Atheists who left the church: A question for you?

Question

How old were you when you left the church and became atheist?

When debating theists, do you invoke your past view of that god?

Answer 1

When did I quit church? That's like asking when I quit smoking -- It's easy to quit smoking, I've done it dozens of times.

I don't remember the very last cigarette or church service. I grew out of it over time. I did the usual agonizing about setting a course for hell and the whole guilt and fear trips that the churches use to control people. Eventually I came to understand that I never really had faith in God, I only ever went thru the motions as I was taught to do by people who were also only going thru the motions. I've been at peace with being a non-believer ever since.

Answer 2

I never thought the Bible was anything other than a story book. That doesn't mean that I stopped searching for the answers and after I heard many different views I formed an opinion. I haven't found all the answers I'm looking for. I really want to find faith in something. Faith enough to give up everything I am so that I see that my belief is passed on to the future. I never found that faith in a super natural being, I doubt I ever will. I see faith in my opinion of Atheism
I never review my past experiences when debating religion. I only experienced Christianity. I have knowledge of other beliefs, none as extensive as Christianity.
I became very unpopular with my family because of my beliefs. However, I stand by them still. I commend people like Richard Dawkins for giving his views and making them clear and understandable. Atheists, in my opinion, need support. They need to be told that it's okay for them to hold the beliefs that they do. Especially young people. Let's face it, it's better to believe with all your heart or believe nothing at all with all your heart than to pretend.

Answer 3

Why would someone get a thumbs down for answering a simple question without going into some big to do about their religious beliefs (or lack of..) etc???

I was about 19 or 20 when I left the church.. I didn't become an atheist if you will, until I was 22 or 23... and I don't think I really get your last question...

Answer 4

I left the church when I was 9 years old. When debating theists, I do not invoke my past view of god unless they claim to be former atheists. The common weapons they use in debate are those of feigned understanding of how atheists think, and therefore by generalization, how I think. The invocation of my past theistic beliefs provide a good counter to this.

Answer 5

You have to understand that most people don't just flip a switch and change. In fact, I've NEVER heard of it being like that. For most, it's a painful, agonizing years-long period of time, terrifying and frightening.

I try not to invoke that view. That view was mine and it's long past. I would much rather understand the other person's view and discuss that.

Answer 6

Far more gradual than that. We only attended church when I was pretty young. I think we stopped going (also gradually -- some weeks, some not) when I was maybe 12? I think by the time I was 16, I was at least agnostic. By the time I was 21, I was an atheist.

Answer 7

what's theists? I am an off and on church goer because this church I would rather go to is kinda far from my place and I have to ride a bus there. And am not sure if church is really representing things.

Answer 8

When I realized that nothing I wish for ever comes true, and everything I work toward to comes true.


When I realized that nothing people wish for ever comes true, and everything they work toward to comes true.

That is why I "left the church"

Of course there is God, but you are Him, aren't we one? So why do you prey to God, but don't we prey to ourselves? Why do you address God as an entity separate from you? I couldn't understand that so I "left the church"

Answer 9

I was born Jewish but if the question still applies -

I had "had it" right after my bar mitzvah. However, still living at home I had to continue until I was 18. After I moved out I pretty much gave it up except for family events like weddings and such.

Answer 10

Good question! I was about 35 when I started questioning everything I believed, including religion (I was a fundamentalist Christian/Pentecostal). I am now an agnostic, not an athiest, as I believe it is just as impossible to prove that God does NOT exist as it is to prove that he does.

I try not to debate theists, perse, because they are just as entitiled to their beliefs as I am to mine. I do, however, debate their actions and behaviors, when they infringe upon the rights of others, including the right to a good education. So, I will debate a theist who feels the need to force his/her beliefs on me, or on society in general.

I will debate those who try to use their status in the religious community, including thier followers, who want to force me and everyone else to live according to their teachings and their beliefs, and thus submit to their authority. And I will strenuously debate and do all I can to legally block their attempts to do so by changing the law and/or hijacking the United States Constitution.

I will not try to disuade them from their belief in creationism, so long as they keep it in their homes and churches, and don't try to disguise it as "science" ("intelligent design") and force it to be taught as if it were science.

It is important to keep religion in the churches and scientific truth in our public schools. We should no more be teaching creationism, even as an "alternative" to evolution, than we should be teaching astrology as an "alternative" to astronomy, or alchemy as an "alternative" to chemistry. Those who are trying to force our schools to replace, or even supplement science with religious mythology, are simply doing so to again force society in general to submit to their religious doctrines and authority.

But having said all that, I do not try to dissuade Christians from believing in Christ, or theists of any sort from believing in God. I do not think we have a right to do so, and we certainly don't have an obligation to do so, unless they begin to use their religion as a means to control society. That is something worthy of the Taliban and other such fantical extremists, not Christianity.