Quarantine Reading

Does anyone have any good reading recommendations?

I was really excited to get a book a recently ordered in the mail this morning — The Humanist’s Devotional. It seems really cool and I am looking forward to reading more later when my husband gets off work and I can take a little break from our three-year-old.

The book is filled with thought-provoking and motivational quotes meant for daily reflection — something I have been on the lookout for to use when I meditate with mala beads.

My favorite so far: “Nature is resilient. And you are a part of it.”

Have you read any good atheist or humanist books lately? There’s no better time than now to pick up a new book. I’m trying to make the most of my time in quarantine.

How many more atheists feel alone?

One recent commenter brought up the fact the there are many more atheists than we know, and I couldn’t agree more.

It seems like the more visible and outspoken atheists are very well-educated — experts in science or maybe religion. I am none of that, and I have to wonder, how many other average moms in middle America feel like I do?

I often write because I feel alone and want to be connected to other atheists, but I also hope that my writing helps others not feel alone.

Sure, many atheists are into science and hard facts, but I think there’s a softer, more human side to atheism as well. I think it’s just as important to talk about our lives as atheists as it is to explain why we’re atheists in the first place. 

So to other Midwest moms out there — I might not see you, but I hope you know you’re not alone.

Is there a symbol that represents atheism?

My new obsession during the COVID-19 crisis is wish.com. Do you shop on Wish? If not, don’t ever start. It’s pretty addictive and I’m pretty sure I’m nickel and diming myself to death. My husband is not amused.

Anyway, my latest find was a ring with an atheist “A” symbol on it. I have seen the symbol before but I don’t really know its origin. 

Is there a symbol that represents atheism? There are logos for different organizations, but is there some sort of universal symbol? If not, should there be?

I think one objection would be that having a symbol would make atheism seem organized — like religion.

Either way, I can’t wait for that cheap ring to arrive in the mail. I’m going to wear it with pride.

I miss our library.

I think one of the worst parts of this quarantine for me is that the libraries are closed. I normally don’t leave the house much anyway, but I do go to the library at least once a week. The libraries in Toledo have been closed for a few weeks now. 

I spend a lot of time writing at the library. I also attend several writer’s groups there. I used to meet my SCORE mentor at the library as well as attend meetings for an activist group my husband and I are a part of. Not to mention my three-year-old daughter LOVES the library. She gets to read and pick out books to take home, and there are always toys and coloring pages there. A lot of times there are other kids she can play with at the library, too. 

A lot of families struggle in Toledo. We have a high rate of poverty, so the library is such an important part of our community. It offers so many resources and the programs are always free. For many people, the library is their only access to the internet. It’s also where many children get free meals. It’s always a great place to take your family, and it’s a safe place for kids to hang out so they’re not on the streets. 

I enjoy many of the library’s programs, but for many Toledoans, the library is a lifeline. 

I understand we need to stay safe and protect each other, so the libraries should stay closed as long as needed. But when the libraries open again, I will be there to support them more than ever.

My Appreciation for Modern Medicine

I have a deep appreciation for modern medicine because my life would not be possible without my medication. 

I’ve been a mental health advocate for more than a decade, and I’ve spent a lot of time trying to calm people’s fears about medication. My mental illness was debilitating when I was young, and although that was quite some time ago, I still think it’s important for me to spread the word and help others.

I was a big dreamer as a child and it would be heartbreaking if none of those dreams come true — some already have. Medication has given me a fighting chance. I am very aware that none of these things would be possible without it. 

For me, it’s such a simple solution. I take my pills. My symptoms are controlled. I live my life. Yes, there is more to recovery, but medication is the main component for me and many others.

I have an awesome life and god plays no part in it. I thank my doctor, science, and modern medicine for letting me chase my dreams.

Bible Stories in Childhood

I really questioned religion as a child, but due to symptoms I experienced from mental illness, I wasn’t able to fully call myself an atheist until my early twenties. 

One commenter on a previous post explained that a gruesome and far-fetched story from the Bible made them stop believing in god at a very early age.

