Why I will Never Regard Myself as an Atheist

These days many proponents of reason regard the existence of deity as a human invention and something like a flight-fight response to deal with the perpetual condition of pain and suffering that we have been dealt as a race of sentient beings. However as "logical" as this argument may seem, I truthfully in my heart cannot fall into this category. I have several reasons for thinking this way.

This first is that pure reason, while one of mankind's most powerful inventions, has it's limitations. This is the difference between pure theoretical "know how" and inspiration. There are endless varieties of connections and insights that can be made about the universe, however these facts alone cannot explain the ideas of love, despair, resolution, or conviction. These concepts transcend logical means and can cause us to act irrationally, to sometimes greater ends. Why do we have this choice between the logical and the illogical? Why do we even know of something as "artistic expression"? Some say it's a simple combination of neurotransmitters and exposure to social forces, but in my view there has to be some other agent.

Secondly, if I resigned myself to the reigns of rationality alone I wouldn't be where I am today. I would simply have no drive because I am not a member of a powerful family, I've been considered a social pariah in the past (and sometimes the present), and lack that certain charisma which causes people to melt through their tiny comfort zone and actually try to be friends with you.  If I would to take these things on a pure logical basis, I would simply consider myself worthless to human society. However through my religion I reconciled the expressive things that I have known since my young childhood and learned how to strengthen my will against these repulsive forces. Atheism may view these motivations as some sort simple defense mechanism, but it is my main source of inspiration and living as a creative being.

Atheists are entitled to what they believe as it is their human right to follow their own belief (or rejection of belief) system. However it is my opinion that no matter what religion you follow, it fills a certain hole that the wonders of reason fail to consider. This is why I still hold my religion close to my heart because the realms of science have yet to touch these abstract notions.

Have a good day,
Justin Reid