An Ultimate Guide to Atheism
So, what does an ultimate guide to atheism contain? Considering the word really only has one definition (and it certainly isn’t a religion) how can any sort of guide exist at all? I suppose I should clarify that this isn’t a guide for ‘how to be an atheist’. Rather, it’s a snapshot of atheists as individuals. Over the years, I’ve written many articles about my personal experiences with religion and atheism, as well as tried to dispel some of the more common myths associated with non-believers. Here I present them in a single reference guide for anyone interested in learning more about atheists. Or, perhaps you’d like to discuss the finer points with me, in which case I welcome any and all debates in the comments below.
While this first article isn’t directly about atheism, I felt it was a good way to represent an early stepping stone for atheist thought. The newest iteration of Cosmos (hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson) is a show about science, both big and small, that represents what we’ve learned over the years about our world and the universe. Not only are the concepts presented in a clean, concise way, they are accompanied by beautiful ‘mythologized’ renditions of famous scientists. If you’re an atheist, there is a good chance you’ll enjoy this show. And if you’re a theist, this show will help you understand where we are coming from.
Every atheist has a unique story for how they came to the conclusion that there is no god. For me, it leaned heavily on my study of literature. Both as a lover of fiction, and as a writer of fantasy. This article chronicles my logic while simultaneously praising when religion gets things right (like in the instance of a non-profit charity). More of a personal rant to give you a window into what kind of atheist I am.
More detailed that the previous article, this one chronicles my beliefs from beginning to end. Following a thread of logic born from fictitious holiday characters, enhanced by my teen angst, and solidified by my time in college. This includes some of the push-back I’ve received over the years from theists, and where I’d like to see things go in the future.
While this was not my first article about atheism, it was my first attempt to answer some of the most common questions aimed at atheists. For example, where do atheists get their morals from? How can evolution randomly assemble complex organisms? And why are atheists so mean? You’re free to disagree with my answers, or use them for your own debates.
In my second ‘facts about atheism’ article I address the concept that atheists have ‘faith’ god doesn’t exist. As well as some of the questionable advertising of atheist organizations and whether or not atheists ‘hate’ god.
And, in my most recent ‘facts about atheism’ article I tackle whether or not atheists think they have all the answers. I go on to examine what kinds of evidence we use to form our conclusions and the moral implications of atheistic dictators. I also answer one of the most commonly asked questions of atheists: why do we care what Christian’s think?
In Defense of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
There are a number of examples atheists point to when making arguments about theism. Often it’s the pantheon of Greek gods, or sometimes its lesser magical creatures like unicorns. Though, none seem to draw as much ire at the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM), and I can understand why. Designed as an extreme parody, aimed at creationism, the FSM can look pretty insulting. So I decided to examine the concept from a literal perspective (where it came from/what it means) rather than joining in on the narrative that he is real. I did this in the hopes that the core of the parody could be discussed without condescension getting in the way.
Short Fiction: A Conversation with God
You might be asking yourself one of two questions. First, why would an atheist write a piece of fiction called “a conversation with god”? And second, why would he include it on a list of articles about atheism? The answer to both is unique to my brand of atheism (see “My Life as an Atheist” above). Which is to say, in my mind, god exists as a literary character, one that has been employed again and again through time. My short dialogue piece isn’t as polished as something like ‘The Shack’, but I would certainly argue that it’s the same device. A device that suggests; man has always been the voice of god because man created god the character.
As I say in many of my articles, my goal isn’t to convert anyone. My goal is to paint a portrait of atheists as humans. With the same hopes, dreams, morality, and trustworthiness as any theist. Part of accomplishing that, I believe, is sharing my personal story and casting it out into the wind.
