"The black metal reference is ironic in light of Ebon's most recent post, since black metal artists often follow a similar pattern, vociferously rejecting Christianity while embracing quasi-pagan beliefs which are a questionable improvement."

Well, the majority of death and black metal artists are either Pagans or Atheists and they live in a culture that has been deeply marred by the Christian faith - so it only makes sense that they vent their frustrations on it. And I do see the philosophy embraced by their music as a drastic improvment over the Judeo-Christian value system: as it's a value system that rejects any authority that attempts to set itself above the individual.

Naturally, mainstream society hates the ideologies affiliated with this movement (some governmnets even attempted to ban death and black metal concerts from their nation for fear of them "corrupting the youth") - as they despise anything that promotes an ideology that runs counter to their conservative views. They see what can happen once individuals embrace the power of their darker natures and they are afraid of it!

I say that non-believers here in the U.S. could learn a few lessons from our European counterparts - particularly the ability to regard all things as temporal, which is something I notice most people here have trouble doing as we're so conditioned by our culture to believe in absolutes...

"Sounds like a fun early morning, and after reading your poem, I must find a sample of that tune (what a title!!)."

Well, it was a business-related drive and death metal helps keep me awake - but yes, it's enjoyable to alone with one's thoughts and favorite music.

As for "9 Bullets in the Face of Christ" - it's not a tune, it's an album produced by Daemonlord/Satanizer. Not many stores carry it, so you may want to get it off Amazon. If you like hardcore death and black metal, this album's for you.

Enjoy!

Your comment brings to mind G.K. Chesterton's condescending quote that "When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing — they believe in anything." And this may well be true, though not in the way he probably intended it. Most religions discourage skepticism and critical thinking, so it's no surprise that those who become disenchanted with their church often drift into other kinds of superstition. But those myths, I find, don't satisfy any more than the more popular and mainstream ones do. Abstinence and rational thought is the best solution, as you said. By clearing one's mind of all the insufficient, anthropocentric imaginings, it leaves us open to appreciate the genuine wonder of existence and the world as it truly is.

There's nothing like a drive in the open desert at 2 a.m. listening to "9 Bullets in the Face of Christ" to get the creative juices flowing, huh?

Sounds like a fun early morning, and after reading your poem, I must find a sample of that tune (what a title!!).

"Greta Christina recently had a post about atheist dreams. It made me realize all the dark, scary, devil dreams I used to have stopped when I gave up the god! This may seem like a no-brainer to some, but it was a revelation to me. I still have bad dreams of course, but I never dream of devils! It’s so cool be a grown up - not afraid of the dark of night (how else to see the stars?), not afraid of bogeymen, or of some invisible being in the sky."

I read Greta's post as well - but unlike her, I don't necissarily have "Atheist dreams" so much as I have philosophical and poetic inspirations at seemingly random moments (sometimes they have vaguely religious overtones, sometimes they don't - so I wouldn't necissarily call them "Atheist inspirations"). For example, last night I was driving down a stretch of desert while listening to some death metal and a poem more or less composed itself in my head. Since this is a poetry thread I felt it appropriate to post this litte ammature piece - enjoy folks!

Swim through the blackened sea
see now the eternal constant...

Chaos...

Ride above the void upon the wings of Apolyon
to watch the Heavens demise...

Chaos...

Behold the end of every order
the abyss swallows all - Loki's handiwork
even those fancied as "god" die within...

Chaos...

Propelled by the power of the Leviathan
I seek the malestrom's edge
postpone annihilation just one more day...

Chaos...

There's nothing like a drive in the open desert at 2 a.m. listening to "9 Bullets in the Face of Christ" to get the creative juices flowing, huh?

It has a few similarities to substance addiction, when I think about it. Faith is the drug, creating artificial conditions. When the drug gets removed, they crash, have withdrawals. Like any drug though, they develop a tolerance, and have to sooner or later start finding more potent ways to drug themselves.

I appreciate this observation, especially as a recovering addict in the, uh, usual sense of the term. Some time ago, I "recovered" from the religion of my birth, Catholicism. Withdrawing from it, while still romantically addicted to mystical rituals and symbols, I dabbled in other forms of spiritual self-medication. Such foolishness - you could say I rue my life in the woo! I did not go cold turkey on god(s) but did weaned myself. Only instead of a methadone program or a nicotine patch, I had regular doses of Prometheus Books' atheist titles, Internet Infidels & other online forums. And, just as in treating other addictions, turns out abstinence is the best medicine of all. Abstinence from irrational beliefs and from unquestioning acceptance of religious authority cleared my head. AND my atheism has brought great relief, peace of mind, and even greater joy in and with my life.

”Contrary to the "darkness to light" analogy (probably a holdover from mysticism), I don't see the darkness as something to fear but rather a power to embrace and make one's own.”

Greta Christina recently had a post about atheist dreams. It made me realize all the dark, scary, devil dreams I used to have stopped when I gave up the god! This may seem like a no-brainer to some, but it was a revelation to me. I still have bad dreams of course, but I never dream of devils! It’s so cool be a grown up - not afraid of the dark of night (how else to see the stars?), not afraid of bogeymen, or of some invisible being in the sky.

Thanks for providing this space that helps me exercise my rational mind and reminds me there are other freethinkers out there (and some of you are pretty darn smart, and good writers, too).

And I remember thinking that, to some extent, existential despair and angst might be a generational thing. After all, my friend and I were both born and raised in a world where existentialism already existed and was something of a given. We didn't have to invent it. So it just didn't seem like that big a deal, and we had a whole lifetime to get used to it.

And I wonder if, to some extent, that might be true for atheism as well. Obviously not all the time -- some people, like Polly, leave their religion with no second thoughts and no looks backward to turn their joy into a pillar of salt. But I wonder if part of Arnold's problem might have been that he lived in a world where joy, and love, and light, and certitude, and peace, and help for pain, were all pretty much synonymous with religion.

I wonder if atheism is generally easier for people who are raised with it. And I wonder if it'll be easier for people who are raised in a world where it's a widely known- about option, even if it's not how they're personally raised. (If so, then all the more reason for us to keep raising a ruckus.)