Why "The A Word"?

Well, besides it being fairly obvious ..The F Word..The A Word.

I think it sums up how I feel about saying the word Atheist. When I say this word to describe my beliefs or lack of, I get those 'looks' like I have said the F word in front of a bunch of children.

I find myself often in a place where a prayer is taking place. 'Lets thank god time'..ok, so all I do is look around at everyone's bowed heads knowing some are faking it. I refuse to do that. Fake it for the sake of society and what they might think of me.

I'm not an Atheist because I want to go against what most others think or believe, it just happens to be so. I think religion and all this stuff about god and jesus makes no sense at all. none.

I like the way Richard Dawkins explains it to make others understand why Atheism isn't bad like they may think. Here is a conversation I had with an imaginary guy based on Richard's quote.

Me asking a catholic guy...

You believe that the true god is the god you believe in?

yes

What about all the other god's out there that are worshiped, what about all the different religions in the world?

false gods, those religions are wrong and based on books that are wrong.

You don't believe in them. So, you are an Atheist where those other religions are concerned?

I guess so

Well, I just take it one god further. I don't believe in those gods or yours.

Comments

[raistlinsghost]

Great idea for the new blog. Although most of your posts on the old blog were pretty atheist-centric already.

And I agree totally: I was at a relative's funeral recently and the whole bunch went to do the closed circle prayer before the service, and I had to step out and give them a no thank you. And my standard line to any theist: "Once you understand why you don't believe in everyone else's gods, you'll understand why I don't believe in yours."

[ben mann]

kristi, i'm curious--

what if my reasons for not believing in "everyone else's gods" *don't* turn out to be the same as your reasons for not believing in mine? are you *sure* that they're completely, or at least substantially, the same reasons?

for that matter, are you sure that my reasons for believing in God are the same as those of your relatives?

also, if their reasons for not believing in other religions are poorly-reasoned and fallacy-ridden, will you still claim that their reasons are basically the same as your reasons?

[Bob LeBlanc]

You asked the wrong questions, and the imaginary Catholic guy answered incorrectly.

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/843.htm

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."

[Franklin Jennings]

Yeah, but there's nothing wrong with making up stuff about people you disagree with. It may not be what the Catholic Church actually teaches, but if I imagine a catholic saying it, it makes me feel better.

Why let truth intrude on my agenda?