did you ever truly believe?

[Normandy]

I can't say that I ever did. From as soon as I was old enough to starting forming my own opinions, the idea of god seemed pretty absurd to me.

[thesummerqueen]

I kinda figured out there was no one listening at 10, but everyone made such a big deal about god and I had no concept of what an atheist was, so I maintained to the rest of the world that my beliefs were more like Spinoza - something of pantheism, I guess. I couldn't let go of science. I was always a pretty skeptical little wench. I didn't really let down my hair, so to speak, until I met two actual atheists (and through one of them, Shell, and thus this forum) and then it was like someone loosened a tie from around my neck. No more pretending.

[Cinjin]

Got "saved" at least a dozen times in my life. No peace, only fear.

I believed in a powerful angry god who would rather burn the majority of humanity for all eternity rather than just show up.
Why it took me so long to realize the stupidity of religion - I have no idea.




Let me say this now though ... true FREEDOM is FUCKING AWESOME!!!

No Heaven. No Hell. No Angry Sky Asshole. Only sweet sweet beautiful freedom. Peace comes when you let go of stupidity.

[Freedom]

I was a total Jesus freak, Bible-thumper, whatever you want to call it. I had religious arrogance for years. What started me on the path to nonbelief was the fact that the same arrogant church members excluded me because they were being cliquish. That wasn't Christlike. There was too much inconsistency for me to continue to believe.

It's finally dawned on me: They wanted me to be with them for an eternity in heaven, but they didn't want me to temporarily be in their clique. Now that's fucked up.

I'm so glad I don't believe anymore.

[leo-rcc]

Nope, never have.

[Tobie]

When I was younger, it was essentially expected of me. My mum's side of the family have been staunch Catholics for as long as their family name has existed, even having two martyrs in the family. My Dad is an atheist, however, he didn't really give a crap about what I believed.

I didn't take an opinion either way until secondary school, where we started learning about religion properly, when I realised how nonsensical it all is.