Were you always an Atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, please explain why.?

Question

Hi all, me again. I just wanted to let those of you who answered my previous question regarding getting help with my book about atheism, know that I have updated my question. The above question is one of the ones I have included on the survey I am asking both religious and non-religious people to fill out.

The religious sections question on this topic is:

2) How were you introduced to the church and God? (I.e. family participation in church, self discovered, friends talking about it…etc)

If you would like to help me out, I have the survey set up and ready to go. While it might not be all the questions I will need to ask, in fact, I'm sure it's not, it is a good starting point to gather information to help me write my book with much more honesty and fairness to either side, if I can get enough people answering.

The link is: http://www.tntservice.net/atheism/index.html

I really appreciate everyones help with this. If you know anyone who can help too, send them there!

Answer 1

i tried to e-mail you but it didn't work.
so I'll say i did your survey. not a bad one but wheres my money now? lol just kidding.
may i make a small suggestion?
try and broaden you questions a little to include those of us that are religious but not christian.
you may get a wider scope of answers.
i was able to word my answers so they would reflect my beliefs and still answer your questions though some others may not.
well any way just a suggestion.
good luck with the book and i expect to see it on the best sellers list soon.
Paul T.

please message me again.

Answer 2

1) What do you believe is the true definition of Atheism?

Following the Greek rule of the alpha privative, "A-theism" means "the absence of theism." Theism, in turn is based on the Greek "theos," meaning YHWH, the "Father God" of the Old Testament Jews.

Thus, Atheism means "the absence of a belief in the God of the Old Testament."

I will take it a step further and add, as most 21st century rationalists would, I think, "...and all similar deities."

The grouping factor that makes a deity similar to YHWH is probably the exclusivity factor, which describes the belief that everyone must believe in the same god.


2) Were you always an Atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, please explain why.

I was born in an intellectual community where nobody ever mentioned god or the supernatural at all. I never saw a bible until I entered the public schools.

We are all born atheists and had to be taught our religion. I was taught it in school by repeatedly being beaten up by my classmates.


3) Why do you believe there is no god? ( Please give details, not just "Because there isn't". List your reasons for believing this way.)

We are all born atheists and had to be taught to believe in the supernatural. If a person grows up in a loving community as I did where there is no mention of the supernatural, one will not conceive of such things.

Having grown up free of the belief in god, it seems obvious that the supernatural does not exist, and requires a stretch of the imagination to conceive that such things might exist.


4) What do you think of religious people? As in, their lifestyles, why they behave the way they do, if you think they are "brainwashed" as many atheists claim… etc. Please give details.

They are welcome to the added load of guilt and fear their religion gives them if that is what they want. I am really glad not to be so burdened.


5) Do you believe that you are right, and everyone else is wrong? If so, why?

I belong to a certain segment of the human race, and others belong to other segments. How then could one think of "everyone else being wrong?" That is not the way it works.


6) Do you feel it is your responsibility as an Atheist to try and convert religious people to atheism? Please explain why or why not.

Gee, Whillikers! Godlessly not so! Ugh! on converting anybody to anything! Yipes!!!


7) Are you afraid of death? Please elaborate.

What's to be afraid of? We all have to die. It will be wonderful if there is a far shore where we will meet again and the things that kept us fighting in this world no longer matter. We will get to hear what Mozart has come up with in the meantime, and Muffin will come running to greet me with barks and kisses.

Revisit the accurate definition of "atheism" given in box (1). Not believing in YHWH does not necessarily equate with not thinking we will be better off in the next life.


8) Do you believe children should be forced into religion?

Gee, Whillikers! Godlessly not so! Ugh! on converting anybody to anything! Yipes!!! Only three times more so!!!


9) How does religion differ from cults (Think of the "Hale Bop" cult...)?

I think you mean the "Heaven's Gate" cult. All religions have a cultic dimension. We usually identify cults with a certain kind of mental illness that is found to a lesser or greater extent in all religious people.


10) Do you think confessions should be kept confidential if by reporting the confession to the authorities, someones life might be saved, or it might prevent someone from being harmed? (An example: A child molester confesses to the priest that he/she has molested children and plans on molesting more children)

The laws of most states require that a sacred confessor not keep silent when people might be endangered. I concur.

Answer 3

I never believed. Not even because I attended Catholic schools (with nuns).

I remember being 8 years old and looking around at my classmates during prayer, and going "What the hell??". True story.

I always confuse Christians, because most have the idea that the Freethinker is someone who looks down on believers and attacks religion. I DON'T. I understand our need for religion. I however, like a few others, am able to conceive and accept the world AS IS. I don't need a God with a plan to give meaning to my life. I've come to terms with death as being final.

Answer 4

Asking question, learning about biology and philosophy, then finally seeing the hypocricy and idiocy of the catholic church.

Once I saw they'd rather let people die then use condoms I knew religion was wrong. then I started looking deeper and found my voice and spirit.

Praise Zombie Jesus!

http://flushaholybook.com

Answer 5

Born in a catholic family and country.
Logic and years of study bring me to the free atheistic world.