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An Atheist's Pity

Posted 02-23-2013 at 03:07 PM by KatieGal


I’m an atheist. It is one of my “causes”; at least in a way it is a cause. Actually I don’t put much effort into my “causes”. I’ve bought a hybrid car, and I recycle. That covers my green cause. And I occasionally give brief lectures concerning mental disorders such as clinical depression and anxiety. That covers a personal “cause”.

Back to my atheism. A few days ago I read where a Mormon woman longed to buy some clothing but she could not because the particular clothes were not sufficiently modest. When it comes to women’s clothing, Mormons seem to be a bit Muslimish in that they demand their women’s clothes not make them look overly amorous. Mormons do not take this mid-Victorian mindset to the extent that Muslims do, but it is definitely there. Anyhow, I felt sorry for the woman. She believed that her small sacrifice was done for her religion, and for moralistic reasons, but I felt that it was done for essentially no reason whatsoever other than to kowtow to what are essentially fables and archaic fabrications that were instilled in her when she was too young to make any significant decisions on her own.

I have heard other atheists state that they are saddened by people who blindly accept the many religious tenets that forbid harmless, ordinary items and activities. On the other hand, I have also heard theists state that they pity atheists. I believe the particular thought is that without god, atheists have no sense of purpose, nor a sense of morality. I was a Methodist all the way into adulthood and my sense of purpose has remained undamaged by atheism, as has my sense of morality. Truth is; I feel I have an advantage over religious people in this area of contention because I have been on both sides of the fence. I have been a theist and an atheist. Almost no religious person was once an atheist as an adult. It happens, but it is rare.

I feel sorry for the Mormon woman for the same reason I feel sorry anyone who gets so tied up in religious beliefs that they feel a need to do meaningless, unconstructive things that they would not normally want to do. That would cover a lot of stuff, including any kind of self-sacrifice, praying, wearing unattractive or uncomfortable clothing, to name just a miniscule number of examples. If I were not mad at the 9/11 suicide bombers, I would pity them also, for they too are the casualties of religious indoctrination, and indirectly, so were the approximately 3000 people lost that day.

A bit of my own religious indoctrination remains in me. I do not believe in a god. My objective, critical thinking won’t allow me to do so. But the truth is; I do not know for sure whether there is a god or not. I could be wrong and that worries me. This worry is a remnant of that childhood religious indoctrination where fear of not having religious “faith” was instilled in me with threats of Hell and damnation. On a positive note; I now believe that if there is a god, he will judge me for my actions, and not my lack of faith. So though I can’t seem to entirely rid myself of what was essentially a brainwashing, at least I have been able to sweeten it a little. I’m also thinking that Hell, if it exists, is not some fiery place. I’m going on the notion that it is more like Cleveland. I was once in that city for a weekend, and I don't want to even think what it would be like to be there for an eternity.
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Comments

  1. Old Comment
    Religion will not cure one's ills no matter what the faith "healers" tell you,I too was indoctrinated by ever-zealous religious nuts who would believe the sky was plaid if it was written in ancient text,but I do belive in Santa Clause,The Tooth Fairy,and The three little bears.
    permalink
    Posted 03-06-2013 at 02:34 PM by Sunwilt Sunwilt is offline
  2. Old Comment
    Religion is nothing but a business today. I was raised Catholic and when I became an adult I wanted no part of that or any other phony religion. I have my own personal spirituality, I don't need another person telling me a lot of BS and their congregation are no more than brainwashed cults, worshipping their ministers, rabbis, priests, among others. And at the rate you read about the pediphiles, esp. among priests, why should I believe anything they or any other try and indoctrinate into me. Religion is like politics, and I despise both.
    permalink
    Posted 03-10-2013 at 05:23 AM by glodat glodat is offline
 

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