2025 high school essay contest: 10th place — Chauntel Berry
FFRF awarded Chauntel $300.
By Chauntel Berry
As Thomas Paine once famously declared, “to do good is my religion” is a sentiment I highly agree with. As someone who identifies as agnostic, bordering on atheist, I believe that doing good, a long-term human imperative, is not based on religious belief at all, and that having a good moral compass does not rely on worshiping a god, holy bibles or rigid dogma.
My identity of being agnostic stems from my deep respect for evidence and scientific research. To me, a claim as large as the existence of a supreme being requires extraordinary evidence, and overall, nobody has proven such a thing. Furthermore, it is due to the scientific lens I see through, which revolves around critical thinking and a reliance on observable phenomena, that I cannot simply believe. Faith, while a powerful force for many, often requires a suspension of disbelief that I find difficult to follow due to my understanding of the universe and the science that follows suit.
Furthermore, I believe that the core of my morality is empathy. To me, the foundation of ethical conduct resides in the capacity of shared understanding and bonding through others’ emotions. Human beings are inherently social and possess a fundamental need for connection. The realization that one’s actions could inflict suffering or create joy within another person serves as a significantly better motivator to me than the fear of divine punishment or the promise of eternal reward. Additionally, my core belief of empathy extends to my work to advocate on climate change.
To dig deeper into this subject, when I see the overwhelming amount of evidence that our planet is warming due to human activity, which will cause huge consequences that inevitably impact vulnerable communities around the world, I feel the need for change. My “doing good,” while not large-scale, involves reducing my carbon footprint by, for example, choosing to walk instead of driving, or minimizing electricity and water consumption, and even just by advocating for small, sustainable practices. Overall, this doesn’t involve pleasing a deity, but instead acknowledges humankind’s interconnectedness, as well as accepting responsibility for the well-being of the current generation and future ones.
A frequently heard myth is that atheists inherently lack morality and that, without a divine authority, there is no base for ethical conduct. However, I believe that these statements are false. The existing legal systems provide most, if not all, the foundation for ethical behavior. Additionally, historical evidence suggests that the concept of morality occurs before organized religion, shown by the famous “golden rule” that advocates to “treat people how you wish to be treated.” This theory, which is observed in many cultures and belief systems, shows empathy as the foundation of human values.
Overall, my moral beliefs are based on logic, empathy and the dedication to the well-being of both humanity and the environment. These core fundamentals serve as more of a motivator than any god, holy bible or rigid dogma could.
Chauntel, 18, attends Rochester Institute of Technology.
“I am a future psychology major and am passionate about the realm of mental health and research, which is why I am striving to obtain a Ph.D. in psychology so that I can become a research psychologist. I am interested in singing, drawing and writing short stories.”
