Is Bertrand Russell really an atheist?

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Is Bertrand Russell really an atheist?

I know we asked this question many times in class, but I still cannot make up my mind as to whether he is or not. To be fair, he doesn’t use the word atheist, he says he is agnostic which is different. He is very insistent on the fact that he doesn’t see a need for a necessary being in the debate. However, towards the end of his book he seems,as Dr. Mashburn said, “very spiritual”. He mentions God more than once and the end of the book is written almost from an entirely different view point than the debate. I know this blog post might seem a bit redundant, but I am just very curious as to what you all think. Is Russell really an atheist?

P.S Sorry I know this isn’t the best blog post ever, but I am writing it from my phone in the Atlanta airport. ;)

Comments

  1. Will BradyFebruary 10, 2018 at 4:36 PM

    He mentions God, but as a hypothetical example; he never says "There is a God who views the universe this way," he says "The mind can view the universe in the way a God figure might." Russell really leaves behind the physical world to talk just about the mind and thought and learning in the last section. After re-reading it, I don't know if I would call it "spiritual" so much as "not concerned with the physical world." I would say there's a line between "Everything is matter, and even the human consciousness is just chemicals," and "You are an eternal soul in a world influenced by spiritual forces." Russell is on that line.

    No puns this week? I guess the airport marked their "terminal" point.

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