Joss and Atheism

[GreatMuppetyNick]

There this really interesting debate going on over at Whedonesque about the nature of Atheism, God, and Voodoo Atheism. And somehow along the way, Joss' name got pulled in the argument.

I curious what you guys think of all this.

[tjaman]

I don't think about it much.

Joss tells some amazing stories about commitment, dedication, responsibility, transgression and redemption, and he has appropriated some unmistakable religious imagery and commentary into his work, but I don't look to Joss for spiritual guidance. I look to him for engaging, soul-rawking and intelligent visual adrenaline.

[Bango]

tjaman said:

I don't think about it much.

Joss tells some amazing stories about commitment, dedication, responsibility, transgression and redemption, and he has appropriated some unmistakable religious imagery and commentary into his work, but I don't look to Joss for spiritual guidance. I look to him for engaging, soul-rawking and intelligent visual adrenaline.

I agree!

[quantumcat]

I think Joss probably belongs to one of God's favorite classes of 'unbelievers'.

I see Whedon as ethical and intellectually honest.

He sees nothing in the standard religions that appears genuine or necessary.

He is able to apply things that have been associated with certain beliefs (justice,love,etc.)
without embracing those beliefs.

He is too grounded in reality and his own humility to feign adherence to a party-line he
does not endorse or to insist that others conform to his ideologies to be respectable human beings.

I see Joss as someone who has scrutinized the world and found no evidence of God in it.

I don't think he has barricaded his heart against such a being and I think that if he ever saw God
as true and present,he'd accept and acknowledge that fact without a single qualm.

I suspect this mindset appeals more to God than gullible acquiescence to the cultural majority or
the kind of ersatz scepticism that rejects ideas not because they are unproven or erroneous but
because they'd be declasse` or inconvenient if true.

Reason,love and creativity abound in Joss and my rose-colored glasses see that essence of what
God IS revealing to Mr. Whedon that he has known God all along but without the labels and packaging
that let others make an identification.

As for whether I seek out Joss' work for spiritual edification....

Probably not.

I don't seek out Cadbury bars for the calcium,magnesium,flavinoids,stearhic acid and antioxidants.

(But it's all there.)

I enjoy the rich,sweet,sophisticated mellow spiciness.

If I get healthier and more energized in the process of indulging,that's just something I'll have to live with.