I was laboring over a longish response to this Slate piece by Ron Rosenbaum calling for a distinction to be drawn between agnosticism and atheism. Then I remembered my blog is on the googlenets, and I imagined the comments section of the finished post going something like this:
I clicked here from someplace and I know fuck-all about you but based on what you wrote about atheism I think you’re stupid and terrible.
Actually, I didn’t say anything bad about atheism. I simply said agnosticism is a fundamentally different approach to the issue —
What “issue?” There is no “issue.” Because there’s no God.
Well, you see, from an existentialist point of view —
Are you an atheist?
As an existentialist, the existence of God is not —
Then you think God is real?
He might be. But even so, ultimately his will is inscrutable and therefore —
Where’s your proof!? You have no proof.
Well, a theist would answer that by saying —
Do you believe in Santa Claus too?
No. But the question doesn’t really have any bearing —
Your arguments are weak. You are an idiot.
I have a four-year degree in philosophy and religion, and I believe I can contribute to the —
Well, la-de-da! Look at Mister Fancy Pants! You still suck.
And then I said, screw it. I’m good.
That is indeed what it would look like. Did you see the 19 comments on your Crispy piece?