Will Atheism Save the World?
I'm pretty hostile to monotheism--it's hard for me not to interpret the history of the last two millennia as the story of monotheism frustrating human progress and, particularly in the last century, bringing into question the survival of humanity, if not all life on earth. Yet atheists, descended mainly from the same ontological foundations, just in opposition rather than affirmation, seem equally imperial, suggesting they've found the One True Path to enlightenment and advancement of society.
It will not work.
We're not going to get everyone to agree on what's going on here. We're not going to get everyone to agree that it's God's will, that it's evolution, or that it's entirely pointless.
Atheists, do you really believe that if everyone thought like you and shared your values, the world would be a better place? Do you see that ever happening? Do you see any rationally positive outcome to pushing for a world that can never exist?
Monotheists, can you accept that other people are referencing the same world even if they use different methods/symbols/texts? Can you get beyond literalism and territoriality to refute the notion that all religion is poison?
Personally, I think religions have to police themselves for the most part, and fix what's wrong from within. We need to encourage interfaith dialogue, so that people can retain their faith while accepting that there are many paths.
What say you? Any hope?