Must Every Atheist Want Everyone Else To Be Atheists?

I've been writing a blog about atheism and related topics for several years. Does the fact I often write about atheism mean that I want everybody else to become atheists? It could mean that. It is possible that I write about atheism because I'd like to persuade others to be atheists. But must it mean that? No, not at all. Persuasion is but one of many motives for writing.

Christians can write about Christianity without wanting their audience to become Christians. Persuasion isn't always what drives them. I've known plenty of Christians who enjoy talking about Christianity. While some do hope to convert others, many don't. They talk about it because it interests them or connects them to others. They have little interest in proselytizing. These things can be true of atheists too. I suspect that they might be more likely to be true of atheists.

Being an Atheist Is Still Different From Not Collecting Stamps

Is it possible that I've written most of what I have to say on atheism and closely-related topics? Yes, it seems like this might be the case, and it has seemed this way for some time. But I must be cautious because experience demands skepticism. I've had this same thought many times over the last decade. It doesn't stick around for long. Something always seems to happen that pulls me back. Because of where I live, that something is usually some form of Christian over-reach.

It is okay to admit that atheism can be a dull subject, even for some atheists. Even for this atheist! Why spend any more time on it than we'd spend on anything else that isn't true of us or that we don't do? I don't need any fingers to count the number of times I've written about how I don't collect stamps. It has never occurred to me to do so. Why would it?

Is Religion Required to Believe in an Afterlife?

A belief in some sort of afterlife is a common theme one finds in most world religions. The two are often intertwined to the point that they seem hard to separate. There's something waiting for you after you die. Religion will provide you with a roadmap so you'll know how to get there. That's a powerful selling point. Some have even suggested that this is vital to understanding the appeal of religion.

Is it possible to separate belief in an afterlife from religion? Could we have one without the other? I'm inclined to think that we could. It would look different, but I'm not sure that belief in an afterlife has to involve religion.

Living in Mississippi Shapes My Perceptions

Where I live makes me more pessimistic about many things than I'd otherwise be. I sometimes forget this. I then assume that the views I encounter in Mississippi are more representative than I hope they are. This has caused me the most trouble in two domains. The first involves secularism and the plight of atheists. The second is about the toxic form of Republicanism that now plagues our country (i.e., MAGA).

Both are easy to understand. I live in a place where atheists are scarce and reviled. Evangelical fundamentalist Christianity is the norm. If there's a position of power, you best believe a Southern Baptist holds it! Expressions of blatant bigotry against atheists are common. The bigots don't expect negative consequences and are right not to do so. They'll say awful things about queer people too, but they often lower their voice before doing so. They don't do this when it comes to atheists.