(February 8, 2015 at 3:52 pm)coolfunkDJ Wrote: Hi, so I am 14 at the moment, but I have been questioning God since I was 12
What I am about to talk about all happened through a span of 2 years:
It all started when I found some flaws in the religion, like why would God ask Abraham to kill his son, if killing is against the 10 commandments? Double standards much? I mean that was the big one, but there was a lot
The only thing which kept me going was what I realise now is the "Placebo Effect", Thinking that God was talking to me and showing me signs through prayer, that when I asked him to help me with something, he would help
But The major pusher was when I started to think "What would happen if, in these situations, I dont prayer to God", and, unsuprisingly, no different, its a placebo (The brain tricking me into thinking its doing what im expecting it to do), so this is when I felt angry with myself
And then more and more thoughts started to pop up like:
If God loves us all, why would he let us burn in hell
Also, if he loves us, why did he flood so much more people than an earthquake, natural disaster or terrorist attack
And if he had no problem with doing that, why didnt he kill Adam And Eve?
And only one answer came into my head:
He didnt
This is when I felt betrayed, Angry, my parents was unintentionally lying to me, I have been limited to what I do and not been living my life to the fullest because of supernatural things, wasting my life at church
And thats why I became an Athiest
Please, tell me what you think, thank you!
Emotional reasons are not good reasons to accept or reject ANY claim. It isn't as much your parents were lying to you as much as it is that is what society sold them. Evidence is the only core and best reason to take any position.
I know atheists who have other woo, like si fi or new age woo which I cannot stand. Education is your best weapon. You are young but at your age trust me, while you got to the right side by thinking, don't stop.
Back in the late 80s I started to question, I didn't start calling myself an atheist until the mid 90s. But I was still ignorant of both theist and atheist positions. I first got online in 01 to seek out other atheists. I realized then I didn't know anything.
Books you should read.
Victor Stenger "God The Failed Hypothesis"
Victor Stenger "The New Atheism"
Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion"
Christopher Hitchens " God Is Not Great'
Sam Harris "The End Of Faith"
Sam Harris "Letter To A Christian Nation"
Ayaan Hersi Ali "Infidel"
Take your time it took me a several years.
websites I find useful
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com
http://www.positiveatheism.com
http://www.ffrf.org
http://www.atheists.org
This one
Terms you should be familiar with.
The problem with infinite regress.
The fallacy of Pascal's Wager.
Ocham's Razor.
That is for starters. Don't let that list overwhelm you. The best part is you can take your time and if you don't understand something don't feel stumped by believers when you take them on. Bring what they say back to sites like this and if you don't know something, someone here will.
Best thing is to learn, even from other posters. Know your arguments and know their arguments as well.
