A few questions for my fellow atheists. I'd like to know your thoughts?

Question

Being an atheist means a free and clear mind. We do not allow our lives, morals, values and thoughts to be controlled by religious doctrine or beliefs. We think for ourselves and make rational, logical decisions for ourselves, our lives and our loved ones.
Did any of you start off religious and move to atheism? If so, did you feel the liberation like I did? I felt, almost literally, all the fear and worry just slide off me.
Do you feel that atheists have a deeper appreciation for the environment than religious people do? I surely do.
Do you feel that atheists have a deeper appreciation of natural beauty in each other and in nature? I do.
Do you ever look back on your religious life and shudder and say to yourself, "Wow, I was almost washed away in that mess!" I certainly do.
Share your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

Answer 1

Was taught religion and then rejected all. Atheists very often are "aware" of what is around them and many call this spiritual for lack of a better term. Looking back is always subject to selective memory. I have found organized religion is used as an excuse for humans bad behavior and a mechanism for control of others. How much has been destroyed and killed to prove one religion is the true religion of peace? The religious intent was good but organized religion tends toward the same thing all larger organized institutions, like government, do- evil obstructive destruction with oppression. I have studied personality type and then made a scientific investigation of astrology using statistics rather than others blather. When I discovered that out of place planets tend to rule our world because of their need for control, authority, obstruction, and abject territorialism, I could see how humans have and will always destroy their own civilization's through self destruction and arrogance. Out of place planets assume themselves rights and privilege as their errant natures.

Answer 2

Did any of you start off religious and move to atheism? If so, did you feel the liberation like I did? Yes, I was a christian for 15 years with doubts the last couple of years. I feel liberated now, but at the time, after all of those years of indoctrination, I felt guilty and nervous. Over time, I realized that was silly too and I feel great now.

Do you feel that atheists have a deeper appreciation for the environment than religious people do? In general, yes, but I know there are some caring religious people as well. It just seems more prevalent in those of us who don't believe in a "better place" in store for us later.

Do you feel that atheists have a deeper appreciation of natural beauty in each other and in nature? I do appreciate nature. I'm not sure if I appreciate it more than anyone else or not.

Do you ever look back on your religious life and shudder and say to yourself, "Wow, I was almost washed away in that mess!" Yes, I am reminded daily by living in the bible belt of what I used to be, what I believed, and how glad I am that I grew out of it.

Answer 3

I was a catholic even attend twelve years of catholic school. During that time I was not happy with religion. I felt that it was something that I had to do and if I did not I'll go to hell.

When I questioned about certain situations, I was given gods will; only god knows. At first I accepted but then I realized that those answers were more of a co-opt than a true answer.

I never attended church after I turned 18 with the exception of special occasions like wedding or funerals. At first it was kind of hard but now it is not a problem.

I am glad that I can question religion and not have to follow religion. I know that I am a good person because I chose to be a good person without having to be afraid of some deity in the sky.

I think there is some fine examples by Aristotle in his book of ethics that shows the difference between a good person and a bad person. One can speculate that god is irrelevant in that regard

Answer 4

1 c 2 I am an Israeli and could not conceive being one 3 none of our prime ministers or presidents were atheists I would not elect one 4 a non believer 5 I don't know when we look at the beauty of nature etc how can we not believe

Answer 5

well, I'm not an atheist or anything actaully. I dont title my beliefs because thats too much like a religion for me and I wont do that to myself. I also still try to hold on to the belief there is a God out there so friends and family of mine that do believe arent wasting their time. I will make the sacrifice to go to hell rather then reject god all together. I do not fear hell or afterlife whatever comes of it. I did start out a religious person, but I gave up my faith in god as the world we life in goes down hill every day. too many bad things happen that an almight and powerful god should be able to stop. he created the sins and the sinners. he decided what was a sin and still gave us the ability to do it anyways. tempting us. and that is a sin as well. I know this probably wasnt the answer you are looking for as your talking to those who dont believe in god all together, but I just wanted to voice my opinion and my thoughts.

Answer 6

Ummm... I am religious. Atheist merely means that you lack belief in deities. Not that you don't have a religion.

That said, I'm Pagan. Atheism was part of my education, not really a liberation. (Since I wasn't exactly repressed before, lol.)

And of course I have a deep concern for the environment. It's the closest thing I have to a deity.

Have a nice day!

Answer 7

I moved from Christianity to Atheism to Agnosticism to Paganism and I have to say that I don't miss the guilt and the subtext of "we're all wretches and evil and sinful and it's amazing that God even loves us in the first place" that I see in Christianity.

However, I would be surprised if atheists had a "deeper appreciation for the environment" or a "deeper appreciation of natural beauty" than pagans. Our religions are earth-based and are intrinsically tied to nature and the environment, and I think many pagans experience nature quite differently than atheists.

That's not to say that atheists don't appreciate the environment and nature - it's just that I think it would be incorrect to say that they feel it "deeper" than we religious Pagans do.

Answer 8

Being an atheist means not believing in a god. Free and clear mind? We all have baggage and assumptions that cloud and limit our mind. For example. beautiful women cause my brain to temporarily shutdown.

I haven't met anyone personally, who doesn't in some fashion follow the ideas of some group. Your morals and values are still influenced by the society you live in. In another 200 years those same ideas which seem so free and clear could be thought of as primitive and offensive.

I'm against the preaching of these religious ideas, but it's important to not stray onto the path of the self-righteous.

Answer 9

Yes, I did feel a sort of liberation. I guess the biggest change that I've felt was that I became more aware of the "now". As a Christian, I spent too much time looking *way* ahead...looking to my end and what would come after. Now when I wake up in the morning, I think about today. I think about my future as much as I *need* to to help secure my future, but I spend almost no time thinking about my death, and no time thinking about what would come after. I appreciate each day that I have much more, because I don't believe that life is eternal in any way, shape, or form.

Answer 10

well, I'm not an Atheist, I am a christian, I enjoy the dramatic awe of Nature. I enjoy the personal beauty in the people of the world, and in myself. If you are so glad your an Atheist, then why are you always looking for support from fellow atheist's? you seem to not want to be an atheist but wont go back to Christianity because something happened to you and you think God is merciless.