I certainly can't claim to speak for all other atheists. But in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. my guess is that in trying to make sense of its existence and the worldwide havoc that it has wrought ,most of us who don't believe in a god are having an easier time doing so than those who do.
This is because we are not needlessly wasting time and energy by trying to reconcile this illness with the tenets of religious faith, one practice of which is the obviously futile belief that prayer will ward off the pandemic. Related to that approach is the turning to scripture in seeking an understanding this disaster in terms of God's will, with some believers going so far as to interpret it as divine punishment.
But all this perplexity and consternation is so unnecessary because the real facts about the coronavirus as with any such natural phenomenon are based on well-founded scientific research and reasoning, not some unproven supernatural being. And you can bet that if science does find a cure, many (most?) of these same people will instead credit and thank God for such a devlopment. But by that same logic doesn't if follow that they should rather call him to account for creating the disease in the first place and allowing it to ravage the world? Their answer to that would probably be the cliche about God working in mysterious ways, which is really not an answer at all, just a cop-out to end the discussion .
To be clear, I am not attempting to dismiss the well founded fear itself of contracting this illness. I'm just as concerned as anyone about that possibility. In fact inasmuch as I am a senior, if that were to happen to me, I know that would be a double whammy. But I also know that the cause of such infections is microbiological, not theological.
In short a reality and science based approach in dealing with this virus, one that dispenses with religion in coming to grips with this menace to humankind, is the only way that we can get through this nightmare.and return the world to any semblance of normality.
Along that line, the severe economic, political, and social repercussions of this pandemic are also an opportunity for humankind to shift our priorities, change our ways and create a more humane social order. But frankly, I doubt that will happen, Most likely, after the immediate crisis has passed, people will just revert to their old ways, and once again it will be business and complacency as usual.
Until the next time.
