Considering atheism [Currently Christian]

[The Grand Nudger]

For the past two years, I have been dating an atheist fellow. (odd isn't it?)

Not really, no.  I've been married to a christian for coming up on a decade.  

And this is because he is somehow attractive. 
He is the one who has been introducing me to memes and other content about atheism.
I have been honestly trying to see his side, as he attended church with me once. (although he says he despises religion/church)

See, now that -is- strange..my wife tells me that I'm "somehow attractive" as well.  Imagine our collective surprise. 

I cut the rest for brevity, but the short version is that something about science got you rethinking your christian worldview, yeah?  That seems to be a pretty common trend.  Anything in particular?

[Silver]

Congrats on your journey to the dark side.

[brewer]

Hi Melissa.

Atheism =/= science, and the movie was comedy parody (or at least I thought is was). Scientists can believe in all kinds of things including a god (cough cough, that hurt). 

Atheists don't believe in god(s), that's it. Science has little to do with religion except that christians (jews, mulsims, ....) keep bringing it up as a gotcha, stating "science can't explain what I believe, therefore god". The purpose of science is not to disprove god. Unfortunately when christians drag science into the argument "does god exist" many people of science are forced to defend the often badly represented christian concepts or faulty use of science. That is when the misconception that atheism = science arises.  

I've asked a lot of religious people to provide me with evidence of god. Not just what they think is evidence but what anyone would think is evidence, religious and non religious. So far all have failed as far as I'm concerned.

Note: I do not represent all of atheism. I'm sure that there are others views (but they are all sick in the head).

[The Grand Nudger]

That's definitely worth mentioning.  I'm an atheist becaise I don't believe in gods, not because I do accept scientific conclusions.  I was an atheist before I could mouth the word science, probably while I was suckling on the teat - though for at least as long as I can remember.  

(maybe there was something in the milk   )

[Astonished]

Hi Melissa.

Atheism =/= science, and the movie was comedy parody (or at least I thought is was). Scientists can believe in all kinds of things including a god (cough cough, that hurt). 

Atheists don't believe in god(s), that's it. Science has little to do with religion except that christians (jews, mulsims, ....) keep bringing it up as a gotcha, stating "science can't explain what I believe, therefore god". The purpose of science is not to disprove god. Unfortunately when christians drag science into the argument "does god exist" many people of science are forced to defend the often badly represented christian concepts or faulty use of science. That is when the misconception that atheism = science arises.  

I've asked a lot of religious people to provide me with evidence of god. Not just what they think is evidence but what anyone would think is evidence, religious and non religious. So far all have failed as far as I'm concerned.

Note: I do not represent all of atheism. I'm sure that there are others views (but they are all sick in the head).

Most of the time, an atheist did emerge from a religion so in the absence of those factors that once affected their worldview, science is typically a very good filler of the gaps left behind since religion typically reinforces ignorance and teaches lies, enabling science to both discover what was previously unknown or which was incorrectly assumed. In any case it's far more fascinating than anything any mythology has to offer. But it's not the only thing, it's just one that significantly affects one's worldview in a post-religious mind. Of course those who haven't exercised their critical thinking faculties (whether or not they have left a religious belief behind) may fall into other woo beliefs of a non-religious nature so atheism doesn't really take that into account, making it an inadequate label for most situations. Some more specific label like secular humanist or whatever reflects your personal worldview and moral philosophy might be more appropriate to consider.

Because religion came first, that is pretty much its only virtue of having a stranglehold on all the power it wields. Because science is a superior means of understanding things, disproves its claims at every turn, and enables people to see things in a far more wondrous way without any emotional baggage (sin, guilt, etc.), of course religion is going to see it as the ultimate evil. But how primitive must they paint themselves to be to decry it? Its time is over. Without being indoctrinated, no one in this day and age could be convinced of any of it. Even if it doesn't take right and comes roaring back later in life. Be proud if you've managed to break through that locked door from the inside.

[Brian37]

For the past two years, I have been dating an atheist fellow. (odd isn't it?)

And this is because he is somehow attractive. 
He is the one who has been introducing me to memes and other content about atheism.
I have been honestly trying to see his side, as he attended church with me once. (although he says he despises religion/church)

Below is what got me thinking:



First, on youtube I saw a youtube video about a strange clip.  (from a movie called Lost Skeleton of Cadavra),.
Now that I hunted it down in my watch history, I can now share clearly with you guys that it was about a guy who said he was a scientist. 
He said he didn't believe in anything: 





Although it was a movie, I wondered how someone with any accomplishment, could not stand for something.

The phrase "stand for nothing fall for anything kept on popping up in mind".

