Replying to a Believer

Author Emily Dietle

My focus is on state-church separation & social issues. I'm an avid reader, and feel that one of our most valuable tools is the free movement of information and ideas. | @emilyhasbooks

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You claim that “there is no such thing as an atheist,” and that those who claim to be atheists are “rebelling against God.”  I understand the difficulty you face in grasping the idea that people do not believe in your god, I’ve been there.  As a pre-teen, after years of being steeped in Christianity, it was inconceivable to think that some people didn’t believe in my god.  I thought, rather, that they actually hated him and I rejected their statements of disbelief.

The fact is, I don’t hate your god or anyone else’s.  In fact, I find some of the ancient gods and their lore to be highly entertaining- and entirely fictional.  Perhaps a classic quote could help you understand my position about your particular god:

I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. – Stephen F. Roberts

Furthermore, if there is a “creator of everything,” it certainly isn’t the Christian god, or the Muslim god, or any other of they myriad of despicable gods identified by mankind.  If a god-like creature exists, it doesn’t deserve our eternal praise- for if it were “all-powerful”, it surely cares not for us- a glance at the totality of human suffering clearly reveals that.