The Rising Trend

What is atheism for you? Each of us may have a different answers to this question. We may have different reasons, beliefs and practices. The idea of atheism is very broad and the definition varies from person to person. What makes it worse is that even among our group we still have some sort of differences. We agree on certain terms according to what's convenient for us and what we consider as moral. But, even our morality is being questioned. Religious groups think they monopolize morality itself. And we still even have several arguments internally within our group about it. We all agree just on a singe thing; there is no definite proof of any god.

During the last century, atheism is associated with bad things. We are always thought to be stupid and considered the same level with criminals. Our fellow heathen brothers used to hide their own identities for their own protection. They do their practices and research behind closed doors; far away from the prying eyes of those who considered themselves as religious. Once found out, they encounter several punishments not limited to torture, hanging, beheading, being burned alive, etc. And because of this, we alienated from everybody even among our own. 

I know most of us have experienced discrimination sometime in their lives. Raised eyebrows are a common response whenever we admit our beliefs. And most of the time, they associate our beliefs to depression, hallucination, addiction or bad friends. They think that we are in some state of confusion and medicines or professional psychiatric help can benefit us. (Even though some psychiatrists are atheists themselves.) Some choose a rather simplified method by contacting a priest or a church leader and they pray all over us. I never experienced one like this yet but I just can imagine the frustration one can feel.  But just like any other good stories, things do change. 

Most people today are more lenient about your personal perceptions or beliefs. Even several families like my own have a diverse religious groups within it. My oldest sister Rose is a born-again Christian. My second oldest sister, Heidee is a Mormon. My brother is an agnostic theist and doesn't follow any religion. The rest of the family are Catholic and my girlfriend's a member of INC. (Iglesia ni Cristo.) This is socially acceptable nowadays. I'm not saying that there are no more bashers but at least they are more lenient. Atheism is already considered a socially acceptable belief.

The rising trend nowadays however are people claiming that they are atheists but at the same time,  they still openly admit that they believe in god. Some just say they are atheist as a bragging right. Atheism is now associated with highly intelligent people. Some even calls us "cool group". Have you encountered a situation like this? Did you meet a person who claimed they are atheist but really not? How did you react? Share your thought.