Atheist Attic Visitor Profile
What is your name? (Real or pseudo)
What is your date of birth?
What is your gender?
What is your race?
What is your e-mail address? (optional)
What is the name and URL of your homepage? (optional)
Where do you live? (City, State, Country)
Lake Oswego, Oregon, U.S.
How would you best describe your form of freethought? (Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist, etc.)
Atheist-Naturalist-Bright
Were you raised as a freethinker or to be religious?
United Methodist, Choir and youth group member.
What originally set you on the path to freethought?
I was labeled an atheist in high school as a result of all my questions and doubts. I had attached a
derogatory meaning to atheist, but I checked into it. There was a male influence in my family and he dispelled
all my worries about atheism being evil. I became agnostic as being an atheist scared me, there was a lot of
residual luggage left after leaving the church. Once free from the church and my family I was able to explore
and question what I had been taught growing up. I've been an atheist for many years now. Now it is my opinion
that there is no god and I can breathe with the monkey off my back.
When did you "come out" as a freethinker to family/friends/public, and how did it go over?
I came out with my friends in my Senior year of high school. I came out with my family at different times as a young adult. There was some resistance, but it improved over the years. In order to deal with it my mother has declared me a secular Christian. :)
Do you feel it necessary to continue to hide your beliefs in any circumstances, and if so, why?
As a rule I've learned it's easier to express yourself up front with people at the first sign of religious mention. I've also learned that it is dangerous to one's health to wear a "Born Again Atheist" hat or shirt in public.
Have you ever been the victim of discrimination or abuse because of your beliefs?
Sure, I've experienced avoidance, exclusion, verbal comments, and threats of being damned. I even had a small group of friends drop me from their circle in Air Force Technical School.
In what types of freethought activism, if any, do you participate?
I'm verbal when I hear disinformation and I have a web site with links and commentary.
What do you feel is the best part of being a freethinker?
Freedom from the fears and guilts of the lies of religion.
What do you feel is the worst part of being a freethinker?
The not being blissful any longer, I remember how easy it was when I wasn't as accountable.
What is the societal atmosphere for freethinkers where you live?
How do you define "freedom of religion" and do you think your country attempts to grant this?
I think people will believe what they believe and have been doing it since before recorded history. All people should be allowed to follow any religion they believe without hinderance from the state. In order to ensure this freedom, it must be guaranteed in a Constitution. In order for it to work, the state must not participate, contribute, sponsor, or overlap with the churches. All decisions must be made for the better of all, regardless of their religion or lack thereof. Persecution and intolerance of beliefs different than another must be strictly forbidden.
If you could share one thought with whoever might read this profile of you, what would it be?
To the freethinker I would say, "Continue your search for truth." To the theist I would say, "The U.S. Constitution is an atheist document of record that ensures your religious freedoms."
