To All Atheists: What led you to atheism? [Archive]

Orleander

09-02-08, 07:19 PM

*************
M*W: I've told you the story of my conversion to atheism, and I would like to know yours. If you could answer some of the following questions, I'm sure we'd all like to hear your answers:

What did you believe before you came to atheism? I was a Christian. A fairly devout one. Attended a Berean church. I went to Bible Camp, church 3x a week, virginal, etc.

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism? I tried for a long time to have faith, but being told "Because that's what the Bible says", "Have faith". etc and never meeting a true good honest Christian kind of made it easy to fall away from it once I moved away from home.

What influenced you mostly about atheism? Common sense.

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you? A philosophy?? I never made it harder than what it is.

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems? I'm less judgmental. I have to have my own reasons for what I believe (I don't have a rule book anymore) so I think about everything. I examined my life.

How have people treated you since you became atheist? I heard a girl say jig-a-boo at work and went to tell my boss. I told her how offensive it was. She said "well, don't you think your atheism is offensive to us?" I don't tell people anymore.

Thanks, I look forward to hearing from all the atheists.

~ M*W

and it was as easy as that. My son figured it all out a lot quicker than I did. My daughter is only 10. She still believes.

Medicine*Woman

09-02-08, 07:44 PM

and it was as easy as that. My son figured it all out a lot quicker than I did. My daughter is only 10. She still believes.
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M*W: Thank you for your story. I understand your position.

Yorda

09-02-08, 07:48 PM

and it was as easy as that. My son figured it all out a lot quicker than I did. My daughter is only 10. She still believes.

I remember in school when I was about 10 the teacher asked us what we believe in. I think most people said God or Jesus (which seems a little strange) but I said that I believe in "Big Bang", lol. everyone was like "wtf? big bang, that's wierd"

Mr. Hamtastic

09-02-08, 08:21 PM

I'm probably not supposed to be here, but I'll throw my two-cents in anyway. Lack of answers led me all the way to atheism. The rest of the story belongs in another thread.

Medicine*Woman

09-02-08, 08:58 PM

'logic' led me to atheism. but later it led me to some kind of... theism.

The Christian God probably leads many people to Atheism because many people think that the Christian God is illogical, cruel, strange, or whatever.

*************
M*W: You think?

Norsefire

09-02-08, 09:38 PM

Not an agnostic anymore, but what led me to that conclusion was examining probability/possibility. I concluded that theism and atheism were both irrational as both had no base, and therefore agnosticism was the most intelligent stance.

Of course, now I do believe in God, however you could still call me an agnostic theist.

Fraggle Rocker

09-02-08, 10:36 PM

I've told you the story of my conversion to atheism, and I would like to know yours.I was not "converted." I was never religious. My parents were atheists and at least one of my sets of grandparents were also. I'm a third-generation atheist on at least one side of the family.What did you believe before you came to atheism?I was always an atheist. I never heard of gods and religion until I was about seven. Some little kid on the playground started talking about this guy named God who lived up in the sky and I assumed it was a big joke and fell on the ground laughing. Then when he started acting disappointed I figured it must be one of those stories kids make up and I was supposed to appreciate his creativity. Then when he got downright angry I realized it must be a Santa Claus-Tooth Fairy thing and his parents hadn't gotten around to telling him the truth yet. When I told my parents about it they said that some adults believe in God because their parents had never told them the truth. Then I thought they were joking, because if nobody tells them the truth, everybody eventually gets smart enough to realize that there's no such things as Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy... don't they Momma? Momma???When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?I never thought of it as a "philosophy." People who believed in gods were simply retarded.How has atheism changed your life or belief systems? I easily became something of a misanthrope when I learned that grownups really do believe in an illogical, unobservable supernatural universe, the only evidence for which is the ravings of people who lived in the era before science and rationality. I mean, how the heck are you supposed to develop feelings of kinship and community with them?How have people treated you since you became atheist?Having always been an atheist, I only attracted friends who were also atheists, or who at least were religious only for the ceremonies and didn't give the supernatural crap much thought. So those people treated me like I was normal. I was academically oriented as a kid, a science and math major. I went on to college in an era when that was unusual, and I became a computer programmer when the field first opened up. So I was always in milieus where religion was not predominant. It wasn't until the Religious Redneck Retard Revival in the late 1970s that religious people began to infiltrate scholarly and technical disciplines, and the first generation of the "born again" folks were so bad at scholarly and technical work that there was never any question of who looked down on whom. I had a gal working for me who claimed she wanted to be a programmer. She sat at her desk with her eyes closed and her elbows resting on an unopened program dump. I asked her when she was going to start debugging it and she said her preacher had told her than if she just kept praying an angel would come down and show her where the bug was.

