I believe this post will be easy to write, but harder to publish. The content has been running around in my head for a while, but the words have been difficult to organize.
Anyway, this past November I made my fourtieth full orbit around the Sun. That didn't actually bother me, and the family didn't make a big to-do about it. The thinking involved with this post started after that, during the holidaze (spelling intentional).
This year I was able to take the time off between the hijacked holiday known as Christmas, and New Years. That gave me time to spend with my family, and give my wife some relief with having all three of our little ones home at the same time... all day.
During that week, when Munchkin, Monkey, and Bear were playing with the boxes their presents came in, I started thinking. I want my children to be honest about who they are. How can I do that when I'm not honest about who I am?
Everyone who regularly reads this blog knows I'm an atheist. However, offline I'm only out to a handful of people. My wife and a handful of my friends know I'm an atheist, but I'm not actually "out". While I'm not actually living a lie, since no one ever asks, I still feel like I'm being disingenuous.
Before I was telling myself that it was for the sake of my family. Since I left home, and even since I let go of my delusion, my parents have become more religious. Padre is actually an elder in a local Baptist church. I can hope that if he found out that we could have a rational discussion about it, but somehow I'm doubtful. Still, I'm avoiding the elephant in the room in order to accomodate and keep the piece. While my parents are important to me, and I love them dearly, that shouldn't stop me from being who I am. If they can't accept that their son is still the same person they tell me they love even though I don't believe in their god, then they're no better than the god they worship who says I have to believe in him, no matter how good of a person I am, or after I die I'm going to suffer eternal punishment.
With my wife, daughters, friends, and family in mind I've decided to be honest about myself. This will probably sound angry to some, but I'm writing this while feeling as calm as I have felt in a long time.
With what I wrote above you already know I'm an atheist, if you didn't already. There's more though, and I'm only scratching the surface here. I have found no reason to believe in any gods, and substantial reasons not to believe in them. I spent my youth going to church but never quite understanding what everyone was speaking in tongues about (yes, I periodically attended Pentecostal church during my formative years). I never felt that thing they all spoke of feeling though, except when I listened to a particual piece of music that I felt a kinship with. I just figured it would come in time, but essentially I was agnostic with deistic leanings.
Then, I got older, things happened, and I started to question. For quite a while I asked, begged, and then pleaded for some sort of evidence of its existence. I figured it was all-knowing and all-powerful, so it would know what evidence I needed. When that didn't work I started doing some searching. The internet is a wonderful thing, because you can find all sorts of arguments for a deity's existence. Unfortunately, none of them were evidence. At best they were hearsay, and at worst they were outright deceitful.
Well, it wasn't going to take that route to retain my soul, apparently. I decided to read the Bible, again. I'd read bits and pieces before, but only with someone telling me what page to turn to and what it meant, on Sundays. It wasn't easy to read, to say the least. It felt like the equivalent of reading the unabridged The Three Musketeers. I still worked my way through it, until I got bored and started doing those fast forwards you did in high school when the teacher assigned you a book to write a report on, and the book wasn't one you would have ever picked for yourself. That's when I stumbled on Leviticus. Yeah, apparently god wanted his chosen to be a baseball team, because he had them practicing hurling stones... A LOT. And I'm not sure what method was to be used for "put to death", but that was a popular one, too.
Well, maybe the Bible isn't real, but god does exist. That was my next train of thought. Fortunately, I was honest enough with myself to continue on to the conclusion that it was unnecessary. My faith didn't shatter. There was no defining moment when I can say, "That's when I became an atheist." At some point I simply did the mental equivalent of tossing the last shred of my belief in the trashcan, as I walked by it on my way to something more important.
There wasn't any earth shattering realization, no tears, and no cries of anguish. I just realized that somewhere along the line I'd gotten rid of it. I might have even given a little grin and shake of my head, and said, "Huh."
However, the gravity of the situation soon settled in. My wife was a non-practicing Roman Catholic (who has since told her mom that she doesn't consider herself Catholic), so that wasn't a huge concern. Some concern? Yes. Enough that I basically blurted it out one evening. She was shocked, but we worked through it.
Still, there was my parents, and I didn't want to address that particular issue. Princess even suggested just letting it go, since we rarely see them and they live several hours away.
