Reflecting on Atheism.

[Einharjar]

Here is an interesting quote from philosopher John Gray from his book Straw Dogs:

"To Deny the existence of God is to accept the categories [framework] of monotheism. As these categories fall into disuse, unbelief becomes uninteresting. Atheists say they want a secular world, but a world defined by the absence of the Christian God is still a Christian world. Secularism is like chastity, a condition defined by what it denies. If atheism has a future, it can only be in a Christian world.

Atheism is a late bloom of a Christian passion for truth. No Pagan is ready to sacrifice the pleasure of life for the sake of mere truth. The long delayed consequence of Christian faith was an idolatry of truth that found its most complete expression in Atheism."

Hi guys. I just joined this forum. I thought this quote was fascinating and would be interesting to reflect upon and discuss about.

Essentially the only thing worth it about this quote is that, basically, yes, Atheism is only around because Theism is. If we havn't thought up of Gods, Devils and Saviours, we'd have no need to object or conclude "lack of evidence" in debating their existance.

Besides that single point, the entire quote is a massive assumption. He claims being Atheist (or anyone without a belief in the supernaturally divine) eventually gets bored or stagnates. That's... far from the truth.
In the Bible (since Mr John LOVES to use Christianity as his foundation here, so will I), all of your answers are laid out. Everything you need to know, is written. And what you stll don't know? Is also written. Yeah, saying crap like "unfathomable", "timeless" "god works in mysterious ways". You can ponder all you wan't, but you'll never achieve any success in reaching any conclusions.
But in an Atheistic view, which usually falls on science to explain reality? They are learning all the time. EVERYTHING is mysterious but it isn't kept from you. And no scientist ever started with a book saying "yup, I did this shit in 6 days... had to watch the game and drink a six pack on the 7th". All that is discovered now, you can still recreate or prove yourself. Don't need to just, blindly follow some poetic texts.

Second point, I don't know what he means by "late bloom" but I hope this guy isn't referring to literal history. There were Atheistic systems far before Christianity. And you may say "ok, but obviously they didn't work out if even now, Atheism isn't as dominate as a younger theism". I'd say it's the opposite. It's been around that long because it DOES work out. It's just that most people want things the easy way... religion is the easy well. The test score paper filled out, multiple choices bubbles etched in an everything.
Atheism not only doesn't give you many answers, but requires you to "write out the problem" when you're seeking those answers. Why?
Because you always have to prove how you got the answer you did.
Yup. Life is hard. Real life that is.