How has atheism changed you?

[singfortheyears]

This is for all the people who were theists at one point.
Has atheism changed you in any way? How? Do you think that you are a better person now or back when you were a theist?

[Welsh cake]

It hasn't.

Atheism isn't even an "ism".

I changed myself when I cared whether or not my core beliefs were true, justified and supported by evidence. I kept those that were supported and abandoned those that were not supported, or refuted, by empirical evidence.

I only found out much later that I was considered an "atheist" by society because I did not believe in any god or gods.

[singfortheyears]

(9th June 2012 17:48)Welsh cake Wrote:  It hasn't.

Atheism isn't even an "ism".

I changed myself when I cared whether or not my core beliefs were true, justified and supported by evidence. I kept those that were supported and abandoned those that were not supported, or refuted, by empirical evidence.

I only found out much later that I was considered an "atheist" by society because I did not believe in any god or gods.

I see, but could you perhaps explain what you mean by atheism not being an 'ism'?

[Shell B]

It hasn't changed me at all. I have been an atheist my entire life.

[frankiej]

I have always been an atheist, so this doesn't really apply to me, but I thought I would post anyway.

I think what Welsh was getting at was that atheist is a default position pretty much... it isn't really something as it isn't like you are actively choosing not to believe in god(s). It is a factory setting.

Or at least that is how I look at it.

[Faith No More]

I've pretty much been an atheist my whole life, except for about a year and a half when after dealing with the second death of a good friend, I needed there to be a purpose behind the events in my life. The only real difference was I was trying to figure out what this deity wanted with me.

After the trauma wore off, however, I was back to my old atheist self.

[Minimalist]

I'm older and I waste no time on my knees groveling to the non-existent sky-daddy.


I suspect the "older" part would have happened regardless.

[WhatIfGodWasJustAMyth]

:-/It stopped me wasting time in church, and made me have to hide my views around my family.

[Annik]

I recently became an atheist. I am a lot more curious, and conscious, of the world and our universe.

[libalchris]

(9th June 2012 17:40)singfortheyears Wrote:  This is for all the people who were theists at one point.
Has atheism changed you in any way? How? Do you think that you are a better person now or back when you were a theist?

I value life more now and have higher aspirations for my life now. I also am more interested in learning, searching, and discovering various areas of science.