Not sure that atheism is a statement that says "I am alone."

Not sure it is a statement for that matter.

Sorry LittleHawk, I do understand your point to a degree and your post above has much to commend it, but it is built on the premise that religion and atheism are two sides of the same coin. One is an assertion and the other is not sharing that assertion. I fail to see that not being interested nor curious about a metaphysical stance or wishing to abide by rules of a club equates to having a stance on that club. I don't collect stamps, attend beetle drives or go potholing, but as has been said before on these posts, those who participate in these activities do not to my knowledge have a term of scorn for those who don't share their hobby. Hence atheist is for me a term used by those with faith in the same way as I complain about door to door God botherers.

I am not religious and whilst I know that many of my ancestors for a few generations were methodists, (I live two miles from where the Wesleys were born and raised,) I personally would have a problem describing the differences between Methodism, Catholicism, Church of England or The United Reform Church. I am not aware of, nor take an interest in the difference between shia and sunni Muslims.

Not that I hold anybody in contempt merely for having faith, just that I have none myself, so am not curious about how their differences mean anything to me.

Mind you, Goofus shouting AMEN a lot is interesting... Naw, it isn't really.