By NICK LARUE
Added: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 01:05:43 UTC

This is the first post under my real name. All the other posts that were by me have changed to this now. I must admit I hesitated for a minute before doing this but then thought what am I ashamed of?

It is this thinking process, this worry that stalls and holds atheists back. It’s a symptom of the reality of the world we live in whereby we have to think before we say what we want about who we are. Of course atheism doesn’t define me, no more than my work does. It’s just part of who I am.

I am of course not belittling those who are in positions where the mere idea of coming out could/would mean the end of their lives as they know it. Where coming out could lead to end of marriage, livelihood and segregation from family. I truly wish to see a day when this wouldn’t happen.

It is this aspect that leads me to direct my rather harsh criticism on those who do, in my eyes, more harm than good. Accomodationists and others who continually bash and berate the ‘New’ Gnu Atheists seem to forget one important factor in this whole debate. Us. Those of us who are not the figure heads]. Those who just want nothing more than to live a ‘normal’ life. Those of us who range in occupation and backgrounds and are not considered the ‘intellectually’ elite.

To those accomodationist who just don’t get it. Here’s something to think about. I am not well versed in the ‘theology’, I don’t know the history of it, I don’t know the history of atheism and I have a hard time getting my head around religions and their ceremonies (that and not laughing when I’ve attended church ceremonies since I was a teenager). You know what made me an atheist? Realising that it simply didn’t make any sense to me, that’s all it takes. Is that a hard one to swallow for you?

I used the word ‘commoner’ in my title not be derogatory to myself or to others, but to point out that not everyone can be a Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, PZ Myers or Christopher Hitchens. These people are important as what they do and tell everyone, including the ‘choir’ as we’re often referred to, is that it’s ok to be an atheist. Bashing them just detract from the most important aspect of the Gnu Atheist movement, which is freedom, in all its forms.

It is with thanks that I write this to those individuals above that I just named and others. I have been an atheist for about 20 years, I turn 40 this year and it’s only been since I read the God Delusion back in 2007 that I started to feel comfortable with thinking of myself as an atheist, let alone telling anyone. I now am comfortable with myself and with telling others, to the point of shedding my pseudonym online. I wouldn’t feel this comfortable if it weren’t for people like Richard and others giving me the confidence to be an atheist in this crazy mixed up world.

This is what the Gnu Atheist movement is really about in my eyes. I might be wrong but hence the desire to discuss it. Have at it. :)

TAGGED: ATHEISM