How I became atheist

[Doubting Thomas]

[fr0d0]

Good post DT . Well done escaping from that straight jacket. I know of no Christians who use the "true Christian" argument. To me... you were never a Christian, because that requires you to make a rational decision of your own free will, which you never did, as you never understood any sort of agreement with what you professed. You just went along with what you were told to say and do. I hate this sort of religion... assuming a person has no choice is the opposite of what Xtianity, for one, is all about. I'm happier that you at least have an honest position now. And welcome to AF .

[reverendjeremiah]

Thomas, I would probably think it is safe to assume that the vast majority of atheists on this planet have the same deconversion story as you. I have read so many of them and found many things in common with them. The biggest thing in common being a gradual change from belief to non-belief usually by reading their holy books and asking good questions and NOT ignoring the answer you come to afterwards.

I have yet to read an atheist saying he went from hard belief to atheism *pop* in an instant.

My story is very familiar with yours, except that mine has Southern Baptists instead of Catholics. I too got really interested in parapsychology and the occult type stuff in my teen years, learning through experience that it is hogwash, and eventually landing on some kind of deistic/pantheistic type of belief. I will admit I had a small *pop* from that state to atheism when 9/11 happened. I remember it quite well actually. I was sitting down watching the news repeat the 9/11 event over and over holding my 2 month old son in my arms and it just *popped* like this:

"Stop kidding yourself..all of this "god" stuff is just made up..there is no god..its all in your imagination." is pretty much what I thought word for word...and I have been one ever since.

Turns out many more people had an experience like me as well on 9/11. The ones who were seriously doubting, or were almost atheist went atheistic on that day as well.

I like to think that, even though 9/11 was a horrible tragedy, there was something good that came out of it. Many fence sitters had their eyes opened that day. I like to use that date as the start of the modern atheist movement. sure, it had been going before, but that day gave it a shot of jet fuel in my opinion.

[OnlyNatural]

Really enjoyed reading your story, definitely saw myself in there, as I'm sure a lot of atheists do.

I wasn't raised religious, but I was drawn to a Christian youth group and summer camp in my teens, I had been a lonely kid craving acceptance and belonging, and that did it for a few years. But eventually I couldn't stop questioning, thinking about the implausibility and the contradictions, and my faith withered away. University destroyed it completely, especially with being in a science program. Faith was comforting, but it meant I was just basing my life on a myth, and now the more I look at religion, in the past and in today's world, the happier I am to have left it behind.

we must make the most out of life while we're here, since we only get a short time to enjoy it, and only one shot.

Agreed. And it makes you appreciate life so much more.

Welcome to the forums

[fr0d0]

It seems to me like people grow up, and they question the things they accepted as a child. What fails isn't the subject, but the understanding of the subject... there was never the transition to informed adult reasoning of it.

[Doubting Thomas]

Oh and I think I should add that since I wrote this article, the priest who told my wife that someone turning atheist is likely having an affair was kicked out of the priesthood for being involved in a sex scandal with a woman who was stealing from the church.

[reverendjeremiah]

Oh and I think I should add that since I wrote this article, the priest who told my wife that someone turning atheist is likely having an affair was kicked out of the priesthood for being involved in a sex scandal with a woman who was stealing from the church.

He should have just got it on with the choir boys..he would still be a priest and they would have moved him to another Diocese and kept things quiet like.

Bishops have ZERO tolerance for their male priests having sex with mature and willing females..they dont play that shit! Instant defrocking.

[fr0d0]

Oh and I think I should add that since I wrote this article, the priest who told my wife that someone turning atheist is likely having an affair was kicked out of the priesthood for being involved in a sex scandal with a woman who was stealing from the church.

So does that validate or invalidate his words in yours or your wife's opinion?

[Doubting Thomas]

It certainly invalidates them in my opinion, but to me they were never valid to begin with. I mean, come on. Someone loses their faith not because of rational, critical, and logical thinking about religion, but only because they want to cheat on their spouse?

I haven't asked my wife if she thinks it invalidates his claim in her mind, but I'd prefer not to open that can of worms. She'd probably wonder why I brought it up after all this time.

[fr0d0]

Sorry I didn't read you correctly there. I'm sorry you had that experience. I guess that priest was acting contrary to their faith in a way no one could take lightly or dismiss easily. Talk about the guilty really speaking about themselves when judging others!