My Religion | Teen Ink

My Religion MAG

By Anonymous

I have a magnet on my mirror stating, “Life is not about finding yourself – life is about creating yourself.” This is the statement I live by.

Many people do not believe me when I say I am an atheist. They don’t understand that I simply do not believe in any sort of god or afterlife. I also do not believe in the devil, in angels, or in souls. I believe in myself and the strength I have gained through the help of my parents, teachers, and friends – and my own hard work.

I am not going to try to dissuade anyone from his or her own opinions either. I know that people enjoy having religion in their lives; some need their faith to help them through hard times. And some do not want the responsibility of their misfortunes weighing down on their shoulders.

I do. I abhor the idea of fate – that everything is already planned out and you have no control to change anything. If you believe in fate, when bad things happen, it is not your fault; it’s just fate. When my life is not going well, I know that it is no one’s fault but my own. When I do well in school, when I fall in love, it is not fate and we are not soul mates. I worked hard and paid attention and did the homework. My love and I simply love each other – that is all it is, and for me that is all it needs to be.

For some, life is overwhelming. How can anyone be successful and happy in such a difficult, horrible world? They need someone to help them, someone to guide them, and someone to have faith in to make sure things get better. Placing my success and happiness in another’s hands breaks my heart. I need to be successful because of my efforts. I must be responsible for my own happiness. That is what I need from my religion.

Who will ever know what the truth really is? All I know is in the same way that some have full faith and trust in God to give them hope, I need to believe I am on my own to be truly happy – for how can I create myself if I spend my entire life just looking?



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This article has 764 comments.


on Jul. 19 2011 at 9:25 pm
SammyGirl BRONZE, Morgan, Utah
3 articles 5 photos 9 comments
just wondering.... if there is no afterlife then do we just evaporate when we die?

on Jul. 19 2011 at 4:58 pm
chamomile SILVER, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
8 articles 1 photo 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
She makes it through her day, but doesn't just “make it” through her day. She holds within her at all time the faith that she belongs, even when she doesn't belong. She belongs to the world; she belongs in her life; her heart and mind and soul belong

Just because you believe in everything you have just said does not necessarily make it true. She is not alone, I'm sure she has family and friends and love, and she does not need any god to feel happy. Thank you.

. said...
on Jul. 19 2011 at 2:19 pm
I completely agree. I'm Catholic and I always thought Atheists were just trying to rebel. It's nice to see their point of view.

. said...
on Jul. 19 2011 at 11:10 am
I feel the same way. 

on Jul. 19 2011 at 3:21 am
lovetildeath GOLD, Virginia Beach, Virginia
10 articles 0 photos 34 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;m selfish, impatient, &amp; a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, &amp; at times hard to handle. But if you can&#039;t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don&#039;t deserve me at my best. <br /> - Marilyn Monroe

I must respect your religion and your point of view and this is well written and gives a clear understanding of an atheist.I am a devout Christian and am proud to say it.I do not believe the Big Bang theory or evolution.GOD created the universe and all of us.He is Alpha and Omega.How come our bodies are created just so?How did it happen?Why does the Sun fuel life on Earth just so perfectly?One day youu are going to come across a situation and it is going to tear down your carefuly crafted kingdom.You will be in darkness and distraught because everything comes down on your shoulders.You have no one to share your burdens.With GOD you can conquer anything.I hope you know that he sent HIS ONE and ONLY son to die for you and to carry your sin.He did that so selflessly so no human would go to HELL in eternal life.All you have to do is become a slave to Jesus and say that you lay your sins down.I hope you non believers understand that and will become followers of Christ ♥

on Jul. 4 2011 at 5:19 pm
Hippiealien SILVER, Fair Oaks, California
7 articles 5 photos 43 comments

Favorite Quote:
A Idea and a number 2 pencil can take you anywhere.

How so? I'm not atheist but it makes you look at it from a diffrent side,well written. :) i loved it :D

on Jun. 27 2011 at 9:21 pm
Laura_Oliver GOLD, Manchester, Connecticut
12 articles 2 photos 122 comments
This is really thought-provoking.

on Jun. 27 2011 at 8:00 pm
RedheadAtHeart ELITE, Mountain Home, Idaho
109 articles 0 photos 164 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love with open hands. - Madeleine L&#039;Engle

Well done. I don't agree with the atheist viewpoint that God is peripheral to the whole thing. However, I do agree with what you say about needing to create your own happiness. Despite being a Christian, I'm much the same way.

on Jun. 27 2011 at 12:36 am
Night-Goat PLATINUM, Rockville Centre, New York
35 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;m so happy &#039;cause today I found my friends, they&#039;re in my head

