Through an odd combination of things, I've been giving alot of thought recently to just what being an atheist actually means to me. I was raised a proper Jewish girl, going to Hebrew School, keeping the holidays, all that good stuff - but never believed in any of the things I was taught as "The Truth." Maybe it was Watching Madalyn Murray O'Hair on Phil Donohue's show when I was young and impressionable, I don't know, but faith has never been a part of my life. If asked, I said I didn't know, called myself an agnostic and left it at that. It wasn't until I became pregnant that I gave the matter of religion and faith any serious thought. As Dennis and I had the usual discussions about how we wanted to raise our daughter, what we hoped for her, what we wanted to pass on, all the usual things, we realized that religion didn't even enter into it. Mythology - yes, but not religion, especially not organized western religion.

I firmly believe in celebrating any and all holidays that involve presents though...