Thank you Adam Savage

This weekend, the Reason Rally took place in Washington D.C.  I wish I could have been there because I would love to have been a part of such a large gathering of people with whom I have so much in common.  It’s what makes CONvergence such an amazing experience every year.

The Friendly Atheist has a fairly comprehensive write-up of the event with lots of pictures and video for those wondering something like “what the hell is the reson rally?”

Reading through everything that was said and done, I found a lot to think about.  I don’t agree with what every speaker said but here’s the thing – this is why we call ourselves free thinkers.  We listen to these speakers and then we decide what we want to think about it.

For me, the quote that spoke most eloquently was by Adam Savage of “Mythbusters.”  Here’s what he had to say:

 I have concluded through careful, empirical analysis and much thought that somebody is looking out for me. Keeping track of what I think about things, forgiving me when I do less then I ought, giving me strength to shoot for more than I think I am capable of. I believe they know everything that I do and think and they still love me and I’ve concluded after careful consideration that this person keeping score is me.

One of the fascinating things about atheism is the way atheists are always fighting amongst themselves.   As much as many of us want to advance the thought that we have a voice, the truth is we have many voices.

Sometimes we (mostly) agree.  But most of the time we disagree.  Loudly.  Angrily.  We question thinks other atheists say all the time and at least once a week, most of us feel the need to apologize for something some other atheist said.   Even if what we should really say is “he/she thinks that.  If you’d like to know what I think, perhaps you should ask me.”

Then Adam says something that, I think, is at the core of what most atheists believe.

The dude makes a living blowing shit up and yet he has this beautiful and profound thing to say about the human condition.  I don’t care what else you believe in, you need to believe in this:

I’ve concluded after careful consideration that this person keeping score is me.

Thanks, Adam.