I had very similar feelings as a child. I’ve always felt that the bible was filled with fairytales and fables and even as a kid I didn’t take them very seriously. It’s an interesting book but nothing more.

People, where I live, tend to take the Bible quite literally. It’s like with spirituality — this one area in their life — they throw all common sense out the window. If you took stories from the bible, took out god and Jesus, and put it in a different context, people would say you’re crazy for believing in it. 

We have friends of the family that didn’t tell their kids about Santa because they thought when they questioned the existence of Santa, they would question the existence of Jesus, too. That really says something, doesn’t it?

What are other parents telling their kids about COVID-19?

We’re pretty open with our daughter. She’s turning four at the end of the month, but when she asks questions, we answer them. We try to be simple and clear, but we don’t hide anything. We don’t try to come up with some foofy made-up explanation just because of her question being uncomfortable or complicated. We’ve dealt a little bit with death and questions about our bodies. She’s little, but she still deserves the truth. 

With that being said, it was hard to find a way to explain COVID-19 clearly to her. I told her there’s a virus that’s making people sick so we can’t get close to others. It’s safest for us to stay home. Whether or not she understands the meaning, she now knows the word “virus” and I think she’s a little worried. She can’t see her friends from daycare. Do they have the virus? She can’t go to Pop Pop’s house. Does he have the virus? 

When Ohio’s governor issued the stay-at-home order a few weeks ago, she didn’t seem to notice right away, but she eventually started to notice that she’s not at daycare and I’m not at work. It’s just been hard to find a simple way to explain everything to her so she understands. We don’t sugarcoat things, but I don’t want to freak her out either. We now have friends, acquaintances, and coworkers that are sick, and I want to be honest with her.

So I’m asking for advice, input, opinions, suggestions, etc. What have you told your kids? How do you explain what’s going on in the world right now?

Are you proud of your atheist culture?

Living in a heavily Christian area makes me feel like I need to be rebellious. I want to have as much pride in what I believe in as they do for their beliefs. They can openly flaunt their Christianity, and while I don’t exactly want to do that, it would be nice to know that freedom is there and that option is available. I’m different from them and I have a lot of pride for what I stand for. Maybe that makes me look like a bit of a rebel around here, but it is so important to be true to who you are. 

Right now I only flaunt my atheism online, but it’s starting to spill over into my real life. I want Toledo to be a safe place for everyone, and that means speaking up. 

Atheism is a part of my family’s culture. It affects how I live, the choices I make, and how I raise my daughter. It really isn’t any different than any other cultural demographic, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating your culture. In fact, it’s usually encouraged. 

Thank you to everyone at Freethought Blogs for taking me beyond Toledo’s city limits and letting me become part of a global community. It has given me a lot of courage in opening up about my life as an atheist mom. This helps me really embrace my (lack of) beliefs.

Do you celebrate being an atheist? Do you see it as part of your culture? Are you proud of it?

Atheism and the Arts: Recommendations Please!

I run an arts program for a local nonprofit four days a week. The rest of the week I am working on my own projects — mostly drawing and writing. I am so passionate about my work. I am an artist deep down to my bones. Being an atheist is also very important to my life and identity so it seems natural that I want that to be reflected in my work. I never paint a picture just to make something pretty; I paint a picture to tell my story. The same goes for my writing.

I would love to see more work by atheist artists and writers. Even today, a lot of the arts are tied to spirituality and it can be difficult to find work inspired by skepticism.

Can you guys recommend any atheist artists and writers to check out? I would love to hear about writers, but how about artists? Do you know of any?

Just wanted to say thank you for your comments!

I have been blown away by how well thought out and sincere the comments have been to many of my blog posts. So many of you are willing to share your stories and I really appreciate it. I love reading them. Being an atheist in Toledo can feel isolating and your comments make me feel connected to a much larger community. I am more confident now in how I live my life even when I don’t always feel accepted here in Ohio. 

I just wanted to say thank you so much.