The Right of Unbelief

Mahatma Gandhi taught that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." For many of us, that is all the creed we need. I am a moral and ethical person, which means that I live my life according to a coherent set of values. I am also an Atheist.

Atheism is often considered an extreme way of thinking -- the total rejection of religious faith and, often, a total trust in scientific reasoning. There is, in addition to Atheism, a whole spectrum of disbelief: Agnostics, for example, aren't sure about gods and don't like organized religion; Skeptics seek proof for everything; Humanists put people first, loving them, looking after them and rejecting the idea that a god can do this for them; Deists love nature and regard it as a "force" that permeates everything and follows natural "laws"; Free Thinkers insist on their right to freedom of thought and expression without the encumbrance of dogma. Each of these philosophies offers its adherents a framework for leading ethical lives -- and Atheism does, too.

As an Atheist, it is my understanding that, because there is no afterlife, I must make the most of my life and help others to do the same. For me personally, that means that I (along with other human beings) am a caretaker of all living things on Earth, who also have but one life. Therefore, I actively protect not only human beings and their rights but other living things and their rights, too. To say that my Atheism makes me devoid of values and hostile to others in our society -- as many believers throughout history have done -- is simply false. My Atheistic principles make me value all life here and now.

It is important to know that Atheistic thought is not new and that the ethics, values and philosophy of Atheism have shaped some of our most influential minds. From the Golden Age of Ancient Greece through the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, Rationalism and modern scientific thought, Atheists and other non-believers have been responsible for some of the greatest advances made by humankind.

Believers often choose to ignore or hide the historical role of unbelief -- for example, the fact that not one of the first six U.S. presidents was an orthodox Christian, or that such pivotal figures as Thomas Paine, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Abraham Lincoln were Deists who expressed doubt that Christ was divine.

Teachers and schools must begin to de-stigmatize Atheistic thought and non-belief by recognizing the enormous debt our modern society owes to their promulgators, including the recognition of individuality, the logic of scientific reasoning, the growth of democracy and an ethic that respects all living things. Atheists are often depicted as dangerous and destructive in our society, but history proves the fallacy of this negative stereotype. It is time to recognize the contributions and courage of non-believers, who have often faced derision, exclusion and even violence for what they insisted was right.

Today, Atheist children in many schools are met head-on by intolerance. As one young teenager put it: "I live in Asheville, North Carolina. I attend a public high school. I'm not a Christian. I try to keep that to myself, as in my White, Christian school it's an 'abomination.'" Until we expand our respect for "religious diversity" to include those who don't believe, we cannot claim to honor the "equal dignity and rights" of all persons. l