TJ Morgan, by permission
Travis Morgan, often known as TJ Morgan, lives with his wife and four children north of Rockford, IL, in the town of Roscoe. From there, like the talented few, he reaches out to the business world and cyberspace, holding down a regular job as Senior IT Specialist by day and, by night, exploring “creative passions through the mediums of music, art, and poetry.” He portrays himself as “philosopher, poet, musician, phonographer, web designer, artist and computer specialist,” trying to balance day-to-day cares of family with his need, perhaps, to transcend the mundane.
Background
At 32, he speaks of his past, not from the stance of the victim, though his experiences were not exactly sprinkled with delightful associations and fond memories, yet he unquestionably rose above his upbringing. “…My mother’s alcoholism and my father’s perfectionism and temperament had a significant influence on me in the sense that I learned from their character flaws and mistakes in life. Instead of falling victim to these same things, I learned from them and avoided these errors.”
Though his parents were religious, they merely attended church, not providing much reinforcement to the lessons learned there. Back then, he observes, “I was a bit skeptical of the whole thing, but trusted elders, so I didn’t attempt to question them.”
The resulting process of intellectual development early on finished not only in rejection of religion, but also in a refocusing directed toward more rational modes of thinking. He writes, “I was never very religious nor did I think much of the idea of god, but… the idea of a god existing was one of the first things I was skeptical of.”
Recent atheism
His full conversion to atheism is a recent development. “I have been an atheist for only about 5 years now,” he remarks, adding, “I came to atheism on my own…. Quickly, I learned the most accurate methods to arrive at truth and/or reality was through evidence, logic, and reason.”
Inevitably, family considerations enter into shifts of worldview. His parents are seemingly unconcerned, based on their reactions. “My wife supports my right to disbelieve but prefers I not talk about it,” he says. Interestingly, he takes a different, more enlightened approach to the raising of his own kids than that of his parents. “As far as our four children, I teach them how to think, not what to think. I teach them the importance of reason, logic, problem solving, evidence, etc…. I give them the tools to make their own conclusions. We exchange healthy [Socratic] dialog and I encourage them to ask questions.”
He candidly describes himself as “introverted,” family-focused, and as having “lost touch” with friends who knew him before his service in the Marines. Now, when the want for society looms, he has found much satisfaction engaging in debates, discussions and writing about his ideas and inspirations on his blog at www.travisjmorgan.com, the launching pad to not only his music and art, but to an incredible array of other projects. A great number of readers and viewers habitually comment upon his posts.
Philosophy
What he composes takes many forms, including observational vignettes, commentary and poetry. In addition to creating, he spends time online just listening, “I frequent the RichardDawkins.net forums as well as centerforinquiry.net forums. I listen to Point of Inquiry podcasts as well as the Philosophy Bites podcast. I am a member of atheistnexus.org and designed their website for them. Some of those are more secular oriented then atheist oriented…”
Pondering the question of theism and non-theism rationally led to his formulation of an intellectually sound argument as to why religion plays such a major role in the lives of so many believers. “I think the religious meme has lasted as long as it has,” he postulates, “because it proposes comfortable answers for what otherwise would be uncomfortable unknowns. It also proposes some objective meaning to people’s lives, it gives them an objective purpose, something to drive towards to. Many religions also sell living beyond death… since many people fear death….”
Art and music
The major contemporary influences on his method consist of the foremost non-theist personalities familiar to many. “It wasn’t until after I had already come to disbelief that I started looking for others that were likeminded. About the same time, Richard Dawkins released his book, The God Delusion which eloquently supported many arguments I had already formatted on my own.” Another notable he credits is, surprisingly, Mahatma Gandhi, “particularly his passion for the pursuit of truth. I am also partial to Christopher Hitchens.”
Of course, he is most proud of his artistic abilities. He writes, “I have always been naturally creative and artistic…” Life takes many unexpected turns, though, as he clearly realizes. It is understandable that the way it has turned out for him is not exactly as intended. “Things change,” he notes, “and instead of going to college as I planned, I got married, had kids, and got a civilian job in Information Technology with a local company.”
Since that time, he describes a different kind of journey. “First I started designing websites, then I moved on to graphic design, and then onto music, and I even started writing poetry in there somewhere.” As the paths he traversed produced impressive works, he found a modicum of fame. “My track, ‘Café Connection’ was a hit that has been shared around the net and featured in 20+ videos. Eddie Bauer contacted me to purchase one of my graphic designs, and other reputable organizations and individuals have taken advantage of my creative abilities.”
For many, creative ability can serve both as a source of strength and personal comfort, and as a force to overcome the uncertainties of existence. Art and music provide for him, as it does for comparable individuals, “a release…. I feel satisfied when I have created something I am pleased with, I feel I have made progress, that I have made a difference in the world somehow.”
Online presence
He also maintains his own Web design presence online, and has landed several significant projects. However, economic reality encroaches on his long-term vision of where his life might be headed. “I would love to design and create art (including music) for a living, but I haven’t found the right opportunity yet where I could do that and still be able to pay the bills and support the family…. I created the t-shirt design for Camp Quest UK 09, which I hear went very well. I have also designed several logos for companies and organizations. I recently designed Secular Netherlands organization logo.”
Like many artists, he is intelligent and focused, but the more practical and commercial side of his approach continues to remain vestigial, though it has become an area that he realizes he should focus more attention on. “I really haven’t advertised my work probably as much as I should,” he realizes, “so the audience is relatively small right now. Though I hear from sources that I have quite a few silent admirers.”
Musical and philosophical inspiration
Among music artists whose music appeals to him and that he considers “a ‘musical’ inspiration,” he prominently lists Will Bevan, “who is more popularly known as ‘Burial.’ His music is typically classified in the dubstep\grime genre. I tend to like dubstep because of the syncopated beats, complimented by grimy bass and mysterious melodies. There is something about it, and Burial’s tracks specifically, that to me, reflect the seemingly chaotic yet orderly motion of our lives.”
The order he speaks of is central to his personal philosophy. “I am a determinist,” is one of his most positive statements. “I believe we are conditioned and ultimately [completely] determined by our environment. I do not believe we have free will.” This stance, he reasons, can account for religious and even non-religious approaches to life.
“I really like philosophy and debate…. I often find myself in debates arguing against free will, against hedonism, against theism, for atheism, for determinism, about knowledge, etc.” It appears important for him to make his views known to people in general, which is why writing and debate hold a central place, side-by-side with art and music, in his current endeavors. Yet, above all, is the quest for “truth,” meaning scientific and rational positive knowledge, a worthy venture many have sought as a practical and meaningful path. “I seek truth and find myself philosophizing all the time,” he says.
Concern for the earth
He also has strong concern for the natural world, and his art reflects his environmental apprehension. “I am totally pro secular humanism as a guide for humanity. My only concern is that the focus is only on humans. I am also concerned about the well-being of other species as well, not only humans. After all, we depend on other life to support our own species.”
Coupled with awareness of the interrelation of man and nature are patriotism and a commendable focus on the benefits he could impart to others. His ultimate conclusion about his earthly time is that “…Most of my work is designed with the audience in mind. I want to benefit society, my nation, the world. I want to move them, inspire them, and make them think.” Hopefully, this article and the video featuring his art and music will provide a further step toward making his ambition a reality.
For more info: TJ Morgan writes on atheism in a special section of his blog. He has also uploaded additional, more recent Q & A information about his philosophy today on another section there.
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