To friends and family

It has come to my attention that certain close relatives will inevitably find this blog. Well, I knew this would happen from the start. I have made no effort to hide the fact that I have a blog (it's on facebook, and I have mentioned it in conversation more than once). A year ago, I would have had reservations about talking about my atheism, but I no longer care if people know. I now realize that any fears were of my own making.

First, a little background. I consider myself to have deconverted somewhere between my junior year of high school and high school graduation. Previous to that, I didn't think too much about it. I went to a Catholic, Jesuit high school. I still think highly of the school, the education, and the Jesuits. I give them a lot of credit. I am not atheist because of a lack of education. I simply insisted on thinking for myself, as should all.

I say all this to disperse any feelings that anyone is "to blame". But the other reason that no one is "to blame" is that I don't even see it as a bad thing. For someone of my background, being atheist makes hardly a difference in who I really am. I would have the same personality, interests, and behaviors. Would it really make much of a difference if, in my long blog posts plumbing the depths of philosophy, I came to a slightly different conclusion at the end? I don't think anyone would ever have noticed if I never said anything about it. No, nothing happens to my morality either. For a college student, the morals I have are relatively conservative (e.g. no alcohol). If my beliefs have made no difference in how I act, and will never do so, why should a god, or anyone, take offense to them?

Another thing I should say is that I do not consider myself to be a "seeker". I do not consider this to be one step in a spiritual journey. No, I think that this was just one brief detour, ended long ago, in the larger journey of life, which, when it comes down to it, really isn't just about religion.