How does this background for an atheist character sound?

So one of my main characters was an orphan raised in his world's equivalent of a monastery. He was a rather quiet and shy kid and realized he didn't actually believe in the gods at a young age, which he didn't share with anyone.

While he was a teenager he had to go on what was essentially a 'mission trip' with several people who were his own age. The constantly asked him why he wasn't as willing to participate in religious activities until he was irritated enough that he admitted that he was an atheist. The others harassed him for the rest of the trip, almost getting physical with him which caused him to beat one of them up.

He went on to become an anti-theist because of this (also being critical of other superstitious things like mystics) And also a bit of a Knight in Sour Armour. One of his close friends has a great respect for religion because of how it helped their mother, so he does his best to avoid discussions about religion with them.

He can be a bit blunt and insensitive sometimes, which actually causes people to call him out on it. At worst, he can be a bit of a bully. (which I thought would make sense as he was bullied in the past and has some self esteem issues) Over the course of the story, he still remains an atheist but learns that he shouldn't be a dick to people who are religious or a dick to anyone period. Part of this is due to befriending (and later entering a relationship with) a person who is this world's equivalent of a priest.

• Any thoughts/criticisms would be very much appreciated :)

I find that a solid and logical backstory, but I fear some people might think it's a Hollywood Atheist kind of deal (it techinically isn't because he was an atheist before the whole bullying, buut).

I assume later replies will dwell more on that.

Yeah, a Hollywood Atheist was something I was definitely trying to avoid. Earlier back-stories still had him as an 'atheist before religious people were dicks to him,' but had more elements of the Dead Little Sister trope, which is one of the reasons why they were axed.

I think a lot of atheists will identify with this character; a good many of us (not including myself, fortunately for me) grew up in heavily religious environments, so his environment would be something a lot of atheists could relate to.

edited 6th Apr '14 4:05:42 PM by somerandomdude

Yeah, parts of his backstory were based off one of my atheist friend's stories about unpleasant stays at 'church camp.'

It's good to know he'll at least be believable.

To echo the general tone so far, I concur that a strictly religious background where particularly rigorous debate isn't encouraged is the one I hear the most when I ask people why they aren't spiritual.

I would say, however, that atheists are rarely so inclined due to a sort of reverse peer pressure dynamic interacting with their introverted tendencies. Whatever their morals or how pleasant they are to be around, they tend to be independent, thinking people, and I would recommend portraying this character as an individual with defensible opinions that can hold his own in a discussion, just in case he comes off as more of a stubborn, closed-minded mule with a bias against religion due to his ill experiences with the religious.

I was planning on having him be able to hold his own in a disscussion anyway (he happens to be well educated due to his upbringing in the monastery and his own interest in various areas as well)

Sure he might not say it in the 'nicest' way, but a majoirty of the time, he does have a point. Some of his major points being: religion has been used to opress people and still is being used (in this setting) there is no proof of the gods existing (and if they did, they're kind of dicks) and some concepts of the religion that he thinks are actually Fridge Horror when you think about them long enough.

A recurring plot point involves him debating about religion with a religious person who had his same upbringing. They both have good points and eventually reconcile their differents, but is there a chance it could turn out too much like a pro con essay?

While essays tend not to make good fiction, my friend, pro con analysis is always, always good. I can say that there are few things more refreshing than a narrative that accepts the subtle differences between people of different opinions and sincerely explores their personal reasons for holding and defending their beliefs, exploring why, in a sense, they are right to do so. It really shows an author who understands human nature without irrationally condemning it.

I must say, a spiritual/aspiritual debate in a fictitious world is a very interesting idea. You mentioned it's a fantasy; if deities are a reality in your world, maybe you could justify atheism as rather a more open-minded way of rationalizing their existence, without the glamour and modernized ritualism of religion? If not, it would still be just as valid to have such a discussion.

something that I plan on including involves the religious character (Let's call him Bill) having a crisis of faith, but one of the reasons why he returns to his faith is because of the atheist's character's (lets call him Ted) support, as he realizes how much Bill's religion is part of his identity and how much it helps him

I just wanted to address that some people need religion in their lives one way or another, but some people don't. That's okay.

I've actually encountered people who have the "EVERYONE NEEDS JESUS IN THEIR LIVES. IF YOU DON'T BELIVE IN GOD LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING" attitude and I want to avoid that as much as much as possible. (Along with the "anyone who believes in God is a fucking idiot" attitude)

edited 8th Apr '14 9:12:32 AM by TheMuse

Call me weird, but I'd love to see someone point out that everything we know about God or the gods comes from Humans, and that if they even did exist, we can't be sure how much of what has been said about them is true, how much is made up, and how much is just a complete misinterpretation.

Not sure how that fits into your story, but it'd be interesting to see someone take that angle one way or another.

At least to me.

To more directly answer your question, I think you are more or less good here. As long as he gets over his hostility towards more religious people and realizes that even if he doesn't believe he doesn't have to be hostile towards them, and as long as he makes good points (and is given good points in turn), I think you are more or less good.

edited 8th Apr '14 6:12:59 PM by HandsomeRob

Good point Muse, I guess that some people feel particularly strongly on the subject, sometimes due to a personal connection to it that might not have been that great an experience. I guess that what we writers would do there is explore why they do.

Dude, that's not weird. That's actually a really fundamental point.

Cool.

It occurred to me a long time ago, and it's something that makes you have to question everything.

Both God Is Evil and God Is Good, cause everything he's done that looks evil or good comes out of the mouth of people, and as we all know, people will lie and re-interpret facts to suit their own needs.

But that's another thing for another time truthfully. It's an idea I've been thinking of playing with myself.