A is for Atheism

[fishwithfeet]

 I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge where you aim to post every weekday with a topical post from letters of the alphabet.

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I didn't come to atheism lightly, nor did I arrive quickly.

It started in middle and high school when I was the Perfect Little Christian Girl (TM). I was a lector/intercessor at my church, I was a part

Comments

[azaz_al]

My fairly brief stint as a true atheist came in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But I've had weird experiences "m not comfortable relating to most people that make it impossible for me to really and truly be an atheist. I don't believe god/the gods are omnipotent, though. There's no way I could believe that and keep my sanity.
I found that moderate, liberal religion works well for me. I was part of atheistic, anarchist, or pagan communities for a long time and I found there was a high propensity for people to do really awful things and for other people to shun anyone who complained - because you know there is no real right or wrong and truth is relative and you may as well just be some fundie if you call people out on their terrible behavior. I eventually came to the hard realization that some human beings only fail to be violent, thieving baby-punching lying psychos if they are afraid something bad will happen to them. That fear can be of physical authorities or some supernatural judge.
that's not to say that I think all atheists are like that - most atheists I know are fairly ethical people. The trouble begins, though, when an unprincipled person becomes an atheist (or pagan, or anarchist). It's hard to have solid ground to stand on and tell someone "Your behavior is unacceptable" when you've subscribed to a philosophy that doubts any hard and fast moral/ethical rules. I suppose atheists can point to secular law - most people seem to have that confused with morality anyway.