That is the question.
Like pert near every religion out there, scientific
pantheism (SP) has its, let’s call them, “variations.” We can tweak beliefs just like any other “religion”
can, though SP is not officially considered a religion per se. It’s more a philosophy… but isn’t every
religion just that, a philosophy? An OP
for another day, perhaps. 😉
This subject of SP came up yesterday, when I was talking
with my stepson. He’s 58. The conversation remained cordial throughout, as we got into discussing whether or not I was an atheist. That reminded me of an event about 20ish years ago. I said, “And I’m still pissed that you told
Tommy (grandkid) I was an atheist, back when Tommy was about four years old
and said to me on the phone, “Why are you an atheist, Oma Susan?” Well, that’ll take one aback. You don’t expect that from a kid.
How do you even talk to a little 4-ish year-old child about
such deep subjects? As I recall, I said
something like, “Well, it’s kinda complicated.”
Then I hastily changed the subject.
Point being, am I an atheist? Let me do a little ‘splainin’.
To answer that question, I think it depends on one’s personal
definition. To my stepson and his
family, born again Christians, I’m an atheist based on their subjective opinion. It’s true, I don’t believe in their
god. But, that doesn’t make my belief
so. It’s just my belief. But to them, that makes me an atheist. 🤷♀️
I’ve changed a lot, over the past 25 years, when it comes to
my religious philosophy. After a whole
lotta lifelong searching, I finally found my niche that suits me. I identify it as the aforementioned SP. Here’s a writeup by the World Pantheism dot
net site:
(Love their fractal-like Nautilus logo!)
While I’m not on board 100% with World Pantheism’s SP definition (e.g., wherever the word “God” is used, rather, I’d qualify it as the
“God Process,” not a/the “God Entity”), their definition is basically true/in
my ballpark; i.e., no supernatural entity. For me, I hone in on that
which fundamentally enables existence.
That’d be the Laws of Physics, in particular, particle physics, the
first step (we think) in “creation.” AFAIK,
no particles and forces, no existence (as we know and have come to understand/experience it).
What I like about SC is it’s verifiable. It’s observable (both through direct observation, or through an artist’s’
rendition/representation, due to no existing instrumentation). It’s personal. It’s experience-able (coined a new
word there). It's here and now, not there and later. The "power" of particle
physics is, well, all-powerful (I'd say the ultimate power).
No doubt about that one.
Question: So, what do you think? Am I an atheist? Do/Would you consider me one? Explain.
Enquiring minds like mine want to know.
(by PrimalSoup)
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