#atheist pride

[revolutionaryatheist]

Happy Atheist Pride Day!

Should atheists have an Atheist Pride Day? Might it be an effective way to inform others about atheism and feel good about ourselves for a change?

[thanatophobia-thoughts]

There is a famous story told in Chassidic literature that addresses this very question. The Master teaches the student that God created everything in the world to be appreciated, since everything is here to teach us a lesson. One clever student asks “What lesson can we learn from atheists? Why did God create them?” The Master responds “God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all — the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his acts are based on an inner sense of morality. And look at the kindness he can bestow upon others simply because he feels it to be right.” “This means,” the Master continued “that when someone reaches out to you for help, you should never say ‘I pray that God will help you.’ Instead for the moment, you should become an atheist, imagine that there is no God who can help, and say ‘I will help you.’"

Martin Buber, Tales of Hasidim Vol. 2 (1991)

Despite being a religious story, I think this is one of my favorite perspectives on atheists. Obviously, not every atheist is compassionate, but those who do act in that way, are indeed doing so without hope of a heaven, or any afterlife rewards (though rewards in this life may be a goal). 

I wish more religious individuals would be willing to offer help to others, rather than just “pray” for them. I wish more action was taking place in the material world, rather than the spiritual world. 

There’s a lot that needs to be done here. 

[thanatophobia-thoughts]

Why am I an atheist?

I’ve always been on the fence about religion. I was brought up by a witch and an atheist. My mom (witch) tried to get us involved in the church because she thought we might need some form of religion, even if she didn’t believe in it herself. My dad was never of that opinion. I went through multiple churches in my childhood. I was involved in bible study. I went to college, and I got my Master’s in Religious Studies, particularly the area of Early Mediterranean Religions (Marcion, the first Christian Heretic, was going to be my PhD thesis before I noped out of Academia – but that’s not a story for here).

I was also a part of SOMAA – an atheist and agnostic organization – in my freshman year of college, but I always classed myself as an Agnostic Theist, until 2012.

There wasn’t some big event in 2012.

There was just the realization that, as so many good things happened in my life, I was giving credit to some guiding universal deity, rather than the people responsible for making the good things happen. I had an epiphany moment that it was humanity that was good, that it was people who were helping me, and I should give them credit for their skills.

I should also give them credit for their faults.

It goes both ways.

Of course, as I studied religion, I also found myself less and less convinced that there was anything out there, or that anyone had figured it out. So now I consider myself an Agnostic Atheist. I’m not going to say I know, for sure, there is nothing out there. I am going to say I don’t believe there is anything out there, but I don’t know.

As such, I am rather against people who knock religion and its followers. I don’t support it, and I’m going to generally mock it sometimes, but the individuals, the people? Nah fam. Let them live their lives, let them have their religion. I can’t disprove what they believe in, in a meaningful way, just like they can’t convince me of their beliefs in a meaningful way.

My mom remains a witch, though she doesn’t know what comes after, either. She’s willing to plead ignorance, but she does believe things she’s done, through her supernatural activities, have helped.

She’s also more than willing to get involved without magic, and uses both, rather than sticking to only the more supernatural method. I appreciate that in her, that she’s at least taken to heart the fact take action of the more natural sort, not just the supernatural sort.

Obviously, we see that my atheism impacts my fear of death, but I wouldn’t change it. I don’t want to live a life, thinking that all that I leave behind here, I can make up for after death.

I’m going to live this life, believing that it’s all I get.

No second chances.

[calicokaz]

Ark Park Protest 2019

[mbisthegame]

As an Atheist...

Let me just put this out here for everyone...

As an atheist I do not believe in God, but I respect the rights of others to believe in a God or gods.  I will NEVER argue with you over the existence of a higher power.  I have better things to do with my time.  It really chaps my ass that people have this notion that I am combative and want to prove them wrong when it comes to religious beliefs. I don't care if you believe in a higher power. I don't. That's cool for me but it may not be cool for you. That is cool too.

So what I am trying to say is...let me believe what I believe and I'll let you believe what you believe. :) 

[itz-fuckin-andy-blog]

I am proud to be who I am, In this world ridden with poverty, prejudice, hypocrites, and stereotypes. I am proud to be an Atheist, I have no bias toward any race, gender, or sexuality. The only thing I want from this world, is to understand it, and before I leave it I plan to make my mark, leave it better for the generations to come. I'm highly outnumbered, but I stand strong. I always will be, a Human Being without a Religion, or God.. Powered by knowledge, Happy by choice, and living my life with no intentions to go to a fictional place afterwards. 

[posnonrel-blog]

...but I do believe in Dog

(another one of these awesome pics)