When I added the story about Jerry Falwell’s death to my delicious list last night, I commented “Jerry Falwell finally knows that he was wrong”.
But that’s not really right is it? This is one of those rare occasions when I wish I wasn’t an atheist.
See, as an atheist, I know that Falwell doesn’t know that he was wrong. He’s just dead. He has no idea of what has happened to him. He doesn’t know that he was wrong because he no longer knows anything.
It would, however, be far more satisfying if he was able to know how wrong he was. I would like to imagine him perhaps explaining himself to Allah. Or finding that the Hindus are right and he’s been reincarnated as a worm for all of the hate and intolerance that he promoted in his lifetime. Or perhaps, it might be best if he found a truly christian god who banished him to hell for not accepting that “love thy neighbour” doesn’t have exception clauses if your neighbour happens to be gay or muslim or liberal.
But, tempting as those scenarios are, I think we’re better off living in this world – a world where Jerry Falwell is just dead.
You know, atheism is one of those things that I instinctively believe to be true, and much considered thought later I also believe it’s the only answer, and yet, I really would like to be wrong.I am 100% sure that every organised religion on earth is at best a well-meaning collection of severly deluded people. I prefer to hope that I’m in some kind of Matrix scenario, and when I die Carrie Ann Moss will be there waiting for me :-) Maybe I’m even worse than the theists.