Fundamentalist atheism

The most dangerous form of fundamentalism today is fundamentalist atheism. The reason for this is that in the occidental world, the fundamentalist atheist thinks of himself as intellectually superior to the believer. He thinks of himself as having a clearer view, a better understanding, as “not being fooled” by the promises and hopes of the religious believer. He sees himself as a beacon of light in a dark world. He looks condescendingly at the history of man, seeing it as a long path leading finally to this mature look on the universe.

The atheist sees his creed and his breed as the future of humanity, those through which humanity will be saved from its own feebleness. But let’s not be fooled ourselves. It is a creed. Maybe we are fooled by the fact that the English language does not capitalize the word as it does every other creed. The Buddhist, the Hindu, the Christian, the Anglican, the Taoist, are all corrected and capitalized by my word automatic corrector. Not the atheist. This small “a” gives him the illusion that he is not “like the believers”, that he is of a different, more mature breed.

Most religious persons in today’s world would think that their religion is based on a belief, which leaves some room for doubt, be it only as a possibility. The atheist does not think so. He thinks that there is no need for doubt. He thinks that doubt is a position of weakness, that it leads to belief. It used to be that it was the religious person who thought doubt dangerous. Now most mature religious persons will gladly admit that doubt is unavoidable and healthy. The atheist thinks that doubt should only be for doubting that god exists. Doubt is only beneficial to other people for the atheist because he thinks he knows better. That’s why he is dangerous. Even worse, he does not see himself as a danger but as a form of saviour. Seems to me I have heard that one before.

I prefer a more humble approach.