My personal view in life as an agnostic has been to accept that IF there is a God then I am probably "unworthy" to any God that may exist because I am a non-believer. I suppose I have "low self esteem" in that respect. I don't really fight it. I just sort of accept it. Clearly the atheist above is actively fighting the stigma associated with his beliefs.
So here's my question: Should I NOT accept such a label that may be consigned to me by theists? That there maybe is a God, and if there is, because I am not a "believer" I am probably somehow "less good" or whatever than a believer? Should I instead be "standing up for myself" and be actively trashing the religious views of my "oppressors"?
Thoughts?
The determination of your personal self-worth should involve a utilitarian examination of what system encourages you to be a better person. You should adopt those labels and classifications of you that are constructive to you in living a life of virtue. What labels are constructive in this manner will vary from person to person and across one's life.
For example, take the "less good" aspect of the label. Many people may well view being classified as less good as a determinant that diminishes and limns their personal ability. So that view isn't constructive to them because it places a limit on their ability to do good. Tell a person he's not as good and he might think he can't climb a mountain that is within his capabilities.
Catholics, in contrast, see all of humanity as a congregation of sinners. In the Catholic worldview, all of us are less than good. St. Francis, for example, was born just as much a sinner as Hitler. However, where others may see the inherent sin of man as being a limitation upon person endeavor, the Catholic sees it as a personal challenge to be the best, most virtuous person he can be in light of his state as a sinner. To a Catholic, the mountain is the challenge of being a good person, and if he did not start in a state of sin then there would be no reason to climb the mountain.
Then take the alcoholic, particularly one in recovery and a Friend of Bill W. The AA recovery system teaches alcoholics that they are less than their addictions and that they are less than other people who can control their consumption of alcohol. That works for the AA member because it gives him a focus and direction to be a better person. While the AA member might not have control over whether or not he can stop drinking, he has control over whether or not he starts drinking. Recognizing his weakness gives him power. The doctrine of weakness works for him because his mountain was something that he's come across as a result of the choices he's made in his life.
Diverse examinations of self-valuation can lead to being a good person. The determination of what self-valuation works for an individual to promote good is an important one, but it is really only important to that person. What is important to others is whether or not one has done good, regardless of the internal motivation. So if a secular humanist morality that presupposes a high inherent worth works for you to do good then accept that. If another systems encourages you to be better then go for that. The systems employed by others are helpful as a means to conduct this examination, but the real question is one that can only be answered by self-reflection.
You sure are!
