Rational Atheism

Famous atheist, philosopher, and logician, Bertrand Russell popularized philosophy and greatly benefited mankind. Christopher Hitchens recently republished some of his work in The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever. The Russell piece Mr. Hitchens selected, An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish, is reasonably and easily digestible. I strongly recommend picking up a copy of Mr. Hitchen’s atheist anthology.

In 1950, Russell won the Nobel Prize in literature for his defense of humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought.

Strictly construed, Bertrand Russell may be categorized as an agnostic. This website uses the term “atheism” more expansively. Although conclusive proof that god does not exist is unlikely to emerge (mainly because the idea of god is not falsifiable), rational people usually agree that the probability of any god existing is rather low. The distinction is simple. You’d be right to call bullshit if someone told you that Zeus had spoken to them, but for some reason, people behave as if the dominant gods of today deserve more respect than any other anthropomorphic deity. Russell agreed.

As a philosopher, if I were speaking to a purely philosophic audience I should say that I ought to describe myself as an Agnostic, because I do not think that there is a conclusive argument by which one can prove that there is not a God. On the other hand, if I am to convey the right impression to the ordinary man in the street I think that I ought to say that I am an Atheist, because, when I say that I cannot prove that there is not a God, I ought to add equally that I cannot prove that there are not the Homeric gods.

Congratulations Bertrand Russell! You’re our first Atheist of the Day!