Comment by John R. Alley on December 5, 2011 at 11:49am

I think descent is fairly accurate. Having recently made the trip from Christianity, once you take that first step of doubt it's easier to take the rest of the steps. Whereas ascending can be difficult at times.

Comment by martin canniff on December 5, 2011 at 12:10pm

Other than illustrating Atheist enlightenment as a decent rather than ascent, it is fine. 

Comment by Benjamin Miller on December 5, 2011 at 12:28pm

I think this is fairly accurate.  In my journey from the faith to atheism, I was leaving behind the sky daddy (up), and coming back to earth (down), to the things that really matter.  I would,however, take issue with the "no atonement" stair.  This is probably because I am a fan of David Quinn, and do believe we humans are looking for some sort of atonement.  The sin would be that we think we are special, somehow beyond nature, and have tried to live that way.  Even the sciences are largely told in anthropocentric terms.  Atonement could be found in living with nature, instead of at odds with it, by understanding that we are members of the community of life, and subject to it's laws. 

Comment by Conrad van Rooyen on December 5, 2011 at 1:52pm

Well said John R Alley.

Comment by UnTarded on December 5, 2011 at 1:53pm

I think it's a bone in rib steak.

I know That the picture is attempting to convey descent into ungodlyness, but i see it as returning to the foundation of reality.

Comment by Conrad van Rooyen on December 5, 2011 at 1:53pm

All seem 2 agree that it should b an ascent (enlightenment) rather than a descent (ignorance.)

Comment by Dale Headley on December 5, 2011 at 2:18pm

   This picture must be a negative, because the light is in the wrong place.

Comment by Albert Bakker on December 5, 2011 at 2:26pm

It's drawn by a (fundamentalist) Christian cartoonist Ernest James Pace in 1922. Has to be understood in the proper historical context. The time has long since past for this to make sense even to Christians but to hardcore fundamentalists, who will remain stuck partly in the transition of bronze to iron age in Palestine and pre black plague European dark ages.

It is amusing to see what functions in the cartoon for the intended audience as increasingly horrifying steps downward, from that cheerful light at the top of the stairs in some 7 questioning steps ultimately into the eternal depressing darkness at the bottom, is so innocently intuitively appreciated inversely.

Comment by Reg The Fronkey Farmer on December 5, 2011 at 4:19pm

Reaching the solid ground of Atheism.

Comment by Joshua Perkins on December 5, 2011 at 7:10pm

The imagery suggests, with its step-by-step darkening, that the gradual procession toward atheism is away from the enlightenment of Christianity and toward a dark and miserable pit (sewer?) of despair.  To this, I reply - bright lights only blind me; I do my best work in the dark.

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