For me it wasn't a choice. I really don't believe in choice. I just woke up one day and realized that I don't believe in gods.
I don't really know exactly when it happened or why.
I guess it's like realizing you're not a child anymore when you look at yourself and realize you are an adult.
2006-11-28 08:55:49 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It was a slow and often painful transition. In fact, I set out trying to BUILD my faith in God and Jesus, not lose it. If you knew how many times I went into the church after hours and alternately screamed in rage and humbly begged Jesus to give me one TINY sliver of evidence or proof, you'd be able to count to a very high number, considering it took many years.
In the end, the proof never came.
I didn't choose to be an atheist. Religion just stopped making sense.
Still, I'm glad to be where I am, it feels as right now as Christianity felt before that painful transition period.
2006-11-28 08:59:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It was actually a slow process for me. After 20 years as a devote Catholic I started having lots of doubts. I struggled with these doubts over the next 10 years, even to the point of seeking other religious beliefs but even these did not relieve any of the doubts. Then at 36 years old the realization finaaly dawned on me that religions as a whole are the greatest con ever played upon mankind. Have never been happier, healthier, or more content since that point.
2006-11-28 09:07:30 · answer #2 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It wasn't a choice. Once I realized that deities do not exist, I had no choice but to be an atheist. It's not like I was going to lie to myself just to maintain the comforting status quo of Christianity.
Just because the prospect of eternal life was appealing doesn't mean it was realistic. I was an atheist and there was no turning back... and I'm ok with that.
I would NEVER want to be a Christian again. I won't knock anyone who needs it in their life... some people are very dependent on it. But I think the world could most certainly do without the delusion of gods.
2006-11-28 08:57:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I didn't choose to be an atheist, any more than I chose to believe that there is no ketchup in my fridge.
When I open the door to the fridge, there's no ketchup in there. Therefore I am an aketchupist.
When I look around the universe, I see no sign of a giant, bearded supernatural being who created beings with souls that had a choice of worshipping him or not, and then punishes them when they don't. Therefore, I'm an atheist.
Pretty simple, really.
2006-11-28 09:04:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It was not really slow, I was just slow to accept it. One day I just came to terms with it. Maybe it took a couple of days. It is tough hearing about evil devil worshipers and wild killers and any other label you can think up just to realize that you are one. Then I took a little time to sort out the lies and figure out that I was really OK. I still am to a point here.
2006-11-28 09:08:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think it came about at the same time that I realized that 'religious people' were lying to me about certain things. "Gay people are evil, Jews eat babies, The pope is infallible."
Once you realize that you are being lied to about one or two things, you have to question whether everything you have been told was a lie as well. It didn't take long to figure it out once the ball got rolling.
PS How's it going? Long time no see.
2006-11-28 09:23:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It was a process of probably ten years, and an additional two years of arguing with myself about it. But, honestly, I wouldn't choose to be a non-believer. Makes things tricky sometimes...
2006-11-28 09:02:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No choice, no reason. I don't even have an idea of *when* I no longer believed in God.
2006-11-28 09:08:35 · answer #8 · answered by Stardust 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The choice was not atheism. The choice was rational thought. Rational thought led to atheism.
2006-11-28 09:01:07 · answer #9 · answered by Snark 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think everyone starts of atheist , you only grow into religion
2006-11-28 08:59:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