Most of the religious people I encounter on SciForums have continued that tradition. Good old Sandy comes to mind. And then there's Sam, who insists that communism was invented by atheists, when "To each according to his needs, from each according to his ability," is a quote from the friggin' bible.

scorpius

09-02-08, 11:07 PM

*************
M*W: I've told you the story of my conversion to atheism, and I would like to know yours.
I always was atheist,

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

I believe that if you need a helping hand you'll find one at the end of your arm,

IOW atheist is more practical as they know we can only rely on our selves to get things done and not pray and wait for some imaginary god to help us.

worked pretty good so far.

maybe thats why so many religious people are poor and disapointed with their lifes as they waste so much time preying instead of actualy doing something to improve their lifes.

Medicine*Woman

09-02-08, 11:29 PM

I was not "converted." I was never religious. My parents were atheists and at least one of my sets of grandparents were also. I'm a third-generation atheist on at least one side of the family.I was always an atheist. I never heard of gods and religion until I was about seven. Some little kid on the playground started talking about this guy named God who lived up in the sky and I assumed it was a big joke and fell on the ground laughing. Then when he started acting disappointed I figured it must be one of those stories kids make up and I was supposed to appreciate his creativity. Then when he got downright angry I realized it must be a Santa Claus-Tooth Fairy thing and his parents hadn't gotten around to telling him the truth yet. When I told my parents about it they said that some adults believe in God because their parents had never told them the truth. Then I thought they were joking, because if nobody tells them the truth, everybody eventually gets smart enough to realize that there's no such things as Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy... don't they Momma? Momma???I never thought of it as a "philosophy." People who believed in gods were simply retarded. I easily became something of a misanthrope when I learned that grownups really do believe in an illogical, unobservable supernatural universe, the only evidence for which is the ravings of people who lived in the era before science and rationality. I mean, how the heck are you supposed to develop feelings of kinship and community with them?Having always been an atheist, I only attracted friends who were also atheists, or who at least were religious only for the ceremonies and didn't give the supernatural crap much thought. So those people treated me like I was normal. I was academically oriented as a kid, a science and math major. I went on to college in an era when that was unusual, and I became a computer programmer when the field first opened up. So I was always in milieus where religion was not predominant. It wasn't until the Religious Redneck Retard Revival in the late 1970s that religious people began to infiltrate scholarly and technical disciplines, and the first generation of the "born again" folks were so bad at scholarly and technical work that there was never any question of who looked down on whom. I had a gal working for me who claimed she wanted to be a programmer. She sat at her desk with her eyes closed and her elbows resting on an unopened program dump. I asked her when she was going to start debugging it and she said her preacher had told her than if she just kept praying an angel would come down and show her where the bug was.

Most of the religious people I encounter on SciForums have continued that tradition. Good old Sandy comes to mind. And then there's Sam, who insists that communism was invented by atheists, when "To each according to his needs, from each according to his ability," is a quote from the friggin' bible.
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M*W: Thanks for your insightful post.

