Since its origin sometime during the Middle Paleolithic period, religion has been regarded by the common people as true, the wise as false, and the powerful as useful. As scientific discoveries are made that truly explain natural events or phenomena, the god(s) or other mythological justifications for the events become false and ultimately accepted as bogus. Today several unanswered questions remain. What is the origin of life? What brought into existence all matter? What is beyond the universe? What happens when you die? Theists have filled in answers to these questions of the unknown with more of the unknown which clearly isn’t a very logical procedure. If you really think about all the different types of religions in the world, it seems that God is just a projection of the personal culture of the different regions. However, scattered through today’s world of many deluded minds, millions of people have realized that the truth doesn’t require having any “faith”. Atheists have accepted the unanswered questions as simply unknown thus far, and have not puttied the ridiculous concept of a god over the gaps in our knowledge. People lacking the belief in God share many advantages over religious people. Finding moral values within themselves, discarding the false hope of prayer as an aid to resolving problems, and striving for absolute involvement in life are just three of the many, many reasons an atheistic lifestyle is better for the individual, as well as all of humanity.
In essence, an atheist’s morality rises from their own thoughts and personal views on issues, rather than the forced perspective of doing what is right for a god. With this freedom, the nonbeliever is allowed to enjoy many aspects of life that are oftentimes difficult or impossible for the religious. Atheists raise freethinking children. They let their children pick a religion, or none. This is usually hard for parents. If a child wanted to be another religion, or even an atheist, it would be devastating to most religious parents. With this acceptance of the individual comes the beauty that an atheist can be friends with everyone without having the thought in the back of their mind that this person's lifestyle may be incompatible due to their personal differences. Atheists have the power to accept people for who they are. Enabling them to enjoy others quirks rather than chastise them for being unique. In addition, atheists can have relationships with people who have alternative lifestyles without feeling like they have to save them from some deity that is going to condemn them for being themselves. After all, if there was a creator, then He has made everyone the way they are! When generosity rises from an atheist, it is out of the pure goodness of their heart. They are not trying to please any higher beings; it’s just something that they feel is the right thing to do. Being true to oneself is very important to atheists, and it’s clearly a driving force in their ethical decisions.
If I put fourth only minimal effort in writing this essay, would I receive a grade of 100%? What if I prayed every night that I get an A+? Maybe I wouldn’t be given that grade since I don’t believe. Perhaps it’s not part of Gods plan, and goes against His will. Possibly, the answer to my prayer was simply a “no.” Or, it may be that my prayer was too materialistic and self-seeking. Atheists don’t concern themselves with these excuses for why praying doesn’t always work. Atheists know that hoping, wishing and praying does absolutely nothing to help a cause, and the only real way to accomplish something is to put their hands to use instead of clasping them together. When someone denies the possibility of aid from prayer, it empowers them to take responsibility for their own doings, not to rely on help from an ubiquitous creature. If everyone thought that a magical plan was going to happen, no matter what, then why try to prevent the events or make things better? Atheists take comfort in knowing that there is no plan, and that their actions and advances in studies and technology alone, can combat catastrophes or other horrible events that are often instead credited as being the unstoppable “wrath of God.”