Atheism--My New Friend
Yes, I believed in God...I prayed often. My answer to you must be delicate and precise, so I will try my best to be clear. Once I realized that my past guru had some mental issues, I compared his energy to some other folks that I had known in the past whom exuded a similar energy that seemed to be quite powerful. And, after talking with my
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I know that a lot of people are repelled by the label "atheist", because the popular culture has allowed that to become synonymous with "communist" and "anarchist" and practically also with "psychotic". However, "a-theist" simply means "non-theist", or "one without theism", or "one without religion".
There is also the less known but growing term "anti-theist". I find myself often self-identifying with this label because it's not just that I don't personally have religion, but I also think we would ALL be better off without it. "Atheism" is defined by what it isn't: it isn't religious. "Antitheist" says: "Let us not beat around the bush, I would prefer our society without religion and I wish more people thought the way I do on the subject." This is a definition about what that term IS. At least it doesn't equivocate.
But you know what? For most of the time, when I am not actually railing against the opiate of the masses, I identify with and prefer the term "Humanist". Humanism is "a perspective common to a wide range of ethical stances that attaches importance to human dignity, concerns, and capabilities, particularly rationality." What is not to like about that? :) This is even better than "antitheist" most of the time. I am a Humanist, because I believe strongly in the precedence of human dignity and social well-being, but I also engage in anti-theistic thought and activities to support that philosophy.
Take from that what you will! I like to think about words and labels, so maybe that thinking will be of use to you.
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