I recently joined the Atheist Blogroll and an aggregator called Planet Atheism in hopes of attracting someone outside my immediate family to stop in once in a while to read my occasional blatherings here.
The Blogroll owner asked me to write a brief entry to announce my membership there, which was this post’s intended function. However, as I set out to write it, I realized that though many of my posts here have criticized religious fanaticism or opined on church/state separation, I’ve never actually come out and openly said:
I am an atheist.
I’ve been an atheist for quite some time; to some extent I’ve always had an atheist streak. I’ve lived a life of quiet disbelief, going along with the religious folks around me because I saw no need to stir up trouble. Passively blasphemous.
In recent years, though, I’ve seen murderous fanatics crash planes into towers and blow themselves up in crowded places. I’ve seen theocratic-leaning fundamentalists grabbing more political and financial power than should be available to someone who thinks the end of the world is coming any day now, and that’s a good thing, and we should strive to make it happen sooner. I’ve seen a relative trying to instill her beliefs on my children against my wishes.
I don’t stay so quiet anymore.
So,
At least this overlong introduction/announcement has given me two more topics to write about in the near future: Why I am an atheist, and what it means to me to be one.
Well, I found you through Planet Atheism, so you can thank Pedro for that. I must join the Blogroll myself.
I’d say “welcome”, but you’ve been around longer than I have so I’ll let you welcome me. 😉