Confession from an angry Atheist
Offline If you read any of the bulletins that I've reposted here recently you'll recognize this quote from former President George Bush:
"...I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
I don't know about you, but I've heard a lot of shit from a lot of people from all walks of life about Atheism. I had a muslim man threaten to shoot me in the face for confessing my Atheism. My mother struggles to hold back her tears whenever my beliefs come up, she says it "breaks her heart" when I talk the way I do. I've had co-workers call Human Resources on me, saying that they "refuse work around someone like (me)!". These are just a few examples of what I've heard.
I told the muslim dude, "You better kill me! Because if you don't there will be no 72 virgins for you!" It was fun to watch his reaction when the cops showed up. He cried and babbled like a schoolgirl (no offense to the schoolgirls out there by the way!). My response to my mother is always the same. I tell her that "it breaks my heart to know that my own mother doesn't respect my beliefs.". And to my co-workers, I'm fortunate that the company I work for respects diversity.
I find it simply infuriating that people think this way, and that it's actually condoned by the people that run this country! I'd like those who read this to share their experiences and feelings about being an Atheist. How do your family, friends, and or co-workers react when your views come up in conversation?
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Just this last Wednesday, a friend came up to me at the club..
'You might have noticed I removed you as a friend from Myspace. you're still my friend, but I just couldn't deal with your views on religion.'
I nodded, and replied 'That's your right. I don't ignore those who post about god. I guess I'm just a bit more open minded.'
She seemed a bit offended that I shrugged it off. I explained that 'This IS America. You're right, you don't have to listen to what I say. You want to narrow your world and just accept what some priest or ancient book tells you, go for it.. a shame you wanna wear reality blinders.'
I bit my tounge on the fact that she's bisexual, and acts on it.. yet feels my thoughts ideas on religion are 'too out there'.
There are victories though.. I helped my mother deconvert from Catholicism (I don't like saying 'I deconverted x', cuz even when you present all the evidence in the world.. it is their decision to actually USE their brains). It's why when I did my Blasphemy Challenge, I had the DVD sent to her (that and I already have a copy).
"Imperious, choleric, irascible, extreme in everything, with a dissolute imagination the like of which has never been seen, atheistic to the point of fanaticism, there you have me in a nutshell.... Kill me again or take me as I am, for I shall not change.
My family is pretty secular. My brother and his wife are Christian, but they don't push it on the rest of us.
I've had a few interesting conversations with co-workers. Many years ago I worked in a factory with a woman who attended a pentecoastal church. She never tried to convert me, but one day she asked me something peculiar. She had heard a story about a church in a mid western state that's roof collapsed during a service, killing some members. She asked me if that happened because god was angry with them for not worshipping the right way. I replied that "No, it happened because there was something wrong with the construction to begin with and it collapsed." She was at a lose for words.
I've never been threatened or harrassed for my secular views. Maybe it's because I live in a "blue" state?
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My teen and (at the time) out of the closet atheist daughter was in class, and they were discussing religion. One of the boys in the class made a general threat that if he ever met an atheist he would shoot him. Apparently he didn't know she was one.
For safety reasons, she now calls herself agnostic, but for a while after that incident claimed christianity or deism.
I am soooooooooo sick of theists thinking I am some kind of devil worshiper because of my atheism. I detest that theists think some kind of monster is going to come out of me and gobble up their infants. I am scared that if I say anything about that picture (pict of a flag with the words "Under God"
at my son's school, all hell will break loose.
My other daughter is prepared to claim deism if pressed by school or work mates. She usually makes it clear that she doesn't wish to discuss it.
We must favor verifiable evidence over private feeling. Otherwise we leave ourselves vulnerable to those who would obscure the truth.
~ Richard Dawkins
I've luckily never been on the receiving end of real criticism; I usually dish it out to the weaker-minded. I don't force my views on anyone, but if they come to me to preach, they usually leave me in tears and end up doubting themselves - and I feel a sense of accomplishment. My mom is very spiritual and believes in all sorts of fairies-and-angels hokus pokus, which is very annoying. She gets sad when I tell her there's no reason to believe in God, but she doesn't have the attention span to listen to my explanations so we try not to talk about it. Or rather, I just ask her to stop talking whenever she gets spiritual on me. Don't get me wrong, I still love my mother, but mostly because I have to. She tries her best, but I mostly had to raise myself growing up... which is, I suppose, why I happen to be the only one in my family with the mental fortitude to break from this Matrix-style alternate reality where ignorance is virtuous.
I know I can't convert anyone who takes scripture as written fact, but I'll argue anyone down to the point where they have to admit that their only defense is that they DO believe scripture is written fact - at which point my usual response is, "Okay, just as long as you admit you're wrong..."
When I first tore myself away from Christianity I was furious - as was so for a time - mostly angry at myself for believing such a lie so foolishly for so long...
... as time went on - i forgave myself for my delusions and became quite outspoken. My parents were initially appalled that I rejected what they had brought me up to believe. Before my father passed away - he told me that he was alright with me believing what I choose to.
My mother has been more reluctant - but has become quite accepting and has figured out that it isn't a "phase" (as she initially thought it was) - she has learned to accept it - and we have agreed to live in peace with one another saying "you do not attempt to convert me - and i won't attempt to convert you"
I've gotten some flack from a few people - especially when I asked for Christmas off in 2005 (I was the only atheist whom worked in my department - and the only one whom received it off) - i like Christmas - i think it is a fun time of year - hell, the Christian's bible condemns the use of a Christmas tree in Jeremiah 10:3-4
A preacher from the Church I grew up in has been particulaly hostile against me... but he needs to retain his diplomacy with my mother to not look like an asshole back in the Church... so I dismiss him when he pesters me.
Today I currently work for Target - the best retail company i've ever worked for... i would estimate 35-45% of the workers there are "secular" - however - there are the "hardcore" Christians there also... they love talking to me - and i'm one whom finds a sadistic pleasure out of argument - and i know the bible better than they do... i've noticed this is something that does command respect from Christians - that is - knowing their bible.
I take a position of candor - because religious people whom would stand against you are generally serious people that do not know how to interact with humor... I label myself "Atheist", "Humanist" (I wear the Happy Humanist emplem around my neck), "Heathen", "Infidel", "Satan's little butt-whore"
when Christians call me a devil-worshipper - instead of becoming offended - i take it in stride and claim something even more candidly vile - i'll tell them i had a threesome with the devil and the holy spirit before coming to work that morning... it lets them know i could care less what they have to say to comdemn me - and it condemns their god at the same time
In a world where you are considered automatically vile - a bit of nonchalance and apathy go a long way
I am not American and had the very good fortune to grow up in the most secular societies in the world. First in Canada, then in China, and Hong Kong. The countries are diverse in beliefs. Among the Chinese, religion is not taken seriously. People go to church to piss off the PRC, people burn incense because it is fun tradition. It is a very scientific society. Same in Hong Kong. There are alot of expats like me, and a lot of religious, but no fundamentalists at all, no creationism. No one outside of the United States takes any of that rubbish seriously. There is no word for creationism in Mandarin Chinese.
"Physical reality” isn’t some arbitrary demarcation. It is defined in terms of what we can systematically investigate, directly or not, by means of our senses. It is preposterous to assert that the process of systematic scientific reasoning arbitrarily excludes “non-physical explanations” because the very notion of “non-physical explanation” is contradictory.
-Me
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