Claiming Atheism

“When I became convinced that the universe is natural—that all ghosts and gods are myths—there entered into my brain the joy of freedom. I was free: free to think, to express my thoughts; free to live for myself and those I loved; free to investigate, to guess and dream and hope; free to reject all ignorant and cruel creeds; free from the fear of eternal pain; free from sanctified mistakes and holy lies; free from devils, ghosts and gods. There were no prohibited places in all the realms of thought; no following another’s steps; no need to bow, or cringe, or crawl, or utter lying words.”

—Robert Ingersoll

A study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that atheists ranked lower than “Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups” in ‘sharing my vision of American society.’ Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.

This kind of prejudice makes it difficult for those of us who have rejected traditional religion, or perhaps were never taught conventional religious concepts, to be open about our beliefs.

We may be confronted by family members who wonder how we could have arrived at a position so different from the way we were raised. We may work in a setting where people make the assumption that we share their beliefs, and would be shocked to learn how differently we actually think.

This dilemma reminds me of the story of a young bride who had married a man of a different faith. She was troubled about her responsibility in this situation, and asked her spiritual advisor whether she should try to influence her new husband’s beliefs. “You must work for his conversion every day,” replied the teacher, “but only by example.”

The same principle applies to us: the most effective witness we can offer for the legitimacy of our convictions is to demonstrate their value with the quality of our lives. If we behave as joyful, thoughtful, compassionate, creative, courageous and justice-seeking people, it becomes more difficult for others to criticize our beliefs. It does not help anybody’s case to be seen as distrustful, petty, self-righteous, or argumentative in dealing with others.

Certainly it is a challenge to be around people who you know disapprove of your ideas, or with whom you feel you can’t be up front about your religious identity. And the truth is, sometimes it simply isn’t worth making an issue out of it, if you can do your work or relationship without such discussions. After all, as non-believers we do not have any mandate to try to enforce our way of thinking on others.

Rather, we are called upon to respect the right of each individual to decide these matters according to his or her own conscience – that’s how we want other people to treat us, and that’s what we should model in our own actions.

At the same time, there is no reason to let ourselves be bullied, harassed, or insulted because of our honest convictions. We can challenge behavior that arises from ignorance and prejudice, and we can also engage in respectful dialogue with people who want to know more about the basis of our beliefs. It is usually most effective to stick to “I” statements, and to refer to values that you might share with the person you are talking to.

“I have never seen or experienced any evidence of the existence of any supernatural beings.”
“If I said I believed in god, I would be lying – would a good god want that?”
“I’m not afraid of death, because I don’t believe in hell. I wish everyone could be free from that fear.”
“There are many ideas of god that you don’t believe in – Zeus, Kali, and Osiris, for instance. For me, your idea of god is one I also don’t believe in.”

If you choose to enter into this kind of conversation, be prepared to state simply what you do believe in. Sometimes it shocks people to learn that atheists have values and ideals beyond selfishness.

“I believe in the evidence of our senses, and the power of human reason.”
“I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person.”
“I believe in value of truth, and living a useful, compassionate life.”
“I believe that life is precious, and love is the highest good.”

Remember that you have come to your present convictions through a process of observation, enquiry, and reflection; there is nothing to be ashamed of in that. Anyone who tries to make you feel inadequate or bad about it is only demonstrating the negative impact of their own religious ideas.

We each have the freedom to follow truth where it leads, and to become the best person we can. In the end, no one else’s opinion matters more than your own integrity and intelligence.

The 4th century Roman historian Eusebius offered these meditations:

May I love, seek, and attain only that which is good.
May I be no one’s enemy, and may I never fail a friend in danger.
May I wish for all people’s happiness, and envy none.
May I win no victory that harms either me or my opponent.
May I never rejoice in the ill fortune of others.
When I have done wrong, may I never wait for the rebuke of someone else,
but quickly make amends.
May I, to the extent of my power, give all needful help to those in want.
May I be acquainted with good people, and follow their examples.
May I respect myself.