I am an atheist. I am not an agnostic and I do not believe that there even might be 'something out there that created everything'. I am a complete non-believer and make no apology for the fact.

My philosophy is that when I die, it's adios amigo, welcome oblivion.

It really is a shame that there is no such thing as God. In my opinion, that is. Naturally, I respect other people's beliefs and if they want to worship their God, in whatever shape or form he comes in, good luck to them. Faith brings comfort to many people and I would be the last person to berate it.

By the same token, I would expect the believers to respect my point of view and beliefs. And to be honest - and this might shock some of the more gullible out there who believe everything they read in the Daily Mail - the great majority of God believers DO respect my belief that God only exists in the mind of humankind. Notice I didn't say 'mankind', man - that would be sexist.

The Pope's just gone home after paying us a visit. You know the bloke, the one who's supposed to be God's right hand man on Earth. The bloke that millions of people look up to as the closest thing to God since Simon Cowell.

If Catholics really want to believe that their present Pope is everything goodness and light - even though he hid kiddy-fiddling, perverted, disgusting and repugnant priests deep in the Vatican - who am I to question them?

After all, it's up to them, right?

Why does the human being have to believe that God created and controls everything? I mean, isn't believing in any god a little naïve in this modern world of ours? Even more unbelievable is that humans can actually believe the Pope is something more than just a chap who has simply climbed the ladder of his chosen career and reached the very top of his profession.

I think it all boils down to the fact that the human brain just cannot bear to think that it will go to nothing when life gives up. I find it quite amazing that, in our scientific world, many scientists still have doubts in their minds as to the existence of a 'God'.

Human beings don't like to think about their own mortality. As a result, God was invented to answer all our questions about life, the universe and just about everything else. Why can't we accept that when we fall off our perches, we are making room for new life that will, in turn, die and make room for more new life?

I've heard it said that you won't find any atheists in a minefield and I can fully appreciate why. When all seems lost and death is just around the corner, perhaps even I will say a little prayer.

Until I have to cross that minefield, I think I'll stay as I am. After all, I am as entitled to my opinion as any Christian, Muslim or Sikh.

Am I not?