So I’m eating some unhealthy food with my friend at McDonald’s. We notice that a couple is staring at us, whatever. They approach us. Then the lady asks how God has changed our lives and a string of other related questions. My friend said that he recently found God and that he’s become a better person. I, unlike my friend, did not find God a few seconds ago, so I quietly answer that I am an atheist. My friend’s eyes widen and he kicks me really hard. What the hell?! Then I realized what I just did. She makes herself comfortable in the seat in back of mine and starts talking about how it’s wrong to be an atheist. I was so offended by some of her comments, especially that I was a lost sheep of God, so I argued back. Another kick. I gave in (figured she wouldn’t leave) and heard her story about how she had been to heaven and back. Twenty minutes later, my food is cold and I’m annoyed. Finally, she tells me that I should learn from my friend and leaves. I did learn from my friend, just give a stupid answer.

This isn’t the first time I have been lectured about religion. Some people don’t accept their beliefs are not shared by the whole world and thus try to impose theirs own onto others. There are certain subjects that I would be open to for suggestions, but that is not one of them. No one likes to have others’ beliefs shoved down their throat. I’m sure that if I did, I’d get a lot of people mad. But I’m not going around telling people that they’re wrong. I DON’T CARE. It’s none of my business and it’s definitely none of theirs.

People don’t want to hear that you’re an atheist. And if you do (tell people you’re an atheist), you’re at risk of being treated differently. So do you just go along with it or speak up? I used to go along with whatever people said so I wouldn’t have to deal with any problems or with people acting weird. It didn’t feel right. If people like you as a person, then it shouldn’t be of importance what you believe. I chose to stand up for what I believe in.









My mom hasn’t talked to me since Ash Wednesday because I refused to go to church to get an ash cross on my forehead. I wasn’t rude to her, yet she yelled at me and threw in some insults. Out of all the people, my mom made me feel like crap. But what was I supposed to do? She’s not going to decide what I’m going to believe in. I will not do something like that just to please her. The worst part is that if my mom won’t even bother to understand, then I doubt any of my more religious family members will. 

Being an atheist doesn’t mean there’s no sense of goodness present. Just because someone is an atheist doesn’t mean they don’t want to help others, that they have killed a person or two, that they don’t respect others, or that they haven’t done anything good. I chose to be atheist because religion, to me, is just comfort. It answers questions that we don’t know the answers to. But not believing in the existence of a God or gods doesn’t make me, or anyone, a bad person.

The first amendment gives us the right to freedom of religion and freedom FROM RELIGION. Religion is present everywhere, in school, at home, in politics, everywhere! But I’ll tell you one place it doesn’t belong, in the ears of people who don’t want to hear about it. It shouldn’t matter if you’re atheist, agnostic, Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, devil worshipper, or whatever you choose to believe. It’s a personal choice that no one should try to influence. It’s a personal choice that deserves respect.