Atheism isn't predicated on whether evolution is true or not

The headline above is probably not a new thought, but it keeps going through my mind.

Freedom From Religion Foundation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Atheism isn’t predicated on whether evolution is true or not

Evolution could be completely false. It could be the biggest ruse in the world. And if it turned up false, I wouldn’t find myself lost without direction or self-comprehension.

I’m not an atheist, because of the Theory of Evolution or the Big Bang.

I’m an atheist, because I have reviewed what the world has to show me, the universe, the bible, and I’ve come to the understanding that the bible isn’t all that great. The Jesus story, or the gospel, isn’t what it is purported to be.

If the best of what belief has to offer is what has been presented, disbelief is more satisfying.

Given the choice to believe or not, I choose disbelief. It’s simple.

I’m not sure other atheists sit around and think, “Gosh, I want to be wrong.”

I’d love to be wrong.

To have the supernatural creator of the universe to help me find my car keys, heal me when sick or give me strength when I’m weak would be awesome, right?

Natural causes may point toward evolution and the big bang theories, but whether or not they are factual does not make me a stronger or weaker atheist.

I agree that evolution is the best explanation for life, but it’s not my “opinion” per se. I’m resting my laurels on that which came before me. I’m resting trust — call it faith — in what the professionals have advised.

When a believer claims that he’s being persecuted, dragged through the mud for his “opinions”, and that that qualifies as “bigotry”, I have to question whether bigotry is the right description for the situation.

When believers express their opinions, they are not their opinions, but rather the views that they have grown accustomed to agree with.

When someone says, “I disagree with these things,” why is that offensive? Why should that qualify as bigotry.

Above I wrote, “I’m not an atheist, because of the Theory of Evolution or the Big Bang.”

I’m having trouble coming up with a similar statement for a religiously minded person.

Is it, “I’m not a Christian because of the Gospel”?

Because being a Christian depends on the idea that you agree with Jesus’s life, death and resurrection. You can’t have one without the other.

But being an atheist is predicated on rejecting that statement, as well as any statement that evokes religious connection.

I can reject evolution — even if it were declared a religion — and I would still be an atheist.

If you’re wondering why I chose to write on this topic, I was moved by the discussion I referenced earlier today. Here’s my post. I commented on this blog at TYWKIWDBI.

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