People get way too caught up in labels. Labels and categories have a organizational utility that help us to wrap our brains around larger ideas. They come in handy for general understanding but most people get carried away with labeling. Many people get used to identifying a label and forget to understand the meaning.
Couple an overzealous labeling system with the human propensity for fear of the unknown and you get a very predictable result: Atheism is a bad word.
But it shouldn't be.
Merriam-Webster defines atheism as: a : a disbelief in the existence of deity b : the doctrine that there is no deity.
By definition, I am an atheist.
Tell someone that you are an atheist and most of the time you can feel the wall go up between them and you; and in some cases you may see their knee-jerk reaction. This may come in the form of a step back, an eye brow raise or sometimes even the vampire fighting crucifix fingers. The wall goes up because they have a pre-conceived idea of what atheism is and ultimately that you are evil or broken at best.
It's gotten to the point where there is so much prejudice attached to atheism that I tend to soften the blow by labeling myself an agnostic - a term that really shouldn't exist.
And although people misunderstand agnosticism as much as atheism, for some reason people feel more comfortable, more accepting. Because an agnostic is someone who simply claims that they are not certain either way, they are less evil or at least, more able to be fixed.
The Christian ideal to convert is a little brazen. I don't go around trying to get Christians to denounce God (although I will participate in a debate). I suppose the thought is innocent enough. Christian belief that it's their purpose to "save" people. They're not doing it maliciously but there is a gigantic undertone here that is conveniently overlooked. It's the theme of I'm right and you're wrong. You can play with it semantically but it always boils down to I'm right and you're wrong.
Few would argue that God is good and everything that he represents is goodness in it's nature. And the argument seems to follow that the opposite if good is bad or even evil. And if a person does not believe in God, then that is not good, they are not good, and they are potentially evil.
You can be good without God.
For me, God (or religion) is a utility for goodness. Even in my atheist point of view, without God, the world would be shit. Most (and I admit possibly all) people can benefit from having God in their lives. Many people need God in their lives to keep them on the path of goodness. Prayer gives them positive strength. Church gives them the social need of sense of community and belonging. These are all good things in my opinion.
But what if you don't need church or prayer or God for these things? I have awareness to recognize the power of positive thinking within myself. I have the morality to treat people fair and just. I have the belief that I can accomplish most anything if I will it enough. I have friends and social groups to fulfill my need for community.
I am not broken.
At this point in my life, I don't see a place in my life for God. Furthermore, I can't imagine a scenario that this would change. Surely it's possible though. It's also possible that I start believing in and worshiping the Greek Gods. Christianity would be a more likely adoption since it's more prominent in the world around me. But why should that be the deciding factor?
I also refuse to adopt religion on that basis of "what if I'm wrong?" If I were God and people believed in me simply because they were afraid not too, I'd be pissed! Hitler and many other sociopaths had people follow him because they were afraid not too. History has shown that it's just not the way to go.
Besides, belief in a higher power isn't really a switch that I can turn on or off. In fact, I don't believe that it's really a decision at all. It's a serious, if not the MOST important paradigm one can subscribe to and I for one will not become a member all willy-nilly.
If humankind survives long enough, there will come a time when Christianity will be viewed much the same way as Greek mythology. Remember, the ancient Greeks believed in their religion as well. They too fought wars over their beliefs.
I would like to see the day when everyone understands that it doesn't matter what your belief system is, as long as you treat other people kindly and respectfully. You teach your children the same. You lead by example. That's your legacy... what you create that can last longer than you. That can multiply and reach far beyond you. Good will among man. Good memories. After I'm gone, I want people to smile when they think about me. That's my heaven.
