Since I was in my late teens, whenever I've been asked my religious beliefs by someone, I've replied with either "I'm not religious," or "I'm an atheist." And while both of these statements are true, neither is really an answer to the question.
One thing that many of us atheists tend to forget is that "atheist" doesn't tell anyone what you believe. It just tells what you don't believe.
Okay. So, I don't have a theistic belief system. Fine and dandy; I'm an atheist. But what exactly do I believe?
That's a harder question to answer, and I don't have just one label I can slap on myself to explain my world view to people.
I personally have no need for religion in my life. I have no inner urge to feel reverence for something greater than myself. (Or even including myself, when it comes down to that.)
On the other hand, my very real awe of nature and the cosmos definitely gives me pagan and scientific pantheistic leanings. And my unflinching reliance on skeptical thinking and the concept that humans can find the answers to their own problems plants me pretty firmly in the Secular Humanist camp.
Truth to tell, though, I've never bothered to look deeply into any of these belief systems. I've never felt the need. I'm happy just being myself, without worrying about labels too much.
But for those of you who are curious, here are some links to tell you about each:
I'd like to point out that I do not agree with everything these folks believe... but that can be said about nearly everything, in my opinion.
Still, I suppose you could say that I'm a bit of a mongrel mix of all of these, all tied together with atheism.
