Let me try to clear some of the smoke from the On Faith pulpit.
I am an atheist because there is no objective evidence for the existence of God(s)ess(es), not any of them.
This label is one of many I have and really tells you nothing more about me or any other atheist. For more information about us, you really would have to spend some time to get to know us personally and actually ask us what we hold dear and what we have as behavioral standards for our lives.
You will find a wonderful world of diversity and depth, I assure you.
Atheism does not demand that we should be "anti"-belief or "anti"-believer or even "anti"-American. It is also very important to note that atheism does not demand that you should not be "anti" anything either. The word atheism, like the word theism, simply doesn't apply to those other important issues.
Atheism is a position taken regarding the claim that any God exists, no matter how he/she/them/it is defined. It isn't anything more or less than that. It has no dietary stipulations, hairstyle, geographical boundary, special authority figures in fancy robes or favorite baseball team.
Mr. Charles Colson and many of the other religious panelists have never met me, but hope to convince themselves and others that I am their fearfully ignorant and vehement arch nemesis when nothing could be further from the truth.
We operate through our senses and reason with our brain. It isn't too much to ask that objective evidence be the standard daily provision and not "faith" without it. If any God wants to be known then this should be the method by which to reach us and not through human intermediaries claiming to be the specially appointed conduits of divine authority, some of whom openly assert that they are born severely flawed.
It is a wonderfully unique human trait to ask questions, to doubt and to require evidence for all claims made about our real lives and the natural universe in plain view.
In contrast, instead of asking questions about the methodology of the Pew survey or doubting the veracity of the results, many of the religious panelists chose to accept them on faith and to demonize atheists by telling others how we live, what we think and even what we are so that it conveniently fits their belief that the faithful (of any faith) are better people, the right "kind". All people contradicting religious claims are redefined as non-existent, artless, distrustful and ignorant. There is a word for that behavior as well and it is a word that is ugly, inhuman and wasteful.
The evidence, however, shows that we are your doctors, nurses, scientists, artists, inventors, firefighters, police officers, teachers, students, programmers, soldiers and loving mothers and fathers, etc. And it really is our common humanity, our amazing curiosity and our love of potential that keeps us grounded in purpose and meaning.
No God(s)ess(es) required.
Take care everyone, be good to each another.
