The Wall Street Journal ran an article on the rise and vocalism of atheists in America today:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122696699813835335.html
It's nice to see. My friend Aquinas sat down and penned the following terrific letter and sent it in to the WSJ for publication. Here's hoping it gets printed!
"With many more people realizing that America was not founded on Christian principles, it was encouraging to read Atheist Reach Out by Stephanie Simon (Currents A14,11/18/2008). Although many of the Founders were religious, several were also deist. Their Enlightement influence, via John Locke, led to a very secular declaration of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' Thomas Jefferson famously said, 'Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.'
"If there is a current increase of atheism, it is unlikely to be sustained without an explicit and consistent moral component. People want answers, a guide to moral living, and religion gives this to them. Unfortunately the new atheists graft religious morality onto their metaphysical views (The Mystical Ethics of the New Atheists, The Objective Standard, Fall 2008, Vol.3, www.theobjectivestandard.com). To my knowledge there has been only one fully integrated atheistic worldview that has been compatible with the original foundation of this country. That philosophy is Objectivism, by Ayn Rand. Her morality of rational self-interest melds nicely with Jefferson’s homage to reason and liberty, and would give lasting fuel for a resurging atheism."
No comments:
Post a Comment