I just took a random trip through the world of Blogspot, using the Next Blog>> feature at the top of the page. And I kept coming across a seemingly endless series of people intent on rubbing their Christian status in my face.
One even stated not only that she was a Fundamentalist Baptist but that anyone who disagreed with her would have his or her responses removed. Apparently that's being "disrespectful" of her views.
Well, then, let me state it again, for everyone: I am an atheist.
This does not mean I am necessarily a vile, evil servant of Satan. All it means is that I do not believe in the existence of a god - any god. I may write about them sometimes, but I don't believe in them.
I get up in the morning just like anyone else, I go to work like anyone else, I laugh and cry and love and live like anyone else. You know that Shakespeare monologue from The Merchant Of Venice:
" Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die?"
I remember, a few years ago, on a friend's page on Multiply, I happened to mention I was an atheist and at once one of her contacts (someone I'd never even encountered before) jumped in and said how sorry she felt for me. Well, I didn't need her pity then, and I don't need it now.
We atheists are human, just like anyone else. We just don't believe in the existence of some extrahuman deity.
And that's all it means.
OK? Everything clear now?
I didn't think so.
Bill, I often get such commentary.
ReplyDeleteHere in America, there's a holiday called "Thanksgiving" (the religious folk here will tell you that it's a chance to thank 'god' for all of his 'blessings').
Every year, I point out that the First Nations peoples (here; we call them 'Indians', which probably causes no end of confusion and consternation in your part of the world) consider 'Thanksgiving' a day of official mourning; that the holiday was made official based on a lot of historical bullshit.
I'm routinely told that I have this view because I was somehow 'left out' of the 'magic and wonder' of the holiday season.
And, I have to point out in return that, no, I was never 'left out' - in fact, I was forced to participate as a child; I ceased any notion of belief in an Imaginary Friend as early as age twelve, and from then on, the American end-of-year holidays were a chore to me.
Still, I'm routinely subjected to the pity, scorn, and faux-sadness of people who literally can't relate to any world other than their own.
I'd like to say 'it gets better', but I can't. The world is full-up with religious insanity, and it's not likely to change.
Not in our lifetime, anyhow.
(Note: It seems that the people at FreeThoughtPedia.com are being snarky about your link. I'm sure there are plenty of other places which aren't. Hopefully, you can find and post the image from another one. Cheers!)
So are you a devote of the "Invisible Pink Unicorn" or "Flying Spaghetti Monster"? :P
ReplyDeleteChanged the pic. Hope it works now.
ReplyDeleteDiio: And Cthulhu. Never forget Cthulhu. Or he will eat you first.
I rarely use the "next" button, but now I think I will because I want to see some blogs like you did. :P
ReplyDeleteMy son had the same comment said to him. He said,I feel sorry for YOU.
ReplyDeleteI`m a pious-atheist and an anti-theist, i`m totally contemptuous of religion in all its ludicrous and bizarre forms, religion is an abomination and it must be completely destroyed and eradicated from the world if the hu-girl race is to ever achieve its full potential, (and by the way, i didn`t need Mr. Dawkins to tell me that, i`ve known it since the day i was born).
ReplyDelete