Why are you an atheist?

[Tiberius]

Like the subject says, why are you an atheist? Have you been an atheist all your life (never pushed into any religion) or have you been converted recently?

I was a Christian for the first 11 years of my life, but it was something I was forced into by my parents and school etc. It was when I moved to secondary school (at age 11) that I started to doubt God and religion. There are just too many religions out there with completely different beliefs, it is impossible to know for sure which is "correct". I became unsure of what I did believe, but later realized that I literally couldn't believe that any form of God existed. You only have to take a look at the world to realize that.

[Brick-top]

I suppose I've drifted between being Atheist and agnostic.

I learned about Creation in schools and then again in high school however instead of trying to convert me they taught me several Religions from a non-bias view point.

[Fipples]

All the way up to high school I was Christian because it was what I was taught to be. 10th grade I started questioning my beliefs and kind of just settled on Atheism/agnosticism. Now I go to college at HSU in Arkansas right across the street from Ouachita Baptist University (Mike Huckabee went there). All my friends are devout Christians and they made me realize why I'm an Atheist. I can't stand the thought of fate and destiny and the idea of just sitting there and hoping that something good will happen to me if I pray or god wills it.

[Ace Otana]

I became an atheist at an early age. I was always the kind of person to be difficult to convince of anything. Religion had no chance in bringing me over.

Also i've never been good at responding to threats. Once religion used it's fear tactic I only ended up becoming more and more of an atheist. The threat of fear caused me to sway way over into atheism.

The largest reason on why I'm an atheist is the fact that there is just no evidence for any of their claims. They have nothing to show at all. Just word for word. While science on the other hand had everything to show. Science was about learning, gathering data. Religion is just instant knowledge and I thought to myself - Where's the fun in that? it's too simplistic.

There are many reasons on why I'm an atheist, but the main one is the fact that they have no evidence to support their claims.

[KRW1612]

I have been an atheist for most of my life. In fact I'm not sure I ever believed, however I had to endure Religious Instruction at school as part of the Education Department curriculum.

My dad is an atheist and my mom is agnostic. All my brothers and sisters are atheists and almost all my friends and work colleagues are too.

I was married in the gardens of an old stately home by a celebrant.

I am fortunate that I live in a secular country where religious people are more likely to be considered odd-ball by the wider community.

I remember being in Atlanta in 1997 reading a weekend newspaper when I came across approximately 8 pages devoted to religion. Here we are may get one half page relating to religious news/groups etc.

I do feel for US atheists. They are truly a minority in what is considered a whacko Christian nation!

[Brick-top]

I have been an atheist for most of my life. In fact I'm not sure I ever believed, however I had to endure Religious Instruction at school as part of the Education Department curriculum.

Do they still do that? I heard school took out Religious studies but I'm not sure.

[BettyValentine]

Primarily i feel i've always been atheist. Christianity never made sense to me. Even when i started school when i was 5. I think, as well though, i became much more opinionated and aggressive about my atheism because i wanted to rebel against my Christian school and teachers and friends - pretty much everyone i knew apart from my family!

I'm an atheist simply because i don't know how to be otherwise.
If i were to worship anything it'd be molecules...or Eddie Vedder...

[KRW1612]

Do they still do that? I heard school took out Religious studies but I'm not sure.

Yeah, it was a long time ago. I'm 48. It was only a 30 minute lesson once a week.

Australia has had a very healthy seperation of religion and education in its public school system for at least 40 years or more.

[Brick-top]

Do they still do that? I heard school took out Religious studies but I'm not sure.

Yeah, it was a long time ago. I'm 48. It was only a 30 minute lesson once a week.

Australia has had a very healthy seperation of religion and education in its public school system for at least 40 years or more.

I was taught it here in the UK and I heard rumours about stopping it. This was about 5-6 years ago.

[StewartP]

I went to a very religuos private school between the ages of 7 to 12. The remainder of my schooldays were devoid of religion, my parents had no beliefs.
At 21 I became "born again" got married, and immersed myself 100% in fundie Baptist church life. Young Earth creationism, literal inerrant bible, the whole shebang. Got my father converted too and he's still in there.
A slow loss of faith, weariness of church life, emigration to the UK (from Zimbabwe) and no church. I felt I still believed all that stuff, but no longer had the ebergy or the will to live it.
Broader reading, and the internet brought atheist philosophy before me, and I started to realise just how crazy, illogical and desperate all the things I used to believe were.
A cold analysys of Christian theology brought me to realise just how manipulating and WRONG it all was.

YouTube videos of The Blasphemy Challenge was my inverse Damascus road experience. I saw a video of a young man saying "I deny the Holy Spirit, and I'm not afraid". That, for me, was liberating. All the guilt, all the fear fell away. I realised that I had been living in fear and thrall of phantoms, myths, fairies. The Word has no power, it's just a mixed up book, chosen by conference, and full of human error. Prayer is talking to thin air.

I am since fascinated with the notions of morality and society. Because it turns out, that without god, I'm still a good guy and a decent father, and I haven't raped or murdered or robbed anyone! I am also still exploring ways to fulfill my "spiritual" needs. (hate that word) And there is music, and literature and science.

And SCIENCE! The things I've learned about the world, the universe, humanity, it's magnificent.

Christians may accuse me of hating God, but truly, I know there is no such being. I am bitter about the wasted years and the lies I was told.
Other Christians may say I was a false convert, never a true Christian, but I felt and knew the forgiveness of God, I went through every emotion, and it was very real. And in my head.