I am a christian and have never understood atheism, I always thought it was just a lack of belief in anything, but reading this article shows me what is really in an atheist's head. Instead of putting down others' religions, you explained your own. Most atheists try to put others down by saying God is not real, but you put it in a way that does not offend others. This is a very well-written article, it gave me a whole new view on atheism

M0429 said...
on Jun. 26 2011 at 8:03 pm
M0429, Memphis, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? &ndash; Epicurus

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People who want to share their religious views with you, almost never want you to share yours with them.
Dave Barry


M0429 said...
on Jun. 26 2011 at 8:02 pm
M0429, Memphis, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? &ndash; Epicurus

no one is as indoctrinated as the indoctrinator, rather than pity someone who believes in herself, and in her own hard work, i pity you, for your infantile dependance on 

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a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree


on Jun. 26 2011 at 4:21 pm
teacat749 BRONZE, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
4 articles 0 photos 151 comments

Favorite Quote:
We do not quit playing because we grow old. We grow old because we quit playing.<br /> -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Seraphim: I know that you've been reported and whatnot multiple times for your religious beliefs, and, hey, I think that's cool that you care! :) But I don't like how you are visibly pushing your beliefs on others. Being Wiccan, and not believeing in one Christian God, I get a lot of people telling me that their way is the only way... and that irks me.  

But I think your persistence in expressing your opinion (even though you do it rather rudely, at times) is very admirable, and I think that more people should express their opinions without hesitation. :)


on Jun. 26 2011 at 4:14 pm
teacat749 BRONZE, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
4 articles 0 photos 151 comments

Favorite Quote:
We do not quit playing because we grow old. We grow old because we quit playing.<br /> -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I think-- contradict me if I'm wrong-- but I think it's more about believing in yourself, and what you can do.

on Jun. 26 2011 at 4:13 pm
teacat749 BRONZE, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
4 articles 0 photos 151 comments

Favorite Quote:
We do not quit playing because we grow old. We grow old because we quit playing.<br /> -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Really? I think it's a beautiful article; it makes you look at life from a whole different point of view. :)

on Jun. 18 2011 at 3:52 pm
freeflow23 GOLD, Durham, North Carolina
15 articles 0 photos 96 comments

Favorite Quote:
Saul saw Goliath as too big to kill. David saw he was too big to miss.<br /> W.W.J.D.

Someone once said "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." I'm a Christian and until now I have never really understand and atheist's point of view. Thank you for this.

on Jun. 12 2011 at 2:24 pm
ninjadragon56 SILVER, Denver, Colorado
6 articles 4 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
Private favorite personal quote, do not read, all violaters will be prosicuted.

i really like this. I'm glad that someone has been able to explain beliefes rather then give a whole load of dogma. thank you, it was well written and i agree with you. keep writing! 

on Jun. 11 2011 at 2:13 pm
gogreen1 SILVER, Gretna, Nebraska
5 articles 0 photos 38 comments
This.... is a depressing article. I feel sorry for you.

on Jun. 5 2011 at 8:09 pm
thedancingwriter, Atlanta, Georgia
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments
I loved this! Even though that's not how I feel I understand how you feel that way and you explained it really well. I liked that you were just showing your side of things not putting other religions down or persuading others to join you. It was really good :)

on Jun. 5 2011 at 5:14 pm
Musicfeedsthesoul07 PLATINUM, Naperville, Illinois
25 articles 0 photos 95 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be nice to nerds. Chances are you&#039;ll end up working for one. &quot; - Bill Gates

I find it strange that lots of people are pointing out that one day you will have an empty feeling. Atheists aren't nomads, they have friends, family and teachers. As for missing having god behind you, they can't miss what they never had. 

I am an agnostic, so I am neither an atheist nor a Christian. Just stating my observation. 


on Jun. 1 2011 at 5:55 pm
Poetic_blue SILVER, Palm Bay., Florida
9 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be who you are because those who matter don&#039;t mind, and those who mind don&#039;t matter&quot;

I love this. The way it's written, how straight to the point and clear it is, and how you're not soving your beliefs down my throat, but rather, explaining them. Unfortuantely, that's most of what happens today. People find a need to convert, rather than explain. So thank you for that.

That being said, I don't agree with you one bit. To me, fate does not mean that things are set in stone. It's almost like an alternate universe, where the choices we've made are different, so the outcome is different. Fate is just the possibilities, using the tools He has given us.

Also, while I think that completely basing your happiness on another person, or even God, isn't the right way to go, neither is basing it all on yourself. Because people need to be needed. they need to know that without them, things won't be as great for someone else. And if, say, the person you love realizes that things in your life won't change without them, what's going to make them want to stick around?

Just my opinions..