From another thread, where I unfortunately can not post:
Deities (in this case, the Hindu Devas) are powerful symbols of certain ideals or doctrines.
It is not only possible for an atheist to make constructive use of them (at least if the misconception that we actually believe in their literal existence as deities proper can be avoided), it is in my opinion the proper way of using deity-concepts, even for theists.
I truly wonder if early theists ever expected people to go to the lengths that some modern theists go.
I’m confused. What use does an atheist have with deities?
Deities (in this case, the Hindu Devas) are powerful symbols of certain ideals or doctrines.
It is not only possible for an atheist to make constructive use of them (at least if the misconception that we actually believe in their literal existence as deities proper can be avoided), it is in my opinion the proper way of using deity-concepts, even for theists.
I truly wonder if early theists ever expected people to go to the lengths that some modern theists go.