First Post
I was working from home one day, with CNN on in the background, when I heard them discussing a Christian movement called Dominionism. While this is not a new concept, I had never heard the word before. After doing a little research and learning more about it, I was horrified to realize that these beliefs are spreading rapidly in the United States today. “Something,” I said to myself “must be done.” So I did.
The Evangelical Atheist is a “voice crying in the wilderness.” Perhaps one more such voice in the struggle against religion won’t change anything, but it certainly can’t hurt. At best, I may change a mind or two. At worst, I’ll get a lot of people yelling at me, which doesn’t really bother me that much. I enjoy a heated discussion. Posts to this page will deal with Theology, the Politics of religion, news items that are relevant and my general observations and opinions.
By way of introduction, you should know a bit about my background. I was born and raised Roman Catholic. I really believed until I was about 10 years old and started to think rationally about the world around me. However, I simply didn’t know ANYONE who didn’t believe in god, so I figured there was something wrong with me. I tried for the next 10 years to find a religion that would work for me and that I could truly believe in. I “tried on” Protestantism, Buddhism, Taoism, Satanism and Wicca. You can’t get much more variety than that. In college, I majored in religion, still seeking a path I could follow. I focused primarily on Buddhism and Hinduism, but also touched on Islam, Vodoun and Shinto. By the time I was 20, I was a confirmed atheist.
It is my opinion that, while religion was essential to the development of human society, it has done more harm than good since the Axial Age, and it is time for civilization to put away such childish things as the security blanket that is god. I will do what little I can to push our species in that direction. There were issues touched on in this post that will be explored further in the coming weeks. I have a lot of material in mind already, and the news brings new ideas daily. I hope you read. I hope you enjoy. I hope you take something away, even if that’s only a strengthening of your beliefs. I’ll see you soon.
~I AM~
May 21st, 2005 at at 1:45 pm
We need as many articulate, Atheist voices as we can get in these crazy, born-again days. 9/11 didn’t just cause a war between the US and Al Queda. It started a Holy War… fundamentalist Islam vs. fundamentalist Christianity. There’s little difference between the two, as far as I’m concerned. Though I do like the Muslim crescent moon/star better than the Christian cross…
Religion is a drug. We need a 12 step-program to let go of Higher Powers.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 2:11 pm
Count me in as one of your regular readers.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 2:32 pm
What Bruce said.
And without religion, there would be no war.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 2:49 pm
“We need a 12 step-program to let go of Higher Powers.”
Hey, I wrote one here. Or anyway I lifted the one from AA …
May 22nd, 2005 at at 3:15 pm
Good luck in your new blog. I’ve been looking for a good read to suppliment the Raving Atheist after the demise of my beloved Church of Critical Thinking.
Anyway, I am looking forward to your future posts.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 4:04 pm
I too will keep an eye out for updates on your blog. Every atheist blog is a candle in the darkness.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 4:20 pm
Philboid Studge, I like your 12 step program. I believe I’ve done all but 12. I’m still wrestling with the whole trying to convert people concept, mostly out of fear that it will make me no better than the preachy Christians I despise.
However, recent events in the US and around the world are quickly changing this view. I am fast learning that every atheist needs to move away from apathy. Essentially, we all need to become evangelical atheists.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 4:20 pm
Thank you all for the early support. I couldn’t have anticipated an audience in only 2 days.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 5:14 pm
I agree with addict. If we don’t start changing some people’s minds the world is going to be in a world of hurt in the near future I fear.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 8:26 pm
i here a with you all the way.
May 22nd, 2005 at at 11:26 pm
I’ll be reading. You go.
May 23rd, 2005 at at 8:10 am
Heard about Christian Reconstructionists? If they had their way, “…Insufficiently Christian men would be denied citizenship, perhaps executed. So severe is this theocracy that it would extend capital punishment beyond such crimes as kidnapping, rape, and murder to include, among other things, blasphemy, heresy, adultery, and homosexuality.”
http://www.tylwythteg.com/enemies/reconstruct2.html
May 23rd, 2005 at at 4:34 pm
Excellent reading! Thank you.
I was raised too as a Catholic and actually went to a Seminary for 5 years although I had already declared that “I do not believe in God” at age thirteen. After witnessing several sexual abuse from priests, I felt very digusted by the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church and reached for other spiritual avenues. I have not found anything that makes any sense in the belief department but I still enjoy meditation and contemplation of Nature. That has become my path. I do not think that God and/or religion is needed for a spiritually enhanced life.
May 23rd, 2005 at at 6:06 pm
Good Read. Bookmarked you already.
May 23rd, 2005 at at 6:32 pm
Bourouba: UberKuh was just talking about a book that might be useful for you. Take a look.
May 23rd, 2005 at at 8:16 pm
Happy to have found this. Your history is very similar to mine (ex altar boy, etc.) Also turned up my opposition to the current trends after reading about dominionism. Looking forward to your posts (and LOVE the name!)
May 23rd, 2005 at at 11:39 pm
i was called an eveangelical athiest today, thought that would be a great name for a website—-to late!!!!!! hope to hear more from you, maybe we an create a little movement of our own. I for 1 are tired of being browbeat by the xtians, most of who don’t believe, they are just AFRAID not to believe!
May 24th, 2005 at at 12:58 am
Wish you all the best in your endeavour to help mankind overcome religion. I’ll soon be starting my blog on similar lines.
May 24th, 2005 at at 11:46 am
“essential to the development of human society” … I question essential. Inevitable might have been a better word choice. I understand all cultures develop religion, but they do it for the same reason — fear of the dark. Whatever they call their god/gods/godesses/whatever, the intent was to protect them from the big scary dark. Once we realize that there’s nothing scary in the dark, we discard our pink sky rabbit in favor of logical reasoning. Let go of the pink sky rabbit, you ninnies and embrace clear logic! It won’t hurt a bit!
May 26th, 2005 at at 7:13 pm
Wish you the best with this blog. I’ll certainly be returning (it went immediately into my bookmarks.)