New Atheist!!...

[dave4shmups]

I've already started 2 different threads, so I thought I'd introduce myself! I was a Christian (Evangelical), for almost 14 years. I have to say that I've been treated far nicer by the secular world, and those I saw as "the other". For example, one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life was gay. I'm 33 years old, and read "The God Delusion" and "Letter to a Christian Nation" (I liked Sam Harris's book the best!) back in February, but came back to my faith, even though I still had serious doubts.

However, throughout my Christian life, I'd been micromanaged-told how to think about gays, evolution, and how to spend my money-and on that last point, that I would be (no, I'm not making this up) under a curse if I did not tithe 10%. Well, I work as a grocery clerk, and I don't make a whole lot. But the last straw came when other members of a church that I no longer go to badgered me about taking time off to volunteer for something in November, the Monday after Thanksgiving, after I explained to them repeatedly that I'm still new to my current job, and that I wasn't comfortable asking for the time off. One person screamed in my ear over the phone, and I was done with church (this was recent). I'd been told time and time again that Christianity isn't about doing enough for god, and that this differentiated it from other beliefs. Well, I no longer believe that, or in a god.

And, the more I've learned about the human mind, the more I know we don't have souls. So, there you have it, I am an Atheist. I haven't told my family yet, and I do have friends from church that are nice people, and I'm certainly not perfect. But I do NOT see any reason to pray or ask forgiveness from any deity anytime I screw up in life. And I hope I never will again.

I LOVE video games, both retro and next gen, and reading and socializing.

[Minimalist]

I do have friends from church that are nice people,

Wait till you tell them and then you can decide how "nice" they are.

Welcome, Dave.

[chatpilot]

I too would like to welcome you Dave to our ranks. Also Min I was thinking the same exact thing! Dave just a heads up for you, some of those friends might not be comfortable around you anymore once they learn that you are an atheist.

[Minimalist]

You know what they say, CP: Great minds think alike.



Apparently, it works for minds like ours, as well!

[everythingafter]

I'm 33 years old, and read "The God Delusion" and "Letter to a Christian Nation" (I liked Sam Harris's book the best!) back in February, but came back to my faith, even though I still had serious doubts.

I haven't told my family yet, and I do have friends from church that are nice people, and I'm certainly not perfect. But I do NOT see any reason to pray or ask forgiveness from any deity anytime I screw up in life. And I hope I never will again.

I LOVE video games, both retro and next gen, and reading and socializing.

We have some things in common. I'm 33 as well and was a longtime churchgoer. Is your family very evangelical? If they are, be prepared for a fair amount of shock, grief and pleading for you to "don't give up on God" and the like. If they aren't, lucky you! I'm still treading on thin waters with my family for deciding to come out. I've thought about just moving away, actually. I don't think they'll ever cease cornering me or pleading with me about god ... such is the power of religion to take the mind hostage. And yes, like Minimalist said, also be prepared for when those nice people turn the cheek against you. I left the church and have gotten only one e-mail or call about why I left out of congregation of about 150 people. And that was from the worship leader (it was his job), and I was in the praise team on stage every Sunday for years!

Don't expect much sympathy or patience from the church crowd. Sorry to paint a bleak picture for ya. The best I can suggest is to follow your mind and logic and reach out to any fellow nonbelievers you can find. As a former churchgoer, feel free to speak with me anytime. Good luck.

[chatpilot]

I've been an atheist for 16 years now and I still have my brother in law talking trash about me, not to my face of course. He tells my wife all kinds of shit when I am not around or on the phone, for instance anytime something negative happens to me it is because " I have turned my back on God". Fucking idiot needs to grow up and read some books other than the bible that are actually of some use. He recently told my wife that I am the way I am because "I read the wrong books and the devil used what I learned in those books to lead me astray".

[everythingafter]

I've been an atheist for 16 years now and I still have my brother in law talking trash about me, not to my face of course. He tells my wife all kinds of shit when I am not around or on the phone, for instance anytime something negative happens to me it is because " I have turned my back on God". Fucking idiot needs to grow up and read some books other than the bible that are actually of some use. He recently told my wife that I am the way I am because "I read the wrong books and the devil used what I learned in those books to lead me astray".

So he said you read the "wrong books," huh? For a believer any book that does't confirm their beliefs is the wrong book, so fuck all that.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Welcome from a recovering Catholic of over 40 years.(Yeah, I'm rooly old).


Here you will tend to run into people who say things like"I don't believe in gods,the soul,the supernatural,the paranormal, or fairies at the bottom of my garden, due to lack of evidence"

Very few will say "there is no god etc,or "I know there is no god etc" because we don't know,we merely disbelieve. This position is called skepticism. There are many former believers here. Most of us try to avoid dogmatic and absolute claims lest we replace one closed minded and dogmatic world view with another.

[LastPoet]

Yeah, most of us are former religious people, welcome to the world of free though, don't be shy in dipping your foot righ in

[dave4shmups]

I've been an atheist for 16 years now and I still have my brother in law talking trash about me, not to my face of course. He tells my wife all kinds of shit when I am not around or on the phone, for instance anytime something negative happens to me it is because " I have turned my back on God". Fucking idiot needs to grow up and read some books other than the bible that are actually of some use. He recently told my wife that I am the way I am because "I read the wrong books and the devil used what I learned in those books to lead me astray".

Yeah, that sounds familiar-back in February, my former pastor told me not to read "bad books". Totally ridiculous, and one of the ways that the church in general tries to control people. And I did read "The End of Reason" by Ravi Zacharias, but that was pretty much like a temper tantrum by someone who's had his intellectual/spiritual toy's stolen from him. He goes so far off the deep end as to say that, if there's ever genocide against Christians, Sam Harris is to blame, when Harris NEVER suggested violence against people of any religion, unless they threaten our lives. (Like the Taliban.)

My Mom is an evangelical, not that devout, but she is totally opposed (and always has been) to Atheism, even before she became a regular church goer. But, as long as I don't shove it in her face, I know she'll still love and accept me. My older brother could care less what I believe in, and I know my Dad will still accept me as well.

I'm on Facebook, and I have joined atheist groups, so if my friends ask me questions, I'll just plainly tell them that I respect their right to believe what they want to, but I do not believe in gods, demons, angels, or heaven or hell anymore. And if they don't like it, so be it. As I've said before, on the whole, I've been treated nicer by people who don't believe in a god, or are at least don't go to church, then I have by people in the church.

BTW, what are some great books on Evolution and Paleontology? I have read some stuff about evolution, in college, and before I was a Christian, but now I would love to read some more!! The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has an exhibit called Prehistoric Journey that I would love to see!

I want to get Carl Sagan's "The Cosmos" DVD set, too!! I miss that man, the most spiritual experience I've ever had was watching some of that in an Astronomy class, 9 years ago!!!