Responsibility of Self is a Hallmark of Atheism

If we Atheists had a creed, being responsible for your own actions, taking initiative in making your own decisions and maturely owning up to the consequences of those choices would most likely be the bedrock of any such creed's foundations.   

We are not, however, a necessarily philosophically creed-bound lot.    Indeed, some Atheists would rankle powerfully and sorely at it even being suggested that they as Atheists should be expected to follow some man-made stricture of ethical conduct...and that's just fine.   

What's tricky for many, however, is turning those words written above into something meaningful.  Sounds dreadfully good to say; honestly, it sounds so very evocative to say "I'm responsible for myself" when you really, truly mean it.

But what, exactly, does that mean?

Firstly and foremostly, it means that you are obliged to do your own thinking.  You're responsible for what you do and do not accept in terms of new knowledge.

Similarly, you are responsible for what you will and will not modify regarding what you think you already know, and I say 'think' very deliberately in that, because it's a simple truth of the reality that won't go away if nobody believes in it that we don't know everything.   Frankly, we can't know everything.

We are obliged, however, to do the best we're able to make sound, rational and mature decisions.

Secondly, we are likewise obliged to take responsibility for amending what we think we know when and as better, more factual or more truthful information becomes available.

Fundamentally, however, we are obliged to question, to think and to challenge that which seems implausible, untrue or peculiar.     Sometimes, we will find, in so doing, that we simply didn't know the facts on a given matter, and thence are we obliged to seek them and know them better.

Sometimes, however, we will find that the things we question will not hold up under scrutiny.   Sometimes, we will find that our skepticism has saved us from swallowing lies, deceptions or well-intended but poorly-founded 'facts' that elsewise might have gone unchallenged, uncorrected and unknown for what they were.

The bottom line is simple; if no one seeks the truth, it'll never be found.    Chances are we'll never find anything resembling "The Truth", but we'll never get one step closer if we don't take the necessary steps towards that end, and those steps are taken by questioning, digging, questioning all that which we think we know and being as brutally honest with both ourselves and our fellows as we must be so that the rational truth, as best we can discern, might prevail.

It isn't always easy.    Sometimes, it's one of the hardest things to do of all available options.

Never-the-less, as Atheists, we are obliged to show both ourselves and others the respect and temerity to seek the truth, both for our own benefit and that of all mankind. 

We are not, of course, obliged to go around waving it about like some manner of flag, but what you do with it is, truly, up to you to decide.      I'd personally advise certain measures of discretion in such doings lest you cast yourself as dreadfully silly, but that's just my advice.

Question it.   Test it.    Weigh it against the needs and desires of your life, and if it is your determination that my advice is sound...by all means, feel free to take it.

Or don't.    You won't go to hell if you don't, nor will you be castigated like you've committed some manner of existential crime against existence.   

So...think about it. 

That's really the crux of it all though, isn't it?

Peace.