Do atheists overlook the soul? Yes!

I heard someone once state that atheists are overlookers, or people who overlook the supposed supernatural realm. I guess then I am an overlooker. Supposedly these overlookers are people who feel that the “structure of society should be formed by regarding nature alone.” Well, that’s me. I overlook the non-natural world/universe because I see no evidence for it. So, since I don’t, of course I will overlook it. Maybe the supernatural exists, maybe I’m wrong, but since all I know that actually exists is what is natural then of course I want a society that reflects the needs and demands of human beings, here on earth. I will not stop anyone from refusing to take a blood transfusion because of your religious beliefs, even though I don’t agree with them. But society or more importantly the government which incorporates the rules of our society, represents all Americans and can’t and shouldn’t be an arm of whatever church in America that is in the majority.

But am I a nihilist? I don’t believe so. I believe that it harmful to hurt others, because to quote the Golden Rule I want to do unto others that I would wish they would do unto me. Good logic makes for a stable and well adjusted society and doesn’t need a deity behind it to make it good common sense. Morality and its origins are from nature. Evolution favors members of a species that cooperate with each other, that get along and help each other survive. We can see this in animals such as chimpanzees who show empathy for each other. Indeed, they form primitive little tribes or groups that increase the odds of them collectively and individually to survive.

Evolution concerns itself more with fitness (or ability to survive in society) and cooperation. Since it increases the odds of an individual in a species to survive, is also about fitness. An animal might die for the group because it cooperates, but on average such an instinct increases its odds or the odds of animals within that group who share similar genes (which essentially is what evolution cares about) to survive. Now, I don’t, and I don’t believe most non-theists believe morality is purely a matter of choice. Morality is based on reason and empathy and situation. Killing in general is immoral, but killing a guy about to shoot up a school when no other recourse exists, isn’t.

You don’t need a God to exist to make that so. To paraphrase the writings of PlatoPlato, is something good (morality) because God says so or does it supersede even a deity because the deity acknowledges (such as through reason) that it is good?

I do not want to interfere with the right of Americans to worship their deity as they see fit. That is their business, but the state cannot take a position. It has to be neutral when it comes to religion and let the free marketplace of ideas fight out the question if God exists. If God exists he doesn’t need our support, if he doesn’t it is folly to follow a non-existent being.