One of those beliefs is that we, as a human race, are generally becoming more humane. What was once considered virtue became first distasteful, then discouraged, then disgusting to the point that we, looking back on the history of our race, see atrocities that revolt our modern sensibilities. As the human race matures, our lives are becoming less nasty, brutish and short.

It is, unfortunately, a slow journey, but I really do think things are getting better. Celine is just an unfortunate throwback.

I’m a staunch athiest, but I don’t beleive it’s a ‘more meaningless and lonely world’ as a result. The world is what we make of it. There are horrible injustices and cruelties that occur in the world. That we can recognize that we are fallible, and aim to curb these things and improve ourselves, this is something I find more comforting and empowerig than the idea of a scentient being watching the cruelty unfold for his/her amusement.

To quote Laplace “I have no need of this hypothesis”.