So on my lunch break today I went through the Taco Bell drive through. The cashier asked me if I wanted to donate $1 to a diabeties research foundation they’re trying to raise cash for. I said that I did. Then when I got to the window she told me that because of that she’d upgraded my drink to the next size larger.

I thanked her for that and she informed that as the month long fundraiser has progressed fewer and fewer people have been pitching in a dollar. In part it’s due to the fact that their regulars already have. I told her that It was probably my third or fourth time pitching in and that I’ve done it each time I’ve been asked if I want to.

She then told me that it was at least good for karma points. I let her know that I don’t believe in karma, but I do believe in being good just because it’s good.

Her response was, “I wish more people were like that.”

I then told her I’m a humanist and that it’s all about doing good for goodness sake. I was tempted to say I’m an atheist, but in the context of the conversation my lack of belief in a higher power, while it is why I came to adopting humanist ethics, it wasn’t  the key point here. Just by expressing my skepticism I was able to describe humanism and then show a stranger that humanists are good people who do good for no better reason than that it’s the right thing to do, a position that is morally superior than doing it for karma, to get into heaven, or to please you’re slave owner.

I truly do believe that it’s worthwhile to express skepticism any chance you get. It just might make people think twice about something or improve their view of America’s most hated group.