Hi there. This almost feels like introducing myself at a 12-step program.
First: Background.
I grew up in a pseudo-Christian household. My grandmother was very religious, but my family usually only went to church once or twice a year on holidays. Though...*I* was very into church and went through a lot of my childhood on the Sunday school bus (usually talked into it from a few older kids who lived next door).
I went back to church as a teenager (because of a girlfriend), and was baptized at the age of 18. I was very much into the church, Jesus and my faith in general through probably my mid-20s. I had a study bible which I read regularly, I had bible software I used to study (sometimes in original Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek). I even remember scaring off some Jehova's Witnesses once by giving them more (printed) literature to take home than they gave me.
Ironically, my "wake up" moment came from trying to get deeper into my faith. I took an apologetics class. There were some hard questions in there that just weren't answered sufficiently for me. It gnawed at me. A year or two later I was at another church and there was a Th.D. from nearby Clearwater Christian College who offered an apologetics class. I thought this one would be better as this was an actual Theology educated person teaching it.
It wasn't. It was even worse. The questions I had only increased both in amount and intensity. Shortly after that I faded from the church and just stopped altogether after a while. I wouldn't say I turned into an atheist then....probably more agnostic. More than anything I just "tuned out" when it came to anything religion-wise.
Now:
I am a relatively new found atheist. I think I've actually been one for a while, but just didn't care enough about the 'statement' to make it public. I've LONG called myself a reformed holy roller.
I think the final nail in the coffin started about 4-5 months ago when I stumbled across James Randi and all of his skeptic debunking over the years (zillions of videos on youtube). I was mostly just laughing at him making all the psychics, spoon benders and faith healers look like fools.
I started looking up and watching videos on various skeptic topics after that (flat earth, homeopathy, pseudo-science, etc...). In these video searches I started seeing more and more atheist related videos. It didn't take me too long to realize I was definitely full on atheist these days.
I've enjoyed many videos and even read Seth Andrews book, "De-converted" (I love Seth's videos..."The Thinking Atheist"). I have "The God Delusion" on the shelf now, ready for a read soon.
I think I'm more of the "science" type of guy...so if I attack religion, it would usually be on that front. I'm not into the hard core logic....it often sounds like talking in circles to me.
I guess that's about it for me.
Reformed Holy Roller signing off...
First: Background.
I grew up in a pseudo-Christian household. My grandmother was very religious, but my family usually only went to church once or twice a year on holidays. Though...*I* was very into church and went through a lot of my childhood on the Sunday school bus (usually talked into it from a few older kids who lived next door).
I went back to church as a teenager (because of a girlfriend), and was baptized at the age of 18. I was very much into the church, Jesus and my faith in general through probably my mid-20s. I had a study bible which I read regularly, I had bible software I used to study (sometimes in original Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek). I even remember scaring off some Jehova's Witnesses once by giving them more (printed) literature to take home than they gave me.
Ironically, my "wake up" moment came from trying to get deeper into my faith. I took an apologetics class. There were some hard questions in there that just weren't answered sufficiently for me. It gnawed at me. A year or two later I was at another church and there was a Th.D. from nearby Clearwater Christian College who offered an apologetics class. I thought this one would be better as this was an actual Theology educated person teaching it.
It wasn't. It was even worse. The questions I had only increased both in amount and intensity. Shortly after that I faded from the church and just stopped altogether after a while. I wouldn't say I turned into an atheist then....probably more agnostic. More than anything I just "tuned out" when it came to anything religion-wise.
Now:
I am a relatively new found atheist. I think I've actually been one for a while, but just didn't care enough about the 'statement' to make it public. I've LONG called myself a reformed holy roller.
I think the final nail in the coffin started about 4-5 months ago when I stumbled across James Randi and all of his skeptic debunking over the years (zillions of videos on youtube). I was mostly just laughing at him making all the psychics, spoon benders and faith healers look like fools.
I started looking up and watching videos on various skeptic topics after that (flat earth, homeopathy, pseudo-science, etc...). In these video searches I started seeing more and more atheist related videos. It didn't take me too long to realize I was definitely full on atheist these days.
I've enjoyed many videos and even read Seth Andrews book, "De-converted" (I love Seth's videos..."The Thinking Atheist"). I have "The God Delusion" on the shelf now, ready for a read soon.
I think I'm more of the "science" type of guy...so if I attack religion, it would usually be on that front. I'm not into the hard core logic....it often sounds like talking in circles to me.
I guess that's about it for me.
Reformed Holy Roller signing off...
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