Is atheism a liberating and good experience?

[DoktorZ]

"Conversion" to atheism is just like "conversion" to religion, in my view: it does nothing to remove any ongoing psychological problems you might have. Unless, of course, the atheism or the religion was the direct *cause* of those problems. (I think religion has the stronger track record in this respect, by a long shot.)

I'm glad that, as an atheist, I don't have to think about all kinds of extraneous nonsense when making life decisions--like, will God approve of me having sex before marriage? or, what does the Bible/Koran/Tipitaka have to say about my love for cold vodka? I just junk all of that and think more about the consequences of my actions--which religious people have to do as well, but with all this other irrelevant baggage attached to it. Sometimes theology provides some interesting answers to personal questions, but usually it's just outdated or complete rubbish. Why clutter your mind with it?

I suppose when I become the archetypal "angry atheist" it is usually because someone is insisting I have to start considering these things again when making life decisions, or debating some joint decision. It feels like a massive waste of time and energy, and nothing ever comes of it except resentments and irreconcilable differences. Why bother? In that sense, being an atheist was liberating for me, personally.

Good luck, but don't expect religion or atheism to solve your problems. You have to do it on your own (with help from your friends).

Z