I'll be even more specific about my labeling myself an atheist:
I believe there is no supernatural, personal, interventionist god. Let's call it "GIPS".
There is no entity that listens to and answers prayers, judges us when we die, cares whether we follow his rules, or wipes out towns because their school board votes down the teaching of Intelligent Design. I believe GIPS in all its forms is a man-made invention, and it's amazing to me that so many people buy into it.
I don't begrude people their GIPS's, though, unless they use GIPS to further their personal aims to the detriment of others.
shanlstrick, maybe you don't understand why I consider myself an atheist because I've talked about Imaging/Ordaining? or because I'm not positive that I just cease to exist when I die? Well, I don't believe there's a supernatural entity; the natural world is plenty for me. However, I do have evidence enough that there are mysterious, awesome, beautiful and creative natural forces at work that may never be explained by science. Some people might call those natural forces "god". I think Einstein did. My mind is open to natural possibilities that appear magical; I don't necessarily have to have things "proven" to me if they work positively in my life or in the minds of others and cause no harm.
One day I invented the possibility for my life of being "On Fire!" and that afternoon my car's engine caught fire. Sometimes the universe just makes me laugh.
Do you see what I mean, shanlstrick? I love your description of us as points of perception, that we're all parts of a whole. If you want to call that whole "god", I'm good with that!
Love,
Angela
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