We understand what you mean, but you need to look at the fact that well over half of us started out as believers.
If all atheists were simply never religious, you might be able to argue that atheism was the result of a refusal to consider the possibility of a god.
But that's just not the reality of it. Even for those who never believed, they understand the concept. They just never found the evidence plausible. For those of us (self included) who did believe, we finally saw that the story we had swallowed in order to start believing in the first place was just too flawed, and we realized that our belief was a matter of deluding ourselves via that story. It's the same way kids stop believing in Santa Claus. When they realize the presents under the tree are actually hidden on the top shelf of mom's walk-in closet, then they put the pieces together and realize it's just a story told to make little kids behave. It doesn't mean they refused to be "open to the possibility", they just recognize the BS at last, and grow up.
If all atheists were simply never religious, you might be able to argue that atheism was the result of a refusal to consider the possibility of a god.
But that's just not the reality of it. Even for those who never believed, they understand the concept. They just never found the evidence plausible. For those of us (self included) who did believe, we finally saw that the story we had swallowed in order to start believing in the first place was just too flawed, and we realized that our belief was a matter of deluding ourselves via that story. It's the same way kids stop believing in Santa Claus. When they realize the presents under the tree are actually hidden on the top shelf of mom's walk-in closet, then they put the pieces together and realize it's just a story told to make little kids behave. It doesn't mean they refused to be "open to the possibility", they just recognize the BS at last, and grow up.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
