Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Why Did I Start This Blog?

Why did I start this blog? The simple answer, community. I want desperately to know someone out there feels the same way I do. I want to know that I am not the only one who cringes when I hear statements like, "I'm not a righteous person, I'm the blood of Christ" or "As a Christian I would never xyz." 

I have wanted to create this blog for so long, but fear has held me back. I fear I will come across as judgmental or pompous, yet this is not my intention. I want to present the other side of the story. The side of the story that says, I too have moral values. Yes, I value family, life and charity; but I do not need a God to tell me I should value these things. I do not need the promise of a heaven to know I should do right. I do not believe that when I die I will have to atone for my sins, or be rewarded for the life I have lived on earth. I believe when I die, I will simply be dead; nothing more nothing less. 

I want to tell anyone out there who believes these things, THIS IS OK! You are not a bad person, you are not any less moral, you are not any less than period.  You can be a good person, you can dedicate your life to others, you can choose to do right simply because you know what is right and what is wrong.

I get so frustrated with the belief that we simply can't be a good person if we are not following the word in a fable riddled with lies and contradictions. I wanted to start this blog to fight back against all the times I have heard, "I feel sorry for you if you don't believe in God." I want to show those who do believe, you do not need to feel sorry for me; you simply need to accept that I am not motivated to behave like a decent human being by the promise of heaven.  I am motivated to behave like a decent human being because I feel an internal happiness from helping others.

I am not a perfect person,

I do not have all the answers; 

But I am no longer going to have my character decimated in silence.

I am an atheist, I am a good wife, teacher, sister and daughter; this is my story.