Religion is a big part of the world today and always has been. Religion is known to define people or determine their actions. There are many religions out there, but America seems to be focused on two. Now, there are several different religions practiced across America, but most Americans seem to think Christianity or Catholicism is superior.
They believe everyone should believe what they do and if they do not they are a lesser person for it. I am in no way saying that all Catholics and all Christians are like this.
I have many friends of many religions and we get along just fine. This is for the Americans that look down on people for not having the same beliefs, for the people who try to push their religion on everyone and use threats of Hell to do so, and to the people who drag their beliefs into politics, a place where religion does not belong.
It's not just Catholics or Christians either it's anyone who believes in some sort of god. I've been called a lesser person, people of my beliefs have been called dangerous because we have no morals, and we've been told we are faithless beings. Now, that last statement couldn't be farther from the truth.
I've been Atheist as long as I can remember. When I was younger I was part of a Church. I used to volunteer for Church day camps and events. The only difference between myself and the other volunteers was, I wasn't doing it because it was a god would repay me for it or because a god told me to.
I did it because it was just a good thing to do. When someone drops something in the grocery store or a parking lot my I go and help them. Not because it's what a god would want me to do, but because it's just the right thing to do.
When something awful happens in this country my first reaction is not to go home and pray; I want to find a way to help or to spread awareness.
I have faith. Being Atheist does not mean I am faithless. It means I have faith in science: the development of cures and the secrets behind evolutions.
I have faith in technology: the ability to talk to people around the world from my home and the ability to involve the whole world in a cause. I also have faith that people of different religions can get along. Just because two people have different beliefs does not make them enemies. I have faith that one-day people will stop seeing my beliefs as a detriment and see them as my strength.