Cliff notes to atheism

An atheist perspective is generally perceived as inherently irreligious rather than simply a lack of belief in a god or set of gods as its definition dictates (a-theistic meaning "not theistic").

Theists generally dismiss the idea of atheists having a belief system, let alone one as complex and diverse as those of the theistic community (i.e. more than 150 denominations of Christianity in the United States).

The stereotypes that atheists lack the direction and motivation regularly provides a condescending tone by theists, saying how they "feel sorry" for atheists and that they "once were lost too" but "came to see." Such a tone implies that the belief system of an atheist is not only ignorant, but baseless.

In fact, atheists do assume a belief system, simply not a formal organized religion. Simply because atheists do not believe in a god does not necessarily disallow atheists from sharing the perspective of those around them.

In a pluralistic society open to all belief systems, atheists are able to find truth from a wide variety of culture and religions. It is ridiculous to perceive atheists as lost, unmotivated persons destined for immoral behavior without a god's judgment to keep them in check.

For the more extreme atheists who believe that their afterlife is as worm food, wouldn't such persons be motivated to not let their life waste away? Without hope for a heaven in which they might continue, atheist may be driven toward appreciating the life they have.

Based on these facts, presumably organized religions would embrace atheism as a belief system as it shares one of their central aspects -- a leap of faith. While alive, atheists and theists can debate all they want about the evidence or lack thereof of an overseeing power. Nonetheless, atheists take an equally large leap of faith by not believing in a god.

Obviously the world's fourth largest religious group of more than 850 million that self-identify as non-religious, agnostic or atheists are taking quite the risk. Hey, it could screw them over in the end.

One atheist puts it nicely, comparing the debate over the existence of a deity to two persons inside a windowless room debating whether there is a tree outside their house. There very well may be ... or not, but both strongly held beliefs rely on faith.

It's been a while since any virgins immaculately conceived a child of God. While acts are regularly explained as a god's will, He (She, They, Everything or Nothing) has yet to make it extremely clear to all persons where the credit lies.

There is plenty of open homosexuality in the United States, yet no god has decided to take any action. If memory serves, one of those gods used to have a problem with homosexuality, yet nothing has happened in recent years (maybe a sign to theists that it is no longer an issue).

The humorous irony to theists, who patronize atheists for not having a belief system, is that they show similar sensitivity when their beliefs are challenged, and they suffer equally harmful charges by atheists that faith in a deity is based out of loneliness, stupidity, ignorance and an unquestioning mind.

Commonly theists charge that the secular community lacks an open mind to faith in the media and classroom, while theistic religions are very open in showing their missionary efforts. Maybe missionary efforts should be stopped before theists claim it is secular media that is trying to impose itself on the world.