Why am I an atheist?

As I'm sure you know, I was not born being an atheist. I agree with Richard Dawkins when he says that no child is of any religion - children are too young to choose any religion, just as they are too young to choose a political party or any sort of ideology. Children are usually brought up to believe whatever religious rhetoric their parents feed them, and usually grow up to hold the same beliefs. I was born to a less than religious Catholic mother (with a very religious Catholic mother of her own) and an atheist father. I attended Catholic school for two years, and since my parents divorced when I was 8 years old I have lived with my mother who has been the biggest influence on my life. However, as you can see, I have grown to adopt religious views of my own that happen to align with my father's. Even though I grew up attending church on major holidays and the occasional Sunday, I have developed a view of religion very different from that of the countless people with whom I have shared pews.

Over the years science and reason have made much more sense to me than any religious theory I have encountered. With all the hypocrisy and contradiction found in the Bible alone, it is impossible for me to believe any of it. It baffles me how anyone can have strong religious convictions in an age where science and technology have all but proved the nonexistance of a supreme being. However, the time when we as people are most resistent to change is when faced with any change to our belief systems. People are used to the comfort and tradition religion offers them, making them unlikely to reexamine their beliefs even under a modern scientific light. Also, in my opinion, most of society consists of sheeple ("sheep" + "people"); they follow the religion they were fed as children, never bothering to question it or examine it in adulthood. I consider myself one of the lucky few who have been able to make up their own mind about their beliefs, and I have chosen that which appeals to my logical, rational, scientific mind.

I hope my blog will help others reexamine their beliefs, no matter what the outcome of this reexamining may be. I promote openminded discussion about religion, because everyone's opinion matters (even if only to his or her self). Remember that peace is achieved through understanding, and understanding comes from open and honest communication.

It all starts here.

Religion is something about which I have always been passionate. While most people who are passionate about religion are focused on exalting their faith, as an atheist my passion is geared towards refuting it. I do not try to cram my opinions down others' throats, like most religious fanatics do, but I am always ready and willing to discuss my beliefs when the time is right. And in the age of technology, what better medium is there for me to utilize than the internet?

Today I began reading Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion, and it has fuelled me to begin writing down my own religious convictions, or lack thereof. In this blog I will discuss any number of religious topics, whether I am inspired by Dawkins' book or a current event. I will do my best to be respectful of others' religious beliefs, and I hope to be afforded the same respect by those who read and choose to respond to my posts. Please keep hate speech to a minimum and openmindedness to a maximum. Remember that reading my blog is a choice; no one is being forced to read and agree with any of the arguments herein, so let's all try to keep our minds open and our comments respectful.

Thank you.