Medicine*Woman

09-02-08, 11:31 PM

I always was atheist,

I believe that if you need a helping hand you'll find one at the end of your arm,

IOW atheist is more practical as they know we can only rely on our selves to get things done and not pray and wait for some imaginary god to help us.

worked pretty good so far.

maybe thats why so many religious people are poor and disapointed with their lifes as they waste so much time preying instead of actualy doing something to improve their lifes.

*************
M*W" Thank you for your insight. I always wonder how atheists are always atheists and agnostics came to be after a revelation. In any event, thank you for your story.

amark317

09-11-08, 08:23 AM

logic led me to atheism

amark317

09-11-08, 08:26 AM

*************

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

~ M*W

Pretty well. I really only bring it up to others when neccessary, or when relevant.

Steve100

09-11-08, 09:04 AM

When being taught about religions as a youngster I thought it was a load of tosh, so I never became theist.

Syzygys

09-11-08, 11:38 AM

Birth...

Should I elaborate?

kenworth

09-11-08, 11:42 AM

it just never occured to me that the idea of god was meant to be taken seriously,it just seemed like all the other stories i heard as a kid.i dont think i realized until fairly late in my childhood that people actually believed those stories.
i went to a christian primary school and a quaker high school.

(Q)

09-11-08, 12:10 PM

Isn't it the other way round? Aren't people converted to religions? If they turn to non-belief in gods, they are simply relinquishing their conversion.

We are all born with no beliefs in gods.

wsionynw

09-11-08, 12:31 PM

Isn't it the other way round? Aren't people converted to religions? If they turn to non-belief in gods, they are simply relinquishing their conversion.

We are all born with no beliefs in gods.

Quite right, I was taught at school about Jesus and whatnot, but shortly after becoming interested in evolution and dinosaurs I quickly realised that religious stories were not meant to be taken literally (although of course sadly many people do take them literally).
My atheism began around about the age of nine, which was the first time I even considered whether or not God was likely to exist.

JDawg

09-12-08, 01:19 PM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

Nothing. I was always told God existed, and I was even an altar boy (nothing happened, trust me), but I never had any opinion on the matter one way or the other.

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

In my case, I have always been. People can't seem to wrap their minds around the fact that atheism isn't an active, intentional belief system in itself, but that it is simply the lack of belief. So I have always been an atheist.

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

I don't understand the question...

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

What do you mean by "atheist philosophy"? Atheism is simply not believing. It isn't a philosophy, it isn't a belief system. To call myself an atheist isn't to say "I know God does not exist", it simply means I see no reason to believe in it.

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

It hasn't.

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

Well, admitting atheism in front of a crowd of believers can be a trying task, but I've always felt that I can hold my own when the idiots come out and try to take me up on a debate. But I have not been treated differently in life because of my position on the Jewish God.

Norsefire

09-12-08, 01:22 PM

We are all born with no beliefs in gods.

True, that nobody is born believing in gods; however, nobody is born claiming that there is no God.

JDawg

09-12-08, 01:24 PM

True, that nobody is born believing in gods; however, nobody is born claiming that there is no God.

That's a cute trick, Norse, but pretty ignorant all the same.

Norsefire

09-12-08, 02:05 PM

Not ignorant at all. The point is, nobody is born knowing anything.

Cellar_Door

09-12-08, 02:50 PM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

That the tooth fairy stole my lost Barbie doll because I'd accidentally flushed my tooth down the sink (she wanted the whole collection).

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

:shrug:

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

It's cool to be an atheist - I was scared to believe in God because the other kids would laugh at me.

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

When I talked to some theists.

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

I now realise that it wasn't the tooth fairy, but the flower fairies from my picture book.

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

Well I've been burned at the stake a few times as a heretic, but the fairies used their magic to help me escape.

Medicine*Woman

09-12-08, 03:08 PM

Whats an atheist philosophy?

Atheism usually claims no philosophy.
**************
M*W: No. Atheists and anybody else can have a philosophy, we just don't believe in gods.

