I'm curious... atheists please?

Question

I'm wondering why athiests are atheists. If you wouldn't mind I'd just like to know why you chose the path you are on. What religion, (if any) were you prior to choosing atheism and what made you leave it? Finally, Would anything convince you to believe in a religion? Thank you for taking the time to answer I really appreciate your time. God bless and have a good day.

Answer 1

Thank you for posing your question politely. I do appreciate it.

I was raised a Christian and began questioning everything while still a child. I left the church when I was 11 and was basically an agnostic. Through reflection over these last few weeks, I've come to realize that I was an atheist by the age of 14. There was an incident that I'm not going into, and it really was the turning point.

I don't feel that anything short of God introducing himself to me would ever be enough for me to become a believer again. I am absolutely sure in my heart that my beliefs are correct. You will find this to be true for most people whether they believe in God or not.

Answer 2

Why I'm an atheist?

Well, I'm actually an ignostic, which means in a nutshell I don't care if there is a god. And I am so, because I simply don't see how it will change my life if there is or there isn't a god. You see, I've worked for everything I am and have. So, I owe nothing to god, I owe it to my own efforts. I'm what I am thanks to me, and to the people who have helped me. IF there is a god, it hasn't had any influence on what I am now.

What religion was I before?

None. I have never been a believer or taken part in a religion.

Would anything convince me to believe in a religion?

No. Not in a religion, because I think organised religions are basically instruments of social manipulation and brainwashing. I make a difference between a believer's honest faith, and a church. I can respect the former (though I don't share that feeling), but never the latter.

I couldn't however rule out becoming a believer in God. I find it very difficult, but I can't say I'll never be one. For me to become a believer, it would take just as much as definite evidence that there actually IS a god to believe in. Anyway, every new thing I learn about religions sets me farther away from ever converting.

Answer 3

The bible is a book that no-one knows for sure who wrote.It is known that it was edited with various gospels etc.left out.Why?If they are all the word of god,shouldn't they all be included?
It is full of contradictions and inconsistencies and quite frankly some of the stories are physically impossible.For example,The Ark.Do you have any idea how big it would have to have been?and how is one man and his family supposed to have collected together 2 of every species of animal in existence,house them,feed them without them killing each other(most animals are predators of some sort)and at the same time survive a 40 day storm that was so powerful,it destroyed every other living thing?
Jesus.No-one knows when he was born or, more importantly, when he died.If such a man existed and did such things can you honestly tell me that that would not have been noted somewhere?
These are just 2 examples there are many many more.
Basically I choose not to believe a book that can't be verified whereas there is proof of evolution.It is happening all around us.
Second point of your question
I was raised as Church of England and i didn't choose to be an atheist,I just do not believe that religion has got it right.
Third point of your question
If some sort of solid proof to back up the claims of religion were found,I would look at it logically and consider it.But it would have to be a lot better than what is on offer at the moment.

Answer 4

I have been an atheist all my life. I grew up in a partly Christian family and in a Christian society and I learned a lot about Christianity and a bit about other religions, but the whole thing just never made much sense to me. It has just never seemed logical to me that there is a God. I have never seen or felt any sign of him, so I have no reason to believe he exists elsewhere than in people's imagination.

It would take A LOT for me to convince me that God exists. I'd need a clear sign from him (not from my fellow humans), and even if I got one I can't imagine I'd ever follow any organized religion, because I'm sure they are people's creaton, not God's and I think my morals and lifestyle are good the way they are now.

By the way, thank you for asking in a decent, respectful manner. I don't see that a lot in the religion section.

Answer 5

I was a Christian. Went to Sunday school, took communion, learned all 100 verses of Holy Holy Holy. Things started to come undone when I learned about dinosaurs. Then I learned about evolution. Pretty soon, I decided to read this bible for myself and determined that it could not possibly be true. Then I grew into a phase in my life where I believed strongly in personal responsibility, and rejected Christ as my saviour. I did not need saving; I will accept full responsibility for what I do in life. Then I became agnostic. I was agnostic for about a year when I finally realized that the whole idea of god is actually a delusion. Once I realized there was no such thing as god, I no longer suffered bouts of depression and in fact became a better, stronger person. I am so glad today that my mind is free from the shackles of religion.

