I've always enjoyed the Bill Maher quote: "Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby." Duh, right? Well, not so much, though the quote still makes me giggle. I've realized there is a huge difference between religion and theism.
Google yields three definitions of religion.
1. The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or Gods.
2. A particular system of faith and worship.
3. A pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.
It also yields one definition of theism:
1. Belief in the existence of a God or Gods, especially belief in one God as creator of the universe, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relation to his creatures.
So, what is an atheist? The opposite of a theist. Someone who does not believe in God or Gods. Someone who does not believe a supreme creator intervenes and sustains a relationship with this world. Someone who is confident those things do not exist.
I am an atheist.
There are two schools of thought about atheists. One thought is that they're sane, logical, scientific people who are smart not to believe in the equivalent of unicorns. The second thought is that they're immoral, awful people who hate religion. Neither are true. Well, they might be true, but they're not inherent in the definition.
Now, look back at those definitions of religion at the top. Religion. Belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power. Not necessarily a God. It could also mean a system of faith and worship. It can even mean a pursuit to which someone ascribes supreme importance.
This atheist does religion, and she's proud of it.
My belief is in love.
I know that sounds cheesy, but you have to work with me. Love is not necessary, easy or comfortable, but is easily the most powerful force in existence.
I worship new babies, pregnant mothers, young couples and love stories. I worship peace, advocacy, justice and kindness. I worship puppies and kittens and little chicks. I worship mountains and trees and rivers and oceans. I also worship abstract things like love and equality. I ascribe supreme importance to treating others—especially those who are oppressed, disenfranchised and in danger—with respect and goodness. Instead of praying for a safe flight, I thank the pilot and refrain from giving them a huge hug.
I don't believe anything like a God exists, but I worship the world some believe Gods created. My religion is morality, kindness, respect, goodwill toward others—everything the theist's religion is, sans the superhuman.
At the end of the day, I believe all that stuff comes from humanity itself, from the happenstance of physics and chemistry and from chaos. It doesn't mean I don't believe. God is another idea—one I don't think is correct. Organized religion is just that. An organization, capable of massive joy and goodness. Capable of corruption and evil, too.
I am far less concerned with who you believe created the world and far more concerned with how much you love.
Theist or otherwise, you are good in my book. I only demand you not soil, violate or pervert my religion. I take it very seriously.
