A Most Liberating Experience

In solemn reflection I would have to say that I have, for the most part, lived my life as if there were no god. Sure, if anyone asked I would claim a belief in a god and tell you I was of the Christian persuasion. I even attended a Pentecostal Church as recent as two years ago, preceded by a brief attendance at a Baptist Church, but have not been back for about a year, give or take. It just wasn't my idea of something I needed to do and for the most part the services were, more often than not, mere fundraising events as evidenced to me by the repetitious mention of tithing as a Christian duty in nearly every sermon regardless of context. I will admit though they put on a good show and that is all it became to me, a show. In fact, they got to where they put on two shows every Sunday due to the increase in attendance.

Couple that with my long lived opinion of most, if not all, televangelists and you can see how it came to pass that I rejected religion altogether. I was attending religious services that soon became to me indistinguishable from what anyone can find on the Church Channel. The nail in the coffin, so to speak, came when I read "God is Not Great" by Christopher Hitchens quickly followed by "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. It all suddenly made sense to me.

I have lived most of my life as if there is no god simply because that is what all men, and women too, would do if left uninfluenced by parents or guardians to take up a religion. My only flirtations with religion were as the result of the urging of a coworker or friend to turn from my backsliding ways. Of course I would oblige, at least for a little while, then I would make my escape back to where I felt most comfortable.

I have finally made the needed adjustment in my life to remain in an "escaped" environment for the remainder of my tenure here on this Blue Planet. When invited or encouraged to attend Church with a friend or coworker, I can now proudly say that since I am an atheist it would be illogical for me to attend any church service. This is most liberating indeed.