[Violette]

I am an atheist. When I allowed my family to learn this about me, I was separated from my niece and nephew because their parents did not want my ideology passed to them. (What's interesting is that atheists are not interlopers)That was almost 20 years ago. Now, my sister has confessed to me that she wished she had allowed them to interact with me more. She has discovered that I actually do not eat babies for breakfast, that I have a high standard for myself and my friends, that I have become a very trusted member of my community and my work. Her children took difficult paths and did not do as well as she had hoped. People often times do not believe that I am atheist because I am a moral person. I am a good person, I just don't believe in God. Atheist does not equal immoral, socialist, nazi, or any other group you want to associate it with. It simply means, does not believe in God. That's it.

[AppyPappy]

Tell it to the writer of the letter. I'm a former atheist. When I was an atheist, I never considered myself part of any group. I have no idea what the writer is saying.

[thinktwice]

Actually, atheists probably have it about as wrong as organized religions because there probably is a God.

That God however, having created an "infinite" universe, must be -- more than infinite.

Mathematicians would classify a concept like this as an "Indeterminate form."

[onedoug]

Non-belief however, is a belief system also.

[Dimensio]

She has discovered that I actually do not eat babies for breakfast

Of course not. They're much better for lunch.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

People often times do not believe that I am atheist because I am a moral person.

As a former very militant atheist, I now wonder how you can define morality as an atheist? If right and wrong do not come from God, then everything is relative and anything goes. Not trying to bash or flame, just curious how you define morality.

[RadioAstronomer]

Atheist does not equal immoral, socialist, nazi, or any other group you want to associate it with. It simply means, does not believe in God. That's it.

Well said.

[balrog666]

I am an atheist. When I allowed my family to learn this about me, I was separated from my niece and nephew because their parents did not want my ideology passed to them. (What's interesting is that atheists are not interlopers)That was almost 20 years ago. Now, my sister has confessed to me that she wished she had allowed them to interact with me more. She has discovered that I actually do not eat babies for breakfast, that I have a high standard for myself and my friends, that I have become a very trusted member of my community and my work. Her children took difficult paths and did not do as well as she had hoped. People often times do not believe that I am atheist because I am a moral person. I am a good person, I just don't believe in God. Atheist does not equal immoral, socialist, nazi, or any other group you want to associate it with. It simply means, does not believe in God. That's it.

I believe in God. I just don't believe in religion.

[betty boop]

I am an atheist. When I allowed my family to learn this about me, I was separated from my niece and nephew because their parents did not want my ideology passed to them.

Well Violette, I'm a Christian; and ever since my atheist next-door neighbor found this out about me (it just came up in a conversation), he no longer allows his 15-year-old son (who thinks he's the Second Coming of Bart Simpson) to speak with me. You see, the father does not wish my "ideology" to be passed on to his son.... So we have had similar experiences.

[Northpaw]

People often times do not believe that I am atheist because I am a moral person. I am a good person, I just don't believe in God.

Interesting that you capitalize 'God'. I also would like to ask you from what Godless yardstick do you measure 'morality'?

[biblewonk]

I am an atheist.

When I joined the Army I asked them to put athiest on my dogtag. Then I got saved.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Atheist does not equal immoral, socialist, nazi, or any other group you want to associate it with. It simply means, does not believe in God. That's it.

I think technically atheism means belief that there is no God (or any kind of supreme being or pantheon). Someone called me on this one. I have as little evidence in support of that as those who believe, so I rightly call myself agnostic. For me that means not certain that God does not exist, but living as though He does not.

But I agree with you, at any rate. Some people have real trouble with a nonbeliever, however fine a citizen. Judge me by actions, is all I ask.

[exnavy]

You don't need to have a reason, that is why it's called "faith".

[Doctor Don]

An atheist says there is no God. In order to say that the atheist must possess all knowledge. No man is foolish enough to claim that he has knowledge of every corner and detail of the universe. There are no atheists......only agnostics!