Exposing Religious Atheism
“I believe that when I die, I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. I am not young, and I love life. But I should scorn to shiver with terror at the thought of annihilation. Happiness is nonetheless true happiness because it must come to an end, nor do thought and love lose their value because they are not everlasting.” (Bertrand Russell in “What I Believe” (2004), p.22)
“I would like to share an important term used by Romo Mangun in his book on religious literature, namely religious atheism, “said Joko Pinurbo in a spiritual-themed discussion at the 2021 Kompas Short Story Award which was broadcast live on the Youtube channel Kompas.id (28/06). After the editor-in-chief announced the names of the writers who were included in the Kompas 2021 Best Short Stories anthology and the names of the main winners, the popular Indonesian poet then got his turn to discussed the concept of religiosity in Indonesian literary works, with another writer, Saraswati.
In the discussion, Jokpin revealed the phenomenon of religious atheism or ateisme kaum beragama (AKB), the habit of formally religious people who believe in God and believe that God lives in themselves and their lives, but their actions seem to think that God does not exist. It’s actually a satire on the rise of religious issues in Indonesia and around the world in recent years. Starting from the fear of symbols, criticism of freedom, hate speech, acts of persecution, identity politics, group discrimination, to the most brutal genocide, and terrorists who supposedly carry the name of religion.
Once I hear ‘religious atheism’, I admit, I’m not familiar with this term. However, it seems that AKB is not an entirely foreign idea to me. It was easy for me to find the theists’ comments whenever there was a case related to religion. For example, when there is a scene on television reporting crimes committed by terrorists, theists will immediately respond that terrorists have no religion. Terrorists are atheists. Terrorists are not a reflection of religion. Or, for example, a genocide instigated by a religious community leader, and then, again and again, there are defenses that it was simply an act of atheism under the guise of religion. All of this seems to have been done solely to satisfy the perpetrator’s personal desires, not carrying out a religious mission that teaches love and peace. The theists continue to make defense after defense. And as usual, atheists have always been the culprit. They forget that atheism is not based on dogma. Atheism is the negation of religion. Atheists negate God so that they live to focus on the pursuit of self-meaning; does not carry out any sacred mission, let alone propagate dogma, and threatens people for that reason.
I think the phenomenon of labeling atheists is a hypocritical comedy by religious people. And it’s so funny. It’s funny because such expressions are usually born from the minds of adults and intellectuals in this modern age. They seem to turn a blind eye that the idea of religion bringing peace sometimes contradicts the experiences they face on a daily basis. Chaos, hatred and violence are partly triggered by religious issues. Although, on the other hand, religion is also what teaches humans unity, mutual assistance, and compassion.
Talking about AKB, I suddenly remembered the ridiculous incident last week. I accidentally witnessed a small child tripping over flip-flops on the tarmac road. Suddenly the child burst into tears because his elbows and knees were bruised. Perhaps also because he felt embarrassed, laughed at by people around the place. What made me nearly burst out laughing?
Instead of the mother explaining that next time the child needed to be careful when walking, the woman comforted the child by cursing at the flip-flops and then throwing the flip-flops into the ditch. Flip flops are flip flops. It was essentially an inanimate object that wouldn’t protest even if it was burned until it turned charred.
The story of ‘Flip-Flops and The Boy Fell’ was actually very similar to the labeling of AKB. It’s so easy for us to wash our hands and point faults ‘outside’ of ourselves, solely for the sake of restraining our ego and fear if it hurts our self-esteem, self-esteem as religious people. The labeling of “AKB” unconsciously is an attempt by us, the theists, to get rid of groups that are not in line with the positive values that we recognize and hold.
This labeling seems to deny that some believers of that religion come from the same estuary; not praying to the same God; don’t read the same scriptures. They are alienated and labeled AKB. And, on the other hand, AKB certainly has its own nickname for religious people who are not in harmony with their values and ideals. In fact, for them, religion is everything. It is their love for religion that makes them resistant and able to do anything, even though it must be contrary to universal human values. Because, for them, this dogma cannot be denied and negotiated, even in some cases, many criminals have openly admitted their reasons for daring to sacrifice for the sake of defending God and the people they purify. So, should they be labeled as AKB? Where do they have in common with atheists?
I personally feel really ashamed when I see the behavior of religious people who have the heart to do things that are not commendable, especially to the point of violating the rights of others. They have clearly tarnished the image of religion. However, I never said that they were not part of the religion. I never considered them to be outside the circle of religion. Labeling and accusing them as part of atheism is just a form of our immaturity in religion. In fact, they are still part of the theists. They may place religion, according to the ability of their reasoning power, as the depth of their mind and the ability of their reason to digest the existing teachings, or according to their ideals.
In short, they are religious in their own way (although it is often said to be radical and deviant). Likewise, we are religious according to our choice; namely, prioritizing the values of goodness, virtue, educating spiritually, and appreciating the progress of the times. So, it’s obviously too hasty if we agree that the AKB is not a religious adherent, a group of people wearing religious masks, and at most chronically atheists them.
Basically, labeling is deceiving us. To regard a religion as flawless and completely perfect is precisely the source of the real danger. We must not forget that the “various forms” of adherents, with all their advantages and disadvantages, are the product of religion. If you say that religion cannot be reflected in its adherents, then from what? The scriptures are not living things. They are just words that have no role if they are not carried out by adherents.
Now, let’s realize with our own eyes, look around, is it true that atheists — who we think don’t believe in God — are the ones who have killed so many people so easily? Are atheists who supposedly believe that the universe started from nothing and without divine intervention fully responsible for inviting others to persecute one another? Which group today is most opposed to human rights ideas? What is the most unresolved conflict over what issue to date?
I’m not saying that being an atheist means one is free from the vices of theists. Precisely what I want to say, both theist and atheist alike can fall into the same hole. So, instead of busy pointing your forehead and playing, throwing stones and hiding your hands. Why shouldn’t we contemplate and introspect? Is it true that AKB is a group that doesn’t follow religion properly? Or could it be that we — who feel that we are not AKB today — are really followers of a less devout religion?
