Expert: Austin Cline - 2/18/2006

Question
Many atheists (myself included) will challenge an educated religious person who says "Yes, my
faith makes no sense when I think about it,
but faith is a necessary illusion for making
it through life."

Yet the atheists I know will turn around and
use the religious person's argument when it comes
to the illusions of romance/marriage/monogomay,
saying "When I met my spouse, I knew I had found
the one for me and we went through the ritual
of marriage to bind our egos together. Yes, I
know this makes no sense when I think about it,
but being in love is a necessary illusion for
making it through life."

How is it that an atheist can argue if favor of
reason when challenging religious faith, but have
this same reason fail them when it comes to other
comforting illusions like romantic infatuation?
Are there writings or other resources for a
person living a life that doesn't pick and
choose which comforting illusions to challenge,
but instead is just as uncomfortable embracing
irrationality in their relationships as in their
politics or religion?


Answer
I've never heard any atheists claim that they need the "illusion" of love to make it through life. I've also never heard any atheists describe love as an "illusion," though. People may have illusions about love or about the one they love, but love itself is real enough - it's a biochemical process that gives rise to emotions. That's all as real as the poetry and art inspired by love; or as real as the emotion of hatred and the wars inspired by hatred, depending upon how one wants to look at it.

"How is it that an atheist can argue if favor of reason when challenging religious faith, but have this same reason fail them when it comes to other comforting illusions like romantic infatuation?"

Atheists lack belief in the existence of gods - nothing more, nothing less. Being an atheist doesn't mean that ones reasons for disbelief are rational and reasonable. Being an atheist also doesn't mean that they are perfectly rational and reasonable in all areas of their lives. I've encountered atheists who believe in ghosts, astrology, reincarnation, you name it. Being an atheist isn't synonymous with being perfect or being perfectly rational. We all have beliefs with irrational elements - you included.