Then, the Creation Mausoleum came to town, and I read some of the things on their website and press releases in the newspaper. To call it jawdropping is an understatement. They were either deliberately lieing, or stupid. I can't say ignorant, because when their errors were pointed out they stuck to their guns. That galvanized me to start an online personae, and I already had a nickname to use from a previous job.
Questioning and letting go of my tenuous belief in any possibility of gods led me to start questioning other beliefs. Gradually, I started examining and letting go of all sorts of supernatural beliefs. Since I'd already dispensed with the biggie, those weren't that difficult. Soon those beliefs started following the previous one into that mental trashcan, and then I started on what I came to know as pseudo-science. UFOs, AltMed, Cryptids, and various other minor but no less unfounded beliefs began to pile on top of the previous ones that had already lined the bottom of that trashcan.
Keep in mind that with questioning came research, and I spent quite a bit of time viewing both sides of several debates (a mild term in many cases). Then I started going back to look at several of the places I'd previously visited, because you can bookmark sites on the internet, you know. Most of those were religious, and I came to my own realization. Jesse Ventura was wrong.“Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.”
No, organized religion, and even mystical/magical/supernatural thinking is not a crutch. It's a broken leg. A crutch will still help you move forward, but what I was seeing impeded progress.
Organized Religion doesn't want people to question, without questioning there is no forward progress, and without progress nothing changes. With the supernatural people arrive at a conclusion that gives them the warm fuzzies, and they never try to learn more or continue forward. Fortunately, there are some, even inside religion, that are willing to question the status quo and come to their own decisions, but they are mostly a silent group.
I want things to move forward, to the point that I almost feel the need for it to. Not just for me, but for Princess, Munchkin, Monkey, Bear, and the rest of humanity. I don't want the following generations to have a better life, but I want mine to also. That's why I'm vehemently against religion, and all forms of supernatural/woo thinking.
The interesting thing is how opposite things have been from what most outsiders will hear about being an atheist, at least if they only listen to the blowhards in the pulpit. A few examples...You can't be good without God.
Perhaps you can't, but maybe I'm just a better person than you. When I realized that no deity exists, I didn't start thinking about who I wanted to rape or murder.An atheist just wants to be a nihilist and/or hedonist.
Actually, I'm just trying to find out the truth about the cosmos, and how to make it better.Being an atheist is easy, because you can believe you can do anything you want.
Ummm... No. Your imaginary friend's lack of existence does not mean society doesn't exist. Even without society to keep a person from going completely homocidal, some of us are able to think for ourselves and come to our own decisions.
To me, being an atheist means thinking for yourself, and I mean truly thinking. Before you react to anything you have to think, which is counter to instincts (automatic and/or learned reactions). If your kneejerk reaction to something is negative, you have to stop and question why. Don't just allow your instincts and emotions to rule you, but force yourself to examine your instinctive reaction and then modify it to what is appropriate. Many of your instincts are related to your past experience and beliefs.
I'm a better person now that I've honestly examined myself and my beliefs, and I intend on being a better person still. I avoid lieing at any cost, but now I'm going to be more forthright. I realize that doing so may come to the attention family and friends, and may alienate some or all of the same. So be it. I'll deal with that when or if it occurs. I can only be who and what I am, and love and cherish those who accept me for that.
I can only hope that those who learn of this aspect of me are smart and decent enough to leave my wife and children out of it.
My name is Berlie Parks, and I am an atheist.
January 5, 2012
Something I Feel the Need to Say
September 22, 2011
The Bad Book
Hemant posted a few days ago about an atheist group who planned on ripping certain pages out of a bible in demonstration. I made a comment, and the comments and responses that followed got me to thinking.
Over 200 hundred years ago, Thomas Jefferson decided the Bible needed fixed. He cut up a bible and pasted the passages that he kept into his own book, which came to be known as The Jefferson Bible. I like the concept, but something seemed lacking. Then, when Hemant talked about what the atheist group was planning, it clicked.
What if I made a book of the parts of the bible that pointed to why I couldn't worship, or even respect, God if he did exist? Many atheists talk about one of the first steps toward their non-belief being actually reading the bible. Perhaps pointing out the atrocious behavior of the supernatural being that they hold in such high regard will get the followers to questioning. Maybe they'll start reading the parts of the book that they haven't been told or taught about, and find out that their "loving" God is nothing of the sort.
