any Atheists here?

Question

how did you become an atheist?
were you raised that way?
being an atheist myself, i've always wondered how other people came to be one ...

Answer 1

Im an atheist because my parents never stressed any real importance in religion(thank god). Although we were catholic and occasionally went to church. I'm also very put off by how judgmental religious people are sometimes. Like the person who answered this question by saying he would pray for you, as if your horribly mistaken about you beliefs. They have no respect .

Answer 2

I became an atheist at 12, exactly what triggered my atheism, I can't say exactly. I was basically raised as a normal Catholic girl. I was sent to Bible study, had my First Communion, went to church often, but.. I dunno. Around 12 I had this odd period of enlightenment, as I like to call it. I just kind of realized how stupid people were and that it wasn't like me to just follow them. I also saw the illogic in Christianity and whenever I thought about it, this "hole" of some sort would form in my intuition, and whenever that happens, it means that something is wrong. And from my life experiences, my intuition is NEVER wrong. I don't know why, haha.

I've always ignored my intuition most of my life, and I still kind of do now, but for once, I actually listened and just began an interest in atheism and agnosticism. So.. yeah. Obviously, I wasn't raised an atheist, so that answers that question. :D

Answer 3

I was taught to believe in Christianity, however, I grew up as a skeptic. I already knew I was an Atheist from an early age -- just didn't know what the term was. I went through what I call a yo-yo period until I did some intensive research on my own. I was about 17 when I came to the conclusion.

Answer 4

I became an atheist through a long, gradual process (which included participating here). I was raised Catholic, and it took many years to free myself from the dogma. It was a de-conversion, back to the way I had been before the church got hold of me. Kids aren't born with a religion, it comes when they are just old enough to be indoctrinated, and it shouldn't. I did lots of reading, lots of studying, lots of thinking, and finally it came down to admitting to myself and everyone else that I had only been going through the motions, religion-wise, because that was what I'd been taught to do and because I thought it somehow made me a "better" person. I wish it hadn't taken so long to lose my faith, but I'm glad it happened.

Answer 5

My parents, family and friends are catholic. I attended catholic school but never felt that religion was for me. I only went through the motions to avoid being ridiculed by the other students.

Each time I asked a question in class, I was told to read the bible, or its gods will or only god knows.
I realized that these type of answers are nothing more than circular reasoning.

I am now a non-believer and do not feel that I have to follow a religion to be a good person; despite what some extremists might say.

Answer 6

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I can't recall a time when I wasn't. I was raised by a church going family...but I never really opted in...just played along until I could leave the nest. I was one of those 'bothersome' kids who never accepted anything at face value. I just kept asking questions for everything I was told as being the truth. I never received reasonable, rational answers...so that was all the validation I needed.

Answer 7

I was not raised to be an atheist, but I have always been one.

I started asking questions about god at the age of 8, and never stopped. The answers convinced me that god is a man-made concept to combat fear of death and the unknown.

I began using the word atheist to describe my views on religion when I was 14.

Answer 8

My father believed in God but not organized religion, because his mean step-mother was a holier-than-thou super-religious church-goer.

My mother's been an atheist ever since she learned Santa Claus wasn't real.

As a child, my parents took me to church a couple times on Easter, and I went to summer bible school when I was about 5.

When I was 9, I wanted to believe, because it was part of the Boy Scout Oath. But I had a logical problem with the concept of choosing to believe something. Belief should follow from evidence, it's not a choice. So, to gather evidence, I prayed, and asked God to make me believe. I still don't believe in God. I still believe in following the evidence.

I admire people who overcame religious indoctrination to arrive at a more honest way of looking for the truth.

Answer 9

My parents believe in god but they didn't raise us to. I can't ever remember my mother telling me to pray or ask god or anything like that. When I was a teenager, I tried out a bunch of different religions and nothing stuck. It all just seemed like a bunch of crap people talked themselves into. So after a few years of trying to figure it out, I gave up and decided that there couldn't be a god if he didn't try to take me too. At least that is where I am right now. It might change in the future but I cant imagine how.

Answer 10

I guess I was raised with American midwestern values, but if you wanted me to stay that way, you should never have tried to teach me anything. Keep me ignorant, that is the path of a truly happy Cathlolic, Cristian, or any mythology. Pick Up A Science Book.- Mr. Michael S., Becker ([e-mail])