Hi Seduisant Taz-Mbodi,
Yes, it was a risk when I chose the title for this article that some people may assume I’m some Hare Krishna devotee trying to convert non-believers (I’m not!) Perhaps I didn’t make that clear enough.
I agree with everything you said, although maybe I would argue that some of the points you raised are more a side-effect of institutionalised religion — not necessarily ‘theism’, as you mentioned, or a belief in anything spiritual. Theism is just the broader concept that religions have based their myths and creeds upon. Perhaps we could blame monotheism though, the inherent doctrine of that particular branch of theism has undoubtedly caused countless unnecessary divides/wars in the belief that: ‘MY God is the right God — all others are wrong’.
Pantheism, on the other hand, doesn’t do this. It also doesn’t undermine scientific rigour or sexual preferences. I would argue that religion has done that, not necessarily theism. Having a more thorough understanding of the world and the cosmos, for a pantheist, is akin to Christians worshipping God. I’d even argue that a lot of contemporary astronomists and scientists — many of whom claim to be agnostic-atheist — if had their spiritual views more closely scrutisinised, are probably closet pantheists or at least monists. Neil de Grasse Tyson, as you mentioned, is a great example of this.
I do, however, not think that a monistic/pantheistic approach to the universe is necessary to study or appreciate it whatsoever. To pull up that full quote from Sagan again (yep, I’m also a big fan of his), as I perhaps took it slightly out of context for the sake of my point:
“Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light‐years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. So are our emotions in the presence of great art or music or literature, or acts of exemplary selfless courage such as those of Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.”
So yes I do share your view that atheism is inherently better than religion, or monotheism, there’s no doubt on that! Whether it is better than theism is another issue though IMO, as I think theism is too broad, but we can differ on that. Some agnostics, possibly myself included, could (reluctantly) be slipped into some kind of theist category.
Once again thanks for taking the time out of your day to respond. I always love to learn from others and hear differing opinions or viewpoints from my own; although I think we probably agree on much more than we disagree.
Michael
