How I Lost My Faith: A thread for atheist testimony

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

Science requires proof, religious belief requires faith. Scientists don't try to prove or disprove God's existence because they know there isn't an experiment that can ever detect God.

Evidence does not reduce to scientific evidence alone. Evidence is any kind of fact, proof or argumentation that supports an idea. There are many theological evidences and logical proofs. Whether or not you find them convincing is a different matter.

That doesn’t answer the question of what evidence?

I know a Christian who says the order of the universe points to a creator. Order doesn’t occur randomly. God is eternal and always been here, and He created the universe. He believes that a higher power had to set off events to cause the big bang. He believes that because all the major world religions think Jesus was a holy man or prophet, Jesus was really the holy man that He says He was.
He believes that the Bible is very historically accurate and he’s not wrong about that. The Bible is very historically accurate regarding geography, etc. There are finds of buildings or pottery or other evidence that proves something from the Bible quite often.

When someone questions him, he asks them to prove if the reality their eyes are seeing is accurate. People usually abruptly stop challenging him then.

Nobody can prove or disprove God, but everyone who believes in God has their own evidence or reasons.

I do find that the world around me in nature is amazingly ordered after he pointed that out. I don’t think that occurs randomly and on it’s own, either.

Thanks for your preaching, but it is off topic. The PP was asked what evidence caused them to ebb and flow. Please don't respond for them and try and respect the topic.

The topic is how a person became an atheist or lost their faith- not how all religion is horrible and there isn’t any evidence for God.

I don't think anyone has said that all religion is horrible. It's true that there is no evidence for God. Religion is all about Faith - not evidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

It’s irrational to want to know what your reasoning was?

If you don’t want to say, that’s fine that’s your prerogative. But please don’t pretend that it’s not a perfectly logical question. If you don’t answer it, people will make their own assumption as to why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

It’s irrational to want to know what your reasoning was?

If you don’t want to say, that’s fine that’s your prerogative. But please don’t pretend that it’s not a perfectly logical question. If you don’t answer it, people will make their own assumption as to why.

Your approach to faith is paradoxical. You're demanding the recipe for faith, but there isn't one. A few years ago I was 100% convinced there was no God. To my surprise my faith has grown, but not as a result of my own efforts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

It’s irrational to want to know what your reasoning was?

If you don’t want to say, that’s fine that’s your prerogative. But please don’t pretend that it’s not a perfectly logical question. If you don’t answer it, people will make their own assumption as to why.

Your approach to faith is paradoxical. You're demanding the recipe for faith, but there isn't one. A few years ago I was 100% convinced there was no God. To my surprise my faith has grown, but not as a result of my own efforts.

That’s preposterous not demanding any recipe for faith. I am asking you what evidence convinced you back. At this point you’re taking the thread off topic so let’s just drop it since you clearly are not going to say which makes me think your post is not genuine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

It’s irrational to want to know what your reasoning was?

If you don’t want to say, that’s fine that’s your prerogative. But please don’t pretend that it’s not a perfectly logical question. If you don’t answer it, people will make their own assumption as to why.

Your approach to faith is paradoxical. You're demanding the recipe for faith, but there isn't one. A few years ago I was 100% convinced there was no God. To my surprise my faith has grown, but not as a result of my own efforts.

That’s preposterous not demanding any recipe for faith. I am asking you what evidence convinced you back. At this point you’re taking the thread off topic so let’s just drop it since you clearly are not going to say which makes me think your post is not genuine.

How would you describe color to a blind person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

It’s irrational to want to know what your reasoning was?

If you don’t want to say, that’s fine that’s your prerogative. But please don’t pretend that it’s not a perfectly logical question. If you don’t answer it, people will make their own assumption as to why.

Your approach to faith is paradoxical. You're demanding the recipe for faith, but there isn't one. A few years ago I was 100% convinced there was no God. To my surprise my faith has grown, but not as a result of my own efforts.

So what hap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

It’s irrational to want to know what your reasoning was?

If you don’t want to say, that’s fine that’s your prerogative. But please don’t pretend that it’s not a perfectly logical question. If you don’t answer it, people will make their own assumption as to why.

Your approach to faith is paradoxical. You're demanding the recipe for faith, but there isn't one. A few years ago I was 100% convinced there was no God. To my surprise my faith has grown, but not as a result of my own efforts.

That’s preposterous not demanding any recipe for faith. I am asking you what evidence convinced you back. At this point you’re taking the thread off topic so let’s just drop it since you clearly are not going to say which makes me think your post is not genuine.

How would you describe color to a blind person?

The same way you would describe color to a person with perfect vision.

Now, what evidence convinced you back from being an atheist?

[Anonymous]

I can't say I lost or backed away from faith. I don't think I ever had any. Going to church was sitting in a building for an hour/week. I never took anything in from the sermons. I tried for a couple of years as an adult. I went every week and really listened. I did the daily readings. I felt nothing, most of the time.

Then things happened that made me really, really doubt. THIS is what a loving God allows? No, just no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

It’s irrational to want to know what your reasoning was?

If you don’t want to say, that’s fine that’s your prerogative. But please don’t pretend that it’s not a perfectly logical question. If you don’t answer it, people will make their own assumption as to why.

