I don't believe in a humanoid God or in souls. I think souls in particular are a nice idea but I've found I just can't accept them in any sense except maybe as a way to describe one's own incorporeal consciousness, meaning that I do not believe in them as a separate spiritual force that animates the body and outlasts us when we die. No, this doesn't bother me. If all that happens when I (my mother, my dog, whoever) die is that I turn to sod, so be it. I had my turn.

I think the nearest I can get to "God", and I still balk at actually calling it that, has something to do with humanity, community, and empathy. It has no human form or emotions and is certainly not limited to any religion in particular. I've been told that this still "counts" as God but I feel it's disrespectful to insist on that terminology when others who do not worship God with a capital "G" may otherwise hold the same view.

I'm trying to learn to be less literal and less cynical so I can better accept my Southern Baptist neighbors. I think I'm making progress. It still frustrates the Hell (oops! I don't believe in that, either!) out of me when they try to legislate their religion but I feel less tempted lately to apply unflattering adjectives to their beliefs and mindsets.


As the bumper stickers says: "Just another soulless atheist in search of world peace & harmony."