The Truth About Atheism

I, myself, am an atheist. I’ve been an atheist for most of my life. I went to church as a child, but never really bought into the idea of there being a god. There were too many things in life, that just didn’t add up. Why do so many children die every day for lack of food? Why are innocent children born with debilitating birth defects? Why do some people seemingly do everything right, and always get the short end of the deal? There were just too many bad things, happening to good or innocent people. 

So, I’m an atheist. That must mean that if you believe in a higher being, then we can’t be friends, right? Wrong! Most atheists, at least the serious atheists, just choose not to believe in a god. We don’t care if you choose to believe otherwise. I’ve seen some “atheists” get into heated arguments with christians over whether there’s a god or not. That’s not how most of us are.  We have no hatred or dislike for any religious person or their chosen deity. In fact, I personally admire many religious people. My childhood preacher is among those that I most admire. In the course of one year, lost his wife to a disease, both daughters due to a vehicle accident, and was stricken with a medical condition that requires daily shots and a severe allergic reaction to many everyday things. And, to this day, Brother Crumbley is at church every Sunday and Wednesday, preaching to how great god is. I meet him a while back at a gas station and we must have talked for twenty minutes. He truly is the most inspirational man I know. 

A lot of people tend to think of atheists as being mean-spirited or hateful people. Again, some of us may be, just like some christians are, but most of us are not. The vast majority of us are nice and polite. We care about our friends and total strangers. We try to help our communities and neighbors. We’ll pull over and help you change a flat tire, or give you a ride to get gas. My grandmother lives in an apartment complex for elderly people, and I can’t tell you how often I get sent from one apartment to the next, helping the seniors with various things. And I love helping them. There’s nothing like seeing true appreciation in the eyes of someone you’ve help. 

 Another thing that a lot of people believe about atheists is that we want everyone to share our beliefs, or lack there of. This, too, is false. Most of us understand that religion is a valuable thing. Sure, it’s caused it’s share of bad things, like war, but it’s also very beneficial. Having faith gives you hope for the future. It helps some people treat others better or give a helping hand more often. And it gives some guide to how you should live your life. I’d say that the most important thing that religion does for people, is it gives them hope of an afterlife. My grandmother is in her 80s and in poor health. I also love her deeply. I’m closer with her than my parents and siblings. My happiest memories are spending my childhood afternoons in her living room, looking through the hundreds of pictures in her chest or going through her collection of spoons from around the world. I know that in time, she’ll get worse and it’ll be time to say goodbye. I tear up just thinking about it. Thankfully, she’s a religious person and I know that until she draws her last breath, she’ll know she’s going to a better place. And, well, that’ll make it a little easier on me. 

I hope I’ve been able to clear up a few things about us atheists. I think it doesn’t matter what you believe and what I believe. I think what really matters is how we treat one another. If we all have a little kindness in our hearts, then that’s more than any of us could ask for. So, thanks for reading, and in honor of my grandmother, God bless.