Medicine*Woman

09-12-08, 03:09 PM

God led me to atheism.
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M*W: Yeah, me too.

Medicine*Woman

09-12-08, 03:15 PM

Pretty well. I really only bring it up to others when neccessary, or when relevant.
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M*W: I had an interesting experience when I was checking into the hospital for some tests. The clerk asked me what religion I was, and I said "I wasn't religious, I'm an atheist." You'd of thought I had the plague! The girl wanted to run out of the room because I was so 'evil.' I don't think she will ever forget me! She was really afraid of me! My bad.

JDawg

09-12-08, 05:24 PM

M*W: No. Atheists and anybody else can have a philosophy, we just don't believe in gods.

The way you worded the question was misleading, then.

Ophiolite

09-14-08, 10:10 AM

The way you worded the question was misleading, then.
What a strange thing to say. In another thread, when you posted some incomprehensible waffle and I asked you for clarification, you mocked me for having a learning difficulty. Can't you even be consistent in your application of ignorance and bigotry?

Stupid prick.!

charles brough

03-30-09, 08:47 AM

*************
M*W: I've told you the story of my conversion to atheism, and I would like to know yours. If you could answer some of the following questions, I'm sure we'd all like to hear your answers:

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

Thanks, I look forward to hearing from all the atheists.

~ M*W

In my case, I was in my teens and had just been "Confirmed." I had become fed up with Bible stories. My older brother was sceince-minded and in chemisty. I picked up science outlook from him and school as well as my parents who were rational, liberal in their faith.

So, I wrote a letter to my pastor explaining that I no longer beleved that stuff. He replied in a sort of regret but polite way. That was that. My parents accepted it and I have been an atheist all the rest of my adult life.

I have no problem with others because I do not broadcast my non-beliefs. I treat believers like any else but do not cater to them. If they try to influence me, I put a stop to it. I have talked about religion with Muslims and find it is possible to talk with reasonable people about religion if one is careful and respectful. In my writing, I am very objective but do not hesitate to say what a religion really is instead of the cloying respect most scholars give to all religions.

No, in my later years, I am not concerned about death except I am anxious to get all my work done before I get to old.

charles
http://atheistic-science.com

swarm

03-30-09, 09:16 PM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

My beliefs have been pretty constant. I'm willing to try about anything, but lack of evidence turns me off pretty quick. I'm not so much an atheist as I am eminently aware that there are no more gods than there are unicorns and practices such as prayer fail to produce their claimed results.

The other questions didn't really seem applicable.

Crunchy Cat

03-30-09, 09:57 PM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

I believed there were ultra-sapient non-human life forms responsible for creating the universe, maintaining it, and judging human behavior.

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

12 years.

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

Truth. Specifically, reality didn't match the way theism claimed it to be.

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

I am not aware of an atheist philosophy... unless you consider valuing truth a philosophy.

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

It has completely demolished many of my biases that would otherwise prevent me from understanding various aspects of reality.

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

With distrust.

Oli

03-30-09, 10:06 PM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?
I didn't particularly "believe" anything.
I just never thought about it.

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?
Not a clue. 15 seconds?

What influenced you mostly about atheism?
Nothing.
Atheism was never pointed out to me.

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?
There's a philosophy to it?

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?
Um, I wasn't "an atheist" and now I am?
It hasn't.

How have people treated you since you became atheist?
The same as they treated me when I stopped eating dates: it made no difference.

Bells

03-30-09, 10:08 PM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?
Heaven and Earth and all that came in between. I never did quite get Adam and Eve and their children though. Something seemed not right in that State of Denmark.

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?
I would never view it as a 'conversion'. Atheism is not a religion that requires conversion.

What influenced you mostly about atheism?
Atheism is a matter of belief, or lack there of. I was not influenced by atheism as atheism is something that is personal and individual. There is no movement.

