(November 18, 2021 at 1:12 pm)T.J. Wrote: I don't know how many atheists here were either born and raised atheist versus falling out of religion and becoming atheist, but it really messes with your head somewhat (at least I think so) after something you thought to be the truth for so long turns out to be a web of lies and that people you thought were real turns out to be fictional creations to support a religion that was bent on controlling the population with absurd laws and rules. I've been told to question everything and I have been. Do I start studying up on science now? Research some well known atheists? Or just live content that something came from nothing and my destiny is whatever I make it?
I was 50 when I became an atheist -- 15 years ago now. I studied more science and read more books by atheists, but I like to read anyway. You don't have to question everything, since chances are good that you never really behaved by a lot of what you were supposed to believe anyway. Mainly I've been happy to live more honestly and accurately, without all the cognitive dissonance.
Plus other atheists are much more open and fun to talk with than theists.
