Father Figure
Catching up on the Atheist Viewpoint podcast I’ve run across something I personally find quite hilarious.
It seems to be the opinion of many theists that atheists have some sort of issue with their father figures and consequentially have a poor image of God. This, of course, brings up two very interesting points.
First: no, this is not the case. I for one don’t have any issues with either of my parents. They did a great job of raising me, they’re still doing a great job, and I love them both very much. Most of the atheists I know are in the same boat. On the other hand plenty of theists have all manner of father/parent/authority figure issues. Said issues don’t seem to have broken their faith in any way.
Second: I find it quite funny how theists will quickly resort to trying to use science to prove something about their detractors while they have no issues with snubbing science when all evidence proves contrary to their religious viewpoints in such areas as the creation of life, the Universe, and everything.
This does bring up a thought I’ve had for quite some time, though. God as he is understood these days is little more than a supernal father figure. Consider that as a child you have adults around you all of the time. They are bigger, stronger, smarter, and more experienced than you. The biggest thing a child wants to do is be an adult. You emulate them, relate to them, and given someone even months older than you, you act like them toward those smaller than you. As you actually grow into an adult what fills that previous relationship? Certainly not the elders of society. Granted, you may rightly think they’re still more experienced and wiser, but you are most likely stronger than they are. The division between you shrinks significantly. So as an adult who is to be your “authority figure” as you had while you were a small child?
The answer is quite simple: God. In other words God is nothing more than the adult version of what your parents were to you as a child.
And what of those with father issues? This doesn’t preclude the belief in God. It is quite easy to imagine what a good supreme authority figure would be even if you don’t have one. Beyond that if you look at the God of the Old Testament he isn’t much of a good father figure anyway. He’s abusive and wrathful. It isn’t until the New Testament, under the influence of a society full of Aristotle’s notions of Theos that God becomes nice and loving.