Atheists, care to set the record straight? Were you raised by Christian parents.?

Question

Some lady just wrote that most of you are atheist because that is how you were raised.

I know that is garbage. Or is it.?

Educate us, please.

Answer 1

Gorgeous, I was raised by Christian parents, and I was the only member of my family who literally lived for the church. My parents and 5 siblings only ever attended church on holidays. I was there every Sunday, attended Bible school, and every other social function that I could find.

I remember that one of my favorite toys was a Noah's Ark set that I received when I was 4 or 5. I still have it, along with all my Biblical paper dolls, books, etc. When I was 8 I received for Christmas a leather-bound Bible, a gift from my pastor and his wife. Again, I have kept it all these years.

My stepbrother is a minister in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and my stepmother sings, along with her other children, in a gospel band. Growing up, I had plenty of opportunity to sit in the front pews of various churches in the tri-state area.

My stepmother's father was an editor for the Christian publication Guideposts, and we always had numerous issues in the house. I read them daily.

Up until the age of 11 my entire life was devoted to God, Jesus, religion, and the Church.

It was after my parent's divorced, and I lived with my father, that I started questioning my beliefs. Note what I have written about my stepmother's family. Although they were more devout than anyone in my biological family, their beliefs were different from mine. I noticed contradictions which led to questions. When my questions were dismissed without an answer, and when I was told to stop questioning everything and just take it on faith, I started asking even more.

Within a very short period of time I had formed my own conclusions and became an atheist. It's funny how their refusal to enlighten me led me away from their religion. Had they taken the time to talk to me, I might well still be a Christian.

Answer 2

I probably know more atheists than anyone else on R&S; I'm 52, a past president of Atheists of Florida, and a Board Member of the Atheists Alliance International. Most atheists worldwide were raised by religious parents, and most participated in religious services and rituals until they were old enough to develop reasoning skills or otherwise leave the church. In my case, this was around 12 to 13 years old. Some left much later; I know several who were even former preachers, priests, or rabbis. (Dan Barker, a prime figure in Wisconsin's Freedom From Religion Foundation, was once a preacher and still receives royalties from hymns he wrote!) So yes, it is garbage. Most atheists became atheists by examining the religion they were taught to believe and rejecting it on its merits - we usually know more about it than pracxticing believers.

Answer 3

I probably know more atheists than anyone else on R&S; I'm 52, a past president of Atheists of Florida, and a Board Member of the Atheists Alliance International.

Most atheists worldwide were raised by religious parents, and most participated in religious services and rituals until they were old enough to develop reasoning skills or otherwise leave the church. In my case, this was around 12 to 13 years old. Some left much later; I know several who were even former preachers, priests, or rabbis. (Dan Barker, a prime figure in Wisconsin's Freedom From Religion Foundation, was once a preacher and still receives royalties from hymns he wrote!)

So yes, it is garbage. Most atheists became atheists by examining the religion they were taught to believe and rejecting it on its merits - we usually know more about it than pracxticing believers.

Answer 4

Yes, I was raised by Christian parents, but I'm still an atheist because of how I was raised. We're all products of our environments, at least to some extent, so the influence my parents had on me had to, in some way, contribute to my non-belief.

Answer 5

I was raised as a Roman Catholic until my Mum died when I was 5 years old. My step Mum was Irish Protestant and I was mainly raised in that faith. I attended church and bible study regulary, was in the choir etc,. etc.

I consider I was brainwashed, and looked more closely at the whole situation. The outcome is that I am now an atheist/agnostic and still researching. It's a BIG subject.

Answer 6

No. My Mum was and is a strong believer in God.
She brought me up to believe in God, not by ramming it down my throat, but just little things she'd say, like "God will make it better" or phrases to that affect, made me believe there was a God.
However as i grew older, i began to question the existence of God, and later on came to the conclusion, that there is insufficient evidence to prove the existence of a god, and too much evidence proving the nonexistence of a god.
I then left the land of make-believe and entered the land of a more rational way of thinking, and i've never looked back.

RQ x

Answer 7

That's garbage. My parents were Lutheran and I regularly attended church and Sunday school while I was growing up. My parents did not raise me to be an atheist, but they encouraged me to not be afraid to ask questions and to think for myself. I think they did a fine job.

Answer 8

I was raised by Christian parents who were close to being fundamentalists. Tent meetings and going down the sawdust trail became a bit too much. David Hume set me on a different trail.

Answer 9

The lady would have a point.

Another equally valid point is that the atheists were raised Christian and their atheism is simply a rebellious act.

Or still another point is that the atheists are correct.

Whichever one is correct, Christians still have their heads up their you-knows

Answer 10

Yes I was. Mother then was a Baptist - she's now Presbyterian. Father is a Methodist. I went to church and sunday school every Sunday from the age of 3 til I walked out at age 15.