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?
When did I think I might be an atheist? Is that what you are asking? It seems akin to the kind of question one might ask a homosexual about when they knew they were attracted to the same sex, for example.

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?
Changed my life? Well it's given me my Sunday mornings again. And it has greatly reduced my Christmas Card send list.

How have people treated you since you became atheist?
Some like a pariah. Others like the lunatic in the family.

theobserver

03-31-09, 12:03 AM

I was looking for God. And I found out the most complex structure of nature and realized that it was always all about nature, sun worship and astrological base to human brain. And the misunderstandings originated from the limited understanding of the same ideas about nature slowly gave way to religious stories and the idea of God.

But then am not an atheist. I will never be. To me what everyone labels as God is simply this nature and its discovered and unaccepted laws combined together. It doesn't listen to stupid human prayers or appeals. Doesn't give a flying fck about humans as we wish to imagine. It works on its own rules and we simply a part of it. The ones who don't adapt, gets eliminated. The species who fail to adapt also gets eliminated.

jayleew

03-31-09, 09:45 AM

Hehe! You asked this question when I was a theist. Now I can answer it:

Reason, facts, and bullshit from all Christians including Pastoral wrongdoings.

Medicine*Woman

03-31-09, 03:14 PM

Hehe! You asked this question when I was a theist. Now I can answer it:

Reason, facts, and bullshit from all Christians including Pastoral wrongdoings.
*************
M*W: It's a good feeling to know someone can break from the chains of delusion. I am happy for you on your enlightenment.

Enmos

03-31-09, 04:33 PM

*************
M*W: I've told you the story of my conversion to atheism, and I would like to know yours. If you could answer some of the following questions, I'm sure we'd all like to hear your answers:

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

Thanks, I look forward to hearing from all the atheists.

~ M*W

I never really believed any of it. One could say their attempts at indoctrination failed miserably ;)
I attended Christian schools until the age of 19. I went to church (forced) until I was about 8 I think.
I was always critical about the bible stories as a kid, and the church nor my school or parents could provide any convincing answers to my questions.
I finally refused to waste my Sunday mornings on church at age 8 (or thereabout, perhaps it was 7 or 9).

soulstar

03-31-09, 04:43 PM

All my life I've never been comfortable with religion- I've always had a disturbing feeling about God and why we have to worship him. Well, I just gained courage and decided to become overtly atheist, and this was strengthened when I began reading philosophy books for leisure:-).

scorpius

03-31-09, 06:39 PM

*************
What did you believe before you came to atheism?
I was always atheist

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?
I live as though god does exist,just in case.. :D
not some evil jealous kristain dog but a "Righteous god" who would judge people according to their behavior,as that would be the only one to be worthy being called GOD.
so I guess am also an agnostic..

How have people treated you since you became atheist?
same as I treat them ;)

kerux

04-14-09, 09:23 AM

M*W: I've told you the story of my conversion to atheism, and I would like to know yours. If you could answer some of the following questions, I'm sure we'd all like to hear your answers:

What did you believe before you came to atheism? of course atheists believes atheism.

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism? they are always atheists and no conversion is ever needed.

What influenced you mostly about atheism? atheists are influenced about the objectionable "objective evidence" which is always a self-defence of atheism.

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you? Atheists have no philosophy because they can't define "love" and "wisdom" because they are invisible.

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems? Atheists always want to be righteous so why should they change?

How have people treated you since you became atheist? Atheists are normal people and they like to celebrate what others also do celebrate like thanksgiving on novermber.

Thanks, I look forward to hearing from all the atheists. No problem. You are always thanking people even if you don't know them.

Enterprise-D

04-14-09, 03:52 PM

*************
M*W: I've told you the story of my conversion to atheism, and I would like to know yours. If you could answer some of the following questions, I'm sure we'd all like to hear your answers:

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

Roman Catholicism, thru parents. For the record, I'll "label" myself agnostic, but I wanted to answer the questions anyway :cool:

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

Exactly 2 minutes and 14 seconds. It took one sanctimonious, idiotic, bull-headed speech by a priest to make me realise he and his ilk was spouting crock forever, and the extra 14 seconds was me witnessing the entire congregation nod in unison; enthralled by his drivel.

