If you are an atheist.......................?

Question

Were you religious and/ or spiritual before you became an atheist? If so, what made you "convert" to atheism? What are the positive aspects of being an atheist? The negative?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONEST ANSWERS - IT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BETTER

Answer 1

I didn't go to church when I was a child, but was taught to believe in God and pray for things. As I got older and met so called Christians, that is when I realized I didn't need a bible or a God to be a good person. My dad became a "born again Christian" when I was 18 (I am now 46). He doesn't speak to me or my children because we are not Christians. The positive - I know in my heart what is good and bad and don't feel guilty that I will be punished if I don't go by the "book". Negative - nothing. I don't hate Christians and all are not like my dad. It just disappoints me that they sometimes are not truly good people as they think they are.

Answer 2

I am an Atheist who was raised Christian, and like any kid in that situation I dutifully went to church and memorized Bible verses to earn gold stars in Sunday School, but I never really FELT anything. From the time I was 9 or so, church was just something I did because I didn't have a choice. After I got old enough to stay home alone, I gradually stopped going altogether.

I didn't become an Atheist so that I could do what I pleased without fear of a higher power. My own conscience keeps me firmly in check. I've never picked up a cigarette, used any sort of recreational drug, or touched a drop of alcohol. I've never even set foot inside a club, it's simply not my thing. If I may divulge a bit of TMI -simply because I'm tired of the implications that all Atheists are drunken whores- I'm also still a virgin; not someone who fools around but is still "technically a virgin", an actual virgin.

I also have no problem saying "merry Christmas". I still celebrate Christmas with my Christian family, simply because I like the warm fuzzy togetherness of it.

Positive aspects:

1) Freedom from my childhood fear that I was somehow "bad" or "wrong" for simply going through the motions of church.

2) I'm overwhelmingly shy, so as a child I really hated the idea that God could see me naked. (Only partially joking here, I really did get creeped out by that.)

Negative aspects:

1) My dad's an ordained minister, so he often steers the conversation to religion and condemns me to Hell.

2) The aforementioned assumption that I just wanted a way to enjoy guilt-free partying.

Answer 3

I've never been spiritual. I even knew Santa wasn't real long before I was told. A positive aspect of Atheism is that knowing that this is ones only chance at life and perceiving reality gives the Atheist a sense of truly being alive.

Answer 4

No I wasn't ever religious and even as a child I questioned why I was being taught about cavemen in school and Adam & Eve in church.

So I never "converted" to atheism, I just guess I just realised that I didn't really believe that God exists. The fact that there is evidence that a fair amount of this God's major religions' beliefs are a load of BS obviously played a part and I'm not one to attempt to convince myself of something just because it sounds nice.

The pros of atheism - they differ from person to person. I'd say that I'm less gullible but that's a personality trait, not relating to atheism. I guess the pros are entirely personal. I mean I've never had conflict with religious people outside of the Internet.

Cons? Although it's not exactly a con of atheism, I have to sit back and watch a bunch of "God inspired" idiots acting like, well, idiots. And I don't mean general folk, I mean people that try to use God in politics and war. But as I said, it's not limited to atheism.

Answer 5

I went to church as a kid, was "saved" and growing up I went to others, saw the whole talking in tongues and such. For a while I considered my self spiritual. I believed in god but I had a real hard time with religion. They (religion) were all fighting over the same book. Saying different things, We are the only real Christians. I couldn't believe that god would send someone to hell for not believing. That was a good god? When I really started asking myself what I believed I realize that I didn't. If there was a god. I wanted no part with him. I read the bible and realize what a maniacal being he was. Positive aspects, I know this is my one life and I have to make the best of it. If something is wrong in my life it's up to me to fix it. Satan isn't out to get me and god will not help. If I do something wrong I have to ask forgiveness from them. Not hide from them and ask forgiveness from god. I know the strength is in me to be a good person and to better myself. I take pride in what good I have done and what good other people have done. I worry about life on earth now, not whats going to happen after I die

On the christmas thing, Its not just christmas. Christmas is not the only holiday that is celebrated. That date was stolen from pagan holidays. You can not tell by looking at someone what religion they are.When you say happy holidays you are acknowledging that they may be celebrating something over then christmas. Last but not least Christmas PLUS New Years equals HOLIDAYS!

Answer 6

Ex-Christian here. Didn't "convert" to anything -- I just stopped believing in what I learned to be untrue.

Positive aspects -- knowing I'm not following a lie, being able to use logic instead of quoting Bible verses when I face a problem or need to make an argument. Negative aspects -- dealing with bigotry and ignorance from people who think skeptics are immoral heathens, and dealing with people who want me to "prove there is no God," but refuse to continue the conversation when I respond with, "Prove there is no Zeus."

Answer 7

I was always an Atheist deep inside with doubts because as a kid I could not really think it though. Once I became a adult I started on my journey of truth and have found some interesting things.

I know consider myself to be a spiritual Atheist.

Answer 8

there are for human elements that each person is BORN with.... spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical.... they work together and when kept in balance they keep you healthy.... religion is couterproductive to the spiritual well being wich is the first warnings then it dulls the emotions which creates an imbalance... then the mind is affected, when people talk in tonges in religion that is a sign of a mental illness... it's crazy not to see it.... and then comes physical illness... it's insane to think that a healthy spiritually person would practice a religion. so atheist is a healthy alternative.

Answer 9

i was kind of religious as a kid because i went to a church school but i never really thought about it, as a kid i just accepted what i was told. i guess i was about 7 or 8 when i started thinking for myself a bit and thought it didn't make much sense. there wasn't a sense of 'converting', there was no moment when i decided to be an atheist, it just kind of evolved with me growing up.
positives and negatives? i can't think of any, it's just what i think is real. i could be flippant and say i don't have to get up early on a sunday to go to church but really, i haven't thought of it in terms of positive and negative. i just don't believe in god and that's it.

Answer 10

I was a Catholic as a child.

The positive aspect of being an atheist is that one is able to view the world in terms of scientific reality rather than silly religious fables and mysticism.