I am proud to be an atheist

Sometimes I really tire of discussions about religion and atheism. It was a topic of intense interest to me as a young person, but it becomes apparent that there hasn't been an original argument made in the debate for a very long time. I have recently forgotten the negative impact that religious beliefs can have on the world, and I get a culture shock every time I encounter an abhorrent manifestation of religious thinking. I literally forget that most people I encounter believe in magic and a host of bizarre beliefs about the nature of the world that flow from magical thinking.

There is a certain level of death-worship among people who believe in an afterlife. I recently heard a religious person announce that there isn't much use in getting riled up about how unfair life is because in the afterlife things will be all better. This argument disgusts me, completely.

I understand why a religious person would draw such a conclusion; it is much more comfortable than the reality that such a thing can only be said from a position of relative comfort in the world, and that the comfortable are the ones who can more easily work to affect change. It is easy for white americans in utah to make these arguments; they aren't being trafficked or enslaved or dying of preventable diseases. When I hear someone say something about the worthlessness of caring about the world I always wish that the person saying it would be forced to say it to someone who is directly involved in the hardship being discussed. I doubt that most people who think such rubbish are heartless enough to do it, they are just avoiding uncomfortable conclusions to enhance their own well being. Many people would rather feel good than see things for what they are.

What I don't understand, however, is how a pleasant conclusion is supposed to undo the injustice of needless suffering. By that logic no one should be upset about torture because torture ends eventually, after all.

Knowing how the majority of religious people think has made me proud to be an atheist. I know this is the only life I will get and that I have to do as much as I can to improve the world for others. There is no grand purpose in suffering, and no one will fix the problems of the human race for us. It takes integrity to take responsibility for our actions (or lack of action); the majority of atheists seem to take it to heart that what they do is important to other human beings.