I've been writing a blog about atheism and related topics for several years. Does the fact I often write about atheism mean that I want everybody else to become atheists? It could mean that. It is possible that I write about atheism because I'd like to persuade others to be atheists. But must it mean that? No, not at all. Persuasion is but one of many motives for writing.
Christians can write about Christianity without wanting their audience to become Christians. Persuasion isn't always what drives them. I've known plenty of Christians who enjoy talking about Christianity. While some do hope to convert others, many don't. They talk about it because it interests them or connects them to others. They have little interest in proselytizing. These things can be true of atheists too. I suspect that they might be more likely to be true of atheists.
Why have I written about atheism? There are many reasons, but some of the main ones include the following:
I am interested in the topic of religious belief.
I would like atheists to feel less shame about who they are.
I'd like to see religious privilege replaced with pluralism and equality.
I want to push back against the misconceptions, bigotry, and hatred that stand in the way of equality.
I like to connect with other atheists because I have access to so few of them in my daily life.
Writing about things I can't talk about can be freeing.
I've been at it long enough that my motives have changed over time. If I had to pick one reason today for why I write about atheism, it would be a desire to normalize it. This connects to much of what I mentioned above. I'd like atheists to feel better about who they are, and I'd like us to move toward equality. I'd like to see religion have far less influence on our governments. Secularism and religious pluralism seem like the way to go.
Why aren't I more interested in trying to convince others to be atheists? I don't see that as a good use of my time. I know that people can be decent humans without being atheists. I also suspect that most of those who do become atheists do so on their own timeline. I have trouble imagining that I would have left Christianity before I was ready to do so.
I recognize that some atheists do aim to talk religious believers out of their beliefs. I suppose that's one of the goals underlying street epistemology and related approaches. I can see why some might enjoy this work, but de-converting believers hasn't been my aim for many years. I'm not sure it ever was.
I do tire of writing about anything connected to atheism. This is why I take breaks and write about other topics. I've always been more than an atheist, and I don't see that changing. And yes, there are many days when I wish I had no reason to write about atheism at all.
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