Was there a specific personal event or something outside yourself that led you to no longer believe in a personal god?
2007-02-19 18:04:35 · 10 answers · asked by Sicilian Godmother 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
tucsonhoo...No, I am not currently what you may call a religious person, nor am I an atheist. I would rather call myself a seeker at this point in my life. Most people, even those who call themselves atheists are usually born into their parents' religion. Maybe that is too big an assumption on my part. But if such is the case, it seems that at some point, that person would have made a conscious decision to abandon the "family" religion and turn toward atheism.
2007-02-19 18:31:50 · update #1
I would love to hear from some more atheists regarding when or why they first realized that they did not believe in a personal god.
2007-02-21 02:11:18 · update #2
Thank you all for your honesty and your answers. You've opened my eyes to a lot of things.
2007-02-25 16:27:27 · update #3
If I fit in that category (as atheist), I would say there was never a decision to BECOME an atheist.
When you realize, that unlike so many other people, you see no use for the concept of God, it can't really be said that you have "decide[d] to become an atheist". It's more that you've decided not to become religious.
I'm sure other people have believed in God, then given up the on idea. They will have to explain their own experiences.
2007-02-19 18:16:57 · answer #1 · answered by Daniel J 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Agreed- I never "turned" atheist. I just never really bought it in the first place. It is quite possible for people to be raised attending church/temple/whatever without ever internalizing what is being taught there.
Actually, I'm not really an atheist. I'm more agnostic- maybe God exists, since anything is possible. But ever since I can remember, the whole Christian thing seemed crazy- immaculate conception, miracles, resurrection.
I think anyone who "became" an atheist probably never really believed in God in the first place on anything more than a superficial level.
2007-02-19 18:43:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You come at this from the wrong direction. I did not BECOME an athiest, I always have been one, and never have been convinced of a higher power that controls my destiny. I never believed in a personal god, so no specific event led to me turning my back on one. The question you should ask yourself is why are you a(I'm guessing now) christian? The way you worded you inquiry leads me to believe that you have known nothing but religion. You were raised that way, so have never looked at the world through different eyes. Maybe some day an event will lead you to lose your faith and see the world through untainted, logical eyes.
I was born into my parents belief system which was to raise me as a decent person and let me decide for myself if religion was necessary. It never was, never has been, and never will be, and I'm a better person for it.
2007-02-19 18:13:52 · answer #3 · answered by Tucson Hooligan 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Since I was in high school when I gradually had a feeling that God as a "being" cannot exist. There was no specific personal event. It just occurred to me gradually and at a point I was no longer confused and gave up the idea of god for good.
2007-02-19 18:24:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. Atheists do no longer choose faith, and don't have self assurance that any are extraordinary or incorrect. that's the whole factor. And becoming to be an atheist is perchance no longer a great conscious determination, i do no longer think of. that's greater of a technique of gaining understanding of, becoming, examining, and testing the waters. that's like something in existence, trial and blunder, and then sooner or later, you purely "awaken."
2016-10-16 01:55:20 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There wasn't really a clear moment when I "became" atheist. I was raised going to church infrequently, usually only on major religious holidays. When we DID go to church I was usually more interested in whatever toy I had brought along than the sermon. When I was in high school I knew a few kids that were in a christian youth group, and I tried that out for a while, but I realized that my heart just wasn't in it. I just couldn't believe in it. So, yeah, there was never any big epiphany. I never really believed in the first place.
2007-02-19 18:57:31 · answer #6 · answered by Sondra S 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First I realized that Santa couldn't possibly climb down a billion chimneys in one night. How did we ever buy into that?! Later I just knew somehow that there was no omnipotent alien from outer space that created a race of slaves to serve either him or his evil twin for the rest of eternity. It's so silly, I can't figure out how anybody else can believe it!
2007-02-19 19:57:27 · answer #7 · answered by CaesarsGhost 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
still I remain a believer in God.
2007-02-19 18:29:12 · answer #8 · answered by hari prasad 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God knows, I cannot remember.
2007-02-19 18:12:38 · answer #9 · answered by slowpokesrool 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, just a long process of study and thought.
2007-02-19 18:13:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