Even then, I know there are some who will attempt to rationalize it, but those aren't the ones I'm interested in reaching. I'm not trying to deconvert anyone, although I wouldn't be opposed to it. I just want people to start thinking for themselves and questioning what they're being told. In the most recent exchange with my coworker, he said
He doesn’t want meaningless worship or mindless obedience.Well, maybe his followers should actually do that. Stop saying they worship and obey, but look closely at the actions of the being that they claim to hold in such high regard.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to look around for a digital copy of the bible so I can start a cut/paste project.
August 17, 2011
Exchange with a Coworker: "It's Not About Me"
My coworker responded to my previous letter. He actually responded in February, but other things have made me unable to start a response to him, and still others have kept me from blogging. Below the fold you can read what he wrote.
It’s Not About Me 2011-02-10
Part of the reason I haven't gotten around to this is the number of times I've read it. My coworker is a nice guy, but reading his "thoughts" has me slightly disturbed. The absence of personal responsibility for moral actions has me confounded.
Why do I believe that God is worthy of my worship? Indeed a very appropriate question for anyone looking for answers.
I have to tell you since you asked your question I have thought about it and started to answer it several times. But each time my answers started with, “God did this in my life” or “He answered this or that prayer” or “I can see him working either in my life and other people’s lives”. All this is true and do I see lives changed and people who now have hope where once there was none. All these answers are evidences that God “is” and is active in the lives of people. We can discuss the details some other time if you want but each time I reviewed my answer, it just wasn’t right. The main reason God is worthy of worship was not in my answer. The point is it’s not about my life or anyone else’s life that makes him worthy of my praise and worship.
The reason God is worthy of my worship and the worship of all mankind is because he is who he claims to be. He is the all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present creator God. He is God who created the heavens and the earth and everything contained within it. His Word tells us that He created the universe with the sun, the earth and the moon. He spoke the stars into existence and created every living thing. His Word tells us that His creation is evidence for all man to see and to know that He exists and that we are without excuse.
The Bible tells us He created man and that when he created man he said “let us make man in our image”. The word “us” of course refers to a concept which is difficult for us to get our heads around but the “us” is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They were all there at the creation and all three are all one God. Man is made in the image of God was created with a soul which means he can live for eternity. The Bible states that after creating man He said, “It is very good.”
We are told that God created mankind for a reason and that is because He wants a relationship. He told the first man and woman to multiply. He looked forward to having a personal relationship with each person. But at the same time he chose not to force his will on us. We are given a choice because he wants people to love him for who He is and because they want to have a relationship with him. He doesn’t want meaningless worship or mindless obedience. In his sovereignty he graciously gives us the freedom to choose whether or not to submit to his rule.
Having made us in his “image” he has provided us with everything we need to know and understand him. He’s given us the ability to think and reason. He used several different men to deliver his messages throughout the centuries to pass along to us and had them write it down for all to know. This is His Word, the Bible. He gave us the ability to understand what he’s telling us in his Word but we have to read and study it in order to know him.
In his infinite wisdom he knew everyone would not belief in Him because they would be led astray by Satan’s lies. Many would forget Him and some would question that he even existed. He knew many would turn away from Him and device their own schemes to worship something else, some man-made object or themselves. So even before the world and man was created he had a plan save us. This plan was to send his Son to be the ultimate sacrifice for mankind to reconcile us to him. He sent his Son to earth to die for our sins and make a way for our willing submission to him. Because He is a God of grace and mercy He would offer his own Son as the perfect sacrifice and take our sins upon himself and nail them to the cross. He paid our penalty. After Jesus died on the cross he was laid in a tomb and on the third day he arose from the grave. His love for mankind, his grace and mercy is part of God’s character and who he is. That’s not all of God’s character but that is part of it. What he has done for us shows that he is worthy of worship. The only thing he asks us to do is to “believe in the one whom he has sent” and accept him as their Lord and Savior. Raising his own son from the dead proves that he can do it and he has promised to do the same for all who believe and are faithful to him.
The reason God is worthy of my worship is because of the Gospel…the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was foretold several times in the Old Testament that the Messiah was coming. The Gospels of the New Testament tells of Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. These along with the rest of the New Testament tell us the beginning of the early church and that Jesus is coming again one day and the dead in Christ will be raised to be with him in glory.
