J'accuse!

[Khandro]

Has boring rationalism, secularism and atheism squeezed out the very life of our society leaving a vacuum which is now being readily filled by Islam?
I read in an article written by a worried mother on her son's 'conversion'; Spectator 4:10:14.

"...Our boy had never shown any interest in religion before he found Islam at 16. We're atheists, and we raised him to be tolerant of all faiths but wary of anyone selling easy answers ....."

She seems to fail to see that there just might be some connection.

[pixie374]

How is atheism a vacuum?

[Old_Geezer]

There is no vacuum save that you believe there is one.

Many want to think they are part of something more, something greater, than this earthly existence we have, but best one finds a role within society to validate our self image and feeling of needing to be worthwhile. It is only when folk have not have time spent with them to help them work out what they need for mental contentment that other, more perilous things, become attractive.

[Fitzer]

So, teach them about 'your' sky fairy to stop them believing in someone else's, it's a thought I suppose.

[ll_billym]

Of course.. "Because of atheism we got naffink else to do!" It also explains the reasons for football hooliganism, vandalism and drug abuse all of which never happened when we are all decent God fearing folk.

[Khandro]

//Of course.. "Because of atheism we got naffink else to do!" It also explains the reasons for football hooliganism, vandalism and drug abuse all of which never happened when we are all decent God fearing folk.//

I'm not sure about the God fearing or even if everyone was decent, but when the churches were fuller (long before your time, but not mine) there was not only no such thing as football hooliganism, in fact the term didn't even exist, and neither was there any vandalism, and drug abuse might involve a couple of extra pints of rather weak British beer.
But that was all perhaps a coincidence.

[keyplus90]

God has his own ways of working.

[jourdain2]

I agree with the O.P.. We have left a vacuum in our society. The restless and lost who are searching for a role have found the upfront one which offers certainty. Young people generally crave certainty. Atheism is probably more suited to older minds, generally speaking. The alternative to aggressive Islam is, regrettably, only a diffident, Christian viewpoint; which is so humble that it is loathe to force its views. Perhaps it is time for a more assertive Christian viewpoint to give an alternative? I hesitate to suggest this to atheists, but it would be safer for the world.

[mibn2cweus]

I've always approached with scepticism any ideology that begins with a presumption regarding the nature of reality. Such departures from objectivity invariably lead down a blind alley which ultimately concludes in a dead end.

Atheism, while being the initial default condition is not an inroad to truth but rather a conclusion reached only through having maintained a rational pursuit of the truth. Rejecting religion as a viable avenue to truth does not in itself leave one in full possession of the truth, it is merely a precondition for a productive pursuit towards an understanding of ourselves, each other and the reason for developing and establishing healthy, mutually beneficial relationships.

While I reject all faiths on principal, any faith which makes demands by its adherents upon those who choose not to follow that faith should not to be considered . . . 'tolerable'.

[jomifl]

If everybody was atheist nobody would be lopping heads off in the name of god.

[cactusdriver]

@jourdain2

'Atheism is probably more suited to older minds, generally speaking.'

I was 17 when I became an atheist!

[jomifl]

Jourdaine, many thousands of 'heretics' were routinely tossed onto bonfires by 'assertive' christians in early part of the last millenium. Whether they went to heaven or hell is anybody's guess.

[jomifl]

/God has his own ways of working. /
except on a sunday

[jomifl]

Which part of 'life in our society' have atheists 'squeezed' out? certainly not sunday shopping..

[cactusdriver]

Khandro may have a point - perhaps it's better to brainwash the kids with Christianity to prevent them becoming brainwashed by Islam later. One could always tell them you were only joking if and when you considered them capable of rational thinking,

[Khandro]

cactus; I don't think the majority of Christians feel they have been "brainwashed" and as they mature as humans, they each find a way of accommodating their religion their own way, which is not the case with Islam.

Can't cut and paste from this hard copy, but I'll type in more;
"...Over the next few months we saw the boy we knew become buried beneath a spiritual totalitarianism. Under the tutelage of his new friends our boy eagerly took on the attitudes of his Muslim 'brothers' in place of his former personality. Why, he protested didn't I cook every night? Why didn't I 'look after him' and his dad like a good (Muslim) woman would? I was lazy, I was 'irresponsible' he would say, a smug little smile on his face. I felt angry and sad. "

[cactusdriver]

Khandro, I agree with you - I would far rather my kids were Christian than Muslim. Christianity has now matured into a relatively harmless panacea for those who need it whilst Islam is truly scary,

[Khandro]

jomifl; //Which part of 'life in our society' have atheists 'squeezed' out?//

Quite a lot actually, Nietzsche had something to say on it, (as he brilliantly had on everything)

http://www.philosophy-index.com/nietzsche/god-is-dead/

[jomifl]

Khandro, I must say the idea of something being 'squeezed ' by nothing has a strange counter-intuitive feel to it. Some kind of philosophical joke?

[atalanta]

If this boy has truly turned to Islam, he should know that the Koran and its prophet insist on respect, affection and kindness towards ones mother. In his contempt for his mother he is directly contradicting the scriptures he pretends to follow.