An atheist’s perspective

In this unfortunate era of perverse terrorism, religiously and ideologically driven acts of brutality, there is one response that has been missing: the atheistic perspective that needs to be delivered most strongly to the perpetrators and anyone contemplating such crimes.

There is no such thing as God — any God. There is no afterlife — no heaven for the righteous martyrs and the pious faithful, no hell for the infidels and heretics.

To the terrorists, I say there is no divine reward for their crimes — no paradise, no immortality, no harems, just the finality of nothing.

In the aftermath of awful events, everyone is encouraged to pray. I wonder: pray to whom or what and for what? The universe of theism is chaotic. Among believers there is no consensus, only confusion and discord or, at best, an uneasy tolerance. Righteousness for some is viewed as sinfulness by others.

Consider this: There is a problem with agency. Many theists believe they are called, instructed to “do God’s work” expressed in acts of kindness and generosity or sometimes in crimes of unthinkable cruelty. But if God is indeed all-powerful, what need is there for puny humans to do his bidding? Bob Sanders Orlando