Atheist 13

I've been tagged by that other Jewish atheist, The Atheist Jew, with a meme of ten questions:

Q1. How would you define “atheism”?

There are at least two kinds of atheists: Those who do not believe in God and those who believe God does not exist. I'm among the latter.

Q2. Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?

I grew up in a relatively left-wing Modern Orthodox tradition.

Q3. How would you describe “Intelligent Design”, using only one word?

Desperation.

Q4. What scientific endeavour really excites you?

Neuroscience. Also, genetics, nanotech, robotics, and AI.

Q5. If you could change one thing about the “atheist community”, what would it be and why?

I'd like to see it become less a community of the bitter and wounded and more a community of those who share a common philosophical stance.

Q6. If your child came up to you and said “I’m joining the clergy”, what would be your first response?

It depends on the kind of clergy. Humanistic Chaplain/Rabbi? "Wow, that's great!" Orthodox Rabbi or Catholic Priest? "Maybe we should have a little talk..." Ultimately, it's their life.

Q7. What’s your favorite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?

Without God, I can't see how we have free will. It appears that we have free will, therefore God must exist. Curiously, nobody seems to make this argument except me, on Opposite Day.

My refutation is that we actually don't have free will. This has disturbing implications, which I have not yet come to terms with.

Q8. What’s your most “controversial” (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?

I don't think there is a "general attitude among other atheists." Among atheists are secular humanists, libertarians, Randian libertarians, doves, and hawks. Perhaps I have more respect for some religious people than many atheists do.

My psychologist is an Episcopal priest, for example.

Q9. Of the “Four Horsemen” (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?

Dawkins, by far. Even though he sometimes goes too far as activists tend to do, his book The Blind Watchmaker blew my mind. To be fair, I haven't read much of the others. Hitchens, though, strikes me as a pompous blowhard.

Q10. If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?

Great question. Let me think as I type:

Osama bin Laden? Nah, I don't think that would much matter at this point.

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein? Too selfish. While I would love to see a prominent Modern Orthodox rabbi publicly admit there is no God, it just wouldn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things.

Ultimately, I'd like to convince that kid or young adult who thinks they're a bad person because of their sexual orientation or sex life or curiosity about the outside world or lack of religious fervor.

Now name three other atheist blogs that you’d like to see take up the Atheist Thirteen gauntlet:

XGH, although he's only admitted to being an agnostic, Abandoning Eden, and Lubab No More.