ABSTRACT
In one particularly memorable conversation about spirituality and religion that I had with Professor Michael Weinstein, he made a comment that seemed contradictory and even absurd at first. He said, “I am an atheist and I firmly believe that when we die, we rot away in the ground. However, if I ever were to adopt a religion, it would be Islam” (Weinstein 2013). It took me a long time to see what he meant, but eventually it started to make sense. This seemingly enigmatic statement ideally summarizes the depth of Weinstein’s deeply dialectical and critical thought. It is not as if Professor Weinstein is unfamiliar with the other religious traditions. Intuitively, one would assume a self-proclaimed atheist would most likely embrace some type of Buddhism or animistic religion if they ever were to enter into the religious fold. He could probably be a guru, rabbi, reverend, or spiritual guide for any other religion if he sought to do so. Why then would Professor Weinstein choose a religion that is so antithetical to atheism, if he were ever to choose one?
