A Question for Believers and Non Believers

[Pizza]

Hello, Nick!

I've come to believe that neither science and the essence of religion nor the essence of religion and atheism are mutually exclusive. In fact I now believe they are complimentary. I know this seems odd so I'd like to post a quote from Simone Weil to illustrate what I believe to be the means for the unification of atheism and the essence of religion. I'd like to learn if you are open to this possibility or just find it ridiculous.

I have to echo Welsh cake here, what are these "essences" of religion, science, and atheism that you speak of? I don't think the Weil quote was very insightful. Could you explain what you mean by " unification of atheism and the essence of religion" in your own words? Do you mean atheists can be members of a religion? Atheist can be religious, example Unitarian Universalist atheists and Buddhist atheists. Are you asking whether or not atheists can believe in the supernatural? Atheism is the disbelief in the existence of gods. Atheists can believe in ghosts and other woo woo. Most don't because their reasons for disbelieving in gods applied to ghosts and other woo woo.

Religion in so far as it is a source of consolation is a hindrance to true faith; and in this sense atheism is a purification. I have to be an atheist with that part of myself which is not made for God. Among those in whom the supernatural part of themselves has not been awakened, the atheists are right and the believers wrong.
- Simone Weil, Faiths of Meditation; Contemplation of the divine
the Simone Weil Reader, edited by George A. Panichas (David McKay Co. NY 1977) p 417

Weil's quote here doesn't make any sense to me. What exactly is "true faith?" How is atheism a "purification?" What is meant here by "purification?"

"I have to be an atheist with that part of myself which is not made for God. Among those in whom the supernatural part of themselves has not been awakened, the atheists are right and the believers wrong."

• This part really confuses me. Could you maybe unpack and clarify this statement?
  
• What exactly is this "supernatural part" of a person and why do you think it exists?
  

Can a believer and non believer be open to the possibility that their supernatural part is yet to be awakened?

If you mean being open to the possibility of a supernatural world separate from the natural then yes; however, I would like to point out possibility and probability are two different things. For example, I could say the existence of such things is possible but extremely unlikely. The reason I point this out is because most atheists I've met and I myself hold the existence of a supernatural world to be false based on induction and inference to the best explanation. I hope my post has been somewhat helpful.