the military. I walked up to her and said, "and thats exactly how racist white people talked about letting black people in the military"
People talk like the nothing can culturally change, but it has and it will, when eventually the system gets used to the new variables.
Yes, sprinkles. Atheists have senses of humour, if they don't they aren't REAL atheists.
@Izombiheartzoey: I served in the military for 10 years -- hundreds of hours of that time spent in foxholes -- and my dog tags read "Atheist." However, not every atheist serving during that era (1981-1991) met with the same tolerance. I asked for "Atheist" to be stamped on my dog tags, and I got it. I knew several who were refused. I don't think that it is a problem now.
Jesus and God's Holy Spirit are the best guides and teachers life will ever know, thanks to God.
"I have reached the point in life where I keep an open mind on just about everything."
Well, clearly not everything with a title like: "It is Impossible to be an Atheist."
Clearly it is possible to be an atheist. Are you saying that those who don't believe in god are lying to you or themselves?
Hope belief.
cheers
Sorry I meant:
Hope does not equal belief.
cheers
Wow, I thought you wouldn't be able to top the brain-numbing low that your last hub on this subject came to.
1) This anecdote proves what? That in desperate times most people become irrational, whoop de doo we already knew that. How does that make God real?
2) I have a friend who is currently in Iraq who is an atheist and as he informs me there are actually quite a few atheists in the military. There ARE atheists in foxholes and they serve just as bravely as the next.
@Titen-sxull Don't be a fool. You cannot start an argument with an insult, and then turn around and say: you are wrong because you are irrational.
Titen-Sxull, I's jes' a po' ol' ig'nant workin' man, 'ritin' da bes' I can.
And every time you hear an "old saying" or an "old adage", do you take it literally?
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my hub and I feel quite honored that the best and "most perfect" writer on HubPages sent a comment to me.
@Izombi
What? I never said he was wrong because he was irrational. He's wrong because he says it's impossible to be an atheist, which is nonsense. The only thing he has to back this up is an incorrect definition of atheism (see his first hub on the subject) and an anecdote about how stress can cause rational people to behave irrationally and even start wishing for supernatural help.
@feenix
There's nothing wrong with the way you wrote this hub however there is a great deal wrong with the reasoning you use to reach your absurd conclusion (that it's impossible to be an atheist).
Hey, Titen-Sxull, nobody's perfect. Interestingly, I agree with you for the most part. I was not really on my game when I wrote this hub; nor was I on my game when I wrote the one that preceded it. I will do my best to do better in the future.
This is obviously a fun subject for some. You could throw some truly diabolical things into this discussion. Take for example negative or positive values of observation, in either event the thought of God or the lack of God formulates a value. Based on the assigned values there is an existence, perhaps if not only in word. Once something is acknowledged, it creates a value that is positively reinforced or negatively reinforced based on observation. A constant undefined value is present in both lines of thought dealing with, “Is there a God,” where God might hold a nil value, though it now holds a variable. Belief at this point can only be established by the assigning of values, however the damage is done because as an assigned variable you must regardless now deal with the word (just the word) or even the existence of God, even if you just consider it a misguided attempt at explanation. You can only fully not believe in the existence of something if you are not familiar with a value. Think of it sort of like Rene Descartes “I think therefore I am.” By using, the phrase “there is no god” or “there is a god” an assigned value is determined where x equals god and observational values establishes y.
Brilliant, Tages, absolutely brilliant. With all of the stuff that has been said in response to this hub, your comment makes far more sense than any of the others.
I pray all people will see there is a God who only wants to love and be loved. Why is that so hard to accept? It is love he is asking for-not bone marrow.
In any regard one day every person WILL know there is one true God and every single one will confess Jesus as Lord. It is going to happen. I hope many self proclaimed atheists change their hearts and accept Him by choice. Even before I accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, I knew God existed and actually was thankful for that.
Just give Him a chance to love you and you will see the rewards a Father can bestow, love, peace, freedom, and so much more.
That you for adding the above comment to this hub, Hyphenbird. By writing what you did, you certainly are doing The Lord's work -- you are spreading His Word.
If I think who I’m and where from I came and what is my ultimate destination I’ll not be an atheist. Why I’m superior to other animals; an animal will eat, drink, sleep, play, mate, build a home or nest I’ll also do so but what is the difference? Difference is that the human beings possess the intelligence. If my intelligence doesn’t ask me to believe the god then I’m not an intelligent. We see everything is created in a planned way. So, there must be a planner. Who is that planner? An atheist must not admit the planner, the god. This is so silly. They see evolution everywhere. If evolution is all then every creature will try to evolve to human being, the ultimate choice but we see from prehistoric time no change in animal planet.
upal19, your comment is very thoughtful and I am quite pleased that you took the time to express your views, because they make all of the sense in the world.
