And I completely don’t get the hatred directed toward atheists. I have a new understanding for how racial hatred could go unnoticed because I certainly never noticed how atheists are hated but it definitely exists. I’m proud to say that I didn’t hate atheists when I was a believer. But it’s pretty weird being hated in such an impersonal manner.

I think perhaps my recent deconversion left me feeling somewhat empty and I am in a process of discovering my own belief system – as opposed to one that is provided by a religious authority.

Secular Humanism fills many of my belief gaps very nicely but, of course, the journey continues.

I firmly believe that religious people across the board feel that “any god is better than no god”.

So, whenever I’m probed about my beliefs I say something like this, “I’m an Atheistic Secular Humanist. Our tenets, or if you like “7 Commandments”, are:

1. Need to test beliefs – A conviction that dogmas, ideologies and traditions, whether religious, political or social, must be weighed and tested by each individual and not simply accepted on faith.
2. Reason, evidence, scientific method – A commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence, and scientific methods of inquiry, rather than faith and mysticism, in seeking solutions to human problems and answers to important human questions.
3. Fulfillment, growth, creativity – A primary concern with fulfillment, growth, and creativity for both the individual and humankind in general.
4. Search for truth – A constant search for objective truth, with the understanding that new knowledge and experience constantly alter our imperfect perception of it.
5. This life – A concern for this life and a commitment to making it meaningful through better understanding of ourselves, our history, our intellectual and artistic achievements, and the outlooks of those who differ from us.
6. Ethics – A search for viable individual, social and political principles of ethical conduct, judging them on their ability to enhance human well-being and individual responsibility.
7. Building a better world – A conviction that with reason, an open exchange of ideas, good will, and tolerance, progress can be made in building a better world for ourselves and our children.”

I think religious folks are very used to being told what’s right. So, if you offer them up a belief system, anything except the empty void of atheism, they’re more likely to be receptive to the idea.

Cheers!

I’m often frustrated by theists who assert that atheism can provide no meaining.

As if the very existence of a God can. They’re no different to me, as to provide meaning they require narrative through scripture, moral codes and all sorts of other things. On top of the existence of their God.

Thanks for clarifying. I think it is a good clarification to make. Perhaps it would have been better to say that “there are no gods” is not enough to define myself by.

And, it’s at that point where your second paragraph and my own thoughts are in agreement.

So, once that this ‘non-assertion’ is made, one has the freedom to build a life meaning with substance. Perpaps not a lasting (eg infinite) meaning, but a one with substantially more richness than any theology could provide IMHO.