It is *so* okay to doubt.
As a child, my favorite Bible story, I am ashamed to say, was Genesis 22:1-15, otherwise known as the Binding of Isaac. You know the tale—it’s the one where God tells Abraham to prove his devotion by sacrificing his kid. Continue reading “My (former) favorite Bible story”
This is another myth I hear and read with alarming regularity: Atheists hate Christmas, or hate being wished a Merry Christmas, or are waging some sort of a war on Christmas.
For the record, I don’t hate Christmas. Actually, I think it’s kind of cool. Continue reading “Myths about atheism: Atheists hate Christmas”
It was somewhere around 2004 that I came to the conclusion that I no longer believed in God (or any gods, for that matter). How has my life changed since I started labeling myself an atheist?
The short answer is: Not much. Continue reading “How has my life changed since I realized I was an atheist?”
This is another myth I have both heard and read: The reason atheists don’t believe is that they are angry with God. Something bad must have happened that caused them to turn away from him.
Not true—at least not for this atheist, nor any atheist I know. If I’m wrong and there is a god (and I’m not ruling out that possibility; see my article on atheism and agnosticism), no one has less reason to be angry with him than me. Continue reading “Myths about atheism: Atheists are just angry at God”
A lot of people think agnosticism is a midway point between theism and atheism or belief and non-belief. I used to think that as well. My definition of agnostic was “A person who hasn’t decided if God exists or not”—one who doubts, basically—and for a long time I applied that definition to myself.
I’ve come to realize I was incorrect about the definition of agnosticism. It’s not a half-way point, it’s not about doubt, and it’s completely compatible with both belief and non-belief. I very adamantly do not believe in a god or gods, and yet I am also an agnostic. I think any honest believer or non-believer must also acknowledge that they, too, are also agnostics. Continue reading “Why I am an atheist *and* an agnostic”
I can’t speak for all atheists (we’re as different and individualistic as religious people), but I can say that this atheist doesn’t get upset if you say “I’ll pray for you.” Continue reading “Myths about atheism: Atheists get upset when you say “I’ll pray for you””