Atheists, tell me, a Roman Catholic: why should I become an atheist?

[Aoi Magi]

Before I begin, I ask that you please avoid being hostile or anything. I'm a Roman Catholic, but I feel like many people of faith immediately jump to degrading atheists as people, rather than trying to understand their mindset. I'm heavily confused right now, and am asking both Catholic and atheist sites for their mindsets. Obviously, Catholics are going to defend Catholicism, while atheists are going to defend atheism. I ask that you please be civil about it, as this could be life-changing for me.


I've been questioning how to improve in my Roman Catholic faith lately...but this morning I came to the realization that I never really questioned my faith itself. I was lightly raised Catholic and recently took it upon myself to grow closer to God. Now, for probably the first time in my life, I feel like I'm genuinely considering atheism as a possibility.

From what I understand, atheists do not accept the possibility of a supernatural being, and restrict themselves to our "natural" human thinking. Previously I thought that atheists are simply conditioned by society to the point where they are unable to "rationally" believe in a supernatural being...God doesn't allow us universally undeniable proof of his existence as a test of faith. Now, though, I feel like it's impossible to tell whether that mindset is correct, or whether atheists are correct in their focusing on our natural human mindsets. I do feel like I've felt something while praying throughout the past. 

The other night, for example, I was planning on praying for about fifteen minutes, but felt oddly calm and ended up taking about an hour. Now I feel like that could have just been because I was comfortable, and my mind was "making things up" as I was more convinced in my faith.


Atheists, why do you reject the idea of God, and why should I? I know that your answers will include "there's no evidence" and all that, but please try to explain.

Hi Balaco. I see other's have already answered you, but still I'd throw in my two cents. Don't try to be an Atheist. It doesn't work like that. What you, and every thinking person should try to be is a Skeptic. Atheism is a byproduct of skepticism when applied to theism.

Try to think this, did you make choice of being a Roman Catholic after learning everything about christianity and other alternate religions, or was it that you were first taught to be a roman catholic and then find out what it meant? If faith in a particular religion has to be taught, then how is it not "conditioning" for that religion?

As for your praying, think of it like this, the person who knows you best, understands you the best, is yourself. When you pray, or meditate, you are with this person, so you can hear exactly what you want to hear, feel what you want to feel... isn't it also the place where you'll find most comfort?