by Shaun Mcgonigal

Created on: February 19, 2009

It's been about 30 years now since Harvey Milk stood up and declared that people came out of the closet. It's about time that we also stand up and declare to the world, proudly, that we are atheists, as Richard Dawkins' Out campaign suggests. Of course, I've unintentionally alienated those people who are uncomfortable with the term "atheist," but are nonetheless part of the more general non-theist community. We could quibble about terms, but the simple fact is that those who don't believe in gods are atheists, and this is the common thread that ties us all together. Thus, it's about time we reclaimed the word atheist the same way that others have reclaimed queer or

gay. This is the first step in truly taking a stand for ourselves.

Many people, like myself, have embraced this coming out, and I am glad to stand among them. However, with other atheists, this approach seems too forward, in-your-face, or even offensive. To some, we simply need to avoid offense and conflict with religious people and with faith in general. So, knowing that I'm likely to offend these fellow nonbelievers: I think that is a completely cowardly and ineffective approach.

While I recognize that being confrontational and challenging all the time and in every situation is unrealistic and, frankly, annoying, I strongly believe that there is nary a situation that I should not be open about my lack of belief concerning this deity that is supposedly ubiquitous, yet intangible. In other words, I should, in fact, be out. Further, I strongly believe that we should be willing to challenge the worldviews of those we disagree withlittle matter the subject, the relationship between potential interlocutors, or the likelihood of ever convincing them. As we should very well know, even if we cannot convince them, it is good practice and it may get a curious ear of someone nearby; don't underestimate the affect of dialogue.

When I was around the age of 15, I woke up one morning after a party at a friend's house before anyone else. In order to kill some time, I perused the bookshelf for something to read. It wasn't long before I discovered, for the first time, Plato and his wonderful mentor, Socrates. I quickly became enthralled by this persistently questioning, pestering, and annoyingly wise character. Over the years, I began to wonder what such a person would look like now, and began to realize that today, as in his own time, he would come off as an annoying loudmouth who wouldn't leave other peoples' worldviews

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