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Table of Contents
Introduction
Section 1: Leaving Faith
The Foundation of Atheist Republic - Mohammed Savage
Life as an Atheist in an Islamic Republic - Abbas Syed
Church is For the Deaf, My Christian Experience in the Bible Belt - Sage
Mauldin
Once Upon A Time In Texas – Lee Myers
Section 2: What Is This “God” You Speak Of?
Your God Is Too Small – Tom Hanak
Why There Is No God: Quick Responses to 10 Common Theist Arguments -
Armin Navabi
What Has God Done For Mankind - Casper Rigsby
Dear God You Might Be Psychotic - Michael Sherlock
History of Hell - Rob Sharples
If God Does Exist.. - James Lawrence
The Worst Religious Holiday – Dean Van Drasek
Origin of Christmas: A Pagan Holiday - Debapriya Chatterjee
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Section 3: Morality
Atheist Morals? Don't Read This Unless You Are Very Brave – Dean Van
Drasek
Not Separate, And More Than Equal - Vish Carvaka
Why I'm Not A Homicidal Maniac – Lee Myers
Atheists And Our Furry Friends – Dean Van Drasek
Section 4: Islam (So Bad It Got Its Own
Section)
After Weighing Plethora Of Options, Bangladeshi Baby Finally Rests On Islam
- Steven Lo
“Islamophobia:” Can It Be Considered A Type of Racism? - James Lawrence
Islam: A Religion Of Peace? Do Not Insult My Intelligence! – James Lawrence
Section 5: The Thinking Life
Faith: The Most Absurd And Perverse Idea Ever Conceived – J.D. Brucker
Religion: Womb of Arrogance and Irrationality – Storme
YHWH's Magnum Opus Deals A Mortal Blow To Pascal's Wager – Randall
Hogan
The “Don't Ask Don't Tell” of The Soul - Dean Van Drasek
I Call It Faux-Stockholm Syndrome – Allie Jackson
Christopher Hitchens Was Wrong – Dean Van Drasek
God Does Not Play Dice - Steven Lo
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God-Men: Atheism & The Cults of Personality – Vish Carvaka
Multiculturalism: A Demise Greatly Exaggerated – Blake Ross
Section 6: What Inspires Atheists?
Seven Things Atheists Should be Fighting For – Dean Van Drasek
Five Things Believers Can Do That Atheists Can't – Dean Van Drasek
Five Reasons Why Sex Can Be Better For Atheists - Dean Van Drasek
The Right to Hope - Vish Carvaka
Atheist, Humanist, Non-religious: Do Labels Matter? - Makeesha Fisher
Stop Mutilating Children In Name Of Religion – Dean Van Drasek
Suffer the Little Children – Lee Myers
The Meaning of Life - Casper Rigsby
Shout At The Devil – Lee Myers
What a Skeptical Parent Teaches about Religion - Karen Loethen
Section 7: Death & Grief
The Death of a Great Atheist – Dean Van Drasek
The Grief Thieves – Casper Rigsby
Dealing with Death as an Atheist - Alyssa Ahrens
Section 8: Respect
Dear Theism: A Pragmatic Letter to the Religious – Robert Poe
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Religious Intolerance? People & Ideas Must Not Be Treated As Equals –
Casper Rigsby
Respect For Religion – James Lawrence
Section 9: The Problem with Religion is...
Anti-Intellectualism and the Biblical Fall of Man – Casper Rigsby
Discovering The Unexpected - Science vs Religion – Dean Van Drasek
Religion: The Silent Assassin Of European Free Speech - Jurian Janssen
Section 10: Experiences
Give up the Ghost – Casper Rigsby
God’s Relevance to Me as an Atheist in the Context of U.S. Politics -
Carolann Engelhaupt
Meet The Monster – Casper Rigsby
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Introduction
For billions of people around the globe, god and religion are the biggest
things in their lives. Even for those not very devout believers, their belief is
a part of how they think about themselves and for most of them god is very
big. However, for a small minority of people the idea of god is small and
pitiful. We look out into the universe and see something so amazing that it
could not possibly be the work of these tiny imagined gods of mankind.
These gods whom we are given that display such ignoble traits as jealousy
and outright hubris.
We see the harm that religion brings to humanity. We see the injustice,
inequality, and division amongst men that it causes. We see humanity being
stifled by these religions and these tiny gods. We at Atheist Republic have a
message we have steadily tried to convey. That message is that we as
human beings are bigger than these imaginary gods. We believe that
humanity is greater than gods and doctrines.