I think that answer was best for humorous effect, however it IS 80% of the story :) The doubt was building before that time.

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

Live and let live

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

Still a learning experience

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

I honestly think that I live with more stress right now, but because I'm surrounded by bible thumpers. If it weren't for them I'd be sitting pretty I guess :)

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

Mom tries gently to get me back in the fold. Dad just accepts it. Close friends don't really mind. I don't really share religious conversations with most other people (acquaintances/work colleagues) because they are undeveloped and cannot accept non-religious views.

Indeed, people assume I AM religious simply because I look like a bookish type. I recall one incident during a lunchtime conversation that a colleague was dumbfounded when I mentioned casually that I followed no religion. Of course he followed that up with the typical "where did the trees and sky come from?" crap questions...I let the convo drop when I realised that the religious zealots started circling eager to spread their miser-eek! oops I mean messages.

glaucon

04-14-09, 04:00 PM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

Nothing applicable in the religious or spiritual sense.

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

Immediate.

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

Reason.

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

See question #2.

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

It hasn't.

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

Not applicable.

cosmictraveler

04-14-09, 05:27 PM

This man had allot to convince me about the myth of God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

snake river rufus

04-14-09, 08:41 PM

As a young child sitting through sunday school the bible stories were contradictory and impossible to believe. I have always been an aethist.

PsychoticEpisode

04-14-09, 08:57 PM

If it wasn't for God, I'd be a theist. I thank God I'm an atheist everyday;)

shaman_

04-14-09, 10:09 PM

I figured out Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny when I was about seven. Rejection of gods came shortly after. This was only reinforced after researching the many different religions around the planet.

swarm

04-15-09, 01:22 AM

I gave up agnosticism when god told me he didn't exist.

kerux

04-16-09, 04:46 AM

I gave up agnosticism when god told me he didn't exist.
You gave up why? there are gods. whose god told you his nonexistence?:D

swarm

04-17-09, 05:32 AM

You gave up why?

I figured he should know.

whose god told you his nonexistence?

Yours.

cluelusshusbund

04-27-09, 01:32 AM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

At an earlly age it was jus asumed that Jesus/God was good (he saved all the animals on the ark) an wooud send bad people to hell.!!!

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

Prolly started aroun 8 an peerty well "convienced" by 18.!!!

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

When i was 8 i looked up at my sunday school teecher an ask if Jesus an God was the sam person... she jus looked at the other sunday school teecher an smiled but didnt answr my queston... an that was my firs clue i wasnt bein tolt the truth.!!!

An also at that age... we was tolt that if we cam to sunday school 6 weeks in a row wit-out missin we woud win a little white bible... an it was very perty an had a little gold strang hangin down from it an the pages had gold edges... so i went 5 weeks in a row wit-out missin but i got the chicken pox an mised week number 6... but i showed up the nest week when i was healed an ask for my little bible... an she said i coudnt have it cause i missed the 6th sunday... an i tol her i was sick or i woud have been here but she said no... that i woud have to start over an not miss for 6 weeks... well i didnt miss for the nest 6 weeks an she kep her word an gave me my little white bible an i never went bak... i quit the Baptist church an becam a medothest... lol.!!!

But until i was about 16 religion mostly wasnt a issue... however... when i was about 9 i herd sombody at sunday school say that people who didnt go to church was goin to hell... an mom an dad didnt go to church so i ask mom about it an she said only bad people go to hell so i was satisfied wit that... an anuther time when i was about 14 a guy on the shcool bus said that if you use Gods name in vane you woud go to hell... an lots of peoplel on the bus thout that was bs cause mos ever body on the bus an ther parents woud be goin to hell.!!!