It seems ironic to me that it takes as much faith to be an atheist as it does to be a believer.
GNelson, thank for the comment and I consider it a keen observation. I have never seen it that way but you have prompted me to start thinking about it.
feenix
Another well written hub and a lot of comments.
This hub does portray and example of the no atheists in the fox hole, but it really doesn't relate to a presence of God.
Natural and man made disasters kills thousands and if they had any time they would have probably prayed to God. It would be only human to do that, even if you didn't believe. What have you got to lose at that point?
We really don't know how many of these foxhole stories didn't have a happy divine ending. Think about all the babies that have died before that were able to make their own decisions.
Good job.
OpinionDuck, I fully agree with your comment. And quite frankly, when I wrote this hub and the one that preceded it, I was not in a very good place. I was going through what I describe as one of my spells. And when I have one of my spells, I start brimming over with such things as cynicism, obnoxiousness and bitterness.
feenix
I call it therapy, not an issue.
OpinionDuck, I must say that you have the gift of discerning the true nature of things. And you are right. It is therapy.
Hello Fenix:
There are no "atheists!"
An atheist is one who denies the existence of god/s.
At one time, I thought of myself as a "strong atheist."
How can one be an "atheist" if there is/are no god/s to deny?
This concept "god" thing, cannot be defined in any form but opinion and opinions, as you know,
are worth about a dime-a-dozen.
IF this god thing is but an abstract concept (which it is,) that can't be known or defined except in ones imagination, what is there to deny but an imagined concept?
Once the imagined "god" thing has been metaphysically conceived, the only thing one can deny is that this concocted god thing, can't be imagined.
There are as many imagined "god things" as there are people who imagine "them" but there are NO atheists, 'cause there is nothing to deny.
Qwark
Qwark, first, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this hub. Second, this morning, some thoughts came to mind that were similar to what what you said: Why would one feel/have a need to deny the existence of something if that thing does not exist in the first place? I believe that the answer is the vast majority of people, including both "believers" and "non-believers", have the view that what they believe exists, or believe that does not exist, is a fairy-tale-like figure of some type or the other; sort of a souped-up Santa Claus or Tooth Fairy. So, what it comes down to is most "believers" believe that something exists that does not exist -- and all atheists, I repeat, all, believe that something does not exist that does not exist in the first place.
Thus, when you come right down to it, when an "believer" and a "non-believer" has an argument consisting of whether God does or does not exist, that is akin to a couple of children having an argument consisting of whether or not the Easter Bunny exists.
Feenix:
"Thus, when you come right down to it, when an "believer" and a "non-believer" has an argument consisting of whether God does or does not exist, that is akin to a couple of children having an argument consisting of whether or not the Easter Bunny exists."
AMEN! :)
QWark
Feenix,
I disagree with the title of the article, it is possible to be an athiest. I am proof. I have been in the foxhole sort of speak. I serve as a NY firefighter for 15 years. I have been in it all from brush fire to mvas, structure fires, plane crashes, lived through backdrafts and been in several fires that flashed over on me, to WTC 911. I have seen it all from loss of life to saving lives. Holding a baby in your arms you pulled from the animals clutches, and the animal does not discriminate, it kills us all the same. Through it all, I never once changed who I am or what I believe. I do not think this issue should be confrontational, but it is. It saddens me that people have sunk so low as to not respect others veiw. You do not have to agree but you should respect it. Feenix, I think you handled yourself weel when confronted by chasuk, I think he was trying to show you up. And by the way, I love sprinkles, so do most people, I am honored to be loved like a sprinkle. OK back to my point. Why must people be arguementative about this subject? I totaly respect yours and others who have faith. Why is it others cannot respect my view? I can tell feenix you are a respectful person. we are not easy to find these days.
American View, thank you for your generous comment, but most of all, I am grateful to you for being an NYC firefighter. I have nothing but respect for the members of FDNY and I am really glad you guys and gals are there.
And do you know something? If I had it to do all over again, I would give this hub a different title and I would approach the subject in a completely different way from the way I did.
As things have turned out, though, this hub has ended up being one of those "you live and you learn" situations. One of the primary things I learned is that I must have a much higher degree of respect for people whose views differ from mine.
Thank you, American View and I am very, very glad to have made your acquaintance.
