Hemant Mehta: 10 Questions with an Atheist
**Part of the 10 Questions with an Atheist series.**
Hemant Mehta, blogger at FriendlyAtheist and author of I Sold My Soul on eBay, is probably best known for putting his soul on the auction block.
Before then he attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he graduated with honors in both Mathematics and Biology. He is now earning his Masters in Math Education at DePaul University.
While at U of I Chicago, Hemant helped establish their first secular student group, Students WithOut Religious Dogma (SWORD).
Mehta is also the Chair of the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) Board of Directors and has worked with the Center for Inquiry. He’s an SSA representative to the Secular Coalition for America.
He currently works as a high school Math teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. Everyone, welcome Hemant.
1. How would you describe yourself: atheist, agnostic or skeptic? Explain.
Atheist. It’s the word I first came to identify with and it’s stuck with me ever since. It’s also the one that has the worst stigma and I’d like to confront that stigma head-on by embracing the word.
2. When did you know you were an atheist? Did it scare you or was it a non-issue?
It was scary… I was raised with religion and I prayed and believed in a god. So when it started dawning on me that God might not exist, it was a freaky thought. The first night I went to bed without praying, I remember waking up and checking for bruises or some other sign that a god had punished me. I was scratch-free, so I figured I was onto something 
3. Ever suffer persecution as an atheist?
Not as much as other people I know. I’ve never lost a job or relationships with family members because of it. I have had a few first dates never call back because they knew I didn’t believe in God, but that’s about the worst of it…
4. What do you want to accomplish with your life?
Wow. I’m not sure. I enjoy teaching students right now (I work at a high school). I also love writing and talking about atheism and spreading the “good word.” For the time being, it’d thrill me to know I’m helping religious people make the transition into atheism because they can relate to things I write or talk about.
5. Who are your heroes? Why?
I think anyone who confronts authority for good reason deserves to be commended. I’ve heard from high school students who try to start an atheist group in the Bible Belt… and atheists who have risked friendships and popularity by standing up for what they believe. They’re regular people doing amazing things. I love that.
6. What would you like to accomplish with your blog?
I’d love for my website to be a place for real conversations about religion — with atheists and religious people commenting freely. I want to help people feel safe coming out as an atheist. I want them to bounce ideas off my readers. And I hope it will let me have a voice in the broader atheist community.
7. What’s your favorite part about being an atheist?
Umm… the women. Obviously.
8. Are there any Christian concepts that you respect?
As cheesy as they might be, I like the people who believe Jesus = love. Those are not the gay-bashers. They believe in church/state separation and compassion for others and caring for the poor and social justice. If they get that motivation from their faith, great. There are plenty of good reasons for those things outside religion, but Christians who are doing good works deserve respect for their actions, at least, if not their supernatural beliefs.
9. Does it irritate you when Christians try to share their faith with you?
Only if they’re not listening to what I have to say in response.
10. Were you ever a Christian? Would you go back?
Nope.
Bonus question: I’ve heard atheists don’t embrace Peter Singer. What’s your take on Singer? Thumbs up or down? Explain.
I’ve never really read his stuff, so I’m not one to comment. Yay for vegetarianism, though.
Your Turn
Hemant, I think I speak for all my readers when I say thank you for opening up to us. I appreciate the time and thought you put into answering these questions. Feel free to expand on anything above.
Now, anybody have any comments or questions for Hemant? Ask away. Looking forward to hearing from you.
No related posts.
9 Comments to Hemant Mehta: 10 Questions with an Atheist
Wow. That is a good read. I had to quiet the voice of Ravi Z. in my head and actually try and read without defending Christianity. It was really difficult.
Sometimes it is hard to just get to know someone without having an agenda.
How did Jesus do it?
I always believe the best way to witness is to have that Christ-like transformation in me first. Jesus delivered the good news but he didn’t shove it down everyone’s throat. People see the miracles and beauty in Jesus, and so they will follow.
I always like Jesus quote in Matthew 7:
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
I don’t want to be torn into pieces.
OdiApril 1, 2009
Rudy,
Not sure what you mean by Jesus not shoving the good news down everyones throat… he called all the sinners he met to repentance and discipleship. That’s pretty straight forward, and what some would call shoving it down their throat.
Actually, Jesus was more critical towards “religious” people. To them, he would used harsh language and direct condemnation.
For others, He offered salvation, compassion, and healing. He tried to save, not alienate the unbelievers.
alApril 1, 2009
Hemant, I have appreciated your candor here and at other sites. I would like to ask you:
When you speak with a Christian, assuming that mutual repect and a rapport between you are established, is your mind open to the possibility of learning anything life-changing, or is that out of the question?
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My own life has been a series of trials and discoveries– sometimes radical changes in understanding and resultant outlook. At this point I cannot imagine being drawn away from belief in Christ, but I try to maintain an open mind if for no other reason than to understand the thinking of those who disagree with me.
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Is it so with you? Please elucidate…
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Thank you.
Al — I’d say I am open minded. However, in all my talks with Christians (and there really have been many of them), not a single person has ever said anything different (that I haven’t heard before) or mind-blowing. They seem to always appeal to emotion or they give me a personal anecdote of how they were “saved” and that does nothing for someone like me.
Demian FarnworthApril 2, 2009
Hey Hemant, I wanted to ask you a follow up question that I didn’t think to include in my original questions: What does atheism offer that belief in God can’t?
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I know you got a lot going on, so I appreciate you taking time to answer our questions.
March 10, 2010
[...] the words of Hemant Mehta in an interview he had with Fallen and Flawed last April: 1. How would you describe yourself: atheist, agnostic or [...]
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April 1, 2009