Art Does Not Depend on Theism

The title of Dori Hartley's June 14 HuffPo piece, "The Atheist Who Loves Angels," is a little misleading. Not exactly shocking to anyone who has spent more than a few minutes perusing the site. What she actually writes is fine if rather uninspiring. It is the tone that I find most interesting. She seems to play into, perhaps unwittingly, one of the more ridiculous myths about atheists. The idea that since we have no religious beliefs we can in no way appreciate religious inspired or themed art is a long standing myth. Hartley is almost apologetic about loving artwork that has such themes. That is silly to the point of being laughable. Theists never seem to turn such "standards" inward. How many religious people today believe in unicorns or faeries? There are still creative works (paintings, films, writings...) being produced that either use them or even focus on them. And besides, what makes beauty and creativity or the appreciation of them the sole domain of religion? It is an absurd point of view that I will never understand or care to.