by Rosemary Redfern

Created on: August 12, 2009

Taking atheism as a belief that there is no such thing as a god, the individual is immediately free from the constrictions and constructs of religious organizations. The rules which govern the lives of those who follow a particular faith have no place in an atheists' life.

That leaves a person to find their own views of morality, good manners, appropriate behavior and truth. This creates a problem for those who do belong to a religious group because they are unable or unwilling to see that the regime they live by is not a necessary imposition to being a good person. However, it leaves the atheist free to form their own ways of living.

The question is often asked how can anyone be a moral person without religion. If we take the assumption that everyone is born wanting to be part of a community, to be appreciated and loved and give love in return we have a starting point. An atheist can start here because they cannot believe in original sin. A baby has had no part in any wrong doing handed down because of their ancestry.

If the individual looks at the world with open, clear eyes and sees what is actually there, more hurt, damage and wars are created because someone thinks that others should conform to their ways of being. When people are refused their own beliefs conflict emerges. Some people are prepared to go to almost any lengths to force conformity of ideas. Where is the morality in bombing ordinary people to get your own way? Where is the morality in religious persecution? Where is the morality in suppressing the freedom of others.

Being an atheist allows an individual to tolerate other people who have different views, beliefs and ways of being. Sometimes it is hard to do because others seem so blinkered but the belief that everyone has the right to be who and what they are overrules everything.

From this follows good manners and appropriate behavior. In permitting others to their way of life it is necessary to be courteous because for someone who believes in freedom of thought there can be no imposing of ideas and behavior.

Truth is often a victim of mind sets. Mind sets are set ideas where forms of words are mouthed without really understanding their implications or meanings. No thought has been given to them, yet they are followed blindly.

Because humans are fallible, weak and frequently fall below their own standards, when those standards have been imposed by a powerful group, to admit to failing means losing face. Lies and distortions are the result of the fear of being seen to fail. Being an atheist means there is no need to lie to others because only the atheist knows when they have fallen from their own imposed standards.

Atheism frees the mind but imposes it's own discipline.

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