Reply #21: I'm a vocal atheist [View All]

[BigMcLargehuge]

but not obnoxious about it. One of the more endearing characteristics of the Protestant in my extended family is a deep belief that Catholics, Jews, and homosexuals are evil, that their (less than 200 year old) sect is "THE TRUTH", and that everything that happenens to them is the work of Jesus. And they don't mind giving me bibles, my son children's bibles and Christian music, gaudy Jesus clocks, and all manner of religion themed toys.

I donate them all and do not feel any guilt.

If asked about Atheism I always answer confidently, usually this leads to "if you don't believe in Jesus, you worship the devil... don't you?" I explains that Atheists don't worship anything good, bad, or indifferent. When we do good, bad, or indifferent things we do so because we want to or have to because the situation demands it. I explain that what separates us is that when we do things good, bad, or indifferent, we take responsibility for the results. When we do good, like volunteering in a soup kitchen, we do it not to spread a message of Atheism, we do it to feed hungry people because it makes us feel good, and it helps others. When we do bad it's because we're antisocial, rotten, stupid, or put in a bad situation.

We are neither made to act good, or bad, in response to some spiritual condition.


Don't get me wrong, I love my extended family, I think that in virtually every other way they are fantastic, loving, good people, but when it comes to articles of faith and their spiritual background they are perfectly comfortable making others in the family uncomfortable.

So I am proactive in my dealings with them. I excuse myself from pre-meal prayers, rarely if ever put God/Jesus in my conversation, even in exclamation when I, for example, whap my thumb with a hammer (I use a Portuguese curse-word instead), and gently and genially refute their arguments that I should join their sect/embrace faith in general.

What I don't do is refuse to participate in their lives. I cook in my mom-in-law's church soup kitchen because I like cooking and like helping people, but I excuse myself from their pre-opening prayers. My usual comment is "I don't partake in faith." They seem to accept that without comment and still allow me to cook, so it works out for everyone.

I am less tolerant of strangers who acost me in parking lots or who figure I want to talk to them at my kitchen door (I don't) or try to steer social legislation to fit their moral agenda. I argue with them, challenge them to defend their positions, and actively work against their political ends.

Anyway, that's my two cents.