My worship and praise of God is because of who He is and the Gospel story of Jesus.
So, it’s not about me at all or what he has done for me physically on this earth. It’s not about us or any human being. Answered prayer, changed lives and everything He does for us is just evidence that He is there and that he cares for us. It’s not about us rather it’s all about God, his glory, his mercy and his grace. It’s about him loving us so much that he sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for us in our place. As Paul puts it, it’s about the Gospel or “Good News” of Jesus Christ. He is worthy of my worship because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is worthy to be worshipped and worthy of all glory.
Now, I'm trying to figure out a diplomatic way to point out the inconsistencies of the message my coworker is trying to convey. He seems to mean well, but it comes off as if he's endorsing tyranny. I'm going to have to be *very* diplomatic with my response.
July 7, 2011
How I "Get It"
(For a backstory on why I'm writing this, see here.)
I'm not small in stature. I stand around six foot two in my bare feet, and weigh nearly two hundred pounds in less clothes than I'd be comfortable describing. However, I think I have some idea of the concerns voiced by the women on several blogs that I frequently visit.
It started in elementary school. The combination of a small frame and a short height made me a target of those sought power over those weaker than them. It didn't help matters that I did very well in math and science, and wore glasses. During trips to the restroom I had a mental stopwatch that told me how long I had before someone else came in, if there was no one in the hallway before I entered. However, even in the classroom I wasn't safe if the teacher had to leave the room for some reason. I did have some I could depend on for protection, but if they weren't around I was a target.
This went on for years. To my recollection, I spent the better part of five years constantly aware of how vulnerable and weak I was compared to many others in my school.
My first two years of high school was a nightmare. The high school I attended held the eighth through twelfth grade students. At five feet tall, and not even a hundred pounds, I was considered a target from day one. I had to deal with, which primarily meant avoid, all of the stereotypical bullies. The first month of school was spent figuring out which ones I could trust, which ones would provide protection, and which ones to avoid at all cost.
However, in the late ninth and early tenth grades things started to change. I got taller. I was still thin, but a great deal of physical activity gave me enough muscle tone for it to be noticable. Things got easier. It didn't become a cakewalk, because I still had to be aware of the ratio of those who didn't like me compared to me. If only one came into the bathroom I no longer flinched and started trying to figure out how to get by them and to the door, though.
Eventually, I made it through high school, and went on to college. There I found a group of people who were more concerned with what education could do with their future than intimidating and bullying those weaker then them. Granted, even there I found one instance of someone bullying another. It's one of my proudest moments when I told the one doing the bullying to not do that... ever again, in no uncertain terms.
Even though that time of weakness and vulnerability was over twenty years ago, I can still vividly recall it. Constantly checking my surroudings to see if I have allies or failing that at least an absence of enemies, having to juggle the joy of learning with the dread of bullying, and most of all -and this is really important- knowing that no one other than those previously mentioned allies will help me.
I grew up in a small rural community, so the advice and help I got for dealing with it was, "Stand up to them." To my credit, I figured out avoidance was a much better way to deal with it, but only after getting my ass thoroughly kicked twice.
All of that still effects how I view the interactions of those around me, and perhaps that's how I "get it". Those experiences only make up an eighth of my life so far, but most women have to deal with that their entire lives. Even worse, the only threat I faced was being beaten. I didn't feel threatened with the violations that they have to be concerned about from the time they're made aware of it until they die.
So to all of the women who have pointed out how the actions of others have been wrong, I support you. More than that, I sympathize with you. I'll be the ally to you that I had during those years to give me those moments of peace. At least, until we get the jackasses that don't "get it" to come around.
I guess that means I'll be your ally for a very long time.
December 3, 2010
Kinect Possibilities
That is awesome. I know there're some privacy issues, but we're getting closer to that GUI from Minority Report (without the gloves, even).
The possibilities don't stop at GUI either. Since I work in 3D modeling my brain is still going through possibilities, and they are very far reaching. However, there are still some hurdles to overcome.
The main issue being the blind side. While it's able to give a 3D image of what it can see, it's still a camera. What it can see is limited to its line of sight. I believe that can be overcome, but the current hardware and software makes the issue very techincal (see here and here). It's not impossible though, and that is making me giddy with excitement.
