Last sumÂmer Alain de BotÂton, one of the betÂter popÂuÂlarÂizÂers of phiÂlosÂoÂphy, appeared at TEDÂGÂlobÂal and called for a new kind of atheÂism. An AtheÂism 2.0. This revised atheÂism would let atheÂists deny a creÂator and yet not forÂsake all the othÂer good things reliÂgion can offer — traÂdiÂtion, ritÂuÂal, comÂmuÂniÂty, insights into livÂing a good life, the abilÂiÂty to expeÂriÂence tranÂscenÂdence, takÂing part in instiÂtuÂtions that can change the world, and the rest.
What he’s describÂing kind of sounds like what already hapÂpens in the UniÂtarÂiÂan Church … or The School of Life, a LonÂdon-based instiÂtuÂtion foundÂed by de BotÂton in 2008. The school offers coursÂes “in the imporÂtant quesÂtions of everyÂday life” and also hosts SunÂday SerÂmons that feaÂture “mavÂerÂick culÂturÂal figÂures” talkÂing about imporÂtant prinÂciÂples to live by. Click here and you can watch sevÂerÂal past serÂmons preÂsentÂed by actress MiranÂda July, physiÂcist Lawrence Krauss, author RebecÂca SolÂnit, and Alain de BotÂton himÂself.
If AtheÂism 2.0 piques your interÂest, you’ll want to pre-order de BotÂton’s soon-to-be-pubÂlished book, ReliÂgion for AtheÂists: A Non-BelievÂer’s Guide to the Uses of ReliÂgion.
Thanks to Elana for sendÂing this our way.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
AtheÂism: A Rough HisÂtoÂry of DisÂbeÂlief, with Jonathan Miller
Black would be a good colÂor.
Although not an atheÂist, I find this very encourÂagÂing and excitÂing. One minor point I would like make regardÂing Open CulÂture’s intro to this piece: O/C states: “This kind of sounds like what hapÂpens in the UniÂtarÂiÂan Church…”
It is true that withÂin UniÂtarÂiÂan UniÂverÂsalÂist churchÂes there are many atheÂists. HowÂevÂer, there are also humanÂists and theÂists of many stripes. UU’s are each enjoined to folÂlow their own “free and responÂsiÂble search for truth and meanÂing.” Many find that as atheÂists and othÂers find in in othÂer ways. In any case, UU’s welÂcome anyÂone who is willÂing to folÂlow their own path, receive encourÂageÂment in doing so, and who will encourÂage othÂers on theirs.
You can see Alain de BotÂton disÂcuss reliÂgion with the RabÂbi Jonathan sacks, the chief RabÂbi of the UK, here : http://youtu.be/VXPA0BGSWLI?t=8m35s
As Paul DodenÂhoff statÂed, UniÂtarÂiÂan UniÂverÂsalÂists do have some atheÂists as conÂgreÂgants, but know this. Many UniÂtarÂiÂan UniÂverÂsalÂists (UUs) are theÂists, some are ChrisÂtÂian, some conÂsidÂer themÂselves as adherÂents to the BudÂdhist way of life, some conÂsidÂer their inherÂitÂed herÂitages as sacred, some believe in an earth cenÂtered path, many do not wish to be defined in any of the above ways as their beliefs are DEEPLY perÂsonÂal. UniÂtarÂiÂan UniÂverÂsalÂism is firmÂly rootÂed in WestÂern ChrisÂtÂian phiÂlosÂoÂphy and beliefs, origÂiÂnatÂing in the 3rd cenÂtuÂry AD, or perÂhaps more politÂiÂcalÂly corÂrectÂly statÂed, CE, and also in the tranÂscenÂdenÂtalÂist moveÂment more or less lead by HenÂry David ThoreÂau and Ralph WalÂdoe EmerÂson, who were philosoÂphers and/or ConÂgreÂgaÂtionÂalÂist minÂisÂters in New EngÂland in the 19th cenÂtuÂry. To equate UUs with atheÂism is misÂleadÂing.
I find this curiÂous. I grew up with reliÂgion; I was sent to a church and schools operÂatÂed by funÂdaÂmenÂtalÂist ChrisÂtians from kinderÂgarten through high school. In colÂlege, I expeÂriÂenced some more intelÂliÂgent variÂeties of ChrisÂtianÂiÂty too. HowÂevÂer, for the past fifÂteen years, I’ve had almost nothÂing to do with reliÂgion, and I realÂly don’t miss it at all. I’ve nevÂer cared for ritÂuÂal, nonÂreÂliÂgious comÂmuÂniÂty isn’t too hard to find in my expeÂriÂence, and there are plenÂty of nonÂreÂliÂgious instiÂtuÂtions that can improve the world (perÂhaps even includÂing TED). So, although I don’t conÂdemn this idea, I’ll be surÂprised if many atheÂists are interÂestÂed in it.
So as ChrisÂtians increasÂingÂly remove themÂselves from the instiÂtuÂtions, ritÂuÂals and denomÂiÂnaÂtionÂal rules (reliÂgion) of their faith — and refer to themÂselves as “folÂlowÂers of Jesus”, rather than the highÂly politiÂcized word “ChrisÂtÂian” — atheÂists are runÂning the othÂer way.
Seems ironÂic. EspeÂcialÂly being one of those ChrisÂtians myself.
Well, good luck to them. PerÂsonÂalÂly, I can’t imagÂine I would be interÂestÂed even if I were an atheÂist.
HumanÂism already does this and is in the process of creÂatÂing felÂlowÂship
I hate to break it to everyÂone but everyÂone believes in God. They just call it difÂferÂent names-God, Reason,Science, LogÂic, TheÂist, AtheÂist etc…My defÂiÂnÂiÂtion of God is awareÂness of the highÂest Good in your life. Just call it what it is God and tranÂscend your life. Go withÂin, you will find God. Read author EckÂhart Tolle.
Sal. Thanks for telling me what I beleive. I shall make a note.
I thought that the point of atheÂism was to. . you know…not be a reliÂgion.