i am a weak atheist (agnostic/atheist). i chose to become this because i dont believe the stories that people put in these so called "holy books". also religion has caused so much pain and suffering in the world. and it seems like the majority of christian churchas just want your money. i used to worry about god and hell but it is such a relief to not have that burden on my shoulders anymore. why did you become atheist or agnostic?
2007-12-17 13:16:08 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm a nontheist. It's different than atheist or agnostic, but similar.
Nontheists believe that God is completely irrelevant.
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There are three possibilities regarding God.
1) God doesn't exist. Therefore, it would be a mistake to worship him.
2) God does exist, but is immoral. An immoral deity should not be worshiped. Therefore, it would be a mistake to worship him.
3) God does exist and is moral. A moral deity would not want to be worshiped. Therefore, it would be a mistake to worship him.
All three possibilities lead to the same conclusion. The existence of God is irrelevant and worshiping him is a mistake.
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In my opinion, the constant atheist claim that God doesn't exist implies that the universe and/or morality would somehow be different if God did exist. I don't believe that is true.
You have probably seen that black and white picture which looks like either a chalice or two faces depending on which color you focus on. Regardless of your color preference, the underlying picture is exactly the same. It is your brain that picks the image to identify, not the picture.
That is how I see atheism and theism. Some people see the universe as mechanical and logical. Others anthropomorphize it to have a deity in control. But the universe behaves in an identical manner either way.
God is irrelevant.
2007-12-17 13:23:27 · answer #1 · answered by scifiguy 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Because I have done my decades of faith searching in several different religions. And none of them can provide answers that makes sense. My brain is wired to reason and not to believe. Meanwhile, science, while acknowledging its limitations, provides me with much more solid explanations with proofs that back them up.
I am now a strong atheist. I still love studying religions as they are fascinating man made concepts that affect human minds at a grand scale. But the more I study religions (and their histories) the stronger atheist I become. My studies in cognitive science and philosophy also did a lot in making me a stronger atheist.
2007-12-17 13:32:08 · answer #2 · answered by Russ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My parents were divorced. Father, lifelong atheist; mother religious fanatic. Lived with mother, but father was always in the picture. At about age 12, I realized my mother's church was complete nonsense.
Mainly because the stigma that church placed on being an atheist was so ingrained, I first called myself an agnostic. After a few years, I realized that was really an atheist.
2007-12-17 13:29:35 · answer #3 · answered by Brendan G 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Like everyone ever born I was born an atheist.
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"In my opinion, the constant atheist claim that God doesn't exist"
scifiguy, atheist just means without theism. It's neutral. I've never claimed nor have any of the many atheists I personally know claimed "God doesn't exist" so your generalization is poopoo.
Also I think it's childish of you to think that you're not an atheist. Proclaiming to not be an atheist is proclaiming that you're a theist. If you're not a theist what are you? Hint: 'not a theist'.
2007-12-17 13:19:51 · answer #4 · answered by tuyet n 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am nothing in particular when it comes to religion because I don't believe that any of the religions are absolutely right. We are only human and we have no idea what is out there. That is not to say that some religions don't have some good ideas, because each of them has something to offer to the whole. I take what I think is good from alot of different religions and that is what I believe.
2007-12-17 13:21:52 · answer #5 · answered by wyrdrose 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I became an atheist because I had no choice. I'm a rational, logical person, and I need proof to believe in something. Apparently, God expects me to believe in him on faith alone, with no proof at all. For me that's just impossible.
2007-12-17 13:28:55 · answer #6 · answered by Nature Boy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was brought up believing in Hindu gods.
After questioning the whole thing ONCE, I realised just how crazy the ideas were.
Awesome stories for kids though.
2007-12-17 13:25:11 · answer #7 · answered by Meta 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was bought up in a Christian family.....while in college I began to have doubts and once I pulled that thread it started to unravel for me.
I've been an Atheist for a long time and it works for me.
2007-12-17 13:23:50 · answer #8 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I never believed in any religion's doctrines nor any deities attached to them even when it was my parents raising me in a certain faith. I've always been an atheist, I didn't become one.
2007-12-17 13:23:47 · answer #9 · answered by genaddt 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I started out atheist..i stayed that way because no one has a real answer to "how" or "why"
2007-12-17 13:23:28 · answer #10 · answered by javaKat 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