Atheism – The New Religion

If you are weak in whatever faith you profess, do not leave just yet. I know the word atheism is scary to you. We live in the information age and you would not be doing justice to yourself if you did not listen to views that are different to your own. If anything, you stand to strengthen your faith if you learn about other people’s belief systems in addition to your own.

Newly Registered in Kenya

In the last week, we have been treated to what most people consider bad news, of the registration of Atheists in Kenya Society (AIK). In the usual militant style of Kenyans, there are claims that the Devil himself is now firmly seated on the throne of our beloved country. Members of the newest society are however upbeat because they can now conduct their activities without fear. Probably the only thing dampening Kenyans’ resolve to fight the new group is the political landscape, this being the year before elections and everybody’s attention is elsewhere.

My Personal Brush with Atheism

Although I have never been atheist myself, I have worked closely with self-confessed atheists. I once worked under a Director and an Operations Manager both of whom were atheists. The Director, a Danish Lady, used to refer to herself as a ‘secular humanist’, which is another title that atheists use to imply that they only believe in themselves. The Operations manager was a Briton and this was the one who really campaigned for the atheists’ cause. He would be the equivalent of an Atheistic Evangelist (if at all that were possible).

In the spirit of evangelizing for the ideal free lifestyle, the Briton brought me a book. It was titled ‘The God Delusion’, written by renowned Atheist, Richard Dawkins. I read the book mainly out of curiosity. I really wanted to know what makes this group tick. A big part of the book explains Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. It then goes ahead to show that there is no way God could exist since it provides evidence of how everything in nature came to be spontaneously.

I read the book in a very short time and I have to admit it is a very well written book (from a purely literary point of view). It is also a very convincing book and it was able to plant some seeds of doubt in my ‘innocent’ mind. Before you go, I need to assure you that I didn’t denounce my Christian faith. I however became a very apprehensive Christian who questions everything.

Atheism is a Religion like any other

One of the definitions of religion is that it is a pursuit or interest to which somebody ascribes supreme importance. Although the Atheists in Kenya would like to convince us that their association is not a religious one, I think it is a religion like any other. The only difference is their lack of believe in the existence of God. Atheist are usually quite zealous about their beliefs that they take every opportunity to convince any person who would care to listen about why they think all of the World’s (other) religions are preaching pure hogwash.

Atheism is not Satanism

While atheism is the belief that there is no God, Satanism or Devil Worship is the belief that Satan is God. I noted in the comments online when that Atheists Society was registered, many people said that Devil worship had now been legally allowed in Kenya. I think this is a misconception where people use the two terminologies interchangeably.

Intolerance in Most Religions

I have a bone to pick with almost all of the major religions – including my own. Each religion is convinced that it is the only true one and all others are false. In fact, most conflicts and wars in history are brought about by religious intolerance. This gives atheists a lot of mileage in forwarding their agenda as to the ‘uselessness’ of God in keeping his people safe from each other. On closer inspection however, it turns out that intolerance is not one of the teachings in any of those religions. If anything, people are taught to love their neighbours – whoever they are. Why they don’t do it, nobody knows!

Detachment from Morals and Ethics

Most Kenyans have an English name in addition to their indigenous names – thanks to a (usually) childhood indoctrination into the Christian faith. An English first name is therefore a sign of someone who did not just attend church, but was also baptised. These names however, do not mean much anymore. They do not reflect the morals and ethics that should have been instilled during the ‘indoctrination’. I once had a Pastor who used to tell us that if Christian names had any meaning, then we would not have all those called Peter, James, Joseph, and other such names, languishing in prison for some of the worst known crimes. So maybe there, the atheists have a point, but then, am just a Christian Layman!