Atheists/agnostics, why did you become atheist/agnostic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny enough, I had spent years studying theology and decided to delve deeper into more general and traditional philosophies in order to place my beliefs more firmly in the context of a wider scaffolding. My intention was to strengthen my faith. Eventually I had an aha moment in relation to faith and why so many religions prioritize it over knowledge. It was unexpected, and kind of rocked my world. I didn’t go looking for it, but there it was. I called myself agnostic for a while but eventually stopped kidding myself and acknowledged that I was an atheist.

I was brought up in the Soviet system as an atheist.
Now that I am almost 50 I regret having no religion but I can’t miraculously start believing.
I’ve seen life and no evidence that the other parties are right unfortunately. It is horrible to be religionless really especially when loved ones start passing.
I’m amazed to see people that truly believe.

[Anonymous]

I’m pp. Just wanted to add - I can only start reading the Bible etc. I can never finish it unlike a math book.
Tried to read kids bible with my kid so that he had ‘a moral compass’ and a sense of some community belonging (while the kid does not know I don’t believe), but he started laughing on page 10 or so saying ‘why is God so angry and keeps destroying the world?!’
I will keep reading the Bible with DC; also plan to join the Catholic Church (for my only child’s sake) as it looks now but I’m not sure I will succeed as I simply don’t believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:for people who "never bought it" even though you were exposed to religion as children, how did you deal with the fact that no religion means no afterlife?

That is, how did you deal with the fact that life is finite; that you would die and that would be the end of it?

This is where science comes in with facts that are more wonderful than religious fictions. As Carl Sagan said, we are all made of star stuff. The fact that we are composed of tiny molecules that will continue to exist and remake themselves into millions of things is a type of immortality.

Thanks for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never really bought into it. It always just sounded like bullshit to me.

Same!

Me, too. Though I love my religion's traditions and rituals, and definitely feel part of the cultural community.

So what do you say to people when they ask you what your religion is or where you go to church?

Literally no one has ever asked me that.

Maybe that's a Southern thing to ask about religion?

[Anonymous]

We are all born atheists. The people who "believe" were brainwashed at an early age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m pp. Just wanted to add - I can only start reading the Bible etc. I can never finish it unlike a math book.
Tried to read kids bible with my kid so that he had ‘a moral compass’ and a sense of some community belonging (while the kid does not know I don’t believe), but he started laughing on page 10 or so saying ‘why is God so angry and keeps destroying the world?!’
I will keep reading the Bible with DC; also plan to join the Catholic Church (for my only child’s sake) as it looks now but I’m not sure I will succeed as I simply don’t believe.

Obviously, you have a "moral compass" without having read the Bible and now your kid is laughing out loud at it, so it doesn't sound like it's helping him. He (and you) can get a sense of belonging lots of places without going to a church that asks you to believe (or pretend to believe) in things that make your kid laugh. e.g., Washington Ethical society, many UU congregations, sports teams, civic groups, etc.

Also people who know the Bible will tell you not to try to read it page by page like a regular book - it's not written that way - is a compilation of ancient writings.

Why try to force him to believe? and why be so deceptive about your own lack of belief? There are many good, decent people who don't believe in God and many who left religion as adults after being forced to attend services as children.

Some people gravitate to religion as they get older - maybe your child will be one of these. Let it happen naturally.

[Anonymous]

I needed this. Thanks.
Lost my mom on Saturday so I’m all over the place.
The saddest part is I wish it was true...

[Anonymous]

Also I was puzzled to see some survey results showing a small percentage of people are atheists.
That made me feel even more sorry for myself.
But as I said - I’m all over the place for a couple of days and get back on my feet soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I needed this. Thanks.
Lost my mom on Saturday so I’m all over the place.
The saddest part is I wish it was true...

