Allow me to present my personal guide to atheism. I write in response to the many Christians who visit atheist sites, and as an antidote to the many misappropriations, misjudgements and misconducts I’ve seen. I write without anger, without hate, without aggression – I write from the intellect, not from the spleen.
What is an atheist? I cannot speak for all of us, as there are extremes in all walks of life. But, simply put, it’s generally like this: An atheist is, quite simply, a person who believes that there is no god [by ‘god’, I refer to a higher conscious being]. An atheist does not need to prove the non-existence of god to have that belief. They have simply arrived at an informed decision.
What kind of a person is an atheist? Contrary to much of the rumour spread on this website, an atheist is not driven by hatred. An atheist does not hate god, because they don’t believe it exists. An atheist does not hate theists as a group, though they may be critical about theism itself.
An atheist is informed. They have usually arrived at this status for intellectual reasons – for my own part, I have read the key texts of the major world religions, examined untold supporting literature, studied everything from creationism to evolution and back again.
An atheist is considered. Though they may state their case passionately, they have reached their decision studiously, intellectually, based on information and common sense.
An atheist is open-minded. If there was genuine credible evidence for god, there would be no atheists. An atheist follows the evidence, much like a scientist, and would gladly hold their hand up if they knew they were wrong. The fact that in all of human history there has never been such evidence speaks volumes, of course.
An atheist is honest. An atheist knows that the Big Bang Theory is just that, a theory. An atheist also knows that there is more scientific evidence for the Big Bang than there is for the existence of god. An atheist understands that theists do not accept, conversely, that religion is also a theory.
What does it mean to have atheism in your life? It does not mean you will lack morality, courage, inner strength, security – all of these things come from the human spirit, not the holy one.
Nor does it mean you lack wonder in your life. I am amazed by the creatures of this world, by our planet itself, by the universe beyond us, truly amazed, and I know that there is so much we cannot explain – and that there may be things we will never explain. And I don’t need to explain them in order for atheism to stand up. That sense of beauty, of magic, has nothing to do with religion.
Allow me to end with one final question. How should a theist behave on an atheist site? If you should choose to visit a site which discusses views opposite to your own, remember that you are gatecrashing. Show respect for your host. If you fail to behave yourself, don’t be surprised or offended if you are blocked.
Don’t tell us what we already know. We know that you really really believe that there is a god. Don’t visit an atheist site just to tell us that. If you say something, make sure you actually have something to say. If you say something inane, expect to be ridiculed; you will surely deserve it.
Don’t deposit your misinformation on our pages. Don’t accuse us of hating god, or being unable to prove its non-existence. Have the decency to actually ask us what we’re like.
Don’t get offended just because we don’t share your belief. We find it ridiculous, tragic, misguided, ill-informed, stubborn, at times murderous. That is not a hate or an aggression, but an intellectual conclusion. Deal with that fact. Don’t visit us just to register your disapproval.
Finally, if you have an issue, discuss it with us intelligently, rationally, and courteously. If you can’t do that, just don’t come back. Don’t start hate groups directed at specific members, or spray vexatious posts across their pages, or register as a member of an atheist group just so you can change its avatar or alter its constituents. Take a page out of your own book, and do as you would be done by. Remember that you're representing your kind.
Get your questions answered!
Posted by godsmack666 on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 4:54PM
Damn good post!!! GM would love this :)
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Posted by MentalGent on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 4:58PM
Thanks Godsmack!
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Posted by snarkbite on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 5:13PM
Amen!
;P
Very good post!
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Posted by Phage on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 6:06PM
Nice post, but you forgot to remind them not to post in all caps. Posting in all caps is a very Christian thing to do.
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Posted by godsmack666 on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 6:11PM
Annoying as hell too, haha
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Posted by Archimedes77 on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 6:32PM
Mental Gent, bravo,
you are aptly named. You are a MentalGent
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Posted by EvesHarvest on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 7:17PM
Very well done. Very clear. This post has such good guidelines, misbehaving theists could be sent to the link.
