Atheist, am I

Atheist: n. One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.

That is what I am.  But why is there a word for it?  Why don’t we have Aunicornist, or Aeasterbunnyist?   And why does atheist have such negative connotations?

Probably because it deals with something most people are not comfortable with.  It’s used to identify people who believe we are nothing more than mere organisms who live and die on this rock floating in space, and for that reason atheists are seen as a threat by people who believe they have a special relationship with some unseen entity responsible for the whole Universe and the supposed beyond.

This post is not about who is right or who is wrong, but rather it ponders the peculiar notion I have to defend my lack of belief. Notice I don’t call it a belief.  Atheism is not a belief, and hence my difficulty in explaining it to friends and relatives.  The questions I’m often asked are “What do you believe we are doing here?” and “What do you believe in?”

They are difficult questions for me to answer (and probably for most atheists, although I don’t want to speak for others).   Many scholars, great men and women, and ordinary men and women since the beginning of our time have pondered those same questions.  You can read their answers and choose one that suits your needs, but here are my answers.

“What are we doing here?” –I really wanted to come up with something good for this one.  Apparently, so did most theists – their all-encompassing answer is ‘doing my Lord’s will’ or something along those lines.  In other words, they don’t know what they are doing here either, but they trust that their own personal God has a purpose that will be divulged in due time.

My answer is bland by comparison.  First of all, I did not know I was supposed to “do” anything here.  I figure it is tough enough just to be alive, let alone try to accomplish anything significant.   But if I must answer, I believe it is my duty as a social organism to try to positively contribute to the world around me, and in doing so to cause as little harm as possible. In short, to leave the world a little better off for me having been here.

Now, this answer is framed in the context of the world I live in, and I could spend another few thousand words explaining in detail how that philosophy is (or should be) applied.  However, I’m sure my particular take on it does not agree with someone else’s vision, so I will leave it at that.

For specific details, someone has to ask me about a particular problem/issue, and I’ll come up with an answer based on the above philosophy.  The interesting thing is my answer may change as times change, more information becomes available, or unintended consequences are discovered.   You see, it’s a dynamic philosophy.  And the philosophy itself may undergo subtle changes if I lived in some other part of the world, or even some other time.

“So what do you believe in?” – In coming up with an answer for this question, I always assume they are asking my opinion on metaphysical, supernatural, or spiritual matters.  The answer is invariably “nothing”.  While I find them entertaining in books, movies, and television shows, there are no ghosts, gods, angels, devils, wizards, witches, goblins, or Jedi knights that have any bearing in my real life.  They are a non-issue.  They cease to exist when I close the book I’m reading, when I switch television channels, and when I walk out of movie theaters.

This life is what matters.  This moments, and those which follow.  Apparently it’s hard for people to understand someone can be satisfied with the challenges, triumphs, defeats, and wonders of everyday life.  They don’t understand someone (OK, – it’s me) who does not mind this life being all there is.  The fact I view life as an interesting journey with no destination is anathema to many.

But why is that so?

I can think of only one reason  . . . they feel their own beliefs are being threatened by my failure to validate them.  Perhaps their beliefs are not strong enough to stand even this minute challenge.   It’s not enough billions of people share their view . . . all it takes is one person to shake the foundation, to threaten their interpretation of the universe.

And so I worry.  I don’t like being a threat to anyone.  I don’t know what they will do in response.  In earlier times I may have been burned at the stake, or stoned to death.  Today I am afforded a theoretical mantle of protection.   A mantle that is slowly unraveling as we head toward a virtual theocracy, where every action is apparently sanctioned by god himself (listen to any politician before you argue the point).

I live in a country where people willingly surrender their own ability to think, and blindly follow the teachings of self-declared holy men who claim special guidance from this or that particular god.   A country where political candidates routinely have to invoke god just to be considered for election, and where both the general populace and their leaders confuse atheism with devil worship, hate, materialism, lack of morals, and lack of character.   Worse yet, they view atheism as a religion.

I’ll set the record clear on this, at least as far as I am concerned.  Atheism is nothing more that a name used to differentiate one-self from another.  It is not the source or the means for a particular way of life.   It holds no more meaning than replying, “No” when asked, “Do you play squash?”  It has no additional associated core values, rules for life, punishments or rewards.  It is merely a statement of fact: “Do you believe in God?” “No.”

All other inferences about me should be based on learning more about me.  I’ll give a little help.  What keeps me honest, what makes me help others, what lets me know what is right or wrong, what is just or unjust, is common sense combined with reason, and my own sense of honor.

I don’t believe in forgiveness for one’s sins; I believe in accountability. I don’t believe in an afterlife, where all my transgressions will be washed away with just a few words.  I have the harshest judge there is as far as what I should do in any particular situation right here; it’s me.  I tell myself what is wrong and right, I hold myself to a slightly higher standard than I do others, and everything boils down to what is logical, simple and clear.

So logical, simple, and clear that many religions have incorporated them into their own convoluted beliefs.  I don’t do anything that intentionally harms another.   I don’t expect or accept anything that I have not earned.  I don’t take anything that is not mine.  I believe all this because it makes sense if I want to live among other people.  I don’t need the threat of punishment to force this philosophy on me, and I have plenty of cause not to trust those who do require the threat of eternal damnation just to live life as a decent human being.