There always seems to be someone somewhere bashing Scientologists, or Muslims, or Christians, or anyone else who believes in something. In fact, those who don’t believe in anything, still believe in the fact that they don’t believe anything, don’t they?
The problem is that as a human you cannot unbelieve. Without a point of view, you’d be dead. Without the experiences that you’ve had in life, life wouldn’t have been lived.
So, don’t be scared of yourself, for it is you who must believe.
Do some research. Scientology is a cult. No, I’m not from 4chan; no, I haven’t seen that South Park episode; no, I don’t find brainwashing, indoctrination and intimidation hilarious. I just did a few hours of Google-News-reading and poked around Wikipedia’s sources.
Frustrating misinformation aside; very well said. As an armchair Existentialist, this post summarizes much of my core philosophy. And although I would phrase the last sentence of your opening paragraph with more emphasis on the humanist, rather than anti-theist aspects of atheism, I agree wholeheartedly.
The criticism should be on the fire-and-brimstone preachers, not the quiet, happily religious folks.