The saddest thing is, as a plus to the text, that you can explain to some religios people all daylong how wrong they are but they can never understand that. A world without the stories they were thaught is outside their reach (intelectualy and emotionaly).
I hate that I have to explain myself over and over and over again only to be asked to explain myself again.
I hate that some people want me to burn in a lake of fire for my lack of belief.
I hate that social injustices often use religion as a catalyst and protector.
I hate that sometimes when people find out I'm atheist they instantly become aggressive and treat me like I don't believe in anything.
I hate that some people dare tell me that I don't have compassion or the ability to love and be a good person.
I hate that my lack of belief has cost me friends, including ones I loved dearly.
I hate that my country doesn't fully appreciate me as a citizen. In a few states it is written that I cannot hold public office. I hate knowing that an atheist President of the United States will never hold office in my lifetime. It's sad, but it's true.
I hate that when I go to jury duty and refuse to say under god, I have to take the glares of 15 people as if it's all right.
I hate knowing my children will likely face the same things I faced throughout my youth.
I hate that what I see as an entirely reasonable lack of faith is often treated like total sin.
I hate being an atheist. I just want to be a person, a person who does not believe. I am forced to be an atheist because of injustices, however big or small, that I have to face. I am forced to be an atheist because of the injustices, however big or small, that I see other atheists face. I am forced to be an atheist because I don't want my children to face those same injustices, whatever they may be.
It saddens me to know that I will likely never see the day when we have a secular government and society, where religion is kept where it should be kept, in churches, homes, and with the individual.