I'm enjoying seeing the new avatars, too.
From the tone I have seen in this and other posts, I guess Goddessmomma really isn't coming back. :(
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Posted by Archimedes77 on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 7:31PM
I haven't had a talk with her yet. But I am not worried, she is a busy mom. And I know she will come back, she can't resist the fun we are all having :>
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Posted by EvesHarvest on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 7:35PM
It is hard to imagine being able to resist the surge of energy and activism in the atheist group brought about by even the possibility of her departure.
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Posted by Troubleshooter on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 7:44PM
MentalGent, me 'at's off to ya! EXCELLENT post, thoughtful and pretty comprehensive, for what I can tell. NOW the question is: are there any believers out there who can actually conform to the standards you posited?
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Posted by Troubleshooter on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 7:46PM
The only thing I would add (and I will admit, this is mostly my trip) is that the term I prefer the term "rationalist." "Atheist" speaks too much to what we DON'T believe. "Rationalist" speaks to what we DO.
Again, my own trip, for what it's worth.
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Posted by snarkbite on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:18PM
Ohhh Trouble:
*I* LOVE IT!!!
A rationalist... I like the ring to that, it seems so rational!
Bravo!
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Posted by homelyday on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:30PM
Well said MentalGent. Troubleshooter, I think rationalist is a good term as well. :)
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Posted by cc5439 on Sep 24th, 2009 at 6:31AM
If everyone behaves according to your post, we should all get along just fine~~you did an excellent job!!
Had an e-mail from GM...she is good.
Thanks for such a well-written, thoughtful, respectful post. Civility is the key, and I hope that we, as atheists, remember that even if the theists do not. I think theists tend to get emotional and irrational much more quickly than atheists because they have no tangible evidence~~their whole belief system is emotional and irrational, whereas for atheists, we are rational and can present history and biblical contradictions and science to bolster our argument.
I think I am staying out of atheist vs. theists posts from now on. They have a dedication to their irrationality that one almost has to admire..... ;-)
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Posted by fascade on Sep 24th, 2009 at 11:18AM
"to the many misappropriations, misjudgements and misconducts I’ve seen."
"How should a theist behave on an atheist site?"
"If you say something inane, expect to be ridiculed; you will surely deserve it. "
"An atheist follows the evidence, much like a scientist,"
"Take a page out of your own book, and do as you would be done by"
"they have reached their decision studiously, intellectually, based on information and common sense. "
What a clever way to bash Christians under the cloak of a peacemaking effort.
"They have a dedication to their irrationality that one almost has to admire..."
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Posted by cc5439 on Sep 24th, 2009 at 11:24AM
fascade~~ I am bashing no-one. I have clearly stated many times that both theists and atheists dig their heels in, both believe that only they are right. Argue as you will, but atheists are the only ones that have anything even remotely scientific and rational to back up their position. The theist argument quickly becomes one rooted solely in emotion, hence, the personal attacks. This does not happen every time with every Christian, however, in my experience, when debating atheist vs. theist, it happens much of the time.
You have jumped into a thread where there is no hurtful intent behind anyone's comment and passed judgment. The story is posted in "I Am An Atheist", after all. Everyone here is being civil.
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Posted by Godfree110158 on Sep 24th, 2009 at 1:24PM
I hope you dont mind but I am sending this to her. It was very good, thanks
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Posted by alone71 on Sep 24th, 2009 at 3:05PM
wot a good story.ive often wondered the real meaning of an atheist.i think you wrote that great.you said it how it is good on u.take care x
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Posted by LadyTacoHat on Sep 24th, 2009 at 4:55PM
Thank you for this excellent post. Maybe if atheists and theists followed this there would be far less trouble for both groups.
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Posted by AshMeadow on Sep 24th, 2009 at 4:57PM
Damn you, I'm not a gatecrasher: ) I just have a big mouth. Only you could make me look over what I've posted, feeling unpoised! I'm no Christian but I do get angry when I see intolerance of any kind--I can't help but to run my mouth!
Now stop posting **** that makes me feel dumb: )
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