Atheists... which religion did you follow before becoming atheist?

Question

Serious answers only, please. I'm just curious to find out where most atheists are coming from. Please be specific too; if it was Christianity (or another major world religion), indicate which sect or denomination. Thank you.

Answer 1

I was a Catholic. As I grew older, the ideas of the Catholic Church became outright ridiculous. I continued to read a little bit about other religions, and found that the concepts of organized religion all basically revolve around humans gaining wealth or power through intimidation, guilt, or some other form of pressure.

I started to think about what God could possibly be. If He is love, and yet He allows a busload of children to die in a fiery crash, somehow that was His will. I found that a bit odd for some entity that is love. Then I started hearing out the Jesus freaks. They only have a handful of sentences that they repeat again and again, always returning to Jesus being their savior who guides them daily. I still have no idea what that could possibly mean to someone over the age of 5.

Even though I do not believe in God, I do believe that most people have a need to believe in Him, to keep sane or to keep happy or to deal with their eventual death or whatever the motive. I don't think believing in God is wrong, but for me, the conceptual God is sort of like a cartoon character. In the Christian faith, we have the vengeful God of the old testament who torments those who worship Him with horrible tasks and such. Then, in the new testament, He sends His son down to show His ultimate love and compassion, and He no longer annihilates cities or turns people into stone.

Does anyone else find that just plain ridiculous? God knows all, is all, has always been all-knowing and all that stuff, but He learns as He goes along? I can't take any more of that "He works in mysterious ways" nonsense, either. Believe if you want, but let's keep it down.

Be thankful I didn't really get started on the bible. What a lousy read. No great stories, almost constant contradiction, and interpreted by everyone differently. And people think that God wrote that garbage? He's supposed to be a God, for crying out loud! He wouldn't need to write in riddles, make glaring errors, or have monks translate (differently, I might add) His word.

And lastly, if anyone is still reading, Adam and Eve? Noah's Ark? I can't even argue with people who believe in that silliness. Those folks are way too far gone...

Good question. Hope I did wear out my welcome with my response....

Answer 2

The Trinity Church - The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost ....... I attended and graduated from Bible School attend Church almost every Sunday until I was 28. I've been to 38 different foreign countries. I've seen more and heard more then most people I know. I'm now 57 and an Engineer and looking through my eyes....... God (or any Omnipotent Entity by any other name) is a figment of your imagination. It is quite evident to me that we are here because we are here, not due to the fact that someone or something wants us here. I find these truths to be self evident. We "Are" children of the stars. Fortunately the Stars will not cast us into the the fires of hell if we do not believe that
LOL ;-)

Answer 3

Before I became an Atheist I guess you could say I was an Agnostic.

For years I labored under the idea that I really didn't know so I must be an Agnostic. That's just crazy. I don't know for sure that there isn't a giant invisible marshmallow bunny on the dark side of the moon, who directs our daily lives, but I' m not going to hold my breath until I know for sure.

I guess I just couldn't bring myself to admit what I knew in my head was true. That the idea of God is just contrary to the rest of the rules that guide the natural world.

I was raised a Catholic and when you have the idea of eternal damnation beaten into your head for 20 years, complete disbelief is a radical step.

Read http://nogods.crapaganda.com

Answer 4

I'm not exactly Athiest, but I was Pentecostal.

edit: K_BIZ who appointed you spokesperson for international atheism? Most atheists I know have a better understanding of the bible and church history then most of the born again "Christians" who post on Yahoo. Furthermore, most of the atheists I know have no hatred for sincere believers, whatever scorn they may heap upon what those Christians they see as ignorant and hypocritical.

Answer 5

No religion. In primary school i was forced to attend Christian religious education classes. Even back then i could see they were just about stories written years ago.
Come to think of it, i guess i was Ignostic, and never in fact actually became an atheist.


just in case some people don't know, ignostic is different from agnostic.

Answer 6

I am on the fence about being an atheist or an agnostic. Either way, I used to be a non-denom Christian, and was raised in a somewhat evangelical household.

Answer 7

Most atheists come from a non-religious background. Their lack of knowledge of all things religious draws ridicule from religious people which causes them to hate religion.

People who lose their religion RARELY becaome atheists because even if they turn their back on their church they still believe in God, and some hate God, but still believe in God.

Answer 8

I never officially followed a religion, but my parents were Christian and brought me up as a Christian. I never believed in the religion, but I was forced into it so I went along with it. My parents are Methodist.

Answer 9

Hinduism

Answer 10

Agnosticism