Message to a Friend

Here's something else that occurred to me. Probably not entirely the truth but a good theory. We like to think that as Orthodox we have a pretty clear-eyed view of how things are, and certainly we do compared to Protestants (whatever they are nowadays, who knows?) but here in America all of us are formed in a consumerist culture. We approach all of life like that, religion included. However misguided this is, I don't believe it's something we can help as we are swimming in a sea of consumerist ideology. Neither is the atheist immune. In fact, atheism for most is really like an article of clothing to try on. I have one friend who said that after becoming an atheist he was kinder, more generous, loving, and overall much happier. Sounds like a commercial for atheism to me! Of course most like to assume that they are really being radical and asking all the tough questions, but if we peel that back a little what they're really after is some sort if identity security and an amorphous happiness. Atheism like religion is simply another product that will "do something for you." As we both know, products don't make us better people. Religion won't make us more moral. Atheism won't really make us more fulfilled, but it is powerful subterfuge. One compelling thing about Christianity is that virtue/morality/being better is never the goal but always the result of uniting with Christ. The atheist worth his salt will realize that he will always be the same, never really change, despite the gloss that he may use to cover things up. And that goes for the Christian too. 

And we are right to be suspicious of any ideology, product or system that promises fulfillment rather than reality. The atheist looks at American consumerist Christianity and condemns it because he knows it neither fulfills its promises nor reveals reality.

However, the atheist, I would venture, does not know himself beyond the sum of social controls and conditioning.