What they say about life beginning at 40 or 50 or whatever is actually true - well, for me anyway. I really enjoy being 50ish, mainly because all the thoughts and concepts that I spent the first part of my lifetime honing, polishing and refining have brought me to a currently peaceful and happy life experience.
Last year my atheistic beliefs finally crystallised into a viewpoint that actually has given me real peace.
One of Richard Dawkin’s documentaries was the catalyst - from memory I think it was ‘Root of all Evil’. It (and YouTube) opened me up to a whole world of others who think the same. Not that I ever believed that my beliefs - or lack of them - were unique, but having the topic openly discussed and elucidated by far more intelligent people than me is what I needed.
I have had no belief in a supernatural being since I was in my late teens. Over the years I have mused over ideas like the possibility of there being a soul and even the possibility of a spirit world (usually during times of personal stress looking back on it). Why? I guess for the same reason that many rational, sane people look to religion or spirituality - we fear death. Maybe not the actual process itself but more the uncomfortable thought that it is the final end of us, the end of our essential being and our thoughts.
It has really taken me until this year to come to a point where I can also shed the final ‘wishing’ there was some kind of after death experience, but of course never seriously entertaining that there is one. How have I come to this point?
Well, I can only state my thoughts about this - I guess it is up to us all how we get there, but for me it was this: the sheer amazing fact that I was born at all. Not to get too clinical about it, but when I consider the number of sperm & eggs that are produced by the human race every single second that never combine to form an embyro - when I consider how many millions of people were born into appalling, brief lives - and when I consider how fleeting our individual lives on this planet are; the merest blink of an eye in the age of the planet, I am amazed and feel very privileged to exist at all.
When I stop being outraged when someone cuts me off on the road or otherwise ‘ruins my day’ and just step back and say to myself ‘what an amazing state just being alive is’ and ‘I must remember to live every day as if it were my last’ - and other SNAG thoughts… but seriously, the realisation of this and similar concepts has just given me a very real inner peace to draw on when stress gets to me.
Sure, from time to time I feel down - I’ll probably wish many times in the years ahead that I didn’t have to end up as ‘food for the worms’ but for me it’s far better than deluding myself that… well you know, the whole fairy tale.
Some thoughts finally on how my revelations here might affect those that I care about. I have a few Christians in my extended family for example. I care very much about not belittling them or offending them.
My viewpoint is simply this - I respect them as people and probably always will, I respect their right to believe whatever they choose to believe, but I can’t respect their beliefs.
Seems harsh? Well, no I don’t think so. To illustrate the point consider this:
A Christian may respect a Muslims right to believe in Allah but doesn’t (well I presume most don’t) respect their actual belief.
Christians believe they worship the one ‘true god’ and so cannot respect anyone else’s actual belief if it differs from theirs. Right? Well, I believe so anyway.
I think that 9/11 galvanised many people who share my non-belief in the supernatural view (I guess ‘Atheist’ is as good a label as any - it’s usually pronounced ‘ATH-SPIT-EIST by the god-fearing and if it gets them upset well that’s ok by me, but it’s just a word). We realised that day that religion must end - sure, not in our lifetimes or maybe not even in the lifetimes of our grandchildren - but it must end one day if the human race is to survive.
It’s really that simple. And thus - we can no longer have the attitude ‘oh - let them believe what they want - there’s no harm in that surely’. Well, nope, sorry we can’t afford to take that line anymore. Like everything, education is the key.
‘Evangelical Atheist’ my wife calls me. Well, less so maybe now than before, but if I am drawn on the subject (ie: religion - what do you believe? etc) I now simply say ‘I don’t believe in any god. I don’t believe in yours or anyone else’s. In fact, I object to children being taught religion in school’.
Now, the last statement is usually the one that draws a heated/offended/startled reply or response. ‘Children have a right to know god’ is often the response. Sorry, but no - here’s my attitude to that:
Children aren’t born christian or muslim or hindi. They are born atheists. You certainly should explain to them (when they are old enough to understand the concept of belief) that people around the world have different beliefs. It’s important that they are prepared for the onslaught of differing beliefs, cults, churches that they will encounter while growing up.
Here’s the thing: It’s up to THEM to consider what - if anything - they want to believe in. It isn’t your duty or your right to instruct them to believe the same as you. Sorry - it just isn’t. Some believe that to do so is a form of child abuse. Ok, that is a bit harsh. The only reason I say that is because - and to be as polite here as I can - the term is ‘they know not what they do’ - is the best way I can put it. If that offends you, then I’m sorry, but that is what I believe. It must end one day. Period.
I guess the bottom line is this:
I don’t hate your god, I just simply don’t believe he or she exists.
I don’t hate you or anyone else. I do intensely dislike what is done in the name of your god(s).
I don’t hate your church or sect (well I can think of a couple of sects that come damn close) - but I hate that some of your church leaders want to force the rest of us to accept their beliefs.
‘What? Force you? Never!’ - Sorry, but yes, that’s exactly what the religious right intend to do in the US and many other countries. Also, they plan to:
Remove the separation of church and state so it will be illegal to not ‘believe’ eventually.
Remove the teaching of ‘real’ science from schools and colleges. The plan is to replace science and evolution with ‘Intelligent Design’ (now that’s a misnomer if ever I heard one).
Plunge the world back into yet another ‘Dark Age’ - it’s been done before many times and the RR wants to have another crack at it.
See? Now that has got me riled up. That is why I sound ‘evangelical’ - because ordinary, everyday, rational, THINKING (sorry to use the ‘T’ word in mixed company) people must intervene.
I love this quote from a favourite site of mine - Daylight Atheism:
I would gladly leave others alone, but not if it meant consigning atheism to extinction. Too much is at stake. If humanity is to attain its full potential and put an end to suffering and injustice, rather than sinking back down into a new dark age of superstition, fear and religious warfare, it will in all probability need our help. Should we then evangelize?
Evangelise / Intervene? Sure - how? Easy:
If you are a parent or soon to be one - insist on a secular education for your child. By all means send them to a religious school if you must - but ensure that you provide balance by discussing belief with them. ‘Growing Up In The Universe‘ by Richard Dawkins might be a help there.
If you are asked to state your religious belief - be honest and say what you are. Atheist / Agnostic / Non-Believer - whatever you like, but be honest.
Consider very carefully when voting in your government, federal or even school board elections. Find out the views and intent of those seeking office. Ask the right questions.
And finally, encourage the teaching the skills of critical thinking and the scientific method. In an educated population, atheism will flourish!
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