What made you become an atheist?

[CarveTheFive]

Could a conscious effort make you believe other ridiculous shit?

If you tried could you convince yourself that Bigfoot lives on the moon or whatever?

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Reason I am an atheist is because theists only use logical fallacies in order to supposedly prove God.

That seems like it could only lead you to conclude that atheism is the most reasonable ism which to me feels different.

[Brian37]

it’s strange to me how people think they have agency over their beliefs

it doesn’t seem to me I choose to believe or not believe anything - I just do or don’t.

Maybe I’m just splitting hairs about language but when religious people say just pray or just ask god... they must have a sense that something is listening ... it used to bother me that so many people have this peculiar mental illness but now my own life is too shitty to worry about their problems

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It was not until college when I ran into my first open atheist, that I realized "off" was an ok position to hold.

Does okayness really have any influence on what you really believe?

Is it "ok" to reject claims of Apollo? Pretty sure you don't spend much time wondering if you are wrong and Apollo is real.

Pretty sure you don't spend much time rejecting claims of Yoda or Darth Vader either.

It is not only "ok" to reject old mythology, it is why sane humans no longer believe the earth is flat, and how we got humans to the moon.

If our species never questioned social norms, our species never would have left the caves.

[The Valkyrie]

Could a conscious effort make you believe other ridiculous shit?

If you tried could you convince yourself that Bigfoot lives on the moon or whatever?

Psychologically it is possible to convince yourself of something if you repeat it long enough and often enough.

[Brian37]

Could a conscious effort make you believe other ridiculous shit?

If you tried could you convince yourself that Bigfoot lives on the moon or whatever?

Psychologically it is possible to convince yourself of something if you repeat it long enough and often enough.

Most certainly. Our species history is chalk full of mythology no longer believed.

The problem with all the world's religions accepted today, that most do not want to consider, that if we don't kill ourselves off, in 10,000 years today's accepted religions will morph, change or die out, and become viewed as old mythology.

The irony with all religions today, bar none, is that most in the world, of all religions, don't want to accept that there were no written religions 200,000 years ago in the early days of our current form.

[CarveTheFive]

Brian - I don’t think I explained what I’m trying to say clearly enough. I’m saying that ok or not I still wouldn’t believe in god (or I don’t think I would) but if it was super not ok I’d keep my atheism to myself.

Valk- hmmm - yeah I guess so... like at the end of 1984 where he actually sees 2 plus 2 make 5

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Believing Hitler is the Fuehrer would be an example of forcing yourself to "play along", yes?

[Brian37]

Brian - I don’t think I explained what I’m trying to say clearly enough. I’m saying that ok or not I still wouldn’t believe in god (or I don’t think I would) but if it was super not ok I’d keep my atheism to myself.

Valk- hmmm - yeah I guess so... like at the end of 1984 where he actually sees 2 plus 2 make 5

It isn't a matter of keeping theism or atheism to oneself. It is strictly a matter of evidence.

I am sick of ANYONE thinking this is a matter of legal rights. 

Personally sure, I would prefer theists to keep their delusions to themselves. But I am also not a monster. My late mother who died in 2017 died a Catholic. She was my biggest defender, and I can honestly say if it were not for her, I would be living in the streets now. I love her, and always will, but that does not make her sect, or God real by proxy of her compassion.

It is not ok to cling to old mythology. If it were the Church of Galileo's time would be right, and the sun really does circle the earth. You know that is not the case. You know that the earth revolves around the sun.  Facts are always worth defending.

Saying facts are worth defending, isn't saying atheists should oppress theists via government. It is merely saying one isn't going to coddle insecurities.

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Believing Hitler is the Fuehrer would be an example of forcing yourself to "play along", yes?

Great example.

Blind loyalty, hyper nationalism always lead to bad outcomes.

[CarveTheFive]

Believing Hitler is the Fuehrer would be an example of forcing yourself to "play along", yes?

That’s a good point. Political beliefs certainly appear malleable. I wonder if it’s the same part of your brain that dictates your belief or lack of belief in the supernatural.

[Simon Moon]

I don't consider myself an atheist, however more of an agnostic. I can't say that God exists, but I also can't deny it. Because I really don't know. I'm not all knowing. But I'm curious to hear why you became an atheist, or even why you are an agnostic like myself.

Let me clarify things a bit, as far as most atheists understand the terms.

Atheism and agnosticism are not mutually exclusive positions. Most atheist consider themselves agnostic-atheists.

Atheism/theism concern BELIEF. Theists believe at least one god exists, atheists do not have that belief.

Agnosticism/gnosticism concern KNOWLEDGE claims. Gnostics take the position that they KNOW that a god exists, or does not exist. Agnostics, do not claim to know if a god exists, or does not exist.

I do not claim to KNOW that gods do not exist. This makes me agnostic.
I also to not BELIEVE gods exist. This makes me an atheist.

My atheism is not a dogmatic position, it is a provisional one.

So, what made me an atheist? The continued failure of theists to meet their burden of proof to support their claim that a god exists.

As long as theists are unable to provide demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, and valid and sound logical arguments to support their god claims, I will remain an atheist.

This may clear things up:

[Brian37]

Believing Hitler is the Fuehrer would be an example of forcing yourself to "play along", yes?

That’s a good point. Political beliefs certainly appear malleable. I wonder if it’s the same part of your brain that dictates your belief or lack of belief in the supernatural.

It is one thing to claim rightfully, "Humans are capable of falling for all sorts of absurdities". Nobody should disagree with that.

But to assume every human will all the time, is bullshit.

Some humans are PERFECTLY capable of reason. 

It is unreasonable to claim "all this", was put here on our 4 billion year old planet, in a 13.8 billion year old universe, was put here for one species on a remote rock in a hostile universe. It is reasonable to lean to humans making up god/s as a comic book reflection of our own qualities.