The Truth About Atheism…This is Not Meant to Convert Anyone!

Atheism: the rejection of belief in God or gods. First let me give a nod to Dictionary.com for this standard definition of what atheism is. The most common misconception that people have surrounding atheism is that atheists are devil worshippers. If one truly understands the definition, he or she would understand that this is a ridiculous misconception. Atheism is simply the absolute rejection of religious belief in God or gods, and the concepts surrounding them. Therefore, atheists do no worship the devil, nor God, nor devil– end of story. Although today’s society is much more progressive, there is still a negative stigma surrounding the idea of atheism. Most people fear this sort of declaration, and understandably so, as it rejects a worldwide belief that has existed since the birth of our species. The important thing for people to realize is that I am not about to try and persuade you to abandon your beliefs, I am merely attempting to clear up the confusion surrounding atheism, and to help remove the stigma it carries.

First off, everyone in the world is different. There is a plethora of different languages, cultures, ideas and government. The idea that one belief system would apply to all of these people is unrealistic. There are already a ton of variations of religion. For example, there is Christianity, Muslim, Catholicism, Buddhism, Judaism, etcetera. The list literally grows every day to include such religious ideas as Wiccan, and those who are confused or Agnostic. Therefore, to reject the practice of religion entirely and declare yourself an atheist should not come as such a shock. It is merely another difference of opinion on a controversial issue.

Another important thing to remember when meeting those who are atheist is that most are not trying to convince you that there is not a God. Most just lack this common belief and are not going to lie about it. Please, do not try to convert them, and do not feel that it is your job to convince them that there is a God. It is actually being insensitive to their belief in a way that they are not being towards yours. No one is “right” on this issue– it is an opinion. You may not be able to have a family with someone who you disagree with on such an issue, but you have no right to judge them.

Finally, do not tell atheists that they are going to Hell. Hands down, there is no excuse for this and is just rude. They may not believe that there is a Hell, but your intent in placing them there is clear, because they know you believe in it. No one deserves to “go to Hell” just because they do not share your belief. Our world is ever expanding and tolerance is what this society needs more of. Atheism is not a challenge to religion. It is a decision about what you personally believe. Believing in God does not give anyone the right to pass judgment on others. If you are in fact religious, remember that you should accept everyone as they are, and you should feel comfortable in your belief that God will have his judgment. It’s not up to you.