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Now don't go getting all deep, I'm just wanting a quick picture of how many atheists have never been religious and how many are "converts."

It's just that as someone who has never been religious at all, I get particularly peeved when I read "atheists are angry with God or have had a bad religious experience."

So please indulge me, just a few words on whether you've always been an atheist or not.

Thankees

Oh, and go you penguins!

2007-04-25 04:51:12 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

I've extended the expiration on this because it's getting some interesting responses and hopefully that will continue.

And no, there's no trap, I sincerely want to know.

In hindsight I would have worded the 'title' question differently - I actually meant to put in a disclaimer along the lines of "assuming everyone is born atheist" but as most people don't read the notes anyway...

Yes, as Herodotus pointed out, it also makes me very queasy to see atheists responding parrot-fashion.

Anyway, thanks for answers so far, and those hopefully to come!

2007-04-27 04:08:16 · update #1

24 answers

-No, not always. First a Presbyterian, then agnostic, and Finlay atheist. The questions just keep adding up, and answers were never forthcoming.
-I do love the hair splitting your question has started. I find it irritating when I read atheist answering according to dogma.

2007-04-25 05:36:27 · answer #1 · answered by Herodotus 7 · 1 1

I hope you really want to know, and this is not just a trap...

Well if you are born in this planet there is a 97% chance that you are brought up under one of the many Religions (your family, your community).

So, most Atheists kind of get independently to the conclusion that there isn't a God, after been told that there is one.

It is a personal experience, just like religion should be.

You can feel uncomfortable in a 'Temple' because so many people around you believe these 'faith' things, while your knowledge of History, Physics, and Religions makes you see through them.

All religious people have doubts sooner or later too, but in these moments of 'weakness' some 'Shepard' brainwashes them or scares them back into the 'faith' herd.

About being angry at God, then you can't hate something you don't believe exists.

2007-04-25 12:18:55 · answer #2 · answered by proficient 3 · 1 0

I was raised in a religious family but never believed any of it. I didn't know there was a word for what I was until I was in high school, but when I learned "atheist" I was very relieved--I was not the hell-bound freak I had previously thought.

Never had any bad religious experiences. I quite liked Sunday school as a child--we sang songs and colored pictures and talked about what I thought were awfully good fairy stories.

2007-04-25 11:55:43 · answer #3 · answered by N 6 · 1 0

If you are not taught about religious ideas to began with, it's unlikely you'll believe. Think about trying to tell an Australian Aboriginal about Santa Claus and how far that would go? But if you are taught about Santa Claus when you are say 3 years old, you'll believe it easily.

The problem with religion in my opinion is that life experience runs counter to it. The more we require evidence for our beliefs the harder it is to believe voodoo. If you live the first 20 years of your life an atheist, it would take a very strong personal experience to push you into religion.

2007-04-25 11:57:34 · answer #4 · answered by The Bog Nug 5 · 0 0

I was born into a family which was into religion and superstition. My mother was both a Sunday school teacher and a medium. I also went to several Christian schools. won prizes for religious education

I became an atheist later because I saw the light - I saw it for what nonsense it all is. One of the gratifying thought from my journey is - that - However much they try to brainwash you - the truth will come through.

2007-04-25 12:12:40 · answer #5 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 1 0

Always been an atheist. I was never baptized, since my parents left the church about the time I was born. Today I am thankful for that. Never felt any sort of urge to go religious, on the contrary, I often wondered what people where talking about.

2007-04-25 11:59:58 · answer #6 · answered by NaturalBornKieler 7 · 1 0

You make a big assumption with this one, that everyone is born with a religion. It isn't the case. Everyone is born atheist. It's only when the theists indoctrinate children that they are forced into a religion. Many of us never quite accept the theists views though, so remain atheist, whilst their are those who do join the theists and later realise the truth.

Atheism. You know it makes sense.

2007-04-25 11:59:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

If we are all born atheist, and you extrapolate this back to day one, it's surprising religion ever come into existence ? Isn't it ? If you have not heard of the concept of God, how can you choose to not believe in it ? If christians are made, then atheists are made, a product of environment, not genetics. (doesn't mean they were religious and then converted.)

2007-04-25 12:23:07 · answer #8 · answered by =42 6 · 0 0

Born into Christianity.

Studied: Buddhism, Taoism, Gnosticism, Hinduism, Satanism, Islam, Judaism & Cabalistic Judaism

Conclusion: Atheist

2007-04-25 11:56:30 · answer #9 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 3 1

~~~ Fuddles,,,, I was raised in a "christian atmosphere" of Quaker influence until 6yrs old. We never went to church but said formal Grace at dinner. My mom remarried to a non-practicing Catholic at this time. We converted and I went through the process of Communion and Confirmation. We did not attend church but continued our family meal with a Quaker prayer and a Sign of The Cross. With a very immature intellect but Strong Intuition and very liberal but strict parents, I proclaimed my denouncement of christianity at age 16. As I was raised in an Asian/Polynesian culture in SoCal and Hawaii I naturally gravitated toward Eastern Thought and adopted most of the Taoist-
Buddhist-Hindu concepts of Cosmology as my own. I live The Golden Rule and practice acts of Annonymous Altruism while accepting the concept of The Law of Karma(accountability for my actions) and Soul Growth via Reincarnation.

2007-04-25 16:02:40 · answer #10 · answered by Sensei TeAloha 4 · 1 0

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