Why I Need To Do This (Blog)

I can't believe that I am actually going to blog.

Not only am I going to blog, but I am going to blog about being an 'evil' atheist in the bible belt of God's chosen land, the good old U. S. of A. How has it come to this?

The first reason is pity. I pity my poor friends and wife who have to listen to my rants against that particular brand of christianity known as fundamentalism. Emphasis on the 'mental'. Perhaps ranting to everyone and no one on the net is a better and more humane way to vent than to be the equivalent of 'Debby Downer' on Saturday Night Live.

The second reason is simply that I can. I live in a country that, for the time being, a person of any religious or non-religious persuasion can say what they think. I thought perhaps that I should use this right while I can.

The third reason is that since I have become an out-of-the-closet atheist, I have been stunned at how many people I have met seem to think they have never met an atheist before. It is highly unlikely that this would be the case considering that roughly 1 person in 10 is openly atheistic and many more are some weaker version of atheism.

The fourth reason is to perhaps offer some support for those who are too afraid, intimidated or uncertain to embrace their own disbelief. The web is a wonderful tool for those whose voice has been suppressed by 'the powers that be'. My own research and interaction with others on the web has helped to solidify my conclusions about my own beliefs.

And finally, the last reason is because of the current state of affairs in my country. Religion has run amuck. Religion is being taught as science in our schools. Religion is preventing victims of rape from being given emergency contraception. Invisible men are telling presidents to invade countries and start wars. At the same time, those who do not believe are being maligned and defamed daily. Failure to acknowledge a theistic God will get an Eagle Scout thrown out of the Boy Scouts. Father Bush is even quoted as saying that an atheist couldn't be considered a citizen or a patriot. I have simply had enough.

So here's to another new experience in my life and hopefully to new friends and not too many new enemies.