To Christian born atheists, how did you escape?

Question

I am an ex-chrisitan now atheist. I de-converted thanks to a bunch of reading of articles and some debating with friends. I want to know of the success stories of my fellow atheists, Im just curious.

Answer 1

If you honestly consider it nothing more than a success story of someone that is ultimately right with all Christians being wrong, then I feel very sorry for you. Religion is something that is or isn't right for someone on an individual level. Anyone with a lick of ACTUAL sense would realize that having faith is not a sign of intellectual weakness in any way unless they choose to let it blind them. Toleration, and more importantly, respect for the beliefs in others should be the approach of the truly intelligent mind. In a universe whose size is infinitely large to the infinitely small particles that compose it, can there truly not be room at least for understanding in a belief in a god?

In all human beings is a desire to put ourselves into a larger story. We wish an origin, and a clear idea of our destination. This ultimately leads us in searching for where we came from to one of two possibilities, an "I don't know" or a god figure. If you ask religion, we come from a god... If you ask science, follow back to the Big Bang, which goes to what before that was a singularity. If you ask what a singularity is or was, the answer is "we don't know". There is no "outgrowing" the need to know. We will ultimately be left questioning, or look to a deific figure. As to which is the ultimately CORRECT path is again up to each individual.

I think the wisest thing I heard of the debate of religion versus science came from a rabbi, who said, "I don't understand why they're fighting. Science answers how, religion answers why." There is room for both and neither.

... And in case you're wondering, I'm agnostic.

Answer 2

I am an ex-Christian now agnostic. I consider Atheism just as idiotic as Christianity and all of the other religions. I became agnostic by reading the Bible, and it's worked out well for me as I've been happy ever since.

Reading articles and debating with friends is a silly reason to do something as important as change your religious beliefs. You should focus on your inner self and decide what you want. My guess is you aren't all that happy with where you are now since you are here asking questions about it. Pursue what makes you happy, and don't worry about what people think of your religion.

Answer 3

I never really did believe in it. I went to a Christian pre-school and they taught me the Biblical stories and I though "Yeah, these are cute stories." Then when I got older my parents took me to church and I heard the preacher was say the stories were supposed to be true. I looked at everyone paying attention to the guy like he was telling the truth and thought it had to be some kind of joke. I asked my mom "You don't actually believe this stuff, do you?" And she said that she did and I should too if I didn't want to go to hell. That's when I was convinced that it was complete bullshit. I read the Bible a few years later and realized that there was no way Christianity was true.

Answer 4

I became an atheist when I was 10 years old. I believed it was a form of spiritual evolution. I noticed that the most primitive cultures were animists, worshipping inumerable spirits. Then came polytheism, a large, but definite number of deities. Judeo-Christianity and Islam have one god. I believed that the next logical progression was atheism, no god. I now believe that there is something of a spiritual nature, but being human we cannot have any idea what it really is like. I have faith in it, which cannot be proven scientifically, because faith is, by definition something that is believed in without being proven. Science is great for physical phenomena, but for spiritual matters, it won't work. I don't believe that the two cannot be followed in the same mind.

Answer 5

what kinda question is that????
escape from what??? if u think the Christian teaching is wrong.. then just walk away from it. If you have doubt about that "walk away" action.. that means u still believe in some of the teaching. that's CHICKEN COWARD!!!
Make up your mind!!! U declare urself as an ex christian and now atheist but afraid of something (which is not clear what the hell is that) and asking advice on escaping from that halucination??? dude... you are not a true atheist!!!

Answer 6

I was about 9 years old. A guy at my youth group challenged me to read the bible in it's entirety. I got to the part in genesis that states that people used to live to be hundreds of years old. I asked my mom if that was true. she said "probably not." She told me that although we go to church, it's important for me to make my own choices in life and that I could believe whatever I wanted to believe in. That nobody really knows the truth because there are things that we could never possibly comprehend as humans. The world needs more mothers like my own!

Answer 7

Well I guess all that converting crap had to stop when I moved out of my parents house but I'm not so certain if I could fit into the atheist category as I am a spiritual but non-religious person..

Answer 8

Religion was OK till I finally had a reason to question things ..

then the entire house of cards sham fell apart.
the more I question and look for answers.. the more I realize that God is no more real than Santa, there is no such thing as an afterlife .. and we do not have any soul ...

Answer 9

i visit be a dick for a 2d. no person is born a Christian, you probable meant *raised* a Christian. 2d, mistake implies there exchange into an reason or an entity of a few type. we are a consequence of organic actual regulations. yet you're good, imagining the universe exchange into created basically for us is rather form of self-commonplace and is no longer clever thinking the dimensions of the finished ingredient and our miniscule component to it in the two time and area. edit: definite, i had to have faith lots while i exchange into determining i did no longer. this is an uncomfortable feeling determining that your previous worldview exchange into delusion, merely wishful questioning. merely bear in mind you're actually not on my own, tens of millions of alternative anybody is sweet devoid of gods. i will incorporate a link that could enable you to.

Answer 10

Religion is excellent for teaching children basic cultural values. Unfortunately, western religions contain too much dogma. So while church leaders sit on their fat bottoms and vie for your dollar, one third of the world goes to bed hungry. Another third lives as slaves.
I was fortunate to read "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain in 5th grade.
At one point he learns that slavery is condoned by the bible! And vows, that "Well then, let my soul be damned!"
Thus enlightened, I chose to create a better society. Religion had it's chance and look what they've done with it! If I was "god", I wouldn't be proud. So I decided to play god and solve real problems with reason. Instead of of worring about whether or not I had a soul, I took a page from "Mother Teresa" who did her best to actually help create a better world.
Ps. Something I read once:
Remember me in that book of of love. I care not for that book above. Remove my name or write it not at all. But remember me in that book of of love.