Atheism

How I was raised - I feel this it is necessary to at least go on a little bit about my life in religion growing up before writing about the now.

My parents were "Christians" but not church goers. I went to Church -at best- once a month with my Great Grandmother who at that time had taught almost 3 generations of Sunday school - she is still alive today (at 94) and just retired a few years ago.

I remember Church just being a place I would go and color pictures of those guys in robes. Maybe hear some nice fairy tales, and get a little lunch. I don't remember ever feeling a connection with god or Jesus from the Sundays that I went to. I don't think I even understood what religion was, let alone what "my" religion was. - But that's the thing, as a child it wasn't my religion, it was my family's, so it was kind of expected of me to just be a Christian.

I have one memory of that time that is pretty specific and stuck with me for years. - My great grandmother never scolded me, she was just a nice little old lady who made pickles and crocheted slippers every year. But I remember one time saying "oh my god" about something, and her completely going off on me and making me pray. I couldn't believe it, and it scared me into saying "oh my gosh" for years after.

Later on about the age of 10 I remember going to some kids Church thing with my friends in Texas. I don't remember exactly what the preacher was preaching to us - but I remember crying. And feeling like I was lost in life - a sinner - no good, during the ceremony.

Looking back I can't believe it - it actually angers me, because although I don't remember what he was saying in specific, I remember some of my friends crying too - which makes me think - that was the point. Religion wanted to make me feel bad for being human, I was 10!

Molding of me There are many thing that have changed my views on religion, people, moments, experiences. I really started to think about religion after meeting Mark. He is an Atheist. He never preached to me about it, he just would say something like "well, it's what makes to most sense". And it does really. It is the most rational explanation I think. It is what it is, there isn't anything afterwards.

I picked up "Letter to a Christian Nation" after hearing much about it on the internet, and seeing the author Sam Harris speak in panels for stem cell research quite eloquently.

In this book he writes about the false morals of Christianity and Catholicism in particular, but the same could be said for many religions, he focuses on Christianity/ Catholicism because of their prevalence in America today.

The hot topics discussed in depth include stem cell research, abortion, the use of condoms, birth control, and the human papilloma virus vaccine. He argues that Christianity in America is holding us back in these things. I agree with him on every point, the problem is that Christians probably wouldn't and won't even take the time to read this book.

Stem Cell research - the problem here is that it is very, very promising. It could heal many, many people who are suffering right now. However, because it destroys an embryo (which has less cells than a fly) Christians are against it, and America isn't funding it as it should.

Which brings me to another point he brings up in this book. Christians morals are in the wrong places. A lot of Christians speak up and act out against Abortions, and Stem cell research. But what are they doing about the people suffering - who are already alive all over the world? Sure we may hear about the 700 club going out and helping people while preaching to gospel. But The spot light is more so on abortion and stem cells - why are these things more important than the person suffering from MS? Why do they get more attention in America?

These are just some of the things he discusses in this book. Some people may call him an "Atheist fundamentalist", but there are so many Christian fundamentalist already out there, isn't it time we has something equal and opposite out there?

I just think we need more balance in America today. There is too much religion and not enough science. We aren't funding scientific breakthroughs as we should effectively putting ourselves into another dark age in the process. There are many problems with this, including the fact that we will fall behind in many ways.

It is a very well written book. One that hit the best seller list last year, and one that is well worth the read (it is quite short) It is worth the read just to see the other side, to see the error of our ways in the long run.