I’ve been an Atheist for the better part of three years or so. I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I can hold my own in a debate. However after my “conversion” to atheism I can tell you in a bit of a confessional- type message on the inner workings of the Church of Atheism. Like any good religion we too have ourselves a rich, thought-provoking, and tumultuous history. From Horus, Zeus, Thor, all the way up to your God we’ve said, “Sorry champ I’m not buying what your selling.”

But in atheism we’ve taken out the Gods and just added a hell of a lot of prophets. Allow me to start with the Prophets of Old Atheism. We have Father Charles Darwin, Saint Galileo Galilei, Brothers Albert Einstein and Thomas Jefferson (although both Deist we give them honorary-atheist roles), Mother Marie Curie, Priest Carl Sagan, and this is to just name a few. To get into the Prophets of New Atheism we have the Four Horsemen Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, along with Sister Ayaan Hirsi Ali leading this war for secularism.

Similar to theists, we do our own fun parlor tricks and spout off everything we are told, to counter any argument that opposes our doctrine. Our doctrine is complete with our own apologists to translate what our text is saying. That’s right, we even have our own ‘holy books.’ The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins has been one of our favorites, but we never forget our classics such as the ‘Gospels of Origin of Species’ of our collection of ‘Psalms on Big Bang Theory.’ We are even told by our higher-ups that there is certain theories that one must never question.

Even if a particular Atheism isn’t right for you, we come equip with differing sects. The ‘Reformed’ Churches of Center For Inquiry, American Atheist, Freedom from Religion Foundation, Secular Student Alliance, and many more. Each that request donations from their congregation of faith followers.

I always thought it was arrogant to say that “There is a God,” without evidence, but I find it equally as arrogant to put forth the message that “There is not a God” without full certainty. Now these statements are dealing in an absolute which for me in the realm of reasoning and skepticism is a hard idea to swallow. To have a degree of certainty of what is right or wrong can only be put forth with questions. This is something I put forth dear readers whether you are a theist or atheist is to keep questioning. Being someone that has spent time in both factions, questioning is something that made me stronger in my beliefs when in either groups. I finish with a final quote from one of my favorite prophets of science Richard Feynman that goes, “We must start with the understanding that everything [Science or Religion] we know is possibly wrong.”

By Nicholas Smedes