This is just what the Kinect is capable of out of the box. If a way can be found to synchronize two Kinects then the capabilities will jump dramatically. If a way can be found ot synchronize 3 or more, the possibilities jump even more. There are hurdles to overcome, but if there is a market for it, I think those hurdles will be jumped.
October 6, 2010
Get Over Your F&%king Selves
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It's amazing to think that they were conceived in a petri dish, in December of 2008. Then, about nine months later they arrived. Except for the method of conception and implantation, nothing was different than the pregnancy and birth of Munchkin. They are just as adorable, amazing, and frustrating as any other child.
On Monday the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Dr. Robert G. Edwards for the work he and the late Dr. Patrick Steptoe did for IVF. It's thanks to these two men that my wife and I were able to have Peep and Boo. However, you have those upset that no one consulted the Catholic church on the ethics of not needing the conjugal act in order to conceive, and then there are those who wonder if "a baby conceived in test tube is still a child in the eyes -- or mind or hands, depending on your theology/philosophy -- of God?" To both of those, I have a response. (Warning, very NSFW language to follow.)
Kiss my ass. Seriously. Not on the left, not on the right,... right square in the middle. Lickity split. Cry a river, build a bridge, and get the fuck over yourselves.
You know that thing you refer to as the "conjugal act"? My wife and I refer to it as sex, making love, and even fucking; We did both while we were dating, when we were living together, and after we were married; We used birth control when we didn't want to have kids, and when we did we stopped; We used the bed, couch, floor, kitchen and bathroom counters, and hood of a car for it; We used missionary, doggy, cowgirl, reverse-cowgirl, and pages from the Kama Sutra for positions; At some points we did it three times a day, and at others once a week; When we felt ready to have children we did our damndest to get to Carnegie Hall, and when that didn't work we tried fertility drugs, artificial insimination, and finally IVF.
However, at no point during any of that did we ask anyone their opinion. Neither friends, family, neighbors, strangers we passed in the street, Mr. Carrasco, Ms. Grossman, or the Pope were consulted as to how we should have sex or procreate. Princess and I are two consenting adults, and it's none of anyone's damn business what we decide to do.
Perhaps if Mr. Carrasco weren't celibate he would also know that by the time the majority arrive at the option of IVF they have had sex many times. The natural way of doing things wasn't working so we resorted to medical chemistry, and when that didn't work we went to medical procedures. I honestly don't give a rat's ass what Mr. Carrasco thinks, and if it wasn't for his ignorance on the issue I wouldn't have even known he existed.
As for Ms. Grossman, I don't believe in the existence souls. However, that's irrelevant. What she seems to be saying is that somehow those born through the IVF procedure are less than human, because one part of the process depended on medical intervention rather than a natural course. To that I have to say again, kiss my ass. 4 million, that's a 4 seven places to the left of the decimal, children have been born thanks to IVF. I'd be willing to bet that she couldn't tell the difference between an IVF conceived and naturally conceived human being if you stood them side by side, without any prior knowledge. However, just to get my point across I'm going to answer her questions
Do you think a baby conceived in test tube is still a child in the eyes of God?I have yet to hear God's opinion on anything. The only thing I keep hearing is people saying what they think God's opinion is, and (not so)remarkably his opinion seems to parallel theirs even when their opinions differ. It's almost like he doesn't exist. Imagine that.
Does the science behind this merit a Nobel Prize, or ethical condemnation?4 million children have been born thanks to IVF. I expect the majority of them would not have been conceived otherwise. That means 4 million children were members of loving families who wanted a child or children. Yes, I do think that deserves some recognition. As for as the ethical condemnation, you don't want to open that can of worms with me. Ethically, I can condemn the questions you've asked here, and I can give a helluva better arguments than your imaginary friend's opinion.
And what about the parents? Is their IVF choice selfish or loving? Are they creators -- or merely shoppers?Hmmm...
Selfish or loving
Wouldn't that apply to any effort to have children? The difference between IVF and sex is the mixing in a petri dish and insertion. Everything else is exactly the same. Hell, if the couple aren't able to have children isn't that the equivalent of masturbation since the sex can't be for the purpose of procreation?