Answer 6

Hi - I was raised in a Catholic family and sent to a religious school but there has never been a time, ever when I was very young, when I have believed in 'God'. I think this is because it became evident very early on that religion is created by man and that faith, the basis of religion, is believing without evidence. How can you believe something that does not have a single shred of evidence to back it up (and no religion does). As I've gone through life I've been fascinated by the worlds various religions but purely from a standpoint of marvelling at what people will swallow and kid themselves into believing. I've have lots of talks with interesting and intelligent people of all denominations, and I try to respect their right to believe, but for the life of me I cant understand why they believe in the muddled, contradictory nonsense of their religion.

Answer 7

I'm an atheist because I don't believe God(s) exist(s), obviously. Research has led me here. God isn't necessary to explain the origins of the universe. The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only transferred. Einstein proved that mass=energy. This means that, in some form or state, the universe has to have always existed. This is hard for most people to comprehend, as nearly everything we see has a beginning and end.

The problem of evil, as well, furthered my atheism. The problem of evil goes along the lines of: If God is all-loving and all-powerful, why does evil exist in the world? If he is all-loving, he would want to end evil more than anything, and if he was all-powerful, he'd be able to. Yet, evil clearly exists. This leads me to believe that God does not exist, rather than an evil existant God who continues to be preached as all-loving by his followers.

Prior to becoming atheist, I have "associated" (or wanted to associate) with a number of religions. Evangelical Christianity, Reform Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Islam, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Judaism are the religions I've wanted to become a part of at different times in my life. Interestingly, no matter what religion I felt a connection to, I always assured myself, "I'm never, not in a million years, going to be an atheist." I had always viewed atheism as a (lack of) belief system based on rejection and denial of God, and a misinterpretation of the evidence pointing towards God. However, I began reading books about atheism, and found that atheism's lack of belief was justified. The major book for me was David Mill's "Atheist Universe". It asserted and demonstrated that God was not necessary for existence, and rebutted much of the common theist arguments.

Very little could be done to convince me to believe in a religion. Likely the only "religion" I would ever follow is Buddhism, which is more of a philosophy than a religion. All other religions are based on unverified miracles which seemingly cease to happen since the closing of the Bible, Qur'an, Vedas, Upanishads, Torah, and all other religious texts. To be convinced to follow a religion, 1) a God, Goddess, or gods and goddesses would have to prove their existence through me by miracles witnessed by myself and others, to assure I'm not just delusional. And not small-time miracles, either. I mean like moving the sun, making stars appear, things that can be witnessed by most of humanity, and 2) God, Goddess, gods and goddesses would have to tell me which religion was right, which sect/denomination of that religion was right, and how I should best follow that religion.

Answer 8

I am a Christian vegetarian. the intent that the information you discover is for the reason that at present, extra "new age" routine and extra "new age inspiration toward constructing one's spirit" which isn't associated into Christianity. Where because the Bible tells us now not till the flood, used to be guy allowed to devour meat. Dietary regulations in regard to wellbeing unknown to the Israelites on the time have been made. And then allowed as soon as Christ got here, pleasurable the legislation. We are informed that guy has dominion over the animals, as opposed to evolution which tells us we're animals, raising animals lives are simply primary as ours. instance: greenpeace. the intent i dont devour meat is for wellbeing factors. and except individuals are vegan and ban all animal merchandise and product and remedy checking out.....i dont see how they're any higher then individuals who devour meat. or enlightened. The Bible does tells us to be well stewards of what we've got been given. and that i discover it commendable that individuals attempt to quit unfair acts towards animals. But we aren't to feel to place ourselves within the identical class as them. This doesnt imply they arent primary, however they have been presents given to us from God. now not our equals.

Answer 9

I was raised Catholic but I can't remember a time when I actually believed; so I can't say I chose atheism, it simply seems a lot more reasonable than belief.

And of course I could be convinced to believe -- by actual evidence. No assertions, not arguments that only faith applies -- give me just one real fact. Nothing else will convince me.

Answer 10

There's no evidence to support there being a god,devil or anything else or a life after death. Nothing would convince me there was, and that is why i get annoyed with people who preach and try to convert. I didn't had any religion prior to me choosing atheism.