When someone thinks of an atheist they often think of an old eccentric crank that either spouts off hatred towards Christians or quotes negativity from similar eccentric cranks.  In fact, this has already been fairly accurately spoofed over at Objective Ministries.

Atheism

When someone thinks of an anarchist, the first image that comes to mind is mohawks, leather, molotov cocktails and G20 anti-capitalist rallies:

Anarchy

…and this is the problem with being married to conclusions.  Without reason and evidence to back your ideas, you are doomed to self destruction.

I am not immune from this.  Before I discovered philosophy I was a conservative, a liberal,  a libertarian, a pragmatist, and a moral relativist.  I was married to these conclusions because they fit the psychological state I was in.  Until I really began self exploration I went through life miserable wondering why these conclusions denied me the happiness they promised.  Once I discovered philosophy and later combined it with psychology (self exploration) I became free of my conclusions and started to become happy.

Admittedly, it’s a hard habit to break. I still have the urge to fly the yellow and black flag and call myself an anarcho-capitalist or don the newest atheist symbol on my blog.  I still have the urge to bitterly rail against the system and against Christians.  Sometimes I even act on those urges.   …but lately I have been trying to remember the molotov cocktails and crotchety gloom and doom atheists and that helps to remove that urge.  It helps remind me that I do not want to be defined by what I am against but rather what I am for; logic, reason, truth, happiness.

People know deep down that bitter, grouchy, negative people do not have the truth.  And even if they do have it, who would want it if it came with that?  

I desire for my love of the truth to shine through in my own life.  It’s true, there is no god.  It’s true, the government is just a group of men with guns.  But, I am not married to these conclusions.  If I am presented with reason and evidence that these conclusions are false I will change my position.  That is why I do not want to be known as an atheist anarchist.  I want to be known as a philosopher and I want that to shine through in my every action, rather than through a flag or a symbol.

Related posts:

• Atheism is a conclusion, nothing more
• Virtue, Values and Ownership
• …leave a comment if you would like me to post a related link