Why I Am Not an Atheist: My Beliefs and Convictions
Self-reflection is a deeply personal journey. I am not an atheist, and here is why.
For starters, I am too much of a hippie for it. Or as Americans sometimes say, “spiritual but not religious.” Thanks to Quora, I have stumbled upon the Dutch word “ietsism” or “something-ism,” which is defined as an unspecified belief in an undetermined transcendent reality. This pretty much sums up my beliefs. I think there is definitely “something” out there that is beyond the reality we can see, hear, or touch, and is accessible in certain circumstances.
Pictured: metaphorical representation of me
Given the current state of things in America, I find myself more often aligning with atheists than not in terms of social issues and politics. I don't like the imposition of religion on society. I am not even sure about the existence of a God. However, I cannot fully embrace the total rejection of spirituality that is often seen in atheists I encounter.
A Blaze of Certainty
“neither a nor a” – this is my stance. I consider the chance of a deity existing to be equally likely to one not existing, which makes me equally an atheist and a theist.
And since the atheist club has only one rule: no theists, I am not an atheist nor a theist for that matter. It’s really as simple as that.
“Normal people, with no label to call us” – is how it feels to just be who we are without being defined by our beliefs. I don't believe in fantasies, and nobody here believes in them, yet we are not called by the terms that define these beliefs. We are just normal.
But being labeled as a neither nor also comes with its own set of challenges. It took me a very long time to reach this state of being. Now, I only have to answer to others for my actions. It’s a relief to be self-labeled and self-defined.
A Personal Journey
Athiesm isn't my cup of tea. And believe me… I have questioned my faith many times. It was a bad decision. People closest to my heart ended up dying right after. So that means either my lack of faith killed them or the weather depends on my emotions.
But then again, my heritage and experiences have given me insights into a spiritual world. My father is someone special in the spirit world, and this is how I know it exists.
This journey of self-discovery has been a rollercoaster of emotions, thoughts, and beliefs. It is a unique blend of spirituality and skepticism, making me neither fully atheistic nor theistic.