I’m what most people would refer to as a Dictionary Atheist. I don’t believe in the existence of any god(s) and that’s about it. Although being an atheist is a part of me, I really don’t consider atheism a major influence in my life at all. As I wrote several weeks ago atheism is a conclusion that I came to over time. That conclusion was based on personal experience, as many other atheists have said.

I don’t wake up in the morning, or go to sleep at night with atheism on my mind. It’s a part of my life, but it’s not an overriding principle above everything else.

Unlike believers, I don’t impose myself on others with my non-belief. In fact, maybe only half the people I know, know I am an atheist. The subject just doesn’t come up and the only reason some do know I’m an atheist is that at some point in a conversation, belief did enter into the discourse.

In some circles we’re viewed no differently than any other religion. That’s because there are vocal atheists that want to conflate their atheism with their personal activism that has nothing to do with being an atheist. I reject that view. I honestly think it’s one reason that atheists are viewed so poorly. It’s okay to have political opinions, or social justice views, but those have nothing to do with being an atheist. If someone became an atheist because of one or both of the above, they’re not really an atheist in my opinion. They’re an activist using atheism to further their political/social construct.

Being an atheist should have nothing to do with who we are as a person, overall. I’m not a happy atheist, nor an angry atheist, if any label may be applied to me, it would be content atheist. That’s because I’m perfectly content as to who I am as a person. Atheism just happens to be one part of that person. It doesn’t overwhelm me, changing who I am.