Atheism Can Be Frightening

40 Year Old Atheist — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:39:18 +0000

I still vividly remember the scary jumble of emotions that hit me when I allowed myself to imagine there was no god. The first thought was a rather funny (well, funny in retrospect!), “Oh my God – there is no GOD!” that was accompanied by the sensation of falling …as if someone had pulled the floor from under me. I think the analogy is quite suitable because the foundations for virtually everything I thought I knew up ’til that moment came from religion.

Morality came from religion.
The meaning of life came from religion.
How we got here came from religion.
What would happen to me after I died came from religion.

Suddenly, there was this blank slate. Nothing I thought I had known, was known.

It scared the hell out of me to realize there was no grand purpose for humanity and my life, that there was no afterlife, and that there was no set moral code telling me how to live. In other words, my religiously based life had been replaced by an immense void.

However, fear and uncertainty very quickly gave way to an insatiable, unconstrained curiosity to learn. I became full of a sense of wonder I hadn’t had since my childhood fascination for space and dinosaurs. Life was now an open road and I realized my new purpose was to explore that road.

That was almost two years ago, and my curiosity hasn’t abated – not in the least. In fact, I’d say it’s just getting stronger.

Which brings me to you. If fear has held you back from thinking god might not exist, I encourage you to press on – the rewards are truly immense. A mind-opening, perhaps even (dare I say it?) spiritual experience awaits you.

And to my fellow non-believers who get frustrated with those who don’t seem to be hearing your message, please try to be patient – there is a lot at stake for them. Letting go of immortality for one’s self and one’s loved ones can be enormously difficult, and your proposition brings a great deal of fear and uncertainty with it.

All that aside, de-conversion after years and years of belief is possible. If I can do it at 40, anyone can.

The Insatiable Atheist

40 Year Old Atheist — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:59:37 +0000

I wonder if other people who are new to atheism go through a time when they just can’t seem to learn enough?

It’s been almost a year since I became an atheist. I remember thinking at the beginning of that year that I’d have a lot to say about the ongoing experience (it’s why I started this blog). Well, it turns out, I’d rather spend my time sucking in information (philosophy, science etc) from others.

I’ve never before had such intense curiosity about the universe I’m so fortunate to live in. Actually, that’s not quite true – I haven’t had this sort of curiosity since I was a child.

It really is quite marvellous.

40 Year Old Atheist » curiosity

Atheism Can Be Frightening

The Insatiable Atheist