Were you raised atheist and converted to being a christian? Vice Versa?

Question

I'm looking for reasons on both sides as to what made you decide to switch perspectives. I'd like to know what inspired or failed you to motivate you to completely change your spiritual decision.

Answer 1

Neither one.

For me, I found that it's far too easy to cop out and call one's self an Atheist. I didn't see any real challenge to do that since it simply stops you cold in your tracks once you begin to embark on a spiritual quest... You suddenly find yourself regurgitating the minds of others.

I'm an ex-Catholic and went through the gamut of self-studying comparative religions of the world, both ancient and modern. And early on, I did consider myself an Atheist for a few seconds but quickly moved on to Buddhism... dabbled in Taoism... got familiar with Wicca [thru a former girlfriend]... spent time as a UFOlogist... before I settled down to my present belief system, one that stands apart from any recognized religious organization.

I follow the teachings of Yeshua Messiah[pbuh] and belong to a remnant church...

Peace be with you!

Answer 2

I'm not Christian to Atheist exactly, I'm Catholic to doubting what my faith has taught me. I learned that my parents are hardcore Catholics. My mother even called me the Anti-Christ. I question a lot of things and they really don't like it. My Cathecism teacher seems to accept the fact that I can't accept my religion blindly. Personally, I feel that religion stops me from doing things, almost like a second subconcious; even when I started doubting the bible and it's teachings, that second subconcious was there with me. So I guess God never leaves you? Then on the other hand, when I think of God and Jesus now, I don't feel like I'm beneath them or they're of greater rank or anything; compare this to before, when I thought they were the saviors of us all; it's a big difference, hm? Right now, I'm starting to believe in God more, just not in the way I did before where I believed in him so I wouldn't go to Hell. Now... it's more of 'I have too many questions and maybe if I believe, I'll get them answered'. All in all, I'm just too curious for my own good.

Answer 3

I was raised protestant (even related to a few ministers). Although my father is an atheist, although he never expressed his views until my early adult life. I went to church often at least 30-40 times a year.

In my teen years I started to realize those who were Christians seemed to act about the same as everyone else. I also was very interested in nature about the same time. The human centered universe espoused by religion began to lose its grip on me. I went from feeling It was here for me, to feeling I was apart of it.

When I finally sat down and read some of the old testament, it totally lost me around Leviticus. Pretty sure the creator of the universe would not need to be appeased by the sacrifice of pigeons.

Since then, my world has really changed. I think I am much more morale and happier. I began to live by something Carl Sagan had said once, " If you want your life to have meaning and value, do something meaningful and valuable"

Also should say that I don't really mind Christians and actually has several deeply religious friends. I do mind them trying to "save" me.

Answer 4

Raised to go to chuch,
saw through "social " Christianity as a teenager,
Was challenged as a young adult that what I'd rejected wasn''t "real" Christianity, and became a Christian at 20.

Studying the bible and its history and the history of the Christian church (because I was by then teaching bible study and evangelism, and didn't want to teach what was untrue) caused increasing problems. It took several years to work through all the issues and possibilities, but about 18 years after becoming a Christian, I became an atheist.

(Official line of many Christians is that I was never a proper Christian in the first place. I differ. It was a real as it can get.)

Answer 5

Raised catholic, even attended catholic school for 12 years; then converted to being an Atheist.

I've always had doubts about believing in god and all the stories that go with him when I was young but never said anything due to fear of being ridiculed especially in a catholic school.

Answer 6

I was raised an atheist, then became a believer as an adult after being shown by Jesus that the Bible is the absolute Word of God. Now my parents have both become believing Christians as well.

Answer 7

I was raised christian (catholic) and decided that I couldn't believe in the preposterous nonsense I was being taught botha t school and at home, so I investigated other religions and science and switched to science!
It was and is far more believeable and logical to me.

An atheist

Answer 8

Raised in a secular christian family, never ever for one second bought into the whole religion thing.

Answer 9

I wasn't raised religiously or non-religiously. I am thankful my parents didn't force a particular viewpoint upon me. I first began to discover religion in my teens, and became a believer for some time. Over time, with my education, it no longer made sense. It still doesn't make sense, so I'm an atheist.

Answer 10

I was raised a Christian. I've been a Baptist, a Congregationalist, a Mormon and I studied the Bible for five years with Jehovah's Witnesses. Many of my friends and family are Catholics. I feel well inducted into the Christian world and my journey proved to me that it was all make believe.

atheist