How did you become atheist?

Were you always one or were you once a believer and how did you become atheist?

I know this is a common, rather overdone question, but what I want to know is what was the turning point for you if you were once a believer?

I was never a strong believer, more like a follower. The bible had no real influence on me; I always felt it was mostly symbolic, anyway. Nevertheless, I had the programming.   God was a part of my psyche.   I spoke to him all day long.   it was like having an invisible friend who was always there.

Then my daughter came home from college and began to speak to me about her atheism.   We had open discussions.   I examined my own beliefs and began to realize that they were based only upon what had been taught to me and tried to figure out why I was so reluctant to challenge them.   I couldn't let go of god but I didn't know why.

The turning point for me was realizing that guilt was the only thing that kept me believing. I was brought up to fear hell, brought up to fear god's wrath. My daughter explained to me that it was a built in, practically fool proof system of keeping people in the fold. If you refuse to open your eyes out of fear, you can never escape. Intellectually, I knew she was right but letting go was still difficult. I continued to investigate the sources of my beliefs; looking for some concrete reasons for it to be true, beyond what the nuns taught me as a child. I could find nothing substantial. I finally decided to reject the belief despite the frightening feelings that brought with it. It was difficult at first and I felt lost and abandoned, but as time went on, I was ok with it.   Now I feel more than ok, I feel like a weight has been removed from my shoulders.

I look back and it seems incredible that I ever believed all that nonsense in the first place.   I remember questioning as a child and then having to try to rationalize what they told me to make it work.   Even when it didn't, I took it in and accepted it, until the lie became "truth".   Then I grew up and did the same to my children.

It took my oldest to have the nerve break the chain. I am very proud of her for trusting her own thinking and questioning authority.   She founded the atheist club in her university and its going strong for five years now with many members.

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Permalink Reply by Ryan E. Hoffman on October 15, 2010 at 2:22am

I replied to your objections. Let's do this. My shiba will kick your shiba's ass.

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on October 15, 2010 at 2:41am

I have two Shibas! Your Shiba will have to kick twice the amount of ass as my Shibas. I think I win based on economics. ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on October 15, 2010 at 2:53am

Well, I think one of my dogs is a Socialist and the other is a degenerate. How does the math work out on that?

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Permalink Reply by Ryan E. Hoffman on October 15, 2010 at 2:57am

Well, to be honest, my dog is a bit a fairy. He's not fighting anyone. He'll probably just offer a back rub and a cuddle session. He's 13 now... so he'll just curl up in a ball on a couch.

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on October 15, 2010 at 3:09am

Let's face it, our dogs would probably just engage in a genitalia licking session. Perverts.

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Permalink Reply by Chris G on October 15, 2010 at 2:46am

My name is Christ,
Jeasus H Christ---
(007)
My mother was a virgin,
My father is god,

I am invincible,

I was crucified (don't mention the 10,000 Spartans who were also crucified),
Pity on me,
I rose to heaven,
worship me,
pray for forgiveness.

Silly story.

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Permalink Reply by Chris G on October 15, 2010 at 3:37am

Maybe Christ is a symbol for the dead Spartans.

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Permalink Reply by Chris G on October 15, 2010 at 3:51am

Best I could do with the Christ myth.

Sort of a Humpty Dumpty story.

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Permalink Reply by maysia stephanie on October 15, 2010 at 3:38am

While I've yet to claim myself an atheist, I've always been a religious skeptic throughout my life. Tried going to churches a couple of times in my youth and even tried to take on Buddhism, in a later part of my life to follow my parents' footsteps. However after a few years I realised that they all didn't make any sense to me and I decided not to follow my parents when they converted to Catholic because I just couldn't believe in them.

It's never been an emotional struggle for me to accept this view of life but, of course like most of us here, it has been a challenge for me to explain to people that I simply do not have a religion.

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on October 15, 2010 at 3:41am

Maysia, you might be like many of us here. You might realize that you were an atheist long before you knew it. It comes down to a simple question: do you believe a god or gods exist? If not, pass go, collect 200 atheist dollars.

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Permalink Reply by maysia stephanie on October 15, 2010 at 3:51am

To be honest I'm still not sure about that point. I've always have this single question in my mind: " If I do not believe in any religion does that automatically mean that I believe there is no GOD ? "

I'm surrounded by theists - parents, husband and friends so I do not really have the opportunity to be able to discuss about atheism.

And that's exactly the main reason why I joined this site - to give me a deeper understanding and knowledge of what this is all about. So I hope I will find new friends here who will guide me through the way.

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on October 15, 2010 at 3:59am

You make me smile!

Well, to be an atheist it really comes down to a simple question. Do you believe in a god or not? If not, you are an atheist, technically. I doubted god for so long, but my religion and family never allowed atheism as an option. Once I understood it, I realized that I had been an atheist for much longer than I realized.

You don't have to know that there is no god to be an atheist. You only have to not believe in a god to be an atheist. Remember, we are not making the claim and we don't have to provide the evidence.

But, if your family won't accept your atheism, you should remain silent for the time being.

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