How will atheism...

[Dave]

The writings of. Kurt Vonnegut provide better moral teachings and insight into humanity than any Bible.

I'll add Robert Heinlein.

He was a little bit right wing of Attila the Hun.

I have heardbothers say thst, yes, he was no socialist in the political sense - but he did have an understanding of human nature/motives and a dislike of certain kinds of authority, especially things like mega churches and overly authorative local officials etc. "Stranger in a Strange Land" demonstrates this well IIRC. There is a "commune" like,  or maybe "sharing unrelated family", like structure between the main characters. Been decades since I read it.

Those who write about rightwing scenarios may, possibly, be being ironic . . . Heinlein often hammers authority in his works.

Though, having done a quick search, it seems he did swap sides a bit later in life, this is a very interesting review of a book on his politics.

https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-robert-heinlein-went-from-socialist-to-libertarian-1588357827

[Recusant]

The discussion following the article is nearly as worthwhile as the article itself. As a youngster Heinlein was one of my heroes, and I drank up his libertarianism uncritically. However, as I learned more about the world, it almost entirely drained away. Proceeding on to the New Republic article.

[Dave]

The discussion following the article is nearly as worthwhile as the article itself. As a youngster Heinlein was one of my heroes, and I drank up his libertarianism uncritically. However, as I learned more about the world, it almost entirely drained away. Proceeding on to the New Republic article.

Thanks, Recusant, that New Republic article was certainly interesting. I have yo admit that I enjoyed all his books that I read, but I was not quite so critical in my thinking in those days. I wonder whst I would think of them now? I have a copy of "Starship Troopers" somewhere, but I read it first with my mind still influenced by my own armed forces experience and that ethos. I know, that to some degree, that influences my thinking even today, 50 odd years after demob, mainly in terms of honour, mutual team support, commonalty of purpose etc, but, I will admit, something of the aggression we had to learn to use, carefully, still plays a small part in my thinking. Hmm another thread in philosophy there?

Heinlein was evidently a very complex man, and not the first to go from one political extreme to another in his lifetime - just that he maintained his position in the public eye. Churchill was alleged to have said,  “If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain.” Heinlein took it a bit further maybe, progressively beyond 40?

[SidewalkCynic]

How will atheism fill the huge void it will create when it replaces theism?

Humanism is the correct ontological description to replace theism.

Humanism will subdivide into several schools of thought to cultivate communities. And atheism will subdivide into the political organizations if necessary. Chances are the humanist schools of thought will be understood to be political organizations, as well as ontological organizations (religions).