How did you become an atheist?

[Chad32]

It was a process. A collection of things. It mostly happened because I gained a better feeling of right and wrong as I grew up. There are a number of things that are quite different about the culture surrounding the bible, and modern western culture. Even this country of USA, which some people think was founded on christian principles.

First you have this deity who is expected to rule over you. In a world of monarchies and dictatorships, this makes sense. the greater peasant populous serves the whims of those in power. However in this country the ones in power are there because we elected them to serve our needs. One of the founding principles of this country is no taxation without representation, which is why we're not the United Colonies of Britain right now. We pay money to the government in exchange for them listening to us. Now it runs more like an oligarchy than a representative republic, but that's because of corruption in politics. They are supposed to be public servants. Not the ruling elite.

Another thing about the bible is the idea of killing some innocent creature to wipe away the wrongdoings of the guilty. There is no modern justice system where it's ok to do that. Sometimes it gets done, but it's not on paper as acceptable practice. We don't jail children for the crimes of their parents. Human sacrifice nd scapegoating just aren't done anymore, so why should I accept the idea of someone dying in my place? Then you get into the idea of eternal punishment. Why is it eternal? Most likely so a responsible person won't just choose to take their punishment like a respectable adult should. If the punishment is fair and proportional, then I shouldn't let someone take my place. That would be wrong.

So on moral grounds the bible fails in this, and more. Aside from that, there's the fact that prophesies, creator gods, and people who are born of virgins and come back from the dead are not unique or original to judaism and christianity. So there's nothing that makes the bible special. Why pick it over other older religions? Why pick the older religions just because they are older?

That's what made me an atheist. I could probably go on, but I believe I've made my point.