BEDA #2 - Shaken Up, Atheist and Ready To Sleep

Not really sure if it's a bit shameless to blog about this but considering what happened last night, I have nothing else to talk about.

Two friends of mine last night walking home from a party were mugged at gunpoint. Everyone is physically okay although I'm sure the phrase 'shaken up' is not enough to describe how they're feeling emotionally. Pretty aptly sums up how I am feeling though. I got a phone call from Charlotte's aunt about half an hour after they had left and there was a terrifying few seconds and then lots of adrenaline and worry.

I am just really glad they are okay. I suppose most people would thank God but last night pretty much confirmed to me that I am definitely an atheist. There were lots of things I wanted to do: cry, throw up, give them both a hug; but I didn't want to pray or thank anyone in particular even though I was incredibly thankful. Incredibly thankful.

Essentially last night was tiring. Obviously this story has very little do with me and much more to do with them. Going over for a half hour or so basically to give Charlotte a half-hour long hug and then my plan is to read all day and rest and try and shower off this feeling of... I don't know. I wouldn't say I'm afraid to walk home alone anymore but this is the first time anyone I've been really close to has experienced crime. And real crime, not TV crime, is a lot scarier and less glamourous than even the dark fantasies you have in your head.

Just so happy everyone is okay and hoping (but not praying) a quiet day will be enough to shake my shaken up state.

The OUT Campaign

So, The OUT campaign is a great campaign fronted by Richard Dawkins to raise awareness to the variety and intelligence within the atheist community, one with is often vilified. Especially in America, it seems it is worse to be atheist and good than religious and bad. Not only that, but often atheist thinkers have proved themselves to be at the forefront of ideas.

Part of the campaign is about 'coming out' as an atheist so: My name is Grace Organ, I am an agnostic atheist (I don't believe in God and I also recognise the impossibility to prove his existence even if he did). I am not ashamed that I do not believe in God: I have beliefs and morals that come from a different place, and it does not make me a bad person or a person without conscience or sense of consequence.

So, get involved. Add the A, buy a T-Shirt or a badge (as I am in the process of doing) and, if you are an atheist, don't be ashamed. Embrace it and be proud of it! Given you a couple of links, an interesting article and the official website.

http://cornellsun.com/section/opinion/content/2008/10/30/atheist
http://outcampaign.org/