Go ahead and plan to subscribe to this blog when you are finished reading. If you don’t like this post, I guarantee you will like at least 4 of the others. How do I know this? I’m good that way.
In the following days, months, years (yes, plural, “years” — December 21, 2012 is one day before my birthday and I’ll be damned if the world is gonna end until I have had my fill of it.) — I will make you laugh, piss you off, and challenge you to think (for yourselves).
“Think? About WHAT?” you say. About things that you never thought about before because you never had the chance to think about them and formulate your own opinions about them.
Why? Because, a long time ago, someone took advantage of your young age and/or of your lack of knowledge. Someone disrespected your humanity; underestimated your ability; ignored your right; and hid from you your responsibility to immediately reject what is presented as “so” until there is sufficient evidence to support it as “so”. (This rule applies to everything. It even applies to Him… No, Santa Claus ain’t real folks.)
You know where this is going. Is there a tooth fairy? No, but I was told there was one. Same with Santa and ye olde bunny of easter. I believed what I was told. Why, I even had “proof” — Santa left me the coolest toys; the easter bunny left candy, eggs, yellow marshmallow peeps, and pink shredded plastic grass — every year, same time, same place. Tooth Fairy? Money – paper money, folks, under my pillow. Believed in him til I found the matchbox of tiny teeth in my daddy ‘s top drawer. Believed in “god” at some point, too. Not anymore. Heck, the money I found under my pillow was more evidence of a tooth fairy than anyone has ever shown me of a god. BTW, I didn’t just decide to be an atheist. I was a youth pastor for almost ten years. The more scriptural research I did, the clearer the realization became that I was the one telling fables to the young and impressionable. My “coming out” as an atheist, wasn’t easy. It cost me many dear relationships, but I have no regrets — save for the damage that I did with my blind story telling during those ten years.
So, yeah, I am an atheist, and contrary to popular belief — we do not eat babies. We are real people who think for ourselves. I am not here to disprove anyone’s claim that there is a god. I am only saying that there isn’t sufficient evidence for me to believe in a god or gods. (Just as there isn’t sufficient evidence for either of us to believe in the tooth fairy or the loch ness monster.) See? We already have something in common.
There are unanswered questions. Accept that. Do NOT accept MADE UP answers to those questions.
Just because it’s been put in your mouth doesn’t mean you have to swallow it.
Not for Sheep and Not for Cheap 