by Michael Shepard

Created on: April 18, 2008   Last Updated: February 20, 2010

The devout atheist must believe unequivocally and without doubt in the statement: "God does not exist". They are worshipers of nothingness. The reason this faith is nigh to impossible to keep steadfastly and without wavering is best illustrated by the old graffiti on the bathroom wall which reads, "God is dead", signed Nietzsche. And directly underneath, just as boldly written, says: "Nietzsche is dead", signed God.  The reason an atheist cannot become disinterested in religion is fear of death.

This fear of death drives atheists to belligerently verbalize unsolicited beliefs. When listening to an atheist rant against God, it is good to stay reminded of the lack in rationality of argument. One must have a concept of a Creator in order to argue against and deny Existence. An argument against God is actually an argument against one's own existence. If no knowledge of Divine Reality is possessed, no need to refute or embrace Divine Existence would be experienced. It takes a belief in God in order to deny Him.

It is interesting to note how gains in knowledge require change in belief of a practitioner. Religion had to accept Galileo's work and atheism had to change their belief in  "no beginning of the universe, therefore no creator" due to the "big bang" theory

Conversations with atheists have shown; not a curiosity about God or religion but rather; contempt, hostility, and even poorly veiled jealousy toward believers. Nicer people have been known to exist. Some atheists have claimed responsibility for the sun coming up in the morning. Some kind of suffering on the part of atheists from people involved in religion must have been inflicted for denial to be so strong. Deep down inside they know resentment is poison to spiritual well being. Making the choice to consume this poison is a mystery baffling even to the most devout, loving, and caring of souls. Possibly the inability to acknowledge the need for God is driven by false pride. This sense of rejection borne from the desire to gain control and autonomy over one's own destiny becomes the stumbling-block to forgiveness and spiritual growth; which reinforces belief of God not doing for them what they want accomplished for themselves

Psychoanalyzing, unfortunately, doth not a believer make. The sad fact is that the greater proportion of these individuals will go to their graves without experiencing psychic change toward humility. Pseudo curiosity (or more accurately morbid fascination) toward religion and believers is portrayed; not for honest answers to life's difficult and eternal questions; but rather as a means to hide inferiority. This inadequacy creates gargantuan and perverse need for superiority. This fleeting arrogant feeling of "I am better than God is" acts as an ethereal panacea to deep-seated dread of eternal meaninglessness. The reason for atheist curiosity in religion is mortality.

Learn more about this author, Michael Shepard.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.