Sorry for your loss. I have heard of other people who wished it were true, because they want the comfort of an afterlife -- but couldn't bring themselves to believe something that seemed so so outlandish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also I was puzzled to see some survey results showing a small percentage of people are atheists.
That made me feel even more sorry for myself.
But as I said - I’m all over the place for a couple of days and get back on my feet soon.

The percentage of atheists in the US is small -- and growing. The trend is away from religious belief, not toward it. People who don't believe in God needn't be pitied for not accepting something for which there is no evidence.

[Anonymous]

Easy look at the control the religious people want over your life.

And lack of education to keep the religious thoughts pervasive no thank you. Watch Welcome to Plathville or the Duggars on TLC and come back and tell the rest of us that religion is amazing.

Why are we having issues in the US right now Religion.

Hypocrites and religion go hand in hand. Trump lies daily and Bible thumpers love him. Come on the basic tenets of the bible
"thou shall not steal" "Thou shall not lie" Republicans/Evangelicals/Catholics/ultra religious Jews all fake. All HYPOCRITES. Even wearing a mask to help others is too hard for these God fearing people.

Biggest fake Mega Church Trump family of grifters and scammers. Always have been always will be the head of the church....

And the far right's religious support of the Proud Boys LOL they all need to get back to church and reread their bibles.

[Anonymous]

I'm an atheist and realized that early on. Was raised Hindu but by parents who were scientists and not coercive about believing at all. When I asked my mom is God exists, her reply was, Who knows? That stuck me as very true. She has since passed. We did all the religious rites. I saw them bring comfort to my dad and brother, but I was restless. I read some religious texts and accounts like When breath becomes air (Christian) and derivatives of the Bhagvat Gita that I found insightful... I do feel that my mom is with me In the sense that I know what her every reaction would be, she has shaped me, and I miss and love her. That is more real to me than anything. I keep up (very few) religious customs and rituals mainly for my kids who are half Jewish. Husband is agnostic and not religious.

[Anonymous]

To distill years of religious study and examination, I concluded that it is, in fact, the opiate of the masses and I don’t buy into any particular secerian religious viewpoint, the Golden Rule covers thing well.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a fringe pentecostal church with a big focus on hell and the rapture. We were encouraged to speak in tongues at a young age. At around age 7 I remember trying to speak in tongues and realizing that the only way I could was to make it up. At first I felt that something must be wrong with me, but I later realized everybody was making it up. As a teen we had altar calls and people would fall over like dominos. I went up once and thought I was just going to fall over too, but the minister put his hand on my forehead and actually tried to push me down to the ground. I have more stories, but that was a turning point for me. When I was 18, I decided that church wasn't for me. I tried mainstream and non-denominational Christianity for awhile, but what really turned me to agnosticism was traveling to non-Western cultures. I couldn't fathom that most people there were going to hell by default because they were Muslim or Buddhist or Hindu. I decided it was better to believe in no god than to believe in a god who would create people that were predestined to hell from the beginning. As an agnostic I recognize religion as a manmade institution that promotes social cohesion, but also social control and tribalism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a fringe pentecostal church with a big focus on hell and the rapture. We were encouraged to speak in tongues at a young age. At around age 7 I remember trying to speak in tongues and realizing that the only way I could was to make it up. At first I felt that something must be wrong with me, but I later realized everybody was making it up. As a teen we had altar calls and people would fall over like dominos. I went up once and thought I was just going to fall over too, but the minister put his hand on my forehead and actually tried to push me down to the ground. I have more stories, but that was a turning point for me. When I was 18, I decided that church wasn't for me. I tried mainstream and non-denominational Christianity for awhile, but what really turned me to agnosticism was traveling to non-Western cultures. I couldn't fathom that most people there were going to hell by default because they were Muslim or Buddhist or Hindu. I decided it was better to believe in no god than to believe in a god who would create people that were predestined to hell from the beginning. As an agnostic I recognize religion as a manmade institution that promotes social cohesion, but also social control and tribalism.

It sounds like you're an agnostic (don't know) AND an atheist (don't believe)