As an atheist living in a devoutly religious country like Jamaica, I sometimes find myself in uncomfortable situations. Sometime ago, for instance, I was warned that my fate in hell is sealed on account of my non-belief in any god. While I found this warning laughable, it did cause me to have pity on the many people who still continue to think that I am not thinking straight.

But why do I reject this concept of God? First of all, unlike Christianity and Rastafarianism, one's brain is not held captive by atheism, which offers one the liberation of the mind and the freedom to think. This, I think, is perhaps atheism's greatest attribute. There is no need to fear one's thoughts if one is an atheist. This has certainly been my experience.

This freedom of thought is the very foundation of science. Indeed, science, in its purest form, is atheistic. Science has very little compatibility with any god. In virtually every aspect of our modern lives the application of science is paramount. The scientific innovations that made our modern lives possible are products of free thought - this is atheism at work.

Intellectual capacity

Unlike Christianity or Rastafarianism, atheism offers real hope. While the Christian or the Rastafarian puts his hopes for a better life in persons long dead, we atheists put our hopes for better in the intellectual capacity of the human brain. While this may seem very hard to understand, I have no doubt that the day is coming when man will solve all his problems.

This conviction of mine is not resting on faith - but certainty. We will evolve to the point when we will truly be able to create the paradise we want - free of all problems. We, today, will not live to see this, but will do this through our own intellectual power, and not through the intervention of some caring God that doesn't exist. From an atheistic perspective, the future is bright, certain and godless.

Christians and Rastafarians claim that our moral concepts are all the products of some caring God and that atheists like myself are not moral and thus 'evil'. However, a careful look at morals will reveal two things - first, it is very subjective, and second, only what works is seen as good. Both of these pillars of morality are, ironically, pointing to atheism, and not religion, as their source.

Shackles of religion

Every civilisation has its own set of morals - ours is no different. We have ordered our society according to what we (or at least, those of us with the power) think is right. What is thought of as right is subjective - all will not agree, but all should comply. Also, we think that what is morally right is right because it works. The Christian and the Rastafarian may not want to admit it, but this maxim totally excludes God. Again, this is atheism in its purest form - the workings of the human mind and not the gift of any god.

While there can be no doubt that both Christianity and Rastafarianism have made contributions to the development of our society, theirs were for us during our infancy. Like a child that grows into adulthood, we will soon discard the shackles of religion and mature into atheism - the only way of the future.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL A. DINGWALL

michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com