Unbelievable: My Favorite Things About Being an Atheist

I generally don't write about being an atheist, in the same way I don't write about being left-handed.  Both are fairly engrained in who I am, so writing about them seems a little indulgent.

 

However, I wanted to at least address the former (the latter will have to wait for another time), as the secular voice in the world is still clearing its throat and could use any sliver of encouragement I could give to it (and those who are searching for it).

 

One of my final concerns – after well over a decade of dealing with other concerns – about adopting the 'atheist' title was: what was I going to be left with?  After I officially dismiss religion, spirituality, theology and all other god-isms, what's in it for me?  The word on the street is, after all, that atheists believe in nothing, have no basis for good and evil and are generally untrustworthy.  Ultimately, though, any living, breathing adult is aware that things are rarely what they seem.  Columbus discovered America and everyone was happy?  No.  Pat Tillman was killed by the enemies of America?  No.  The Vatican would have had nothing to do with the Nazi Party?  Oh, yes they did.

 

The most beautiful benefit I have found in my atheism is that, aside from finding I still believe in things, have a good basis in right/wrong and am trustworthy, is that my philosophy makes it impossible to acquire and adopt eternal superiority.  Specifically, there is no person, alive or dead, who I would conclude will suffer for eternity because of their behavior on Earth, while my eternity is self-evidently assured to be posh and full of rainbows, wine and no weight gain.  Further, there is no entity I can draw on to reach the same conclusion. 

 

With atheism, I am backed into the corner of being a peer.  I cannot be more and I cannot be less. 

 

Jews, Christians or Muslims will neither triumph over me nor will they suffer because of my philosophy – and I like that.  I cannot be dismissive of the concerns of gays, women or minorities (even if, at my straight-white-male core, I may wish to, upon occasion) without an artificial philosophy – and I like that, too.  Atheism makes intolerance of human beings very difficult, yet makes empathy an effortless experience.

 

One of the reasons I did cling to Christianity once upon a time was that I simply wanted to be on the winning team.  I wanted all bad people in hell and my family and I in heaven.  The bloodlust to be a "winner" while others are deemed "losers" is a VERY male trait, often sold wholesale to women.  And it is very difficult to shake.  However, shaking it did open the door for me to make the leap of no faith whatsoever.  And what could I conclude?  Not having the ability to "win" or "lose" is a distinctly humbling honor that can be enjoyed thoroughly. 

 

I try my best.