quick poll?

Question

atheists: have you ever believed in some god?

believers: were you ever an atheist? or a believer in a different religion?

(I mean conscious belief/non belief)

Me? I have been baptized, but was never a believer, neither am I now, but I'm not completely happy with it.

Aha, so that's the name for this, "undecided agnostic" :) - well I am one of them myself. I had meant this for people with firm beliefs, to see how they have evolved to it. But of course, I could also ad a third:

for undecided agnostics: have you ever been decided believers?

of course that there are more than Christians and Atheists. I said "believer", not "Christian". I really can't think of a better general name for all non-atheists and non-agnostics, regardless of their spiritual belief, religion or not.

Answer 1

Nope, not even as a young child. But I wasn't pressured to, I was given the freedom to choose my path and beliefs. I think that to truly know yourself, and to know personal freedom, you have to question everything, including, and especially, the god question. I have read the bible, I have studied buddhism, and Islam, Christianity, and lots of other belief systems, and I never believed in a god, or gods. Though, I have to say, buddhism tugs at me from time to time, and I have to look back into it., but it's never been enough for me to change my mind.

Answer 2

I grew up in a Christian home. Married a Christian wife. As of about 6 years ago I pronounced myself an Atheist.

Answer 3

What about us undecided agnostics, we don't get to play in your poll?

Thanks, the answer is, I was a believer because my parents told me that there was a god. However, I stopped believing in god around the time that I figured out there is not Santa Clause.

Answer 4

I am a Jesus believer who did check out some other religions and belief systems before,but never actually ascribed to any. I did question God's existence, but I guess I realized the whole time I was questioning,He was the One I was talking to,you know, asking, and He answered.

Answer 5

Yes, I grew up Methodist and believed in God.

(Now atheistic agnostic)

Answer 6

No, I've never had a belief in a God, or gods.

The 'beliefs' I have been attracted to (Buddhism and Taoism) are spiritual, but contain no concept that equates to a 'creator' or whatever.

Possibly one could see an element of pantheism in there, but I consider myself atheistic.
.

Answer 7

*grumbles* You know there are more than just Christians and Atheists on this forum right?


I am a believer...in my Gods and Goddesses, and yes in the past I was a Christian. I rejected that faith on moral grounds. I am now Ásatrú.

Answer 8

As a child I was lead to belief there was a god. But when I became of age and start thinking for myself and realized the absurdity and impossibility of an god. No I am an devoted Atheist.

Answer 9

Never an atheist. Never a different religion. I weigh all the facts and truths and made a decision from there

Answer 10

I was never an atheist. I was raised in a baptist family. As I grew, and I choose to look deeper into things, I learned a lot. I dont label myself as "baptist" because I dont buy into man-made tradtionalism, ritualism, values, etc, and I think its wrong to let those things distract us from the pure and simple truths. I prefer to simply be a "christian", if I *must* be labeled. My beleif in God has been strengthened, the more I grow and learn about the world. For me, it simply boils down to this: God is and always has been. God is love, and created us to share that love. Rather than create beings that are FORCED to love him and be with him, he gave us life on this earth as our chance to CHOOSE. Being impure beings we cannot be in the presense of perfection without being cleansed first. All that he asks from us is that we choose. If we want to spend eternity for him, we must accept him, and admit our imperfection. If we choose to reject him, that too is our choice. Simple. Life on earth is simply our opportunity to accept or reject eternity with our maker, and to tell others about the opportunity if they do not know.

So no, I have never been anything but a Christian, and although I have opened my mind to the possibility that the foundations of our "religion" may be flawed, it has been affirmed in my heart that the pure and simple truth is correct, and the purpose of life is simply to choose and to live.