Comment by Graham on January 21, 2012 at 9:31am

The idea that one can be too young to be an atheist is absurd.

You are BORN atheist. You have no belief in a god, because no-one has put that idea into your head yet. The truth is that you're too young to be a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Jew, or a Buddhist, etc. You won't be old enough to choose those ideas until you're capable of evaluating those (frankly preposterous) assertions for yourself. And when you are - it's VERY likely that you'll reject them, and remain atheist.

And that's what all religions are terrified of. The Jesuits used to say "Give me the boy until he's 7, and I'll give you the man". By the age of 7, a child is so indoctrinated that it's hard for them to abandon their indoctrination.

Comment by james d on January 21, 2012 at 9:52am

i think that it is time for people to understand that atheism is the DEFAULT state we are born with and that religion is something we have to twist our rational brain activity about to accept! tell your dad that you are comfortable with your decision and that if your position changes, you will let him know!

Comment by Elisha K. on January 21, 2012 at 9:55am

To me, Atheism is just a natural step in a child's development. I was raised Catholic, my mother and my sister avid church goers. We liked to do the potlucks and all three of us were in the choir. It was something we did together. When I was about 13 I decided that I didn't really agree with the Catholic god. (And no, it wasn't anything the church did, my priest actually told me 'Well, if you don't believe, don't come.' in a very jovial tone. He is a good man, we still talk). 

But, basically, as you grow up, you stop believing in fairy tales, Santa Clause and boogie men...how is leaving your faith any different? Just keep educating yourself. Read voraciously and debate and talk. Never stop learning about religion, atheism, and science. 

Comment by Michael R on January 21, 2012 at 9:58am

Same age when I stopped having anything to do with religion and I'm now 52. I never looked back. You are not too young.

Comment by Shockwave Plasma on January 21, 2012 at 12:38pm

Robert Karp has written exactly what I would have said. Now actually is the time to learn about how religion is used and abused, The more you learn about it, the better you can answer Christians silly questions, or statements.

At 13 I was heading towards the New Age path, and that was such a mistake that I'm still paying for now.

Comment by Unseen on January 21, 2012 at 2:19pm

If you're too young to be an atheist, you're too young to adopt a religion. There's your argument.

Comment by John Kelly on January 21, 2012 at 4:05pm

Unseen wrote:

"If you're too young to be an atheist, you're too young to adopt a religion. There's your argument."

X2

Comment by Ron V on January 21, 2012 at 5:37pm

How can you be too young? Really we are all born atheists but are then indoctrinated/brainwashed by our cultures.

And, you should read the Bible - it is the most damning literature against the Judeo-Christian god (one of the most petty, jealous, destructive, schizophrenic, narcissitic, genocidal, misogynistic buttwipe human fabrications, in my opinion)

Comment by Craig Nomazlab on January 21, 2012 at 7:45pm

My story is almost exactly the same. My mother was convinced that "it was just a phase" and that "I would come back to christianity." I'm now 18, and nothing has changed. It's just simple ignorance. They think that you're too young to decide your beliefs unless it's exactly what they believe. They seem to be trying to keep your mind closed to all opinions that aren't their own.

Comment by Becca on January 21, 2012 at 8:36pm

You are never too young to be an atheist and think for yourself. I never really believed even when I was as young as 5 and 6, I remember not really understanding religion and showering my relatives with questions. I tried to believe for a while since religion seemed so important to those around me and well you see how that worked out. I've essentially been atheist my whole life it's just I didn't have the word for it until I was 15 or 16.

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