Your approach to faith is paradoxical. You're demanding the recipe for faith, but there isn't one. A few years ago I was 100% convinced there was no God. To my surprise my faith has grown, but not as a result of my own efforts.

So what hap?

DP, but with a similar ebb and flow experience. In my case, nothing happened necessarily to bring me back to religion. I suppose that time and distance from the things that drove me away from religion helped to clarify some of my perceptions of humanity and the world? And a maturing understanding that some things in life are gray, and that science/reason and faith are not a binary that I need to choose between.

I apologize to OP for going off-topic. I know the this was meant to be a thread for atheist testimony and losing faith, not for finding it again. I would make the same comment on the "finding religion" thread, FWIW. People change and our understanding of the world and relationship to the concept of the divine change too. To say that faith is lost and gone forever or found without future misgivings feels too rigid for human nature. People change and grow.

[Anonymous]

Here is how it happened to me. I had always since young adulthood questioned how bad things happened to good people and good things happened to bad people. It’s everywhere. Then my mom got terminal cancer at 60. And it just hit me like a ton of bricks, God is not going to stop this wonderful, faithful woman from dying. Even as she was telling me he had a plan and things happen for a reason. And I just wanted to scream at her “This is not a plan and it’s not happening for some divine reason!!!” I didn’t say that of course.

I decided there were 3 possibilities:

1. God is not omnipotent.
2. God is omnipotent and is just an a-hole.
3. There is no God.

I’m not sure which of the above is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another Catholic turned atheist. I never really believed it completely. Like it didn’t make sense even as a kid but I kept trying anyways by going back to church. And then I stopped in my early 20s. I think religion has done more harm than good in the world. I never understood the doing something/not doing something bc it’s what your God wants. Like you should be a decent person bc it’s the right thing not bc it will earn you brownie points. And the hypocrisy of the most fundamentalists in any given religion. Like being gay is a sin-but all this other stuff (killing in the name of your God, greed, etc) is ok? And I work in health care—and I hear all sorts of things that just don’t make sense (God’s will, miracle, etc). But I don’t go around preaching atheism. In fact, I don’t tell anyone unless directly asked.

I don’t tell anyone either. In fact, when asked I just say “I’m not religious” rather than say I’m an atheist. It sounds softer somehow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an atheist who lost faith, and then found faith, after many years.

I think faith or lack of faith can ebb and flow.

I think so, too.

I disagree.

Once you look objectively and see there is no evidence for god (by the definitions of god most used) there really is no ebb or flow.

It's actually wonderful, liberating, and permanent - at least until some evidence arises.

There was definitely ebb and flow in my case too, so that makes three of us on this thread.

What evidence did you find that made you “ebb and flow” back to faith?

Forgive my presumption, but I assume you mean you fought between your acknowledgment that there is insufficient evidence and some other emotion? Is that accurate?

This is the PP you responded to. People change. I'm not sure why you feel the need to break this down to digest it? You seem rigid, not rational.

It’s irrational to want to know what your reasoning was?

If you don’t want to say, that’s fine that’s your prerogative. But please don’t pretend that it’s not a perfectly logical question. If you don’t answer it, people will make their own assumption as to why.

Your approach to faith is paradoxical. You're demanding the recipe for faith, but there isn't one. A few years ago I was 100% convinced there was no God. To my surprise my faith has grown, but not as a result of my own efforts.

That’s preposterous not demanding any recipe for faith. I am asking you what evidence convinced you back. At this point you’re taking the thread off topic so let’s just drop it since you clearly are not going to say which makes me think your post is not genuine.

How would you describe color to a blind person?

The same way you would describe color to a person with perfect vision.

Now, what evidence convinced you back from being an atheist?

DP. Go ahead, describe "red" to us DCUMers. We'll wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is how it happened to me. I had always since young adulthood questioned how bad things happened to good people and good things happened to bad people. It’s everywhere. Then my mom got terminal cancer at 60. And it just hit me like a ton of bricks, God is not going to stop this wonderful, faithful woman from dying. Even as she was telling me he had a plan and things happen for a reason. And I just wanted to scream at her “This is not a plan and it’s not happening for some divine reason!!!” I didn’t say that of course.

I decided there were 3 possibilities:

1. God is not omnipotent.
2. God is omnipotent and is just an a-hole.
3. There is no God.

I’m not sure which of the above is true.

4. Your mom believed she was going to enjoy a great afterlife and that you would do well here on earth, and both of these things brought a lot of comfort to her (and might or might not be true).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is how it happened to me. I had always since young adulthood questioned how bad things happened to good people and good things happened to bad people. It’s everywhere. Then my mom got terminal cancer at 60. And it just hit me like a ton of bricks, God is not going to stop this wonderful, faithful woman from dying. Even as she was telling me he had a plan and things happen for a reason. And I just wanted to scream at her “This is not a plan and it’s not happening for some divine reason!!!” I didn’t say that of course.

I decided there were 3 possibilities:

1. God is not omnipotent.
2. God is omnipotent and is just an a-hole.
3. There is no God.

I’m not sure which of the above is true.

4. Your mom believed she was going to enjoy a great afterlife and that you would do well here on earth, and both of these things brought a lot of comfort to her (and might or might not be true).

No. Even if what you say is true then 1,2 or 3 also has to be true. 4 is not an alternative to those. God either couldn’t save her, chose not to save her, or isn’t real. Which do you think?