How to come out as an atheist, greeting card style!
Great video, though my hackles got a bit raised with the first card example. I'm sure there are some in my life who would say that I'm being a "jerk" about my atheism, if only because I'm so vocal about it and also identifying what I see wrong in organized religion. I'm sure I'd be much more popular in some circles if I kept my nonbelief and cynicism to myself, rather than asking tough questions and not settling for churchy cliches or faith platitudes.
In the first greeting card example, the greeting card guy also said that atheism isn't a neutral statement -- but I think that's a common misrepresentation of atheism. When I say that I'm an atheist, I'm not making a positive claim that there is no God -- I'm just asserting that I have NO belief in God/god/gods, or that I am without (a) belief in God (theism).
Sure there are some atheists who prefer to be associated with an anti-theistic flavor, but I think it's inaccurate to brand all atheists as being actively set against God. This mischaracterization is a common ploy among some apologists who try to brand all atheists as the ones who are making a positive assertion -- because then it's necessary for the nonbeliever to provide evidence to back up such a claim.
But, if by claiming the label of atheist I'm just stating that I don't have a belief in a god, then the burden of evidence shifts onto the one who asserts that there exists a personal god. Which makes more sense, considering you don't hear a lot of cries for a-fairyists or a-leprechaunists to make their evidential cases that such mythical figures don't really exist.
That said though, I really do like the message of the above video -- mainly because I know that it's tough sometimes to be yourself, especially when you know that your true identity will probably take you further away from the people you love in your life.
