Another chapter in William James' classic book "The Varities of the Religious Experience" discusses the religious workings of the sick soul. In discussing the sick soul, James discussed how these people find religion in misery. But one particular part of the book interested me. In writing about religion, James quoted Tolstoy saying, "One can live only so long as one is intoxicated, drunk with life; but when one grows sober one cannot fail to see that it is all a stupid cheat." To me, this statement is a open expression of the athiest view point. The religious being drinks religion in order to exterminate the bad feelings that occur when one rationally thinks about the existance of God.
Of course, it can be said that God is found outside of the rational or reasonable. Instead, God and religion are reserved for the faithful. I find this to be the primary distinction between a religious being and an athiest. It would be hard for me to understand the rationale of a person who believes in God through reason alone. To me, it is not logical to believe in a higher being. However, I do have strong faith in God and a very weak faith in reason. And with that being said, I think Tolstoy is kind of right. Without religion, life could seem like nothing but a stupid cheat.
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