An when i was about 16 i discovered that 2 of my frinds thout each other was goin to hell cause they thout each other was goin to the rong church... so i figered they mus surly thank i was goin to hell cause i didnt go to any chruch.!!!

I didnt thank any of us was goin to hell an i was beginin to strongly realize that religion was way screwed up.!!!

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

When at about 21 i realized thaat ther was no such thang as free-will... an the hole Jesus jugment thang was fulla crap.!!!

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

It allows me to not be a "hater"... an i dont thank that anybody deserves punishment... much less eternal punishment.!!!

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

It hasnt caused me a prollem wit the people ive discused it wit over the las 40 years (that i know of)... but im a bit selective wit who i let it be known to.!!!

Thanks, I look forward to hearing from all the atheists.

You welcom... i look forward to readin the other replys:-)

cluelusshusbund

04-27-09, 01:46 AM

People who believed in gods were simply retarded.

...I mean, how the heck are you supposed to develop feelings of kinship and community with them?

Funy thang is... at 21 an 100% atheist... i marryed a church goin pennycost an we been marryed for almos 40 years:-)

Tyler

04-27-09, 09:46 AM

What did you believe before you came to atheism?

Nothing, really. The earliest discussion I can remember on the topic was my parents telling me that I was free to make my own choice.

How long of a process was your conversion to atheism?

I was never a theist, so there was no conversion.

What influenced you mostly about atheism?

I don't really understand the question. Atheism is simply an ontological position on god(s). It doesn't have any influence on me other than having one less place-holder in my ontology than some other people.

When did an atheist philosophy become clear to you?

Again, it's not really a 'philosophy' per say. My epistemology and other outlooks are affected by the lack of god in my ontology, but it would be foolish to define my entire philosophical view as 'atheist'. That would be like calling a car a "piston". It's but one small component.

How has atheism changed your life or belief systems?

I never was converted, so it never changed my life from some other system.

How have people treated you since you became atheist?

With the exception of a few real hardcore fanatics, no one else has seemed to care or treat me any differently. As the grandchild of jews I get reminded by friends and family members that I ought to take the religion seriously and marry a jewish girl; the odd orthodox I meet who hears my last name (cohen) insists on taking me to sabbath; a few evangelical christians have tried to convert me. Honestly, I've received more shit for being a 'jew' than for being an atheist.

Medicine*Woman

04-27-09, 12:25 PM

Funy thang is... at 21 an 100% atheist... i marryed a church goin pennycost an we been marryed for almos 40 years:-)
*************
M*W: Congratulations on your long marriage. I can imagine the interesting conversations you two have had on religion!

cluelusshusbund

04-27-09, 01:23 PM

*************
M*W: Congratulations on your long marriage.

Thanks... but the odds of it lastin wasnt wort spit... lol.!!!

I can imagine the interesting conversations you two have had on religion!

When we was datin (6 mounthes) we rarely talked about religion... but early on i was gettin realy attached to her... but i knew i coudnt live a church life an it was eatin me uup that i knew it wasnt gonna work out between us... i talked to my mom about it an she said somptin like... its up to you what you thank you need to do... so i desided to brake up wit my little pennycost... an when i did she said we coud still be frinds... an for som reason i liked that idea... an that very nite i tolt her that i woud go to church once a week wit her if we was marryed but that was it... an i hadnt even had a hint befor... but she said she didnt want to go at all an i coudnt beleive it... disaster had jus turned to gold an we was marryed about 2 mounthes later.!!!

An it surly wasnt wit "Gods" blessin... an luck is jus anuther thang i dont have beleifs in... but aparently it was in the cards that we was a good match... but for about 3 years after she left the church she woud somtimes have bad dreams that God type stuff was gonna get her... but lookin bak her only regrets is that she didnt brake away from that crap much earlier.!!!

Botom line... i saved her from Jesus:-)