What is your name? (Real or pseudo)

Rémy Viredaz

What is your date of birth?

5/2/49

What is your gender?

Male

What is your race?

White

What is your e-mail address? (optional)

remy.viredaz@bluewin.ch

What is the name and URL of your homepage? (optional)

N/A

Where do you live? (City, State, Country)

Geneva, Switzerland

How would you best describe your form of freethought? (Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist, etc.)

Atheist. I believe there is no God (or god). But I do not try to convince others.

Were you raised as a freethinker or to be religious?

As a Protestant Christian.

What originally set you on the path to freethought?

I'm not sure. When I was about 14, a schoolmate did a talk (as we all had to do in the language class during the year) about the Russian scientist Pavlov, who said 'They say God created the world, but who created God?' At first, I found that argument simply absurd - a typical Xian reaction. About a year later, I no longer believed in God. The idea must have made its way in the back of my mind.

Since about the same time I've been interested in biology and other natural sciences. So, gradually, I was able to build a non-religious world-view (probably much like what was taught in atheism courses in Communist countries, by the way).

Still later, I began to realize that the Xian or religious attitude (accepting a pre-existing doctrine, and making one's best to suppress one's doubt) is exactly the opposite of the scientific attitude (in principle: anything can be challenged any time). The 'correct' view (in most Christian circles as well as with scientists, at least when they speak in public media) is to say that religion and science are not incompatible, because they concern different domains, but I do think they base on fundamentally opposite attitudes.

When did you "come out" as a freethinker to family/friends/public, and how did it go over?

I gradually let my parents know that I did not believe, and of course they were disappointed. My mother still occasionally comes with report of miracles she has read in one or the other Xian magazine, or with a remark such as 'At least, even if you do not believe in Him, still He does exist'.

With friends or others, I only rarely state my beliefs, though I usually do if it is relevant to what we're talking about.

Do you feel it necessary to continue to hide your beliefs in any circumstances, and if so, why?

I do not really hide them, though I usually do not feel useful to state them either.

The question would really turn up if I lived in a country where Xians, espectially fundamentalists, were very active, as I understand it's the case in the United States.

Have you ever been the victim of discrimination or abuse because of your beliefs?

No.

In what types of freethought activism, if any, do you participate?

None. I let Xians entirely free to be wrong. I don't feel like being a militant atheist. I think perhaps Xians have, in the main, higher ethical standards than atheists, so why take the responsability of increasing the number of atheists?

Again, the situation would be different if I lived in a country where fundamentalist Xians were very active. For instance, it would be alarming if they began to campaign for equal-time teaching of Creationism.

What do you feel is the best part of being a freethinker?

Perhaps not having to waste my time with prayers, Bible reading, church-going.

Of course, many people say that they believe in God, or even that they are Christians, and do not do all these things, but I think that's not serious. It's like saying you're married and never living with your wife.

What do you feel is the worst part of being a freethinker?

Perhaps it's easier to make friends (with serious people) when you meet them regularly at the church.

What is the societal atmosphere for freethinkers where you live?

People here do not attach importance on each other's beliefs. Or perhaps nominal Christianity is often taken for granted? Several times, I was talking with somebody who did not show off their religion at all, but when I mentioned my atheistic view they seemed to find it sort of unimaginable that I didn't believe in God.

How do you define "freedom of religion" and do you think your country attempts to grant this?

Freedom to follow any religion, or change from one religion to another, including no religion at all, without discrimination.

I think freedom of religion *is* granted in my country.

If you could share one thought with whoever might read this profile of you, what would it be?

The scientists' accounts of the origins of the Earth, of life, or of mankind are much more fascinating than the Biblical stories. (Or than any sci-fi stories, by the way. I find sci-fi almost always ridiculous.)