When someone converts from Christianity to Atheism is the story always the same?

Question

Its always theres no good answers in the Bible, it contradicts itself, I had questions that no one could help me with or you just gotta believe.
Rarely although I am sure its happened is it well that person at church was such a bad example of christianity that I dont believe anymore.
I just want your thoughts on conversion patterns

Answer 1

You're right, in my experience.

It's not a matter of "Jesus/Christians hurt my feelings" It's a matter of "this is untrue." People come to Atheism out of intellectual/moral reasons, not emotional ones.

Answer 2

Usually, with the atheists I've spoken with, it was because of loneliness. If you tell everyone that you're an atheist, then someone is going to have a little talk with you and you're not going to feel so alone. Then, after you make the decision to become one, you retain all other atheist rhetoric that you learn from Philosophy professors or the Internet and use that in your arguments. Pretty soon, with weak-minded crowds especially, you present yourself as very intelligent and become popular. Now because of Atheism, you'll never be lonely again. So why quit while you're ahead? There are more weak-minded followers around to treat YOU like a god. You're a rock star in your own right, and all you had to do is memorize some quotes.

Answer 3

I've taken several anthropology classes and other cultural based classes which have reinforced my opinion on religion. There is such a wide variety of religions and out of every religion I have studied there is one thing in common. They all explain what is not known, give a purpose for being, a punishment for those who are corrupted, and justify why certain things happen. Religion has been passed down from culture to culture and has developed in the most secluded areas of the world. Humans being strive for a higher purpose in life. I don't believe human beings are supposed to know what happens after death and religion just gives humans a hope/reason for existing. It makes them feel there is more to life than what they are living, somewhat of a out of body experience. I do believe people have dreams and visions, whether they are from god or not. I, to this day, still firmly believe no religion to be correct and that no one is supposed to know what kind of life they will have after death. I believe the afterlife will be more pleasant than this life and there is a greater reason for living. I also feel no religion should be looked down upon for their beliefs,hopes, and dreams. I also feel it's not necessary to pray or even gather to be religious. The bible and other religions emphasize some key morals to life. I believe everyone will go to a better place by always striving to be a better person and making the best decisions they are able to make for themselves and society as a whole. Sometimes people are corrupted by their own greed but in the end you are ultimately a better person if you learn from your mistakes and change accordingly. Those people that selfishly go through life only trying to better themselves are the ones that will get what they deserve in the end. People would like to believe everyone is ultimately punished for their mistakes, emphasizing why their is always a "hell" for every religion. What religion does this classify me as... I don't know and I'd rather people not judge me for my beliefs as I don't them. Statistically, the number one reason for people to reject Christianity is the overzealous Christians that push their religion upon society and scrutinize those that don't follow their beliefs, granted most Christians don't act that way, but the ones that do reach a whole bunch of people as they "spread the word."

Answer 4

It takes a little more than a bad example of Christianity to reject the religion all together. More likely one would just find another church or stop going to church altogether, but that wouldn't necessarily change their belief in God.

What might happen, though, is that someone never really believed and the bad apples showed them how silly it was to play the game. It might have just been the proverbial straw.

Answer 5

My story is different.

Originally when I was a little kid I was an Atheist. I didn't believe in any god and I used to get scolded for refusing to pray. Then I was sent to a Christian school and eventually got brainwashed into Christianity. After the years passed by I finally rejected Christianity on moral grounds. One should envision one's Gods as being at least as good as the best human beings. The best of us would not damn people for eternity for an honest difference of opinion or because they liked to drink beer and get laid. The best of us would not set up eternal torment at all. Your God is less worthy than the best of his admittedly very imperfect human creations. I refuse to worship him on moral grounds. I knew that if I had been around when Satan rebelled I would have been on the Devil's side, not God's. It would be insane for me to continue being a Christian when the Christian god and everything that tyrant stands for disgusts me.

So upon leaving Christianity I became a LeVayan Satanist. Maybe you could call it a rebellion, but I wasn't doing it for that purpose. I actually liked the philosophy behind it and in part still do agree with some of it. I think there's something good there. It has a refreshingly honest view of life, it's brutally realistic, it doesn't promise things it can't deliver. It's proud, intelligent, and bettering -- if done correctly. Unfortunately, it suffers from two primary flaws: individuality taken to the extreme of anti-socialness, and its own over-inflated ego. Satanism is convinced that everyone should be completely independent; it ignores that we are social animals and live in a social environment (whether we want to or not). It is convinced that it and it alone is correct, and those who disagree with it are uneducated or foolish. It postures and prances and strokes itself, but when push comes to shove, most Satanists are no better off nor more understanding of life than they were without Satanism. I eventually left that too because I didn't like all the Middle Eastern imagery it used...too much from Christianity. So I went in search for something else....

I became an Asatruar for some years because Asatru is basically the only religion I could stand. If I was going to believe in any Gods, it would be the Norse Deities. They are far more moral and more natural than Christianity. Plus I'm Danish/Icelandic so I've always loved Norse mythology. I really admire the Asatru. They are quite possibly the only Pagan group that I feel really has an "understanding" of things. They do not commit many of the "standard" Pagan faults that I find in some paths. They strike me as being honorable, forthright, and level-headed. Much of their ethical structure I see as being compatible with my own and I always will. I still love Asatru.

Eventually however, I've come to the conclusion that no Gods exist, there is no afterlife, etc... As much as I would love to believe all that, I simply cannot make myself believe. I am a reluctant Atheist, but I am a happy one.

Answer 6

The answers differ. Many people who haven't been told by their religious leaders that either the Bible is entirely true or it is all garbage are not forced to make an all-or-nothing decision. Some just drift there, others have a decisive moment. It all depends. There are as many stories about conversions in that direction as in the other!

Answer 7

It takes allot of guts to move from wished eternal life to none.

So most Atheists who used to be Christians go through a pretty extensive search for God before giving up.

I was taught since birth that I needed a relationship with God and needed to believe. I met many people who were bad examples of Christians, but they really didn't make my decision to become an atheist easier or harder. That decision was made after several years of searching for answers and God and finding nothing but contradictions.

Answer 8

Christianity is the main mainstream and has the main mainstream historic previous of violence simply by fact of closed-minded attitudes many christians have in the direction of something different. It additionally has the main controversy surrounding it simply by entire son of God ingredient. Christ isn't a messiah in Judaism, and Islam, jointly as violent, would not worship something yet Allah. i think of that no faith ought to be attacked except that is particularly hurting others. or maybe then, that isn't the religion hurting people, that's the followers. The bible might nicely be interpreted in lots of different techniques. that is what's interior you that determines whether it will be used for solid or undesirable. Atheists merely frequently savor being confrentational with christians simply by fact i think of that lots of Christians elect to be confrentational back. Then all people gets oppinionated an protective, maximum efficient to huge feuds that get us nowhere. all people ought to recognize all religions and understand that merely simply by fact yours is solid for you, would not advise that is precise for all people.

Answer 9

There was no conversion other than the continued attempt to convert me. I went to Catholic School, the story the Bible weaves is simply, not believable to a rational person. It is that simple. I call it mythology.

Answer 10

There is no such thing as 'converting to atheism'. Atheism is simply a belief in the rational and the dis belief in the supernatural/paranormal.