I wish I could believe. The words of Dinesh D'Souza test my lack of faith. If only I could surrender myself to the supernatural world that he uses to justify himself. If only I could appeal to D'Souza's God for some good old testament-style punishment.
But, I am an Atheist. I don't have the luxury of D'Souza liberties of thought, nor his crutch, and his muse does not inspire me.
I'm inspired by anger and disgust.
I don't have the standing of mapantsula and his personal connection to the Virginia Tech tragedy. Please read his diary. My dairy is merely background, but I wish to add something that mapantsula did not say - that Atheist are acceptable outcasts in our society - at a time when people are looking for common humanity, D'Sauza is publishing hate - with the tacit support of his corporate sponsors. His rhetorical dehumanizing - desouling - of atheists should be no more acceptable than the same type of arguments that were made of Blacks, Jews and other groups in the past. The door on my gay closet is gone, but my atheist closet door is still standing.
As hard as it is to accept, Mr. D'Souza is not a "souless" person. But he is flawed, and I have something to say to that point.
Mr. D'Souza,
You ask "where are the VT atheists?" Well, some are in mourning. Some are letting others mourn. They are minding their own personal situations, not minding questions like "how can a loving God be so callously neglectful to humankind?"
We all feel pain, sense fear, and mourn those who die - emotions are not the sole domain of the religious. Only the religious, however, will be burdened by questions of the soul. Were they right with their maker? Did they confess their sins in time? Did they ask Jesus to be their one and only savior? The atheists won't worry for their lost child or friend - whether they went to heaven or hell.
Why do Gods offer such nonchalant comfort for the survivors and loved-ones, such indifference for the dying, only to be aroused by such things as final judgments and eternal damnations? Atheists aren't invited because we might ask about this divine mercy and healing spirit you mentioned - where and when exactly? Of course, a vigil for the dead is not the place for this conversation. That would be rude.
You speak about the atheist and the "illusory" soul - inferior, no doubt, to your divine spark. Potato. Potato. Their souls are the memories, photos, trinkets... the stupid little things. Their souls are the ideas and intellectual endeavors, their bodies of work. In essence, their souls are the sum of the interactions between their molecules and ours. Isn’t this wonderful and natural! No religious endowment, scientific testing or D'Souza delusions required.
and, one more thing:
Go to hell! a trained counselor... please!