Did your wife become an atheist after you married?
I apologize, I’m fairly new to FreeRepublic’s reply system. I should have replied to the original poster, but must’ve clicked the wrong link. I also wrote my last post late at night on my iphone...
I’d like to extend my thoughts on the subject a bit.
When we discuss the Conservative platform regarding “moral” issues, Conservative Atheists such as myself often maintain the same values but for different reasons.
Abortion:
I’m Pro-Life, not because I believe that everyone is born with a soul, but because I believe that it demeans society. When we allow abortion, we’re telling people that adult actions don’t have consequences. That responsibility can be ignored in favor of fulfilling your personal goals. It promotes selfishness and imprudence.
Further, I don’t believe that, in many cases, it’s really the woman’s decision. I believe that plenty of abortions occur because the would-be father convinces the mother into it either by persuasion or abandonment. I refuse to let men off the hook for their actions.
Finally, I don’t believe it’s necessary. Yes, I understand that there are medical reasons, cases of rape or what have-you that may make it necessary. But to me, the frequency of those cases are so rare that it doesn’t constitute full legalization.
The Death Penalty:
I believe killing is wrong, in any sense. Just as I refuse to support abortion, I can’t in good conscious support the death penalty.
When we speak of the right and wrong of killing, what we’re really talking about is justification. If someone breaks into my house and I shoot them, while my actions are justifiable, they are still wrong. Justification does not change the morality of an action. As a human being, I have to be willing to admit that I’m capable of committing evil just as much as good.
Christians will point to the Bible and say, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” meaning that the punishment shall not exceed the crime, therefore killing a killer is fair game. But it doesn’t make it right, it only defines a justifiable response.
Gay Marriage: Ok, so I’m to the left (apparently) on this one. I have no problem with gay marriage. If two consenting adults want to spend their lives together, it’s none of my business. I’ve never actually heard a solid argument against Gay Marriage that didn’t use religion as its core.
Ok, maybe I rambled a bit too much there, but I hope I was able to illustrate that an Atheist’s moral compass doesn’t differ too far from those of you with religious beliefs.
And for the record, I despise Carl Sagan and his ilk about as much as I do Pat Robertson.
Have her read “Witness” by Whittaker Chambers.
Hukster is a good example of a “Christian” politician with a weak grip on ethics. Who would you name in comtemporary politics who is a strong atheist conservative leader? I can’t name one.
The problem with atheism is that it is a religion of opposites or antis. Why respect human life if it is not materially valuable? My respect of human life is based in the value of the human soul or spirit which comes from my belief structure. I don’t care if that life is economically and socailly valuable to society or to me. It belongs to God. It is valuable because God created it.
The same with the bill of rights. I don’t think the State has the ethical authority to give and take away individual rights as it serves their power or a group or the collective. These are freedoms assigned to the human spirit and may not be curtailed by humans unless they want a weak, warped and oppressed human population and society.
Give her this book: I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Geisler/Turek. Also check out Tough questions section of www.faithfacts.org.
Thanks for a thought-provoking post.
Since you have been so candid with us, would you mind sharing what religious plans (if any) you and your wife have for the twins as they get older?
That's some ways off but I'd surmise that this matter has been discussed.