What's it like to be a Christian and then turn into and atheist?

Question

I just wonder if it's possible....especially if one were brought up as a Christian....do those beliefs instilled in your thinking as a young person ever really change? Is it possible to not believe in God at all even if you once did? I'm a Christian, not at all atheist, but I've questioned God's existence and I find it impossible to not believe in Him even when I've wanted to in the past. Please post your thoughts......

Answer 1

I was a strong Christian............Now i am a staunch atheist
It took 5 years of debrainwashing myself to get out of GOD....I cannot describe how suicidal I was because of how much life I wasted. I am a better person having gone through it. Look up on youtube.com someone called julia sweeney......she is an atheist comedian who talks about coming out of Christianity. In the end, coming out of Christianity was harder for me than coming out of the closet. Coming out of the closet was a cakewalk in comparison

EDIT: For a Christian, your question was awfully respectful.....I thank you for that!

Answer 2

It is part of growing up. In The God Delusion, Dawkins says there is no such thing as a Christian child, a Moslem child or a Jewish child. There are children of Christian/Moslem/Jewish parents. I agree. When a child is old enough to understand what is being said about religion, many come to the conclusion that the religion of their parents is wrong. They then read and study further ending up with atheism because it is the only logical option.

People are indoctrinated/brainwashed into religion. It is only those who question the teachings of the religion and find no answers or wrong answers who become atheists. Those who happily accept the hogwash stay with it all their lives but they never question their beliefs. Some are so indoctrinated they object to others questioning their beliefs which leads to religious intolerance and wars.

Answer 3

I was raised a Catholic, but am an atheist now. After I was confirmed, I began to question the existence of God, then I became agnostic, and finally atheist. It was a long transition, but I am much happier as a result of it. Although certain values that were taught in Sunday school, such as being kind to others, respecting your parents, helping the needy, etc., still ring true for me, I find that Christian beliefs are often stifling and restrictive.

Answer 4

I was brought up in a Christian fundamentalist home (my father is a minister), and tried so hard to believe in God and the Bible. But at about age 9, it just seemed like a bad fairy tale. I read the bible a number of times, went to church, bible school, church camp, but it didn't do any good. I couldn't manufacture faith. I struggled with my beliefs off and on and when I finally gave up trying I had such a tremendous feeling of relief. It was so painful trying to believe in something I found so repulsive. I respect a lot of the beliefs about Jesus and his teachings, but I find a lot of the bible difficult to deal with, it can be so vengeful, hate-filled and violent. I still feel repulsed when I hear certain litergies or phrases or hymns about how miserable a sinner we all are...I find it painful and disgusting to remember the confusion I felt as a young child trying to figure out why I was a miserable sinner! I still avoid churches as much as possible.

Now I don't deal with the shame, or guilt or the tremendous fear I did when I tried to be a Christian. I don't fear death, like my parents do. I don't believe in hell, so I'm not afraid of dying, like my parents are. I don't have to worry about being a good enough Christian to be saved, like my family still does. I can just live my life, try to help others, and be happy.

Answer 5

It is, indeed, possible. I was brought up in a strictly Christian household, so from a young age I was taught never to question God or the Bible. I can never remember feeling what everyone around me seemed to feel during worship services, though, so my Atheism began around age 9. Needless to say, at that age I was TERRIFIED by not believing, and spent years praying to be saved. Years later, here I am, quite happy in my non-belief.

Edited to address Not really tech-savvy: No disrespect for your opinion, but do you realize what you just said? Any Christian born child who finds themselves not believing is, if anything, even MORE open to God’s graces, because they want so badly to feel what the other Christian’s do. It was only through years of fear, and praying in vain, that I was able to accept my own Atheism.

Answer 6

Meaning no insult, I promise, but the only thing I can fairly compare it to is Christmas and Santa. Yes, it seems different. In some ways "less" but in other ways it's more meaningful to know the truth. To not have to subjugate my mind anymore. I have much less fear now. There is nothing I have to be afraid that I shouldn't think about.

I believed with my whole heart. I won souls to Christ, studied the greek and hebrew texts, etc. It's interesting that you've "wanted" not to believe in god. I don't think I ever did. I came to atheism kicking and screaming because I thought it would be empty and meaningless here. It's not.

In time some of the "original sin" stuff that was hammered into me has faded. Is all of christianity gone? Hard to say objectively. I think so.

Hope that helps!

Answer 7

Many atheists are former Christians (and former whatever other religion), myself included.

It's like getting out of jail after 20 years... and realizing for the first time that you were even in jail in the first place.

It's like a break up with someone you really loved... and realizing that the person you loved was never really there.

It's like remodeling your mind... rethinking every aspect of your position, since your former religion had so much to do with your opinions and politics.

It's both wonderful and scary. Wonderful because of the freedom and reality. Scary because it involves so much change.

I, too appreciate the way you have asked this question. :)

Answer 8

I was a Christian for eleven years I was baptized a Pentecostal Holiness. A born again Christian. From the age of five I attended Church and bible school twice a week for eleven years. When I was sixteen I became an Atheists and have never attended Church since.

Answer 9

I am not sure you can go directly from being a Christian to an Atheist. I think it usually happens in gradual stages. I have not reached Atheism yet, but I have been going through stages. I went from Christianity to Gnosticism to Agnosticism to Deism. I think my evolution from Agnostic to Deist is probably not the norm. Most seem to either just remain Agnostic or go to Atheism. I'm not sure why.

Answer 10

I think if a Christian-born person ever becomes an atheist, it's because s/he never really was open to God's graces and s/he never really understood what Christianity is.