Ojuice5001

Before you reply, notice that I did not say "gods atheists believe in." Of course I know atheists don't believe in any gods. But I think you're wrong, and therefore there may be gods who take much interest in the lives of atheists; just as warm-blooded animals don't know about the gods, but are objects of interest for them.

I am also not saying that all atheists would worship, side with, or even like these gods. But that's kind of my point. By being an atheist, you allow the influence of these gods to grow. Which the individual atheist may consider either good or bad.

These gods rule over the lives of committed atheists, like the ones who rise to moderator status here. They want atheism to spread--this is an important part of my answer to the Argument from Non-Belief. They do not necessarily want everyone to be an atheist; I see them as being behind a lot of new pantheisms (except neopaganism). But I don't think these pantheisms, any more than atheism, accurately represent these gods.

Modern Christians often claim that the world was once much more influenced by True Christians (TM); I agree with them. Just as Jupiter's rule is manifested in ancient Rome, but not the post-imperial, Christian society, so Yahweh's rule is manifested in the Dark and Middle Ages, but not in what came afterwards--the two eras are so different that they can't both be the kind of world Yahweh prefers. Now, the post-medieval world doesn't have a new religion that is so significant that it should be regarded as thereligion of the gods of the modern world. Atheistic worldviews seem as significant as any new pantheism, and therefore they must be important to the modern gods. I realize that Christianity is superficially strong, and Yahweh still has quite a bit of influence, but not as much as in the Middle Ages.

Now, how did I get the ideas of these gods? By reasoning about modern worldviews, and how they are most different from both Christianity and paganism. It is important to keep in mind that just as the Roman gods or Yahweh are partly good and partly evil, so must be the gods who favor atheism.

So, with all that out of the way, what kind of gods would rule over the post-Christian world? Well, no doubt there are nature gods, but they're harder to know than the ones who are more connected to humanity. There is probably at least one god who favors totalitarian thinking, which is after all a modern development, but I don't think this god represents the "gods who want people to be atheists" pantheon in general. These next six, however, do. I don't really know which are gods and which goddesses, so I will refer to all of them with the male pronoun.

1. Descartes's philosophy. Although most people disagree with it, Descartes's philosophy shaped all further philosophies, and these philosophies shaped the rest of society and the world. Descartes's influence is so deleterious to Christianity that I think one of the GWWPTBA pantheon has a strong affinity for this kind of thinking, and the things that are important to it. That means a god of self-conscious thought, of the most mechanical of natural events, of doubt and of certainty and the need for certainty.

2. Freedom Modern political thought is very dominated by ideals of freedom, and these ideals are made realities to a a large extent. Thus, there must be a GWWWPTBA god whose attribute is freedom. By the way, did you know that there is also such a Roman goddess?

3. The media The media was quite unimportant in premodern society, but is of vital importance in modern society. So it makes sense that premodern pantheons don't have a deity of the media (they influence it, it's just not anyone's sphere of influence), while a pantheon that is still forming today would have one.

4. Progress This is a god of both real and apparent progress. He probably prefers real progress or improvement, but like many human proponents of progress, he thinks breaks from tradition or apparent progress are good things in themselves.

5. Science More or less self-explanatory, this is a god of good science, respected bad science, and new technology.

6. Sex This is a god of sex, sex appeal, relationships, and so on. In some ways, an emphasis on this is nothing new. Nevertheless, I am inclined to agree with Peter Kreeft's thesis that a very large proportion of modern heresies against Catholicism are based on a desire to weaken its claims of sexual morality. I don't feel like it now, but in a few hours, I will add a link to an article where he defends this idea. One other thing should be noted: Although this is a god of fertility, he is much less so than traditional gods who have the same attribute.

So there you have it. Six gods who rule over the post-Christian world, whose influence has been growing since the seventeenth century or before. You heard it here first.

Eudaimonist

So, for you, any influential idea or aspect of society is governed by some god or goddess? You've got an extraordinarily complex metaphysics. And imagination.

I'm surprised you didn't include a goddess of Reason in the list, but I suppose everyone wants to claim the influence of that one.

galiel

Who cares? I mean, what relevance does your unverifiable claim of gods to anyone? And what is the credibility of your reverse logic, i.e., I observe a phenomenon, therefor it must be the product of a god's will. That is just silly sophistry with no consequences for anyone.

GunnerJ

Looks like someone just read American Gods by Neil Gaiman...

Seeker196

Ah, neo-Paganism.

Galiel: It's just more Romantic. After all, the gods are only an idea. He's just playing around with symbology. After all, you don't think that Lady Liberty is an actual goddess do you? Or Victoria? Or Columbia? Or Mercy?

Heathen Dawn

So say you, but that's not what our friend Ojuice believes. He's a literal polytheist, he believes gods are real entities with real influence upon the real world.

Gods in charge of atheism? HOHOHOHOHO! That's hilarious, a group of gods that want people to disbelieve in them! Quid rides, stulte?

daemon

OJ5k1, I may not agree with the potential reality of your ideas, but they're at least thought provoking. I suggest reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman for other ideas for modern gods. Personally, I found the god of electronics amusing...

Mecha_Dude

well, with the 87347834785378953798573985739857298578925789275982 7589275927589275298759827 hindu gods, there's got to be at least one in charge of atheism....

hinduwoman

Actually I agree that new social forces create new gods. In one way it makes sense. In India for example ever since industrialization got a boost, the god of mechanics has become a very big thing, and on his feast days, computers and trucks get worshipped and dipped in holy water.
Problem is it works only in a religiously minded society, not with atheists.
Your claim therefore that new gods have risen is absolutely unverified.

anyway why not the IPU --- after all, many atheists pay homage to her.