O STREET PIMP MY BLOG CHALLENGE
I'm an atheist, so what?
FINALIST
By PETER JURICH • O STREET GUEST BLOGGER • August 3, 2009
I was at work when someone brought up that I am an atheist.
A nearby coworker nearly had a heart attack.
You are? she asked. But ... you're such a ... good person!
In the words of Oneita: Oh, my.
I'd like to set the record straight on atheism. Being an atheist opens up my
world to the different possibilities I may have otherwise missed. It makes me
an accepting individual because it is an exercise in questioning that allows me
to explore any and all walks of life.
Atheism breaks down the barriers put up by racism, sexism, xenophobia and other
discrimination because I have an understanding that there is nothing more
important (i.e. an invitation into heaven) than the feelings I share with
others.
I explained this to my coworker.
Well, I'm older than you, she said. I understand more.
I didn't tell her that I attended a strict, private Catholic school for eight
years, that I had questions my teachers nervously refused to answer, and that
I've since answered those questions myself. I did, however, tell her my views
were not without research. Yes, she is older, but that doesn't mean anything.
I am capable of empathy, optimism, sadness, patriotism, guilt and love.
I told her I'm more confident because I'm not ashamed of any thoughts. I
neglected to stress that I still differentiate between right and wrong, but I
assumed she knew that.
I don't do drugs, have sex with strangers, drive insanely fast or bust caps in
asses.
Her response? Someday, you'll get it.
In respect to the warm and fuzzy feeling one gets (and I've tried very hard to
get) from organized religion, I can get that same feeling by going to a
concert. All we are feeling is the energy of a group of people coming together
enthusiastically for a common interest. The difference is the context:
Believers feel God brought them together; fans think it was Ticketmaster.
I ended the conversation out of respect for the workplace -- a public school.
Begrudgingly, I let my coworker have the final word.
Don't give up, she said. Just try keeping a more open mind.
PETER JURICH, 23, of Dearborn is a Wayne State University student who wrote
Typing With One Hand.
Oneita the Editor's Note: I met Peter in February when he interviewed me for a
homework assignment. That was flattering, but it didn't curry any favor: I
rejected the first blog entry he submitted for this challenge because it was
lame. I chose this one because of Peter's honesty and his perspective, and
because I knew it would produce a good conversation.
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