So Liberated

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One of the things that will always be a challenge is my ability to articulate myself properly if or when I am questioned about why I left the faith. I know exactly why, but explaining it to others in a way they can understand will be hard. The main reason being that I am actually (and this will sound nuts) living in a completely different reality from the person who would be doing the asking. Literally living in another reality. It's so freeing!

The anger and malice that comes from Christians and is hurled at non-believers comes from fear. Their own fears regarding things they don't want to think about and their fears that the atheist is choosing hell. 

I happened upon a clip from the YouTube show Hot Ones where the amazing Neil deGrasse Tyson talked about how we are a part of the universe and why it's special and it was so perfect an explanation. He said, "We have come to define significance as that we are special and everything else isn't. Religions thinking they're special, cultures thinking they're special, individuals thinking they're special. The top four ingredients in life, in your body; top four atoms, in order: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen. Those four atoms. Do you know what the top ingredients are for the universe? The top four chemically active atoms in the universe?  Hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen." The host pipes in, "I am the universe." Neil shouts, "YES!" He adds, "So upon learning that you're not special because you do not contain special ingredients is the same fact that includes the idea that while we live in this universe, the universe lives within us. We are special because we're the same."

Boom.

That exactly articulates my excitement about existing even without a God. Somehow I am alive. I am a part of everything and everything is a part of me. I am not afraid of the idea of no afterlife as I imagine it will be exactly identical to what it was like before I existed at all; before I was born. I am in awe of the stars and the planets and I am in awe of everything that exists on this planet, from every plant, animal and living thing to every bit of human ingenuity. It is all amazing. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da8-QfGemgo


   


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