Forums → WEPR → Atheism Column

Hello everyone! I wrote a column for my school newspaper on atheism, mind giving me any opinions? Like, if I have an inaccurate statistic or if there's some additional information I should add.

Atheism, it's the disbelief in god. Many people, African, European, Indonesian, Canadian- you name it- beleive in god. Different versions of god and creators have floated around for hundreds of years. However, besides atheism, I'll be addressing fundamentalist Christianity, as it is the branch of Christianity I am most familiar with.
First of all, let me tell you a little about atheism, and what I beleive it should stand for. I beleive atheism should stand for an open minded individual that, depending on how much evidence it takes for the individual to beleive, looks for the reason of life, where it came from and why it's there. The Atheist should also, obviously, not beleive in god. Should the atheist beleive in god at one point, they would not be an atheist. Atheists, unless they are either close minded or simply uncaring, should always listen to new or different religions. That, is what a true atheist should be like.
The Washington Post says that 92% of America beleives in some sort of Deity, or "God". However, I don't think this isn't an entirely true statement. Though it has the possibility to be true, I don't think that it's completely true. Why? Well, children, as I was (at a point in time), are scared into believing in a god. From your parents telling you you'll burn in a eternal fire, where a big horned red-scorched hooved man pokes you in the back of the head with a pitchfork, to just telling you over and over that god is real, to even forcing it upon children, parents have been scaring their children to beleive in a god.
Oh, but that isn't exactly bad. Religion does teach morals and values, it's just that a child should be able to choose what they beleive in. Especially if their life is dependent upon religion. If someone is unable to choose what they think, in the "land of the free", we must be doing something wrong.
Now I'm sure you'd be able to argue, "We can still choose!", right? Not really, because the atheistic way is commonly shunned, or scorned upon. As such, a child, or even an adult, would be slightly afraid to speak what they beleive. I've heard stories where, when a child told his mother he was an atheist, he was either hated by his/her mother, or her/his mother felt like they hadn't raised their child right, or that they were a terrible parent. Then there's the one or two stories I hear where the mom/dad either didn't care, or was okay with it.
Other times atheists are shunned upon simply because they disagree with others, and are different. As we all know, humans fear, or just hate, change and difference. Which is another reason why atheistic children are afraid to speak their mind.
But oh, atheism isn't as great as I try to make it sound. It's actually somewhat of a depressing thought if you really think about it. Atheists generally beleive that there is no afterlife, because there is no god. Because of this, it can either make someone think more highly of life, or it can make them think life is the most terrible thing in the world. Why? Without a reward after this cruel, unforgiving and cold life, you know that there's nothing there. So naturally, there is no point to endure a cruel existence as a human being. This may be a reason why so many people turn to religion when dissapointed, confused, hurt, or in grief.
Like all things in this world, atheism has it's ups and downs. It can be both great, and it can be destroying to someone's mental stamina and health. However, it can also keep someone happy in the knowledge that the life they have now is the last, and as such it motivates them to make it a good one. It also allows people to be free from constraints and laws that they see unfit, but it might be taboo for their friends and/or family.