Principles

An Atheist Manifesto

(A "work in progress", trying to distill some kind of principles to which the committed atheist might champion)

There is no God
No one to worship
Nothing to fear

All Children,
Everywhere and for all time,

Are born free of sin.

We may choose to atone for the wrongs of ancestors
But are not obliged to do so
This is a personal, moral choice

Death is the end of self

All that remains is memory in the minds of the living

And the outcomes of deeds performed in life

After death there is no reward, nor punishment
These can only be applied by the living, to the living
Redemption is only meaningful before death

Life is the logical outcome of natural laws, not a miracle
It can be harsh, brutal, and cruel
It is also spectacular, wondrous and beautiful

Humans are but the latest “kings” of the earth
We are so due to quirks of nature, not divine planning
Our reign so far is short lived, and in all probability impermanent

Morality is a social construct of our species
It derives from human history and experience
Not from supernatural scripture

Bad things happen
Prayer cannot end nor prevent suffering
Good action can

Love between consenting adults is never a sin
Denial of the right to express that love is

Belief in the absence of evidence is faith
Belief in spite of evidence is stupidity
Neither should be mistaken for the truth