Atheists/agnostics, why did you become atheist/agnostic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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)

I really believe it's impossible to know if there is or is not a god. I don't actively believe, but I accept that it is a possibility. But I think if there is a god, whether or not we believe in it or worship it isn't relevant. I'm not sure exactly where I am on the atheistic/agnostic spectrum, but I'm definitely on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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)

I really believe it's impossible to know if there is or is not a god. I don't actively believe, but I accept that it is a possibility. But I think if there is a god, whether or not we believe in it or worship it isn't relevant. I'm not sure exactly where I am on the atheistic/agnostic spectrum, but I'm definitely on it.

Well, there's not exactly a "spectrum." Some people do move from agnostic to atheist in their thinking and self-identification, but some people start out not believing (atheist) at a very young age, even though they are exposed to religion -- they just never believed it. Some of the people in this thread fit into that category.

Others believe what they are taught about religion, then start questioning and doubting. Some stay there, or move between believing and doubting. Others, though, keep going until they don't believe anymore.

Some people are not raised with religion, but then believe later on as adults. It's very individual.

Of course, none of it proves one way or the other if there is a god, because god is supernatural -- i.e. outside of nature - like fairies and ghosts. People can feel strongly that God exists and have deep faith, but there's no proving it the way we prove other things.

People who are very religious don't care about scientific proof, however, at least when it comes to religion. It's a matter of faith and the positive feelings that some people get from believing and belonging to a religious community

[Anonymous]

I want a separate category- I don't care about religion to the degree that I don't care what the difference between agnostic and atheist is, I just never want to hear about religion. It's not like I've been traumatized or anything. It is ridiculous how much time, space and energy Star Wars and religion command in the world. What a waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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)

I really believe it's impossible to know if there is or is not a god. I don't actively believe, but I accept that it is a possibility. But I think if there is a god, whether or not we believe in it or worship it isn't relevant. I'm not sure exactly where I am on the atheistic/agnostic spectrum, but I'm definitely on it.

Well, there's not exactly a "spectrum." Some people do move from agnostic to atheist in their thinking and self-identification, but some people start out not believing (atheist) at a very young age, even though they are exposed to religion -- they just never believed it. Some of the people in this thread fit into that category.

Others believe what they are taught about religion, then start questioning and doubting. Some stay there, or move between believing and doubting. Others, though, keep going until they don't believe anymore.

Some people are not raised with religion, but then believe later on as adults. It's very individual.

Of course, none of it proves one way or the other if there is a god, because god is supernatural -- i.e. outside of nature - like fairies and ghosts. People can feel strongly that God exists and have deep faith, but there's no proving it the way we prove other things.

People who are very religious don't care about scientific proof, however, at least when it comes to religion. It's a matter of faith and the positive feelings that some people get from believing and belonging to a religious community

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_of_theistic_probability

[Anonymous]

^Many people view it as a spectrum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^Many people view it as a spectrum.

Many people believe in God. Doesn't mean it's real. No way of proving it, because god is outside of nature -- supernatural

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want a separate category- I don't care about religion to the degree that I don't care what the difference between agnostic and atheist is, I just never want to hear about religion. It's not like I've been traumatized or anything. It is ridiculous how much time, space and energy Star Wars and religion command in the world. What a waste.

Apatheist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Many people view it as a spectrum.

Many people believe in God. Doesn't mean it's real. No way of proving it, because god is outside of nature -- supernatural

Huh? So you are comparing the spectrum view of atheism/agnosticism to a belief in god because neither can be proven or disproven? Do you realize that a non-spectrum view of agnosticism/atheism can't be "proven" either? These are just useful ways of framing and conceptualizing abstract concepts, not anything supernatural. Regardless, you're way off the thread's topic and not achieving anything useful of even remotely interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Many people view it as a spectrum.

Many people believe in God. Doesn't mean it's real. No way of proving it, because god is outside of nature -- supernatural

Interesting that fairies, goblins, etc, which are just as supernatural as God, don't get the attention or the concern that God gets. People, if they ever believed in fairies, just stop believing in them once they grow up - or long before they grow up (e.g., Santa Claus). But then, these fairies don't promise what God does -- everlasting life, favors, status, etc. And whole systems of worship have been established for God. There's nothing like that for the other supernatural beings.

Santa Claus gets a lot of attention at Christmas from little children, but God gets attention all year long, with all the religious holidays, requirements and restrictions and "Houses of Worship."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Many people view it as a spectrum.

Many people believe in God. Doesn't mean it's real. No way of proving it, because god is outside of nature -- supernatural

Huh? So you are comparing the spectrum view of atheism/agnosticism to a belief in god because neither can be proven or disproven? Do you realize that a non-spectrum view of agnosticism/atheism can't be "proven" either? These are just useful ways of framing and conceptualizing abstract concepts, not anything supernatural. Regardless, you're way off the thread's topic and not achieving anything useful of even remotely interesting.

Yes, -- it's a way of thinking about it, and its usefulness will likely wane when fewer people are taught as children to believe things that seem very unlikely as they get older - like Santa coming down the chimney to deliver toys to children all over the world.

[Anonymous]

Given the horrors and inequities in this world I decided that one of two things is true. Either there is no God or God is an a$$hole and a sadist and I do not want to be affiliated with his brand. Raised in a good, Lutheran, midwestern home.

[Anonymous]

I believe I am ‘losing my religion’ as we speak.
I have been an active Methodist all of my life; I married a Catholic guy who goes through all the motions but doesn’t actually have deep faith. I realized we keep up the pretense for our children (kind of like the Santa analogy above) because my Methodist church provides a convenient way to help us reaffirm the values we want to instill in our children.

I want to live like Jesus... I just don’t think any religion has any (provable) truth deeper than old earthly creation stories that morphed into stories of divinity.
This has been a mix of influence of my anthropological education background / having children / burying loved ones / not feeling stronger faith as I age, but the opposite. Shouldn’t faith strengthen as we invest in it? I’ve given it 42 years.

I am struggling with this, though. It’s tough to let go or something after a lifetime of trying.

[Anonymous]

For me the last nail in the coffin was reading Kierkegaard. Honest. He just irritated me to no end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want a separate category- I don't care about religion to the degree that I don't care what the difference between agnostic and atheist is, I just never want to hear about religion. It's not like I've been traumatized or anything. It is ridiculous how much time, space and energy Star Wars and religion command in the world. What a waste.

I liked the way you included Star Wars in that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe I am ‘losing my religion’ as we speak.
I have been an active Methodist all of my life; I married a Catholic guy who goes through all the motions but doesn’t actually have deep faith. I realized we keep up the pretense for our children (kind of like the Santa analogy above) because my Methodist church provides a convenient way to help us reaffirm the values we want to instill in our children.

I want to live like Jesus... I just don’t think any religion has any (provable) truth deeper than old earthly creation stories that morphed into stories of divinity.
This has been a mix of influence of my anthropological education background / having children / burying loved ones / not feeling stronger faith as I age, but the opposite. Shouldn’t faith strengthen as we invest in it? I’ve given it 42 years.

I am struggling with this, though. It’s tough to let go or something after a lifetime of trying.

Maybe you can let go without entierely giving it up. For instance, keep the favorite music without the unbelievable words, the good moral teachings, without the supernatural frills, the holidays without the beliefs.