What we offer with this title are not standard atheist arguments against the
existence of god, but rather these are the best articles we could compile
from our writers that convey the spirit of atheism. These articles present the
real thoughts and feelings of everyday average atheists. We are friends and
family. We are doctors and lawyers. We are pharmacists, biologists, and
engineers. We are ordinary people who see a universe that is bigger than
any god man has ever imagined.
Who Are We?
Atheist Republic is a non-profit organization with upwards of a million fans
and followers worldwide that is dedicated to offering a safe community for
atheists around the world to share their ideas and meet like-minded
individuals. Atheists are a global minority, and it's not always safe or
comfortable for them to discuss their views in public.
At the very least, discussing one’s atheistic views can be uncomfortable and
ostracizing. In some countries, expressing such views can put someone in
physical danger. By offering a safe community for atheists to share their
opinions, Atheist Republic hopes to boost advocacy for those whose voices
might otherwise be silenced.
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For more discussions and articles about the topics included in each chapter,
visit us at AtheistRepublic.com. We also invite you to sign up for the Atheist
Republic newsletter for unique insights and stories from the Atheist Republic
community. Feel free to contact us for feedback, suggestions or any other
inquiries.
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Section 1:
Leaving Faith Behind
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The Foundation of Atheist Republic
By: Mohammed Savage
Having been an active member of The Atheist Republic for quite a number of
years, and an inactive one for even longer, I began to wonder about many of
the same things which led me to be an atheist. Why am I here? Who made
this place? What is the purpose of this place? The main difference between
the two instances being that one line of questioning could be definitively
answered. Throughout my time here, I saw other members echo similar
sentiments. Being the proactive, contributing member of our small society I
am, I dedicated a portion of my time to unearthing some of these mysteries.
Though it should be common knowledge by now, many members are
unaware of precisely who the admins of this page are. Even more members
are unaware of the fact that our current group of admins didn’t found or
create our beloved community. I won’t get too much into detail regarding
the admin identities, as they can be easily located at the top of Atheist
Republic’s private group (on the pinned post). However, one of the admins is
a member by the name of Armin Navabi. Armin is the individual responsible
for the creation of The Atheist Republic, and our sometimes mysterious
benefactor.
Not much is known about him, and that is not a trait exclusive to the general
populace of The Atheist Republic. Armin remains a mystery in all of his
public circles, including those that govern his many endeavors, such as The
Atheist Republic. Until now, Armin has preferred to remain relatively
secretive regarding his personal life and information, and with good reasons.
However, I was lucky (mostly persuasive) enough to snag a short interview
with him. I would like to share my findings with all of you.
Our Mysterious Benefactor
Armin was born and raised in the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was
indoctrinated quite thoroughly from birth in the Muslim tradition. He would
pray regularly, five times a day, as all Muslims are mandated to. Growing
up, he was afraid of all the things which good Muslims are supposed to be
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afraid of, hell, sin, the devil etc. The only thing which terrified him more
than the thought of his own everlasting torment was the possibility of his
mother being sent to hell. To his young mind this was a possibility since she
didn’t pray regularly, five times a day as he did.
During his formative years, Armin attended Muslim classes. In one such
class he learned that according to Islam, if a boy were to perish prior to the
age of 15, access to heaven would be guaranteed, regardless of any other
extenuating circumstances. The same rule also applied to girls, however for
them the cutoff age is nine. This thought stuck with Armin, and driven by
the fear instilled in him by his religion it began to consume him.
In his young mind, there it was. A surefire, absolute method to gain access
to that which all Muslims strive for their entire lives. It confounded him to no
end that none of his peers or elders had discovered such a wonderful and
easy shortcut. He would not be one such sheep; he wouldn’t allow the joys
of a full life to pull the wool over his young eyes. His future course of action
became crystal clear. After making up his mind, steeling his resolve and
after a number of failed attempts, Armin finally launched himself from one of
the higher windows in his school.
Dedicated and Commitment
This was his attempt to end his life, and guarantee his future ascendance.
Needless to say, it didn’t work out quite as he had hoped. Armin survived his
suicide attempt, but was ravaged by injury. Among the injuries he suffered
were a broken wrist, two broken legs and an injured back. After the
accident, Armin was confined to a wheelchair for the next seven months.
Even after regaining permission to ambulate further, he still required months
before he was able to travel with some semblance of independence.
Wracked by more than the physical injuries of his failed suicide attempt,
Armin was torn apart by the effect his actions had on his mother. No longer
deluded by the temptation of an easy way to heaven, Armin dedicated
himself even more so to his religion. He prayed more frequently, studied
Islam in excruciating detail, attempted to learn all he could to be a better
Muslim, and regularly begged his parents to follow suit. Nary a day passed
when he wouldn’t request his parents to join him in his daily prayers.
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