I skipped, and forgot about the post.




After that, on facebook, later I saw yet another meme. 
I immediately remembered the movie clip above, and my world began to spin, as I made some connections with the clip and the meme below.
I saved this one, the first atheist related thing I ever saved:




I think the meme seemed to be talking about faith/belief, and that the very concept of belief (not just religious belief) essentially opposed science.

When I read the first short paragraph, I quickly thought the meme was idiotic, because there can also be scientific belief, which is separate from religious belief.

But then, the last paragraph is the paragraph that grabbed me. I was a Christian,  and I appreciated science as one of God's best gift to man.

I was slowly viewing the world differently now, and not only am I considering atheism, but I also thinking about staying away from the very concept of belief too.

This has been a year now in the making, and I am comfortable enough to talk about this with others online.

My boyfriend is somewhat proud of me too.

One thing you can do in all this is understand that "atheist" is not a religion, political party or economic view. "Atheist" merely means "off". I hate the word "ism" attached to "atheism" precisely because we are not a gang. We come from all classes, we have a variety of political and economic views. There are atheists who voted for Trump and others who voted for Hillary or Bernie. There are atheists who value the vile economic Ayn Rand view "fuck you I got mine" and other atheists who think Che, the guy who lead to Castro's Cuba, was a hero. I am no fan of either. You also have atheists who worship guns on par with the far right Christian nutjobs. While I am not for an all out ban, I do hate our flooded market and ease of access. 

If he has not told you about these books you should try.

1. The God Delusion-Richard Dawkins
2. God The Failed Hypothesis- Victor Stenger
3. The New Atheism- Victor Stenger

Skepticism is vital to progress. If our species never questioned social norms our species never would have left the caves. I find beauty in nature and the universe without superstition or sky wizards. There certainly are bad things in life too, but neither the good or bad are the result of a super hero vs a super villain.

[*Deidre*]

When I was an atheist, it seemed like a natural conclusion I came to and not really a "choice." I wish you well as you figure it out for yourself.

[Angrboda]

I don't understand the meme.

[SteelCurtain]

Mellisa,

I am glad you are open to challenging your dogmas. Just be sure not to create any new ones.

Welcome!

[Simon Moon]

Welcome to the forum!

First of all, let me make a comment on the title of you OP.

It really does not make sense to state that you are 'considering atheism'. Theism is the psychological state of being convinced that a god or gods exist, atheism is simply not being convinced of that proposition. It is really not a choice.

For the past two years, I have been dating an atheist fellow. (odd isn't it?)

And this is because he is somehow attractive. 
He is the one who has been introducing me to memes and other content about atheism.
I have been honestly trying to see his side, as he attended church with me once. (although he says he despises religion/church)

Below is what got me thinking:



First, on youtube I saw a youtube video about a strange clip.  (from a movie called Lost Skeleton of Cadavra),.
Now that I hunted it down in my watch history, I can now share clearly with you guys that it was about a guy who said he was a scientist. 
He said he didn't believe in anything: 

Although it was a movie, I wondered how someone with any accomplishment, could not stand for something.

The phrase "stand for nothing fall for anything kept on popping up in mind".

I skipped, and forgot about the post.




After that, on facebook, later I saw yet another meme. 
I immediately remembered the movie clip above, and my world began to spin, as I made some connections with the clip and the meme below.
I saved this one, the first atheist related thing I ever saved:






I think the meme seemed to be talking about faith/belief, and that the very concept of belief (not just religious belief) essentially opposed science.

When I read the first short paragraph, I quickly thought the meme was idiotic, because there can also be scientific belief, which is separate from religious belief.

But then, the last paragraph is the paragraph that grabbed me. I was a Christian,  and I appreciated science as one of God's best gift to man.

I was slowly viewing the world differently now, and not only am I considering atheism, but I also thinking about staying away from the very concept of belief too.

This has been a year now in the making, and I am comfortable enough to talk about this with others online.

My boyfriend is somewhat proud of me too.

Everyone has beliefs, atheists and scientists alike. 'Belief' is simply the psychological state in being convinced that a premise or proposition is true. There are good reasons for being convinced; evidence, reasoned argument, and valid and sound logic, and there are bad reasons for being convinced; faith (belief without evidence, or in spite of evidence to the contrary), fallacious reasoning, or because the belief makes you feel good.

Also, being an atheist does not in any way preclude 'standing for something'. I stand for plenty. All my atheism tells you about me, is that I do not believe in the existence of any gods. It does not tell you what I believe or stand for.

As well as being an atheist, I am also a secular humanist. My secular humanism tells you a lot more about me than my atheism.