Dear atheists...?

Question

This question is for any atheists who used to belong to a religion and have since 'converted' to atheism. (Pun intended..lol) All are welcome to answer though. :)

I am not yet ready to wholly reject the idea of a god. What I do reject is a god anything like the one presented in the Bible. Before you 'officially' became an atheist did you consider other religions?

Also to anyone who considered being atheist and chose otherwise, what did you decide was right for you? When i say 'considered being an atheist' I mean pondered the idea that there was no god.

Neil: One that isnt as contradictory as the one in the bible.

Deslok: The 'higher powers' you describe do not have anything to do with god. Anyone with any common sense knows the outcome if they do thoes things.

Oh and yes I do know of Pascals Wager.

Answer 1

Before I became an atheist after dropping Christianity, I was agnostic for quite a while (probably similar to your situation), but then I got to thinking... Yeah, God may or may not exist... but why believe there may be one if there's no evidence? There's no evidence of Santa, but little kids think he exists. Then they grow up.

I did consider other religions, but obviously they were all just as implausible as Christianity.

That's my view, anyway. Good luck.

Answer 2

I was compelled by my parents to attend a Pentecostal church which I immediately hated. By the time I was nine, I had discovered the word atheist and decided that I was one. When I was twelve, I obtained an injunction from a juvenile court judge which restrained my parents from forcing me to attend their church. I've searched my whole life for a religion that made sense to me and have found none, largely because all religions require one to adopt the solipsistic view that subjective (perceptual) experiences are the basis of reality. As far as I have found, there is no religion which allows one to believe that the physical realm is the actual basis of reality. Because I cannot abandon the truth for the sake of the imaginary, I am afraid I shall always be an atheist. Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets about being a lifelong atheist, but I also see no way out, since all religion is based on little more than ignorant superstition. I'm beginning to suspect that the whole of spirituality amounts to accepting solipsism and believing that your own thoughts and perceptions are real -- something I can never do.

Answer 3

Your situation sounds similar to mine. When I was a child, I considered myself a "Christian" but wasn't really sure what that meant. Once I did a little research on what entails being a Christian, I decided it didn't make any sense.

I believe that the Christian God cannot exist. However, it is impossible to falsify the idea of a higher power of some sort. I have come to the conclusion that agnosticism (as far as the concept of a higher power goes, not the Christian God) is the only logical way of avoiding the dogmatic faith of atheists and deists (absolutist positions on this issue are always based on faith, no amount of logic will falsify an unfalsifiable idea).

I've dabbled in Buddhism, though I was disconcerted to discover that a lot of sects have silly dogmatic rituals like trying to feed a statue. The inclusivism of the religion appeals to me. I like the philosophy (mindfulness, etc.) but I don't like the rituals and unnecesary details.

So I guess you could describe me as a very unsuperstitious Buddhist.

Answer 4

I have pondered that there might be no God. I think anyone with any intelligence must do so. And I knew that The Bible was full of murder and mayhem and genocide and ridiculous stories. I've not read other religious tomes, but I suspect from the behaviour of their followers that they are massively flawed and misunderstood too.

However, I do think this whole vast universe came from something. I think it's a benevolent force. I think Jesus was touched by this is some way, and that's why He said and did the things He did at a time when he knew how they loved their stoning and crucifying. (Plenty seem to like that now)

I feel sure there is more to all this. And if there's not, well then I feel sure that science will resurrect us at some point anyway. But I do believe in God. I only have to look at the stars and ponder upon how we are just in one of many galaxies to feel that.

Answer 5

I was raised in christianity and rejected it from the outset very young but officially walked away from it when I was old enough not to cause too many family waves (age 15). I know deep down I never believed in deities but at that age I was not ready to be what I am which is and always has been an atheist so I tried, unsuccessfully, to make other paths fit me because I do not think I was mentally ready to accept what I truly believed. I finally stop kidding myself and have fully accepted that I am and have always been an atheist and I know that is right for me.

Answer 6

Actually, I did. I spent a good year or 2 looking around at other religions, because our society puts so much emphasis on believing in something.

But in the final analysis, I came to the conclusion that it was all untrue. No religion really has any more validity than any other. There is no religion that is not contradictory, that is not full of unproven claims, that does not have a long history of violence and intolerance. Not one. The only logical choice left was to be atheist.

Answer 7

One of the advantages of being raised a Roman Catholic is that you get some exposure -- even if it's accidental -- to a long tradition of scholarship about the existence and nature of imaginary friends. In that respect, I hear it's almost as good as being Jewish.

