The Curious Case of A-theism v. Atheism.

At the beginning of April, The atheist alliance will host their annual convention, featuring keynote speaker Richard Dawkins. While it is no secret that I am an atheist, and am a fan of Professor Dawkins, the logic of such a convention is puzzling. Atheists, in their fervor, have essentially created a new religion, with a unique theology and respected leaders. And it can be no wonder that in many circles, they are developing a very negative name for themselves.

I do not believe in god. I also do not believe in Zeus, Horus, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster, although I find each of them extremely entertaining. This is simply a logical conclusion I have come to after a careful consideration of the current available evidence. There is certainly a chance I am wrong, and I would be pleasantly surprised at my death to find myself at a rather large, pearly gate (although I doubt I would be there long. I am sure a quick and permanent trip south would be in my future.) This conclusion makes me an “a-theist”, as in the opposite of a “theist”, or one that believes in a deity. And here is where a differentiation must be made.

An Atheist however, with a capital a, is a member of a religion that does not believe in a deity. It is very different. They will meet at conventions, hold weekly meetings, and make daily visits to websites to discuss something they do not believe in. They will march, plaster billboards and buses with their message, and welcome an all out argument. And they have, and look up to, leaders that give them clear direction on how to clarify their message to the public. In short, they have become what they so vehemently detest, an organized religion, based solely on something they do not believe in.

The fact is belief in god is not a real issue. There is nothing wrong with belief in any deity, or imaginary character. If believing in god helps you through a difficult time, or even just through the day, great. As children, many of us had imaginary friends that we swore by, often as an antidote for abuse or loneliness. There is no harm in this, and in many cases, it is encouraged. The issue is not belief in god; the real issue is the belief that god is using some of us to tell the others what to do. If all those that believed in god just stayed home on Sunday and read the bible, the world would be just fine. But go to church, and you learn to hate homosexuals and basically anyone that does not share your beliefs. Every religion feels strongly that theirs is the one god is using on this earth to spread his message, and thus all the others are false. Playing well with others takes on a whole new meaning when you are sure “the others” will all be spending eternity burning in hell.

Turning a-theism into the religion of Atheism it has become is disheartening to say the least, not to mention counter-productive. The logical, scientific approach that leads many to question the existence of god becomes buried beneath a new dogma created by the natural need of a leader to lead, and the individual thought that led one to become an atheist will quickly be replaced with the talking points provided by a what has become a new religion. It truly is an amazing phenomenon. The feeling of enlightenment and uniqueness in the great sea of humanity that one feels when finally finding a religion that speaks to them dissipates quickly, revealing the real need to be a part of something, a society, a community, a religion. That a religion could be based on non-belief should come as no surprise. Maybe Jesus was right. We are all just “sheep without a shepherd”, desperate to find one. Any one.