Welcome, Atheists. But, Really, Why Are You Here? [View All]

Eliot Daley
Posted: 10/17/11 02:26 PM ET

As a relative newcomer to posting articles in the Religion section of HuffPost, I've been struck by the number of "Comments" posted in response to my articles by people who are quick and loud to proclaim their atheism and the non-existence of God -- and equally quick and loud to disdain the rest of us who don't share their perspective.

What's up with this, anyhow? I mean, really, what are you doing cruising the Religion department?

Actually, I don't ask out of disrespect. I ask out of genuine curiosity. But en route to whatever comments this post will stimulate from the atheists among us, I guess I'll share my own thoughts and speculations.

To begin with, I am impressed by how often certain atheists' posts make knowledgeable references to elements of faith -- e.g., creeds, tenets, customs -- which would suggest these are disaffected veterans of church or synagogue life who, for some reason or other, are now vigorously renouncing earlier foolishness and still working at putting some distance between themselves and their own (or their parents') faith.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eliot-daley/why-atheists-read-religion-page_b_1005417.html

:popcorn: