An atheist is who, and what does he believe in?

Not so long ago, just over two decades ago, atheism was considered a science and as such was taught in higher educational institutions. This approach was not devoid of systemic vices, consisting in the necessity, at least, to study the subject with which a ruthless struggle was fought. It often happened that, having become acquainted with theosophical works, those who learned to "beat the ideological enemy with his own weapon" were imbued with the charm of Christianity and became deeply religious people.

More often, everything happened much easier and trivial. The student became a graduate student, then defended his thesis, in which he once again argued that there is no god, and then he taught the following generations. With all the shortcomings of the Soviet educational system, she had a great dignity - she gave objective knowledge that could not be spoiled by any Marxist approach. Moreover, it was not possible to scientifically prove the absence of God. In fact, an atheist is who? A person who believes that there is no god. Believes, but does not know.

Modern atheists approach this question differently. For the most part, they do not undertake the work of studying primary sources, both theosophical and materialistic. They just believe that there is no god. To perceive a fact as truth, evidence is usually needed. Faith is acceptance by the heart, without the conditions and proofs that the brain needs. The need for faith arises in difficult moments, when only a miracle can help. So, in the first month of the war, when the fate of Russia was threatened, the Union of Atheists was abolished. As unnecessary.

After the October revolution, disbelief in the public consciousness began to be perceived as a sign of modernity and progressive views. Believers could still be "dark" old women, and young people were forced to believe only in a brighter future. Each Komsomol member is an atheist. Who is going to consecrate the cakes in the church? Condemn and expel!

The fact that all the outstanding people of our country believed in God, the teachers somehow tried to keep silent, or talked about it casually, as about some kind of eccentricity, an excusable talented person. Well, Academician Filatov, well, Kutuzov, well, Ushakov, well, Dostoevsky ... They say that time was like that. Newton - that in general was a theologian. Otherwise it turned out that the more a person learned the world, the deeper became the faith in the Primordial of everything. And an atheist is who? This is a person who believes that if you put a lot of radio components into a box and shake it properly, then sooner or later you will get a TV or a computer.

In our country, religious beliefs have become something more than just Sunday's traditional and Western holidays for the residents of the church. Belief in God became part of our national identity. Destroy the Orthodox faith would mean destroying an important supporting part of the foundation on which the country stands. Despite the fact that the church is separated from the state, it plays an important role in public life and serves as a spiritual guide for a large part of the population. Who are today's atheists of Russia, and what purpose do they set for themselves? Is this another fight for freedom? So after all, nobody is being led into the temple by the arcane ...

Freedom of conscience means choosing between faith in God and disbelief in it. So all the same, an atheist is who? The same believer, only a believer is not in God, but in his absence.