Just today one of my dear relatives posted a comment on one of my Facebook links (one that was incidentally not about atheism, but simply about teaching children to question what they read. OK, so maybe that is about atheism after all.) She ended with the statement that she wants to save me from a "miserable future and an everlasting punishment." That's right. I posted about teaching children to question everything, and she said she's worried I'm going to hell. And you know what? She is being a good Christian in saying that, isn't she? Because if you genuinely believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and our savior on earth, then you must also believe I am in some serious need of saving.
Here's the horribly offensive photo that incurred such venom, by the way. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I had also posted a horribly offensive picture of our President with a quote in support of women's rights the day before.)
Even my most supportive, liberal, and kind Christian friends and family (who I am incredibly thankful for) dodge the questions of why priests and ministers don't talk about how it's possible to be both a good person and an atheist. And as much as I love those friends and family of mine, I also wonder how they address atheism with their own children. I've said it before, and I will say it again, and I'll also probably say it even another time in the future: "Jesus is the only route to salvation" and "You can be an atheist and be a good person" can't really both be true. (Unless I am missing something.) So you're probably not going to hear a lot of Christians, even kind, liberal ones, loudly stating and teaching their children that it's okay to be an atheist. And certainly no church that survives on tithing is going to make such a statement either, is it?
I read once about a survey that revealed that people trust atheists LESS than known rapists. And while I really hope that isn't true, it wouldn't surprise me if it were. I've seen people seeking childcare that put the sole qualifier "has to be Christian" on the ad. Really? You think I'm going to eat your kid because I don't believe a fairy tale that was written two thousand years ago? THAT is what makes someone a good person?
In case it's not abundantly clear into paragraph six here that I'm a little frustrated about the whole atheist stigma thing, well, I'm a little frustrated with the whole atheist stigma thing. I feel some comfort knowing that various friends and family members have approached me in private confiding their atheism to me. My big mouth did that! Woo hoo! And I am going to keep on being loud as long as there are people who face fear and shame in admitting their atheism.
Oh, and back to the Screen-Free Week thing, since I started with it. We'll still do something to honor the spirit of the week, like maybe adding some more screen-free chunks of time, including a few screen-free days. I just can't lose this connection with the online atheist community.
One last thing.
I think we're going to be doing the "Live Below the Line" challenge the week after "Screen Free Week", and two challenge weeks in a row would be a bit much, especially this late in our school year when our focus is on finishing things up.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.livebelowtheline.com/us
Wow, Theresa. Thanks for sharing this link! That would be quite a challenge. Will have to talk it over with the family and see if they are up for it.
DeleteI don't know that we can actually do it, but we're going to give it a go. I figure even if we only make it a couple of days, the experience will be educational in a way that talking about poverty never could be. We talk about budgeting and what we can afford versus what other less fortunate people can afford sometimes. This makes that conversation much less abstract. Since my kids are teens, they're old and physically strong enough that I don't have to worry about making them sick or anything. I wouldn't try it with little kids.
DeleteWe already love beans and lentils, so I know I can make meals for under $2 that we will all eat. With a family of five, we'd get $7.50a day. My big concern is all the yummy fresh fruits and veggies we have all the time now. I know we would give up most of those, especially since we have nothing in our own garden or available at the farmer's market at this point.
DeleteWe eat a lot of beans and lentils already as well. I looked at their recipes and thought that it wasn't too much of a stretch, and then had the same thought that you did-- it totally kills buying any fresh veggies. Since we live so far south, we at least have a lot of stuff in our garden already and more by the time this starts.
DeleteThat non-sequiter comment by the Turtle Kid reminds me of people who find a way to bring "blessings" or "Jesus" or "church" into every conversation.
ReplyDeleteHaha. Love it.
DeleteLeanna...we're Jewish. I know it's different, but we too are "screwed" in a lot of people's minds. We left KY in part because of that thinking and just moved again in part because of a neighbor who I know likes us and therefore felt bad for us because of our "misguided" thinking. I said something about being a good person and she quickly said "no...it's not what you do, it's what you believe." You're kidding me...right??
ReplyDeleteIt's funny when others around you are more worried about your life (or possible afterlife) than you are. When I was a kid I told my dad that I was worried because someone told me that I had to be Baptized to go to heaven. He smirked and just said "it's okay Bonnie, no worries, you've been vaccinated." Haha...s'all good.:o)
LOL at your dad's vaccinated reply.
DeleteVery sad that people in this day and age place more value on what a person believes than on how they behave!
So true, and what’s perhaps even more childcare hills area devastating is that there’s been so little support to help the community rebuild.
ReplyDelete