I don't know that mankind can disavow God or Jesus Christ. It is certainly easy enough to say that you can when things are normal and you are in control. For me, it comes back to pure faith...my belief in something greater than myself being out there for reasons unknown. I could disavow that faith but there would be a cold emptiness which replaced it that I really do not want to feel. Faith says we have a purpose for being here; faith says we are given talents specifically for a purpose; faith says there is something beyond this physical life waiting for all of us. Faith says that you would not be here if you were not special. Faith is the true line between sanity and insanity in so many, many ways. I think your writing here offers a very good example of that. Thanks for sharing. WB
Wayne, thank you very much for your thoughtful comment. And similar to the way you see things, I believe that I feel a sense of purpose because "I believe" and have strong, unwavering faith.
Moreover, I know that is a force in this universe that is far stronger than I and that is way beyond anything that I can comprehend and that force is God.
.....why don`t we all just relax about this - chill out (as the hipsters say) and enjoy a sunny day tomorrow - lol - but I love your voice of freedom my friend - you talk the talk and walk the walk - and there is a lot of pride and conviction in your writing - I am a big big fan of Spike Lee`s Do the Right Thing - now here is a film that should be shown in every classroom in the entire world - what that has to do with this hub subject I don`t know but to me that film represents the many voices I have read in some of your other hubs too - and my friend I really think you are trying to do the right thing - bravo to you and keep on keeping on!!!
epigramman,
Why thank you very much. Your comment gave me a very big lift.
One of the things I like about being an "older man" is I am at a place in life where I am not afraid to speak my mind.
I really have nothing to say regarding this hub's main premise, other than that I disagree with it.
Still, I must congratulate feenix on his willingness to re-examine his own arguments. To me this demonstrates that his primary concern isn't to merely PROVE that he's right (like so many others I've read here at Hubpages). Rather, it's to actually BE right - to actually care about whether what you're saying is true.
Given my fundamental disagreement I can't, in good conscience, vote up your hub, feenix, but I can offer my kudos for your intellectual and philosophical honesty! (from another old guy)
Hello, Paladin,
All I know is that I do not know anything.
I really enjoyed this Hub - I know there are many who profess to be atheists, and I am sure they are sincere in their professing this point of view - I also feel that they are among those rare human beings that 'know everything' - I am not one of these - I believe in listening to all points of view - I also believe we all have a right to believe what we choose to believe - I love your response to Paladin - that's true of most, no, not most, all, of us - regards, B.
Hello, billips,
Although it is true that no one knows anything, hardly anyone is aware of that. The vast majority of people have the impression that they are aware of far more than they actually are.
Feenix, Anyone who says they are atheists, in my opinion are idiots. I have quite a few friends who say they are. I am very open minded in others beliefs. But believing in absolutely nothing is ludicrous to me. You can tell me you believe in God is a space alien, energy, spirit, science, etc... But to believe in nothing is crazy.
Hello, daskittlez,
One of the things that is happening today is, among various groups of people, it is "trendy," "fashionable," "hip" or "cool" to be an atheist.
Daskittlez, if you truly believe that atheists believe in "absolutely nothing," then it is YOU who are the idiot, not atheists. I encourage you to educate yourself before calling names.
Hello, Paladin,
Old fellers like you and me must avoid doing things that will elevate our blood pressure.
So, chill, my friend.
Hehe. Thanks, feenix! ;-)
I'm trying, but sometimes someone says something so ignorant and obnoxious I can't help myself.
Hey, Paladin,
I know what you mean because I get all bent out of shape around here, too. But right now, I'm working on a new system to keep myself calm and cool.
If it works, I'll write a hub about it. ;-)
That's funny, because a friend of mine's Granddad suffered from cancer for 24 years. When the cancer in his system had been successful ridden, he told his grandson (who was 16 at the time) "I never prayed for this to happen, and you shouldn't neither".
To this day, he is a strong atheist who took his grandfather's words and he taught me not to look at the near death as a chance of redemption, but a chance to battle against it on your own grounds.
Hello, Indigital,
Your friend's granddad and I have a whole lot in common. I am 65 years old and on a number of occasions, I have been stricken by a serious illness and surrounded by thousands of people who wanted to kill me -- and each time, I came out of the whole thing alive and in one piece, and when I didn't even pray for that to happen.
The point is, one does not have to pray to God, or one does not even have to believe in God, to be saved or rescued by Him.
God is an equal-opportunity savior: He is as merciful towards fools as He is towards sensible people.
Chasuk Level 5 Commenter 13 months ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_are_no_atheists
http://www.militaryatheists.org/expaif.html