Life as an Atheist

@PleasantlyDazed@, if you're too lazy to pick a religion, does that make you an atheist... or a... lazyist? —Sparkitors

You might have read the title of this post and gasped. “An atheist!? Oh, the horror!” Or maybe you thought, “What does that even mean?” Or, maybe, you had no reaction other than “eh.”

Usually when I state my views on religion, I get the first response. Angry stares, shocked expressions, silent condemnations, and some people even walk away. All because of one little sentence: “I’m an atheist.”

I know it’s not like this everywhere. Some cities and states are extremely open-minded. Unfortunately, I do not live in one of those places. I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. And Colorado Springs is unlike the rest of Colorado. Colorado is mostly Democratic, liberal, and extremely open-minded. But Colorado Springs… is the total opposite. And really, extremely Christian, which puts me in a distinct minority.

I generally keep my views to myself (because I’m shy and like to avoid conflict), but it can be hard. At least two of my teachers always bring up religion in class, and when I don’t get biblical references, I’m questioned.

Today I'm going to answer questions, but not about the Bible. These are my answers to the most common questions I get about my beliefs...

Why are you an atheist?

This is the most common one, and the hardest to answer. I’m very opinionated, and I’ll easily go on for hours about why God can’t exist, why, if He did, there are so many inconsistencies and caveats… like I said, I can go on. So, unless I know the person is willing to debate with me, I shrug and say “It seems illogical.”

I do still have morals!

I agree with some of the morals that Christianity and other religions propose, and I follow them. I don’t have to believe in God to believe that all people should be treated fairly, and I try to live by that rule. Basically, I make up my own morals. If I feel that something should be done, I do it.

Why, if there were no God and no such thing as Hell, would people be good?

Why wouldn’t they? Everything you do is up to you, and if you want to be good, well then, problem solved. If you don’t want to do nice things, no one can change that. People live by the morals they believe are right, and if that happens to be “good,” then awesome.

What happens when we die?

I don’t even have an inkling. Personally, I believe that we just stop existing, and that’s that. But I know other atheists who believe that their soul will carry on, just not their corporal body. It varies, basically.

Are you telling me I shouldn’t believe in God?

Not at all. If you believe in God, and you’re happy with that, then I’m happy for you. All I ask is that you’re happy for me, and don’t try to shove your beliefs down my throat. I accept you, and you believe in God. And I’m totally fine with that.

I hope you have had some of your questions answered! My intention is not to offend you, I promise. If you have any more questions, or just want to talk about anything, please leave me a message in the comments!

Has atheism ever appealed to you?

Related Post: Auntie SparkNotes: Bad Religion

Wanna write for SL? Read this!