For some, it’s not easy being an atheist. I have no idea why other than the possibility of being ostracized within a group or society as a whole. That should be enough, right? But then, wouldn’t I be allowing other people to think for me? I don’t think I’ve really ever experienced social shunning , but then my circle of friends has always been small to begin with and none of those I call friend (yes, even some that are Christian) are willing to toss me to the side because I don’t believe in the supernatural. I, as well, don’t judge people based on their belief system.

I had people accuse me, as an atheist, of not believing in anything. So, not believing in some “god” means I am unable to hold beliefs or opinions about what goes on around me. Those issues that may directly or indirectly affect me. Is it even possible that I, an atheist, may agree with a believer in some instances? I’m not just an atheist, but, unusually, a conservative as well. Yes, I know we’re unusual because most atheists I know are, well , beyond what we used to call “liberal”. In fact, looking at the principles of liberalism when I was growing up, looking like the same principles of conservatism today. Freedom of religion, speech, right to bear arms, basically the entire Bill of Rights. Those were held dearly by those liberals from a generation ago. Not so much today.

Free speech? Not if you disagree with the popular “liberal” narrative. Religion? Just take a look at the Bill of Rights, one by one, and see where today’s “liberals” would like those amendments gone. But conservatives aren’t as pure as they’d like everyone to believe either. Take a look at the schism between conservatives that are Zionists versus those that aren’t. You may know, I’m in the second group. Does that make me antisemitic? I hope not because I don’t “hate” Jews. I don’t hate anyone and as I have always said, I respect others right to their religious belief and yes, that includes Judaism. For soe reason though, being anti-Zionist is being equated to being anti-Zionist and this nonsense is being spread by some very popular podcasters (at least in the recent past).

I think people are growing, politically and intellectually, beyond what some of the scout leaders are telling them they must support. Good. It’s good to begin to see a generation to start thinking for themselves. That doesn’t mean your thinking will always be with the majority. But as we all know, facts are just that. Opinion, is just that. The two don’t necessarily match up because there are many opinions, but only a single truth. Something is either true or it’s not. We try to weigh things against our lived experience and that’s not always a good measure because, everybody’s lived experience is, well, different.

What does atheism have to do with any of this? Well, nothing. Having no belief in the supernatural doesn’t really mean anything other than that. Some would like atheists to be. more politically active, like their religious counterparts, the problem being we have no specific leadership to guide us to the right conclusion. So even if you’re on the left, like 90% of atheists, it doesn’t translate that 90% are going to vote for one major party over another, IT would be interesting to see one or the other party try to attract atheists to their ideology. I wonder how that would look to the mainstream of the party? I think it’s worth a try.