Of Atheism
by
Francis Bacon
(Summary)
As a background of the essay, Bacon was
critical in the development of the scientific method, and, thus, being a
philosophical giant in his time, atheists have attempted to recruit him as a
supporter of unbelief. He made his religious views quite clear in some of his
works, and they are clearly reflective of Christian beliefs. Ironically, he
also expressed his disdain for atheism; Bacon neither believed in the view of
atheism nor the existence of atheists.
Bacon
says, “It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism; but
depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion.” He claims, in the philosophical
aspect of his essay, that atheists clearly have a narrow mind in logical interpretations
due to that they do not consider the existence of an unexplainable. Then he
says that without a doubt that the only reason why any philosophy would incline
men to religion is because such philosophy confirms religion.
On
the facet of politics, Bacon shared his view as “Nay more, you shall have atheists
strive to get disciples, as it fareth with other sects. And, which is most of
all, you shall have of them that will suffer for atheism, and not recant;
whereas if they did truly think, that there was no such thing as God, why
should they trouble themselves?” He points out the need of atheists to “spread
their word”, why they need to counteract the establishment of the Church in
their era.
Bacon,
on religion, says “The causes of atheism are: divisions in religion, if they be
many; for any one main division, addeth zeal to both sides; but many divisions introduce
atheism. Another is, scandal of priests; when it comes to that which St. Bernard
saith, ‘One cannot now say the priest is as the people, for the truth is that
the people are not so bad as the priest.’ A third is custom of profane scoffing
in holy matters; which doth, by little and little, deface the reverence of
religion. And lastly, learned times especially with peace and prosperity; for
troubles and adversities do more bow men’s minds to religion.” Divisions in
religion, scandals of the clergy, and ill-manners against rituals are listed
down by Bacon as the reasons for the existence of atheism. In fact, Bacon acts
as a psychologist. Instead of arguing against Atheism, he creates an explanation
as to why people believe it, and yet he leaves out many critical reasons.
Understanding religion, knowing what it preaches, knowing its dogmas and
superstitions, its bigotry and ignorance, has produced innumerable people who
detest religion. Critical thought and skepticism have also produced Atheists.
Yet instead of relying on these philosophical reasons, Bacon excuses Atheism as
something that is created by current events, rather than admit the fact that Atheism
has existed as long as doubt, that it has existed as long as there have been men
who are defiant to authority, men who want the truth, men who are rational. Albert
Einstein, in addition, articulates: “With or without religion, you would have good
people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people
to do evil things, that takes religion.” Hence, furthermore rebutting the
insufficiency of Bacon, there is no need for humanity’s reliance for an
organized religion. Morality is not entirely limited to the existence of deity,
but also on varied ways of life of people; as where culture does not only base
itself on an organized religion, but also on beliefs. Belief cannot be confused
with organized religion, as the former is about the understanding of the world
and the latter is compromising or even repressing one’s belief in favour of a
deep-seated need-to-believe institution. Thus, Atheism favours the exercise of
free thinking as it does not limit the person to one specific view on morality.
Statements
by atheists are enumerated in order to rebut Francis Bacon’s claims on his
essay “Of Atheism”. Atheism offers a view that there is neither a need for a belief
in God nor religion, as previously discussed, generally because of the
fallacies by propagandas against atheism, oppressions caused by religion, and
negates freethinking for humanity. Bacon, moreover, did not really attack
Atheism in this essay. Instead, his arguments and apologetics were bent on
denying its existence. An Atheist certainly would not be convinced that Atheism
was wrong from this essay. Only the most credulous of Atheists would believe
the thesis of this statement: those Atheists do not existence. The reasoning
offered by Bacon was non-exclusive. Even beyond denying the existence of
Atheists, he argued that an Atheist would have no reason to defend Atheism.
Like
a psychologist, he offered excuses for Atheism, but only from a believer’s perspective.
Bacon also offered the argument of Appeal to Belief. He contended that since
everyone believed in the gods – and since we should do what everyone else does
– that Atheists should believe in god. However, the truth is that Atheists are only
more courageous and bolder for denying what is commonly believed on the basis of
truth. One of the arguments brought up by Bacon was that Atheism brings man and
non-human animal together, equal. He states this as a reason against Atheism, but
this is only a reason against established religion: it’s cruel and torturous
creed concerning those who can feel as much as man, but does not grant them a
soul.
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