Comment by Benny W on December 5, 2011 at 10:59pm

"The Modernists" is referring to the disenchantment of society as the institutional aspect of organized religion became less influential as the world grew. Nietzsche, Nabokov, and Kierkegaard have all written about how the world seems darker without the presence of a deity. This does not necessitate that the darkness is negative; in fact for some it means quite the opposite. In darkness there is sublimity, that is, an infinity of worldly possibilities. With organized theological structures, the light implies a finite world that relies on the faith of an afterlife to provide meaning. The image is not suggesting anything, with only the possible exception of the distinction between agnosticism and atheism, which is regrettably all-too-often misunderstood by you people.

Comment by Laura Benedict on December 6, 2011 at 1:48am

Assuming the man depicted is the same man, he has grown in wisdom with age.  He reaches a solid footing without all the "fluff" of religion in the steps upward, which have to be taught to a child to begin with (read: no child is born knowing religion, so if a person "knows" religion, that person has been taught to know religion).  Also, notice the archway through which we can see a light.  We can only surmise that the ground floor is large, with many rooms.  Hence, no walls to keep him in, no ledges to fall off (no railings on the second floor or the staircase).

What we also see here is the revelation of no "heaven," and no "afterlife."  As we discuss in our house, oblivion meets the dead.  When we die, we become worm food, and become as nothing.  We become what we once were: we revert back to the carbon atom.

All hail to the carbon atom!

Comment by Ralph Bruechert on December 6, 2011 at 8:35am

My first thought was that the stairway should have been reversed: atheism on top signifying ascent into knowledge. But, as other people have noted, once atheism is realized, we're on sound footing, but I'm sure that wasn't the original intent. What's important here is the journey, not the direction.

Comment by Unseen on December 6, 2011 at 9:37am

Did you notice that the man at the bottom of the stairs appears to be Sigmund Freud?

Comment by Mike Mooney on December 6, 2011 at 11:04am

Well, the sequence is quite correct.

But what I want to know is (pace. Richard Dawkins) WHY is there such an absurdity as a "Theology Professor" in a modern university? Whole departments of mumbo-jumbo, in supposed places of learning!

Religion as a phenomenon is fascinating, and I'm all for studying it - in the context of history, philosophy, psychology, literature, etc. But a "department of theology" makes about as much sense as a Ministry of Silly Walks. Waste of time and money.

Comment by Albert Bakker on December 6, 2011 at 12:17pm

Well all things being said it's at least comforting to see nobody's walking up the damn thing.

Comment by Dave Gibbs on December 6, 2011 at 4:07pm

Ironic that the dark end is pointing away from the doctrines espoused during the dark ages.

Comment by Brett Arthur on December 6, 2011 at 6:39pm

I used this in a powerpoint for class a year or two back. Great image.

Comment by Artor on March 27, 2012 at 10:58am

I think the old guy is carrying a glass retort- a piece of scientific glassware.

Comment by Unseen on March 27, 2012 at 11:10am

So, what was the point? To stimulate discussion or criticize atheism?

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