I Was an Angry Atheist
Some stereotypes are accurate
I was an angry atheist. I fit many of the stereotypes Christians in the United States have of angry atheists. I had a hard time refraining from mocking religion. I hadn’t yet heard terms like “anti-theistic,” but they would have described me. I tried not to insult religious believers, but their beliefs were another matter. I found too many of them harmful. I didn’t understand how a reasonable adult could continue to believe this stuff. I seemed to forget that I had believed it only a few years earlier.
My angry atheism lasted for over a decade. With the benefit of hindsight, I can’t say it was good for anyone. I know it wasn’t good for me. I was too antagonistic. If I had wanted to change minds, this was not the way to do it. If I had wanted to improve my understanding of others, this was not helpful. Aside from a few atheists who were at the same place, my angry atheism pushed people away. I’m glad I managed to set it aside.
I Still Get Angry, But It No Longer Controls Me
To be clear, I still get angry about many of the same things that used to anger me. Religiously motivated bigotry continues to infuriate me. Efforts to restrict our rights based on someone’s religious beliefs do the same. I continue to detest door-to-door proselytizing. I am…
