Work it out

There are a lot of people out there who are closet atheists. I think there is an even bigger population of people who might consider themselves moderately religious just because it's what they're used to, or who are merely ambivalent about religion, but who, if forced to really consider their beliefs, would concede that they had, in fact, been atheists all along. So, why are so many people content to remain in the closet, on the fence, or in any other undesirable state of indecision? Thanks to people like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, there has been a widespread movement to embrace atheism as something of which to be proud. Still, I think that one thing hindering many people's desire to "come out" is the fact that our present society is not built to be atheist-friendly. There are many examples of present institutions that, at the very least, don't even recognize atheism as a viable option, and at the very most, actively work to promote religious influence. In almost all cases, atheism is still seen as a bad word, carrying with it connotations of immorality and anarchical tendencies.

With all this in mind, my question is this: Is it acceptable to be open about atheism in the workplace, and if so, how can one approach this topic in a way that will keep shit from hitting the office fan?

I am a teacher and I work in a school with impressionable children. What I say will (I hope) have an effect on them. It is therefore my responsibility as an educator to be mindful of the language I use and the messages I impart. Technically, I know that religion should not come up at all in school (at least one that claims to be non-denominational); however, the reality is a little less cut and dry. Once, when I was a student teacher at a public school whose population was overwhelmingly Catholic, a student in my class asked me something about church and I responded by saying I was Jewish. The class was shocked and proceeded not only to tell me that I was the first Jew they had ever met (unlikely), but to ask me wildly inappropriate questions such as, "Does that mean that if I throw money on the ground, you'll pick it up?" Needless to say I was taken aback by their brazen ignorance and we had to have a discussion about stereotypes.

When I think back on this incident now, I have to contemplate why I told them I was Jewish and not atheist. The fact is, saying I was an atheist never even crossed my mind. It would have seemed completely wrong to mention atheism in the classroom. Even now, several years later and much more adamant about my distaste for religion, I feel comfortable telling students or other teachers that I'm Jewish (if they ask me, which they always seem to - why do they even care?), but I always steer clear of the a-word. Perhaps it is my fear of angry phone calls from parents demanding to know why I am attempting to corrupt their children. In any case, I don't think I am alone in keeping atheism quiet at work. All my friends and family know this is an important part of my life and of my identity, but at work it is still a secret. There are plenty of times when I've had occasion to bring it up. Everyone at work knows I'm Jewish and that isn't a big deal in the least (although I still received a surprising number of Christmas cards this season). I've never tried to push Judaism on any students and I certainly wouldn't try to convince them to be atheists. I don't know why I have this unshakeable fear that I might get in trouble if I'm open about my beliefs at work. While I feel a kind of responsibility in letting students know that there are other options out there besides believing in god, which is something that was never done for me, I'm afraid that the word "atheist" on its own is enough to get people up in arms. Language is a very powerful thing, and we need to find a way to give this particular word its fair place, even in the workplace.

Faith is a bad word

I have been an atheist for as long as I can remember, but it's only in the past few years that I have become open and vocal about it. This blog is meant to be about the every day experience of being an atheist, reflecting on the joys, challenges and humour by which it is so often accompanied. Still, because this is such a new space, I also want to take some time to explore some different issues surrounding the religious debate in a more general sense.

By day, I am a high school English teacher, which is perhaps why I assign an enormous value to the power of language. Certain words or phrases can become so entrenched in our lexicon that we fail to question the effect they have. (War on Terror, anyone?) Today's word is one that I consider to be both perplexing and dangerous: faith.

In conversations about religion, faith is something that almost inevitably comes up. It seems to me, though, that faith is a pretty weak argument for someone to use, since it presents a kind of paradox that even the most devout believers would be hard pressed to deny.

One of the things that infuriates me about many religious people is what apparently constitutes as "proof" for them of god's existence. The bible, miracles, unadulterated ignorance, it's all the same. Here is where the cracks begin to show. If you have proof that gives you absolute certainty of god's existence, why all the talk of faith? Faith, by definition, implies a belief in something that cannot be proven, but in which you choose to believe anyway. By having faith, religion admits that a willing suspension of disbelief is required to swallow the b.s. they are feeding you. That is the perplexing part. Now on to the fun stuff - danger!

Why is faith dangerous? Mostly because when you decide that all you need for something to exist is to believe it does, you are opening Pandora's box to unleash a whole whack of crazy. I have faith in my ability to fly... perhaps I'll go jump from a tall building and see how that goes. And until I hit the ground, can anyone really convince me that I'm wrong? Believers will argue that atheists can't disprove the existence of god, therefore god exists. But absence of proof is not sufficient proof! I can't prove that Santa doesn't exist, although I'm pretty sure he doesn't. Faith implies a certain presumption and arrogance that I see all the time in religion: I have faith so I must have access to some kind of higher knowledge that people without faith just can't have. I have faith so I can answer the questions that others can't answer.

This is just silly. We should never presume to have all the answers to life's questions. Science prides itself on asking questions, doubting itself, and trying to improve its own findings. There is no need for faith to fill in the gaps, because the gaps are good! The gaps are what make the world interesting and they are what keep us searching for new knowledge. Let's replace faith with reason! Having faith in god and religion only serves to limit rational thought, scientific progress and enlightened growth. And remember to choose your words carefully.