(October 13, 2018 at 3:29 pm)Dragonfly Wrote: Hi, All,It's always remarkable when I hear people say they've been atheist since a very, very young age like age 4 or in utero or something like that. Actually we're all atheist at birth. However, whether or not you follow religion at such a tender age is highly dependent on the beliefs of your family of origin. Whether a particular child is raised religiously or not is decided by that family, not by the child themselves.
Most of the atheists I've met have been so for their entire lives, or at least since they were kids. I think those of us who leave religion in midlife or well into our adulthood have a different experience as we have a lifetime of conditioning to overcome. I'm really struggling, some days more than others. I hope you'll read the intro, but if you don't want to, please jump to the numbered list at the bottom. (thank you)
...I became the most reluctant atheist I can imagine. I did NOT set out to become an atheist, only to know what truth is, and that led to lack of evidence for Biblegod.
Very young children do not grasp the permanency of death, much less whether they should challenge their moms'/ dads' and societal beliefs in gods.
So people who drop religion and become atheist in middle age are much more common than you might think.
I don't have specific answers to your questions but I think dealing with your depression and anxiety in tandem with you grappling with atheism will help. And it sounds like you are on the right track and doing just that. As I said in your intro thread, you're gonna be ok! Keep asking questions - the beauty of atheism is you get to do that - and stay on track. Do keep us posted on how you're doing.
-Teresa
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