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)
How would you best describe your form of freethought? (Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist, etc.)
Were you raised as a freethinker or to be religious?
I was raised as an atheist (in the old Soviet Union it was a state religion), though Mother
has always been frightfully superstitious. When the Soviet Union collapsed the whole family
embraced Christianity after the fashion.
What originally set you on the path to freethought?
When the state persecuted religion, I supported the right of people to make believe in whatever
they wish.
When did you "come out" as a freethinker to family/friends/public, and how did it go over?
Never had to hide it and now that majority of people I have known all my life suddenly became religious,
I take a particular pleasure to say that if I ever become religious, I beg them to poison me, since it would mean I lost my mind entirely and evolved into a veggie. Terrible thought.
Do you feel it necessary to continue to hide your beliefs in any circumstances, and if so, why?
Never. Consider it my birth right to be what I am. Actually, from years of experience, found out it's the safest way to deal with hostile
environment - to be as direct as possible.
Have you ever been the victim of discrimination or abuse because of your beliefs?
No. Kids have, though. They got over it easily, since I always told
them it's a shame to
be a part of ruling dominating majority.
In what types of freethought activism, if any, do you participate?
None. Well, subscribe to magazines.
What do you feel is the best part of being a freethinker?
Since I've never been anything else, hardly know.
What do you feel is the worst part of being a freethinker?
What is the societal atmosphere for freethinkers where you live?
Ah, Virginia, perhaps not the very heart, but definitely
"South"!
Used to live for many years in Massachusetts, it's been quite a change when we moved here.
Total acceptance of any kind of religion, but not us. A fat lot I care.
How do you define "freedom of religion" and do you think your country attempts to grant this?
Professional and public life ought to be free from any sign of
religion, for instance, all public
figures from the President all the way up to smallest city mayor must
not bless us all in the name
of whatever deity he/she are particularly attached to at the moment.
What people, including the President do otherwise, is their business.
Anything from forming
organizations, churches, schools, witch institutes is welcome, as long
as they don't cross the line
and bring it on the rest of us, however innocently.
If you could share one thought with whoever might read this profile of you, what would it be?
I always sort of suspect people are just pulling my leg, when they
say
they believe in God. I mean, people can not seriously mean it. It's
in the same vein as believing that Earth is flat.
Sounds a bit arrogant, but as far as religion is concerned my
understanding, which is quite normal in other respects, is at the
ground level.
