Name: Emily Smith
Location: Mercer, Pennsylvania
Label: Atheist/Buddhist
Former religious affiliation: Christian- Catholic
My Story
I became an atheist because I was not content with not knowing how the world works. I love nature too much to not give it all the credit it deserves for shaping this universe. I realized that it’s okay to not have the answers to every question, and that it wasn’t right to just plug God into the answer box. I’ve seen enough of what religion can do to know that I want no part in it, and that I can be a loving, successful member of society without it. I’ve recently started to read up on Buddhist texts and teachings, and although I still have no interest in the supernatural, I find their words to be the most inspiring and moving scriptures out there, and that it does not take a deity to create wonderful people. Not matter how long it will take for my loved ones to fully accept that, I will stay true to who I am and what I believe to be right. In the end, that’s what’s most important. Love you all.
Tagged with: Atheist • Buddhist • Emily • nature • Pennysylvania
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What an amazing young women you are! My son goes to Slippery Rock!
I’m up there once a week because he comes home on weekends. Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sure it will encourage others sitting on the fence.
Well thank you so much! Oh my goodness, what year is he?? I take it you’re local
very cool
He’s a Junior. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to reveal his name is Chris. *Thumbs up* Great video.
Well thank you so much! Oh my goodness, what year is he?? I take it you’re local
very cool.
So i was just sitting at home in butler PA, stumbling in the Atheist/Agnostic category when this website came up, i had no idea what it was so i clicked the first video which was yours and found out you go to slippery rock which is only like 30 minutes away from where i live. It was very crazy> I myself am a college atheist and i just thought it was a very weird coincidence since this video was the first and only one i clicked. Okay thats it, Keep up the rational thinking!
That’s awesome! Although I shouldn’t be surprised when relatively local people crop up, the close proximity is still cool. ^_^ And I’m very glad you found this site!
Hi Emily,
I came across this website tonight and love it! I watched your video and find you to be articulate, intelligent, and highly rational. I too am an atheist, and at present live in the jesus stung town of Redding, CA. Ugh. I find that my intellect is assaulted daily by christian fundamentalists who want to lay hands on me and pray to a god that doesn’t exist. Help! Anyway it is refreshing to find like minded individuals out there! Feel free to check out my atheist blog – http://handelinatheism.wordpress.com – and let me know what you think. Keep up the good fight for reason, critical thinking, and science. You rock!
James Handelin
Thank you so much for the positive feedback, it really means the world!
How fascinating UR going 2 B once U reach my age.My life’s quite similar 2 the 1 U described however,I always questioned religious practices but,fell into the belief trap because-o-the frequency that nasty 3 letter g word is used throughout society and on the myth-box A.K.A. a television set. They disabled my FB 4 being more outspoken than Dusty Smith but,I went surfin’ n’ found this SkyRock site that appears 2 B mostly French however it appears that they cater 2 us less rude ppl:)(; What’s a good place 2 go 2 when U lose all UR stuff that was on Facebook?
Emily, nice story! I tend to agree and share the same thoughts/feelings. Its nice to see more people our age to stand up for what we believe in, or don’t believe in.
Love this video Emily, you’re very charismatic and it’s really nice to see some more younger ladies like us speaking out. Good luck with all your goals, hope your life continues to be so full of art and reason. Peace out!
Dinosaurs? You win childhood, lol. At 9:00, you reminded me of a great Hitched line: ‘If tomorrow you found out that Jesus wasn’t real and Christianity wasn’t true, would you then go around screwing in the streets?’
Also, you go to Slippery Rock? Do you happen to know a blonde girl named Alex Bolling?
*Hitchens, that is.
Yes, many many dinosaurs, which have since been passed down to all of my younger cousins, haha.
And I actually do not, but it looks like one of my roommates does. They have pics of Facebook together. Small world.
You are right. It’s a big step to just admit that you don’t believe in the big daddy in the sky anymore It’s so much easier to be intellectually lazy and let all your religious friends define your beliefs. It took me years. Thank you,
Chris Hitchens.
Hi Emily, I feel a bit out of this, not being local! (from the UK actually), but glad I came across you as I looked for a different Emily Smith.
So sad to hear that people have been having a go at you for not believing. I agree that it is important to believe what you do 1st hand, rather than taking on someone else’s beliefs.
I know wonderful people who don’t have faith and wonderful people who do.
You might be surprised to know that there are plenty of Christians who believe that evolution happened, that nature is great, that there is a deep satisfaction in being rational (there’s so much to explore!)and that God loves gays.
It would be a shame if your experiences put you off of knowing the love that turned my life around when God invaded it unexpectedly.
I’m not excusing them, but you might find it helpful to look more at Jesus than some of his followers! Also, Philip Yancey is a good author – he’s an investigative journalist, who came from an abusive and racist church, but found out that God is all about love.
Best wishes for your life and art,
Derek
Hi Emily
Your outlook is pretty much like mine, I’ve followed the eightfold path for 20 years now, and you’re right there’s no supernatural, only the natural; and an intrinsic part of that is mind, or whatever you want to call it, the thing that gives us perception, mind and physical reality are completely interdependent. And to be truly sane, all you need is the eightfold path and meditation to show you that the self is transient and always changing, but mind is always there, always part of every point in space and time.
But maybe you already know that – so just let me say congratulations on having the strength to be free and to want to really know the truth, there aren’t many people who can do that, most shelter from reality behind one set of illusions or another. I wish you enlightenment.
Zak