To All Atheists: What led you to atheism?

Discussion in 'Religion Archives' started by Medicine*Woman, Sep 2, 2008.

  1. Balerion Banned Banned

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    The way you worded the question was misleading, then.
     
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  3. Ophiolite Valued Senior Member

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    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.!
     
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  5. charles brough Registered Senior Member

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    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
     
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  7. swarm Registered Senior Member

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    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.
     
  8. Crunchy Cat F-in' *meow* baby!!! Valued Senior Member

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

    12 years.

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

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

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

    With distrust.
     
  9. Oli Heute der Enteteich... Registered Senior Member

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    I didn't particularly "believe" anything.
    I just never thought about it.

    Not a clue. 15 seconds?

    Nothing.
    Atheism was never pointed out to me.

    There's a philosophy to it?

    Um, I wasn't "an atheist" and now I am?
    It hasn't.

    The same as they treated me when I stopped eating dates: it made no difference.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2009
  10. Bells Staff Member

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    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.


    I would never view it as a 'conversion'. Atheism is not a religion that requires conversion.

    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 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.

    Changed my life? Well it's given me my Sunday mornings again. And it has greatly reduced my Christmas Card send list.

    Some like a pariah. Others like the lunatic in the family.
     
  11. theobserver is a simple guy... Registered Senior Member

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    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.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2009
  12. jayleew Who Cares Valued Senior Member

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    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.
     
  13. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    *************
    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.
     
  14. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    I never really believed any of it. One could say their attempts at indoctrination failed miserably

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    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).
     
  15. soulstar Registered Senior Member

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    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

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    .
     
  16. scorpius a realist Valued Senior Member

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    I was always atheist
    I live as though god does exist,just in case..

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    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..
    same as I treat them

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  17. kerux Registered Senior Member

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    Atheists the unknown

    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.
     
  18. Enterprise-D I'm back! Warp 8 Mr. Worf! Registered Senior Member

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

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    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

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    The doubt was building before that time.

    Live and let live

    Still a learning experience

    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

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    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.
     
  19. glaucon tending tangentially Registered Senior Member

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    Nothing applicable in the religious or spiritual sense.


    Immediate.

    Reason.

    See question #2.

    It hasn't.


    Not applicable.
     
  20. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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  21. snake river rufus Registered Senior Member

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    As a young child sitting through sunday school the bible stories were contradictory and impossible to believe. I have always been an aethist.
     
  22. PsychoticEpisode It is very dry in here today Valued Senior Member

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

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  23. shaman_ Registered Senior Member

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    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.
     

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