writes:
Based on my observance of myself and others, I think there are really two
kinds of atheism. Type 1 Atheism goes something like this: "If lack of
evidence leads me to disbelieve in Quetzocoatl and Zeus and Ishtar, then
by that same reasoning I disbelieve in Jesus, the prophets, and the
saints. Cool!" Type 1 atheism is a rational judgement. Type 2 Atheism
sounds more like this, "I just can't bring myself to believe in the
teachings of my church--or any church--anymore. Is there a God? There's
no evidence. I can't bring myself to believe him Him anymore. I wish I
could, but I can't." The Type 2 Atheist is depending on faith because he
is beset by doubt, just as most religious believers are beset by doubts of
their own.
So, some atheists must exert their will to disbelieve in God, whereas
other atheists might just say, "Heh, what's to believe in the first
place?"
An interesting dichotomy. Mine would be between 1) casual atheist (kind of
your type 1 - Someone who cannot put god into a rational world view based on
what science has taught us about the universe and 2) zealous atheist -
Someone who hates religion who is passionate about the lack of god - Richard
Dawkins comes to mind. He hates religion.