Creators -- or merely shoppers
There's no such thing as a Creator. We don't create life. My sperm and her egg combine, the cells start multiplying, the zygote attaches to the uterine wall, and roughly nine months later a child is born. The basic steps were the same, it's just that Princess and I needed some medical intervention to help it along.
From personal experience I can tell you that the only difference between an IVF baby and a naturally conceived baby are those few steps in the beginning. They are just as amazing, and frustrating, as any other child. They have all of the same qualities that other children have, and are even more wanted and loved than some who were conceived naturally. They are just as human and unique as any other person on this planet. However, if I have anything to say about it they will be better educated and more understanding than those like Ms. Grossman, who have a very narrow-minded view of what it is to be a living, thinking, loving, and loved human being.
September 29, 2010
We've Got You Outnumbered
I took the shortened test that I posted about yesterday. You can read the full questionnaire here and a breakdown of the results here. I scored 13/15, which means 93% scored worse than, 3% scored better than, and (by process of elimination) 4% scored the same as me. I won't go into the questions I missed, because I don't want the two people who haven't taken it yet to gain an unfair advantage.
Still, even atheists are wondering and throwing ideas out as to why atheists did so well. I think many of them can apply to individuals, but I have another idea that has to do with the communication amongst atheists themselves.
While deconverting and often after deconversion atheists examine religious claims. However, we don't just examine, we often communicate what we found. We discuss it amongst ourselves, and this is often on the internet.
However, unlike the usual Bible study held in churches, these aren't restricted to what the "leader" wants you to read or discuss. We flip back and forth between topics. It can be subjects withint the religion in question that are contradictory, and quite often the similarities with other religions. While traveling from their original belief to atheism an atheist will often "experiment" with other religions, or at least investigate them. This gives many a broad range of knowledge in the differences and similarities between religions.
However, I think the main difference between atheists and believers is authority. There are some atheists who are more visible than others, but we have no leaders or authorities. Some are more respected, but if we disagree with them we won't hesitate to say so. It often happens on the post or during the discussion that they were having on the subject even. When was the last time you ever heard of a member of some congragation tell a pastor, preacher, or priest that there's another passage in their religious text that contradicts what the leader said?
In the atheosphere this leads to any discussion covering a broad range of knowledge, with everyone being able to contribute. We're encouraged to think for ourselves, examine what is being said, and contribute our thoughts to the discussion. However, if we disagree with what's being said we don't have to worry about being "excommunicated" from the group. As long as we have evidence to support what we said, and we're willing to change our minds if proven wrong, then no one has a problem with revolutionary thinking. It's how we grow, and, I think, one of our greatest strengths.
So I don't think atheists are more intelligent than the relgious, but I do think we're more open to exploration. Examining different religions doesn't challenge our faith, because we have none. Putting forth a different idea that contradicts the "leader" is encouraged if you find reason to believe they're wrong.
Atheism can be more than not believing in the existence of gods. To me, it's the sharing, discussion, and broadening of ideas. We don't depend on an "elite" to lead the discussion, we can all participate and put in our own ideas. Instead of only gaining what we have time to learn, we can share what we've learned with others and learn from them at the same time. If what is said is interesting to the individual they can do more research to add even more to the subject. It isn't restricted to the path the "leader" wants the discussion to take, but to the minds and discoveries of those involved.
Even in our everyday lives atheists listen to others beliefs. Sometimes, hopefully when circumstances dictate, we point out the inconsistencies or errors, but such beliefs also can create interest. We'll study what is said, not just from one source but from many. Looking for both the supporting and contradicting evidence. Even if the subject never arises with that person again, we still have that knowledge stored for later use and in many cases the subject will come up somewhere else. If it's among other atheists, we explain our research and what we found, pointing them to the relavent evidence.
For those steeped in organized religion it's the opposite. The "leader" will tell them what passages to read and explain to them what the passages mean, often ignoring the parts before and after the passage that can contradict the message. This goes for the sermon, as well as Bible study. There is no open exchange of ideas, and anything contradicting the lesson is either ignored, blown off, or outright discouraged.
Basically, it's not that any particular atheist is more intelligent than any particular religious person. It's just that the religious person only knows as much as their "leader", where an atheist draws upon the knowledge of other atheists, and everyone else he knows.
