First, read this earlier blog entry:

My own spiritual experience

Today, I finally came up with a credible explanation for what happened. The timing of my leaving the mall must have meant that when the family became stranded, their minds became overwhelmed with stress because of the summer heat. They began broadcasting their emotions without realizing it, and my own mind in turn was close enough and sensitive enough to detect their feelings even without being aware of the exact source. Then I drove directly  to the source of the broadcasting. It was a case of me having a strong sense of empathy, even without any reference to religion.

My experience wasn’t proof of God’s existence and certainly wasn’t proof that the Baha’i Faith was valid; I would have sensed the family’s need regardless of my religion, or lack thereof at the time.

Having figured that out, atheism now seems more acceptable to me personally than it was before. So I will now call myself atheist.