Living in a place like Arkansas, these are such negative words. Okay, the first two really just are negative, and I mostly use them in jest. But what do you think about those last three? What do you think about people who are agnostic? Atheistic? Non-believers?

What do you think about me?

I don’t know exactly where I fit on that spectrum. I can say this: I am not religious. I don’t consider myself a spiritual person. I disagree with a lot of what is taught by religious institutions. But I don’t like to identify myself as what I don’t believe. Sure, I don’t have a religion; but I do have a worldview. I believe that I am responsible for my own happiness, my own behavior, my own future. I believe it is possible for people to develop values, morals and ethics without relying on belief in a deity who imposes them.

Living in a city with nearly 60 percent of its population affiliated with a religion, I feel like an oddball. A little left out.

Religion does have a way of binding people together. Yes, about half of my friends are religious, and the other half are not. But those of us who aren’t don’t gather together, united by our lack of religiosity. We could, though. I know that there are groups, and I’ve looked into some of them, but none of them really seem to fit my family’s needs.

What would that look like, I wonder? Maybe a group of parents who are raising their children outside the religious institution? A group that meets regularly to discuss how we do that, to find common ground? A group that throws baby showers and provides meals for group members when they are ill?

My “loss” of religion has certainly put a strain on my family of origin. I once was broken up with by a boy because of it. As I grow my own family, however, I am encouraged by the realization that I’m my own boss. I get to decide how I spend my Sunday mornings. I get to watch my children grow, unencumbered by dogma.

Living where I do, I often feel like I must be apologetic about all of this. I want to do something about this. Anybody with me?