;-)

Anyway, when I stopped believing sometime in high school, I felt no need to investigate other religions. I had Baptist and Pentecostal and United Church schoolmates, most of whom knew better than to proselytize to me; I'd been in their churches and was unimpressed. (Another advantage of being Catholic -- when it comes to worshipping imaginary friends, they've got some of the best scripts and highest production standards in the business.)

A lot of deconverts go through the stage you're presently in -- I call it the foot-dragging stage. Sometimes it involves looking for alternatives to atheism, as in your case. If that's what you want, then good luck finding it; you'll be the first.

Answer 8

Why not choose a God of your own understanding. You don't have to choose a Christian God or a Muslim God or a Jewish God. Just a power greater than yourself that can help you cope life's surprises and obstacles.
Atheists believe that there is no power greater than themselves. This is called self-centeredness. Want to see a practical example of a power greater than yourself. Walk up to a policeman and slap him in the face. You will quickly learn that contrary to popular belief there is a power greater than yourself as you are thrown to the ground and taken to jail or the loony bin. Another example, walk outside during an electrical storm carrying a long metal pole and you may quickly learn of another power greater than yourself. A final example, die and you may again learn of a power greater than yourself.
Although many Atheists scoff at Pascal's wager, there is wisdom in it if you contemplate it long enough. I case you don't know Pascal's wager: No God--you die that's it. A God you die, if you believe--infinite reward. A God you die, you don't believe--infinite punishment. Provided of course God punishes bad people forever.

Answer 9

I am not an Atheist but I went as a child being force fed the same BS you are talking about and I questioned just as you are.

Any one with any intellect will question and not blindly follow something with out making sure it is legitimate.

I was raised a Baptized but converted to Agnostic about the age of 12 and stayed that way until about 24 and I had taken that whole time period to read on the other world Religions and Faiths or Philosophies. My parents encouraged me though my Mom is Christian. After it all I decided that i felt that Wiccans had it the closest in my eyes though not perfect but the closest so I consider myself now a Wiccan more or less or believer of the Native American Spirits and Mother Earth Gaia. I have Cherokee in me and I think that is where it comes from.

My advice is to follow your heart and if it tells you to question than do that until you get the answers that will make you satisfied. It took me 12 years of studying before I I decided what my path was until then I was agnostic not atheist.

I am glad I did and would not have it any other way. My kids will also have the same option, I will not force them into religion, but I will make them aware of all the other beliefs out there and let them study them and decide their own beliefs. I will not pick my child's faith, that is theirs to choose. So you may want to think more of considering your self an Agnostic that is one who questions the existence and wants proof. AN ATHEIST, will not accept it even if it dropped on there toes IN MOST cases not all of course.

Hope that helps. I was never an Atheist but went Baptist, to Agnostic to Wiccan with Native American beliefs and Zen Philosophy.

( I guess my evidence in Mother Earth is that the planet is alive and it is the planet that gives us life or the ability to sustain life at least and the planet it sentient just much different than us. to say the planet is not alive i think you can see it all around you the life of the planet. so that is my evidence and reason i chose this path, it seems more realistic to me.)

Answer 10

What's wrong with God? And what do you gain by not believing in a higher power? Thats my question for all atheists.
Also what is the point to be an agnostic? If you think there is a God then wouldn't you believe in some kind of punishment or reword for living for Him? So whats the point of even considering a god? Just say that there is One and live your life by that or go with there is no god. That seems a lot more logical to me... does no one else see this?
Hey Stevie Boy, don't get too defensive... (gigal gigal) cause I might think you a little scared... (lol) you know how BIG of an oxiemoron that is!!? You can actualy put that down in writing with a strait face!? To say there is a God then to say that dieing is all around so He must not care is one of the stupidest things I've ever read on Yahoo Answers... if there is a god, then dieing is not a bad thing... it's would actaly be a blessing.
PS
Take a look at a new science texted book, know look at a 5-10 year old text book... what would you see if you really did that? You would see SO MANY changes and alterations. Scientest with all their thyres are ALWAYS they make mistakes... that what they said 2 years ago is NOT matching up to what they're finding today.... what would you call that?... A WHOLE LOT OF LIE'S!!!
haha
you make me chucal...ttfn

Answer 11

Many Germans within the 1930's joined the Nazi get together. Many nineteenth century Americans participated within the genocide of the American Indian. Many 1840's southerners owned slaves. Many low earnings ladies within the town of Detroit smoke crack. Many lemmings will comply with a unmarried lemming off a cliff. Just when you consider that everbody's doing it, doesn't suggest it is a well proposal.