By TRI-CITY HERALD
Added: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 UTC

Thanks to Darkhorse for the link.

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9540138p-9451251c.html

What We Believe: Atheism

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

When mortar shells were exploding near Fernando Aguilar in Iraq, he didn't pray to God for help.

He doesn't believe God exists. And his long-held conviction didn't change when he traveled to a war zone.

Aguilar, 55, of Walla Walla, is a civil engineer and his work has taken him to some of the most dangerous places in the world. He's been to Iraq twice and Afghanistan once since 2003, helping to build water systems, hospitals and schools.

He's also done relief work in Southeast Asia and volunteered in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.

Using the skills he has to benefit others is part of the code Aguilar lives by.

He has a soft voice and he chooses his words with care. He's kind and he dotes on guests.

Aguilar and his longtime love, Yvonne Hall, share a house that's filled with colorful murals she's painted. One of them is of the couple dancing. Hall is wearing an orange dress and Aguilar is smiling.

She understands his beliefs about religion because she's atheist too.

Aguilar grew up in the Pacific Northwest and served as a Catholic altar boy. He can remember being puzzled by Holy Communion.

People told him the bread and wine transformed into Christ's body and blood. But to him, the bread still tasted like bread. The wine was still just wine.

He didn't see how anyone could ever walk on water.

Aguilar realized he was an atheist when he was 24.

He's not afraid to speak his mind when it comes to God. He believes people should be able to pray, read Scriptures and practice their faith. But he doesn't think religion belongs in courts or schools.

He's been active in the national American Atheists organization and once clashed with the Walla Walla City Council because members were starting the meetings with prayer. The council eventually went to having a moment of silence.

Aguilar says no two atheists hold exactly the same views because atheism isn't a belief system. It's simply a way of describing someone who doesn't believe there's a God.

For Aguilar, that's the only take that makes sense. He's an engineer, and he understands what he can measure and prove.

He believes that when you die, your mind and consciousness die too. That urgency gives his life meaning.

He tries to be a good partner to Yvonne and a good father. He has a daughter in college and son who's a teacher, and he beams when he talks about them.

He tries to help other people when he can. That's what he believes in.

"Ultimately, the way you live your life should be fruitful for those around you so you leave the world a little bit better," he said. "(People) will remember you for that."

Yvonne told a story about when Aguilar was in Iraq he didn't pray to God when the mortar rounds were exploding around him. He turned to a friend and asked if she needed help.

TAGGED: ATHEISM