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The Way Forward Giving Life Meaning 11 June 2009
Eric Maisel’s The Atheist’s Way is a primer for recent rationalists seeking to create or discover the meaning of their lives. The meaning of “meaning” is left vague because each of us interprets the word differently, but by the end of the book we not only understand “meaning” clearly, but we learn how to create / make / invest / develop / maintain meaning in our lives. In a series of short, easy-to-read chapters, Maisel covers such topics as the long tradition of atheism, the difficulties and rewards of separating oneself from the faith one was brought up in, the sense of meaninglessness that causes depression or mental paralysis, techniques that can help us give our lives meaning and so on. To illustrates his points, he quotes frequently from atheists who have, often with some difficulty, embraced their unbelief and, eventually, found meaning in their lives. It’s not always easy, as one of them writes: “I have recurring dreams about having fights with ex-pastors and Christian family members who are trying to get me to go to church again. … Sometimes I have nightmares where I am being kidnapped by fundamentalists … I’ve been an atheist since the early 1990s and I still have to deal with what goes on in the dark corners of my brain.” So what’s missing from Maisel’s manual? I would have liked a more in-depth discussion of morality and an answer to the common accusation that without God’s morality we will all turn to theft, rape and murder. The chapter on ethics barely touches on ideas of good / welfare / morality and bad (evil) / harm / morality. I would go further and suggest that we can invest our lives with greater meaning if we start with the question of morality rather than leave it to the penultimate chapter. (This site's take on morality can be viewed here.) Maisel also muddles short-term and long-term meaning. The former describes how our views and actions change as our circumstances and knowledge change; his example is to point out that we may support a war until we learn more about the motives and facts that led to that war. Long-term meaning is more stable; for example, we make love for our children or pursuit of truth a core element in meaning in our lives. Long-term meaning changes not at all or only slowly; short-term meaning may change rapidly. Maisel focuses on short-term meaning where he might have developed a clear distinction between the two. I also have a couple of minor quibbles. Like many others, Maisel quotes Seneca that “religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false and by the rulers as useful”; although widely repeated on the web, no-one has yet sourced the manuscript where it is supposed to have originated. And Maisel has a curious reference to the Syrian Caliph Muavia, claiming that although Muavia himself died at the age of 75 in 585, his parents survived long enough to denounce Muhammad as an impostor, although the Muslim prophet only started preaching in 613. Maisel is a US psychotherapist, which means that his primary audience is comfortable with the concepts and vocabulary of “personal growth” that other Anglo-Saxons view with some scepticism. (Phrases such as “We Nominate Ourselves as the Heroes of Our Own Stories” resonate with few surfers on Bondi Beach or drinkers down The Dog and Duck.) And the world he describes where families, friends and work colleagues frequently express their religious views is familiar to many Americans but much less common for Brits and other English-speakers. These caveats aside, Maisel’s basic point remains valid wherever we live and whatever our background: none of us will be content if our lives have no meaning and – of equal or greater importance – the self-examined lives of atheists have much greater meaning than those of believers. For all those on the spectrum from atheism to belief who cannot see the meaning in their own lives, this book is highly welcome. 
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If God existed, he would... admire the beauty of a universe that he did not create recognize that eternity is meaningless deny both heaven and hell disown all men and women who speak in his name denounce the harm caused by religious "morality" help the human race to thrive without him If God existed, he would be an atheist. What is the difference between science and faith? science is certain of nothing and requires proof of everything faith is certain of everything and requires proof of nothing Which do you trust? "I know there is no God" or "I believe there is no God" ??? Check the answer |
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