True freedom. Part 1

(An analysis comparing the atheist’s freedom and the believer’s freedom, in 7 parts)

True freedom

Part 1: The atheist wants to be free of God

I understand some of the appeal of atheism. There is the invigorating sense of being a truly free, independent agent. You are standing on your own two feet; you have achieved full adult independence from any sort of childlike dependence. You are your own boss, completely free to chart whatever course through life you choose – subject, of course, to external constraints and your inner capabilities. But that is all part of the adventure. With full self-awareness, you assess your situation, declare your independence and set out to do whatever it is you want to do.

There is much that is highly commendable in this, that is part of achieving maturity. However, the particular aspect of atheistic maturity is to declare complete independence from God – and there is no greater expression of this than a flat denial that he exists. You are not torn between the benefits of faith and the benefits of the atheistic way, because for you, the theistic way is simply false – there is nothing to be gained by searching for God or paying attention to what those deluded into faith say. Thank goodness you are free of all that!

If we examine this point of view more closely, I think that we will find at least 3 elements to the freedom from God that atheists are asserting.

There is the freedom from the religious sense of being under scrutiny, involving criticism, judgement, guilt and shame. In religious terms, the only way to be free of inner feelings of guilt and shame is to ask for forgiveness, but this clearly entails a submission to another – in this case, God. So, the freedom that an atheist desires is the freedom of not having to submit your actions to the judgement of anyone but yourself. This can be good, healthy, positive. If we have very strong principles, a very sound sense of judgement, and excellent maturity and integrity, it could work: I don’t have to submit to anyone else’s opinion because my own opinion is as good as you can get. And you would have to add the character strengths of excellent self-awareness, honesty, with the integrity not to dissimulate on your own behalf when you know that really you are in the wrong. So, this is a tall order, but not (theoretically?) impossible. And if it is possible then it all feeds into the exhilarating sense of being your own person, answerable to no-one.