Brand New Atheist

This is my first Labor Day as an atheist.

First I’m going to explain what Labor Day means to me now, then I’m going to look it up online.

Before Research: I have no idea what Labor Day is about. People working, is that it? Really?

After Research: It’s about people who worked over 100 years ago and got the day off. I guess they needed a holiday for that.

I worked on Labor Day and the Sunday before that and the Saturday before that. I run my own business and holidays mean nothing to guys like us.

This is my first Independence as an atheist.

I asked my girls what holiday today was and they both said “4th of July”, I explained the “4th of July” is a date not a holiday. My youngest said “Independence Day” which surprized me. I told Karen that if it had been on another day we might not refer to it as the date itself. For instance, we woulnd’t refer to “Independence Day” by it’s date had it been October 23rd or the 23rd of October. It just so happens that “4th of July” rolls off the tongue easily, that has to be the only reason we refer to ID that way.

I’ve never appreciated or understood ID more than I do now. While I don’t really have an allegance to America I do think this is a good country even with all of it’s problems. I’m not proud to be an American, I don’t understand how you can be proud of something that you never had a choice about. That’s like saying you’re proud to be short or proud to be old. Most people believe in the God that is believed by most of the people in that area, how can you be proud of that.

I’m very ignorant about other countries because I’ve never been outside the US, not even to Canada. I was born and raised here, I didn’t have a choice to be American.

What’s great about this country is that after 36 years of being a christian I did the research and realized that Gods aren’t real and I became an open atheist and no one is trying to kill me. I believe if I had been born in the UK no one would be trying to kill me either. However, had I been born in a country that believes in Allah I don’t think I could be an open atheist.

Independence Day is a great holiday but how long before it doesn’t matter anymore and no one cares? As long as people think “4th of July” is the holiday they get to shoot fireworks it may never end.

Independence was a step forward for this country but with all of the religous policy in government too many steps backwards are being taken.

This is my first Father’s Day as an atheist.

First I’m going to explain what Father’s Day means to me now, then I’m going to look it up online.

Before Research: Father’s Day is a made up Holiday to celebrate men you who have had children. Surprisingly, being an atheist hasn’t changed things around me like many of the people I’ve read about.

After Research: I was right, there’s not much to Father’s Day.

This is my first Memorial Day as an atheist.

First I’m going to explain what Memorial Day means to me now, then I’m going to look it up online.

Before Research: What does Memorial Day mean now? I’ve always assumed Memorial Day was designed to recognize the soldiers that have died in the name of the United States.

After Research: For the most part I was correct in my assumption.

I tried to get a Caramel Frappuccino earlier today. Since the closest coffee shop (Coffee Crossing, yes their logo is a cross) is closed for all religious holidays, I went to Target to get me a Frap. To my surprise they were closed. It was almost as bad a Christmas day, most stores were closed. So I went to Bass Pro Shop because they have a Starbucks, and they were open.

I’m very surprised that large chains like Target would close any day. You can always find someone to work when someone else won’t. And why do these stores or our government for that matter care what your personal religious beliefs are? Wouldn’t it be easier to treat everyone the same in a secular manner and let them practice their personal beliefs on their own time.

As the population of atheists grow in America, we will be able to remove these annoying restrictions that religious people have created that affect everyone. Because your religious holidays mean nothing to me, the same way other countries religious days don’t mean anything to American christians.

This is my first Easter as an atheist.

First I’m going to explain what Easter means to me now, then I’m going to look it up online.

Before Research: Easter is the one day a year that children hunt artificial or boiled and painted eggs. It seems to have no relevance to adults. Why does Easter exist? I have no idea. Is Easter related to some other event? None that I’m aware of. I look at Easter and Halloween as very similar. Kids gets candy. Easter has never meant more than kids and candy to me.

After Research: Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus three days after he was killed. I didn’t know that but it doesn’t really surprise me. Easter is also linked to Passover. As far as I’m concerned Easter will remain about kids and candy. If I can age 36 years in America and not know what Easter meant then it doesn’t deserve more than a colored goose egg.

This is my first Saint Patrick’s Day as an atheist.

First I’m going to explain what Saint Patrick’s Day means to me now, then I’m going to look it up online.

Before Research: Saint Patrick’s Day is the one day a year that Americans pinch each other for not wearing green. People also like to make things green that normally wouldn’t be. Why does Saint Patrick’s Day exist? I have no idea. Is Saint Patrick’s Day related to some other event? None that I’m aware of. I assume Saint Patrick’s Day is something they celebrate in Ireland and we do it here just for fun.

After Research: Saint Patrick’s Day turns out to be religious. Are you serious? I thought it was about a place or a thing, it never occurred to me that it was an actual person. I was partly correct, it’s celebrated in Ireland. The story of Saint Patrick’s Day isn’t very interesting either. The day was mostly over before I even knew it was Saint Patrick’s Day. And it still doesn’t mean anything to me.

This is my first New Year’s Eve as an atheist.

First I’m going to explain what New Year’s Eve means to me now, then I’m going to look it up online.

Before Research: New Year’s Eve is the one day a year where we celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next. It usually means parties to most people. And fireworks.

After Research: New Year’s Eve is only the celebration of the last day of the year.

This is my first Christmas as an atheist.

What does Christmas mean now? A very good question. As a new member of the non-believers, Christmas hasn’t changed.

I never saw Christmas as really having anything to do with God or Jesus. And since that’s the way the majority of the believers feel anyway, Christmas is pretty much the same.

Even the stores are trying to turn it into a generic holiday. I think they are embracing more people rather than trying not to offend anyone. Happy Holidays.

Christmas is a yearly party with family where everyone exchanges gifts. A few people go to a special Christmas service. But the majority don’t.
The staunch believers try to make all of the other believers feel bad because they think since Christmas wouldn’t exist without Jesus. That it’s only fitting you attend.
Most believers want to take the day off and not have to go anywhere, even if it is to celebrate their Lord’s birthday (most believers don’t know Jesus wasn’t born in December).

Even churches themselves bend to the will of the majority. I can imagine a time when the church told it’s congregation there would be service on Christmas day and the congregation knew they had to attend. But the church has lost it’s power. Churches merely exist at the hands of a few generous tithers. I think maybe that would change if their God presented himself or gave some real proof of his existence, but even believers have learned that God has little to do with the world today. There’s no penalty here on Earth.

One small thing is different for me. For the first time in my life I don’t want to hear Christmas music. My girls started playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving.
I’m not really sure what it is, but I think most Christmas songs have lost their meaning for me.

This is my first Thanksgiving as an atheist.

First I’m going to explain what Thanksgiving means to me now, then I’m going to look it up online.

Before Research: Thanksgiving is the one day a year where we over eat. And we do it because pilgrims landed in America and traded stuff with Indians. Why does Thanksgiving exist? Celebration of Europeans making it to America in some small ships. Is Thanksgiving related to some other event? None that I’m aware of. I look at Thanksgiving as nothing more than an excuse for companies to market stuff you wouldn’t normally eat. I get Thanksgiving and Columbus Day mixed up.

After Research: Thanksgiving turns out to be a Thanksgiving to God. Are you serious? It can’t just be about some people doing something. Thanksgiving is a day that means many different things to many people. Each country has it’s own Thanksgiving for one reason or another. Thanksgiving is extremely unimportant to me. If it wasn’t a national holiday, it would pass by without me even knowing. Kinda like Saint Patrick’s Day.