The Wonder of Awe

The stereotype of atheists is we are all nihilists who believe in nothing and lack enjoyment and awe in our lives. To hear some theists talk, we are like chain-smoking existentialists scowling at the world from some Parisian café and quoting Sartre or Kierkegaard. (Actually, I like a lot of existentialist philosophy and I don't see them as the blasé individuals of the popular imagination, but that is a thought for another day.) In reality, I don't see any difference between theists and atheists in any measurable way. The cardboard depiction of hopeless individuals lacking meaning and purpose is nothing but propaganda to keep adherents fearing their own doubts about the validity of religion.

This similarity extends to feelings of awe at the world we inhabit. The difference is atheists don't posit any god behind either the feeling or the event that provoked it.

There have been and continue to be so many things that have given me the sense of wonder and awe. The colors of the sky, cloud formations, the changing slant of light during the year, the play of stars, moon, and planets across the night sky, meteor showers, eclipses, views of the ocean in its various states, views of mountains with the play of light and clouds, views of rivers, the return of plants in the spring, the arrival of fruit on a tree or vine, and I could go on. The world is a constant tapestry for us to marvel at if we can.

Man-made objects have filled me with awe as well: a marvelous book, an incredible painting, a well-done play or film, a beautiful piece of music. There are some amazingly talented and creative folks out there using their medium to convey something about the world. Their works have moved me to tears at times, left me full of awe and pondering, caused me to rethink my view of life.

I only want to address what gives me a sense of awe in this post. There are so many things that bring some kind of pleasure, joy, fulfillment, enjoyment, but they don't rise to this feeling of awe, of amazement at what an incredible world we inhabit.

In my meanderings around the internet, either on YouTube or in blogs, I often read from theists that for them this awe is their feeling of god in the world. I guess, if I'm understanding correctly, and from my own memories of going to mass as a child, it is the same feeling you get in church that people tell you is the holy spirit. Therefore, it must be the feeling of god the creator in the world.

The problem is, I don't know how you can demonstrate that this is true. When I started growing out of religion, I stopped feeling that "sense of the holy spirit." If I attend any kind of religious ceremony, it is the same as if I attended a lecture or public meeting. I only have this feeling now with nature or with art. If I can pinpoint some of what creates the feeling, there is some kind of beauty and I am in amazed that I am able to stand as a sentient witness to (the color, the size or scale, the insight, the interplay of elements).

I could be wrong, someone might object. And yes, I could be, but it is not up to me to point to evidence that I am wrong. You need to first demonstrate that your god exists and then connect him to this feeling of awe.

If we were to really do science about the feeling of awe, we would start from the observation: I am in awe at this sight/this work of art. Then, we would proceed to form a hypothesis about where the awe is coming from. The idea that it is from god is the hypothesis you would need to test. It cannot be the conclusion until you've demonstrated it. I feel it's true is not a test nor is it any kind of good evidence that your hypothesis is likely true.

The trouble is so many theists just accept that their feeling of awe is from god and they don't investigate any further. The harm comes in that they might actually reject science to protect this feeling they have. The eye is just so amazing! It couldn't have just come about! Or any number of statements about how some natural item X is too complex/too perfect/too whatever to just come about "by chance" and needed a designer.

For the record, learning about science does not inhibit our sense of awe. Sometimes, it enhances it. Knowing the way the earth revolves around the sun and watching the slant of light or the appearance of a constellation in the sky or understanding how natural selection molded animals for their environments just adds to the sense of wonder. The role of chance does not paralyze or frighten me. The fact that to a certain extent random processes pushed up and then started eroding mountains to me makes it more wondrous. That I happen to be born at the time where we have such great knowledge is amazing.

And for those who scoff about how stupid it is to believe all this exists for no reason, so what? Wishing doesn't make it so. I don't think everything is random chance. There are natural processes at work, and chance is only an element. But even if it were so, even if everything is the product of chance, would that be so bad? Is it better to think some celestial being is orchestrating it all? The reason it is hear is beside the point. The point is to enjoy it while it lasts.