How long have you been an atheist?

[AtheistPhil]

I don't remember ever believing honestly in anything religion related at any moment of my life, even though I've been through catechism from my 8th to 14th year . So I guess It's been 22 years right now that I'm an atheist.

[Welsh cake]

Only four years. Not nearly long enough.

I so wish I could have been an atheist my entire life, but alas, my parents choose to pass on the very worse dogmatic beliefs onto me. I mean we were so hopelessly convinced we used to starve ourselves for three days and nights to mark the Easter Weekend, I'm deadly serious, we were proper fundies. We hated the world and couldn't wait for God to destroy it as in Revelations. However despite their religious ideas stagnating capacity for intellectual discussion they have wonderful qualities too my parents, I love them, and that's how I can honestly tell them face-to-face I'd never dream of repeating their mistakes.

De-converting was one of the most heart-wrenchingly painful processes I've ever gone through; several times I came close to contemplating suicide. I never could have initially thought letting go of that faith-based system that once dominated me so completely would have been so long drawn out.

Now I'm a liberated freethinker and I face everyday with scientific curiosity and awe at the natural universe in motion. I've come to appreciate and value this world, this uncommon small planet that can actually support life. I've gained a much more positive outlook on reality and the people in it.

[fr0d0]

It's only belief in the literal sense of your extreme delusion in reality, and that is the opposite of sane religion.

But "sane religion" is an oxymoron

There are sane religious people, there are insane religious people. But religion itself is indeed total insane, you've only got to look at it's combination of ridiculous claims without any rational support (and then some).

I believed a God existed. So in that sense I believed in God. I was also insane, yes, but I still believed there was a God at the time (and then afterwards I thought I *was* "He", hardly more absurd than merely believing in God really - just much less socially acceptable).

EvF

Just like Evidence vs Faith you mean?

No, you're being overly childish. There is rational credibility to religious faith. What you experienced was actual mental delusion. In no way is that comparable.

[Darwinian]

There is rational credibility to religious faith. What you experienced was actual mental delusion. In no way is that comparable.

Swings and roundabouts...

[Violet]

There is rational credibility to religious faith. What you experienced was actual mental delusion. In no way is that comparable.

Swings and roundabouts...

He's mostly right, you know

However, there are people with religious faith in some things that actually are mentally deluded and believe they are rational

[Loki_999]

We hated the world and couldn't wait for God to destroy it as in Revelations.

Seriously? I always thought that part was exaggeration, like they kind of think they believe they want the world to end, but don't really.

Hating the world? Wanting God to destroy it... oh boy! It really is that bad?

[KichigaiNeko]

Only four years. Not nearly long enough.

I so wish I could have been an atheist my entire life, but alas, my parents choose to pass on the very worse dogmatic beliefs onto me. I mean we were so hopelessly convinced we used to starve ourselves for three days and nights to mark the Easter Weekend, I'm deadly serious, we were proper fundies. We hated the world and couldn't wait for God to destroy it as in Revelations. However despite their religious ideas stagnating capacity for intellectual discussion they have wonderful qualities too my parents, I love them, and that's how I can honestly tell them face-to-face I'd never dream of repeating their mistakes.

De-converting was one of the most heart-wrenchingly painful processes I've ever gone through; several times I came close to contemplating suicide. I never could have initially thought letting go of that faith-based system that once dominated me so completely would have been so long drawn out.

Now I'm a liberated freethinker and I face everyday with scientific curiosity and awe at the natural universe in motion. I've come to appreciate and value this world, this uncommon small planet that can actually support life. I've gained a much more positive outlook on reality and the people in it.

Ya know, I have often wondered if there can't be some sort of class action brought against religion for the amount of psychiatric pain and suffering infflicted on the planet's population.

One thing is for certain... without the cathollic church psychiatry would have little to investigate is my thinking.

[D.S.M.]

Mostly my whole life...

Minus a short period in my life where i believed in god and was praying and stuff...
But somehow i never got a fucking answer from him/her...
So, i simply stop believeing.



That's it mostly...

[downbeatplumb]

I dont remember believing in god at all.

So 41 years, (unless my memory is proving false)

[Welsh cake]

We hated the world and couldn't wait for God to destroy it as in Revelations.

Seriously? I always thought that part was exaggeration, like they kind of think they believe they want the world to end, but don't really.

Hating the world? Wanting God to destroy it... oh boy! It really is that bad?

That's merely the tip of the iceberg - there's a lot of self-loathing involved too. Everyday you are taught you are evil, sinful and depraved. Everyday you greet the sunrise you're a damned creation doomed for eternal destruction. Needless to say this evil cult polluted my mind extensively, and daresay, harmed/stunted my development in some way or other.

I've come to terms with it now, although I dread the inevitable prospect of more innocent children being indoctrinated like I once was and having to go through the whole deconversion process as well. I wouldn't wish that on anybody.