I always enjoy saying that.
Anyway, yes, I'm an athiest. Not an agnostic, not unsure, not waiting for god to show him/herself by letting me win the lottery. I don't believe in the supernatural, in all that statement's literal interpretations. The idea of life after death is as silly as the belief you can contact and speak to the dead. Some of the saints were really nice people, as, I'm sure, was Jesus...but what's wrong with thinking of them as just great examples of what any human could be if they wanted? The Bible, Koran and other tomes of religious belief? Just that, a codified book written by believers to extend their traditions and beliefs. I've been a deeply religious person for many years, so I know what I'm talking about. I've read the books, followed the commandments, paid my dues. So I guess you can call me a born-again athiest. Reality is more convincing than abstract belief.
Usually I don't make an issue of my position. As opposed to many of the religious people who insist I believe as they do or be considered a terrible person, I don't usually care what others believe. They are free to be as illogical and superstitious as they wish. In the end, we all die and none of that will matter. But something came up this week that made me want to discuss this topic for once.
On my block there was a wake for a young person who died. I didn't know the person who died, so I wasn't involved in the situation, but it did get me thinking. The religious, and in this country particularly christians, often put those of us who don't share their beliefs into awkward social situations. If I'd been a friend of the person who died, I would of course be expected to attend the funeral if not the wake as well. But I don't see any point in funerals. They are performed to comfort the living left behind, though why they need comfort is beyond me. If they truly accept their beliefs, funerals and wakes should all be joyous occasions. Most wakes are, and rightly so. But I have yet to attend an upbeat funeral. And those I have attended require me, in order not to disturb the beliefs of those around me, to pretend to go along with all the ritual. How is this freedom of belief? I have no wish to be rude or unsociable, but to avoid being so requires me to play along with what I consider a farce. The concept of religious freedom in America has been perverted into becoming religious oppression, and in many cases, religious persecution. I can't help but believe if christians actually followed their beliefs more honestly, they be much nicer people to be around. And I won't even go into what havoc and crime religious beliefs around the world have caused throughout history, and are causing right now. A religious war is like children fighting over who has the strongest imaginary friend.
Freedom *OF* religion includes freedom *FROM* religion.
Morality is doing what is right no matter what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told no matter what is right. Religion cannot be without morality, but morality may arrive without religion. It's frustrating to me that so many people think you can only be moral if you're religious. Nonsense. How many mass muderers and cruel dictators have held religious beliefs? Remember the Middle Ages?
Moral behavior need not depend on superstitious belief. I don't have to hold a belief that I'm going to go to hell just to behave morally. If you do, then you have a character flaw that even religion may not be able to correct. Being a decent human being should be its own reward.
