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Why Does an Atheist Need Ritual?

Oct 31, 2012
by Caroline Miller
Alain de Botton, Gertrude Himmelfarb, Religion for Atheists
0 Comment

A friend sent me a book review from the Wall Street Journal the other day. It was for a new book by Alain de Botton with the jaw breaking title, Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer’s Guide to the Uses of Religion. Botton’s argument is that atheists should consider appropriating religious trappings, like prayer, music, and ritual, which are “beautiful, touching and … wise” to embellish atheism which, for want of the mystical is drab and colorless. (“The Once-Born and the Twice-Born,” by Gertrude Himmelfarb, Wall Street Journal, 9/29/12, pg. C5)

Frankly, I fail to understand this passion by New Atheists to draw closer in form and appearance to the religion they deny. Why does refusing to believe in God require its own teleology? I hear no voices being raised for prayer, music and ritual on behalf of anti-unicornists, anti-jabberwockysts or anti-gargoyleists.

We have so many problems in this world to which brilliant minds might attend, peace being among them. Let these brilliant minds speak to those.

Gargoyle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Coutesy of magickalgraphics.com)

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Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

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