Questions for atheists / agnostics

[Roonwit]

I'm not sure where is best to put this thread, but this seems as good a place as any. I don't intend this to be a debate thread. Instead, I would like to understand atheists and atheism better, because I think we Christians often believe we know all about atheism, when actually we don't. So I'd like to learn about it from people who actually hold this view.

For the purposes of this thread, an 'atheist' can be defined as anyone who lives their life without reference to God, regardless of whether this is because they believe there is no God, don't know whether there is a God, or don't care about God. If you are in that category, I'd really like to hear from you.

Questions:

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

Thanks, I look forward to learning from your responses.

Roonwit

 

[Eudaimonist]

Thank you for your questions.

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

I was raised to be a Catholic, but I gradually became rationally enlightened in a way that led me from Christianity to disbelief and confirmed atheism.

The influence was philosophical. I can't pin that down any further. It is possible that my father's knowledge of Science (he was a research scientist) was a big factor, though he never explicitly attempted to deconvert me.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

I have heard plenty of Christian Apologetics, but nothing has given me any serious reason or motivation to stop being an atheist. Apologetics are generally unpersuasive. Quite often they are based on a poor understanding of Science, and seem more focused on keeping the flock from straying instead of appealing to atheists who actually understand Science.

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

Sure, one example I hear quite often is Pascal's Wager. My reason for disagreeing isn't even the problem of just how many religions, and hypothetical religions, might exist. It's really a matter of accepting intellectual and ethical integrity as ends-in-themselves in life. Beware the person who asks you to live inauthentically -- they want to steal your soul.

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

Yes, one example is the idea that atheists must be morally rudderless. I have well-developed ideas regarding morality and virtue that I take very seriously.

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

Atheism as such does precisely nothing. Atheism is just the lack of one belief. However, atheism is just a footnote to my philosophy of life.

I have accepted a form of metaphysical naturalism and a morally realistic virtue ethic. I'm not interested in making comparisons to Christianity, but I think that my philosophical worldview offers values to my life. For instance, I feel a sense of purpose, meaning, and value in life, and I am not afraid of death in the way that some people are.

I even regard myself as spiritual, though in a thoroughly naturalistic way (no belief in afterlives, disembodied souls, supernatural realms, etc).


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Questions:

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

I was a devout Christian for most of my life, up until very recently. My family were religious, but the extent of my own devotion went beyond my family's religiosity. I prayed daily, attended church services, joined a youth group, and once contemplated becoming a pastor or minister. Before embarking on university I seriously considered studying theology at a local Catholic university.

Although fervent in my faith, I was no fundamentalist. I did not read Genesis literally, I had long since abandoned the conventional doctrine of Hell, and I was mostly tolerant toward people of other faiths.

Being aware of the existence of nonbelievers, I was honestly dumbfounded at how anyone could not believe in a God. I could not conceive of myself becoming an atheist. The very thought was repugnant to me. I had imagined that atheism was like looking at the world through a broken lens: everything would appear cracked and contorted. I imagined that life as an atheist would be depressing; bereft of wonder, beauty and happiness.

During my undergraduate years I began to read more broadly. I wandered from theology into other areas that I hadn't previously considered. I also started having conversations with nonbelievers. These conversations helped to dislodge my preconceptions regarding what it would mean to be an atheist. It dawned on me that one need not view the world through a theological lens to wonder at the beauty of nature or to investigate its mysteries or to live a good life. From there, I gradually developed the courage to examine my own faith critically; a habit that eventually led to me losing my faith.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

To abandon atheism would require a convincing case for theism, which I have yet to encounter. Some theists think that atheists don't want to believe, and that their atheism is therefore a product of desire rather than sincere disbelief. Speaking for myself, if there is a God, I want to know about it. However, in my view, religion has been terribly unsuccessful in advancing a compelling and coherent case for a deity (or deities).

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

The arguments seem to wax and wane in popularity, but the two I hear most often are the cosmological and moral arguments. There are various reasons why I find them unconvincing, but I won't go into detail here. There are currently two active threads on these arguments that you can examine for yourself.

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

Yes, many. The most common one by far seems to be the assumption that atheism is equivalent to nihilism. I once assumed this myself. This assumption seems to be based on the belief that, for life to have any meaning, God must exist. Theists seem to expect atheists to believe this as well, leading to the assumption that an atheist must also be a nihilist.

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

I haven't really considered this question before, so I don't have an answer ready. In many ways, I am the same person I was before I lost my faith. In others, however, I am very different. Has my life improved? Perhaps, but I can't definitively say that it wouldn't have improved either way.

I suppose one improvement is my increased openness to ideas that I might have previously dismissed out of hand. Further, being forced to defend myself against charges of immorality and irrationality by theists has helped me to sharpen my thinking on these and other philosophical matters. In a way, it's also quite humbling, because I've had to admit to myself that, for many things, I don't know what the answer is. However, I'm not sure whether these developments are a result of my atheism per se, or whether they formed the catalyst for the gradual loss of my faith.

 

[JGG]

I'm not sure where is best to put this thread, but this seems as good a place as any. I don't intend this to be a debate thread. Instead, I would like to understand atheists and atheism better, because I think we Christians often believe we know all about atheism, when actually we don't. So I'd like to learn about it from people who actually hold this view.

For the purposes of this thread, an 'atheist' can be defined as anyone who lives their life without reference to God, regardless of whether this is because they believe there is no God, don't know whether there is a God, or don't care about God. If you are in that category, I'd really like to hear from you.

Questions:

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

I was brought up in a Christian household, and was religious until my early 20's. My spiritual crisis is long and boring, but the cheat notes version is: I found that the people who were informing my religious views were untrustworthy and questioned them until I was kicked out of church and home. I spent years reconsidering my beliefs and why I believed them. In the end I couldn't say I believed in God anymore.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

Yes, all the time. But not in favour of religion, and not really even theism.

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

So far all I have encountered. Mostly because it relies on me believing you. I don't. Another is that when we use certain words like God, soul, spirit, salvation, sin, good, evil, justice, etc, I don't know that we mean the same thing most of the time. Or that your concepts agree with other believers.

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

Yes. All of the misconceptions. There's too many to get into.

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

I like that I can ask questions now that I couldn't before. I like that I get to believe in what I believe in rather than struggle to conform to the beliefs others dictate to me. But I find I'm an atheist because of that, not the other way around.

 

[High Fidelity]

I'm not sure where is best to put this thread, but this seems as good a place as any. I don't intend this to be a debate thread. Instead, I would like to understand atheists and atheism better, because I think we Christians often believe we know all about atheism, when actually we don't. So I'd like to learn about it from people who actually hold this view.

For the purposes of this thread, an 'atheist' can be defined as anyone who lives their life without reference to God, regardless of whether this is because they believe there is no God, don't know whether there is a God, or don't care about God. If you are in that category, I'd really like to hear from you.

Questions:

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

Thanks, I look forward to learning from your responses.

Roonwit

Welcome to the forums and thank you for taking the time and consideration to ask us. A lot of people point the finger from both sides of the fence when there's a lot of ignorance and arrogance involved, so I applaud your proactive approach and desire to decide for yourself instead of following a crowd!

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

Personally, I think we're born Atheist/Agnostic; We don't have the cognitive or intellectual capacity to determine whether there is or isn't a God at that stage, so in that sense, I always was one.

As for what brought about that position, well, I was raised, I suppose, in an Agnostic household; There were certainly no expectations to go to church and conversely there were no expectations to shun or disbelieve what I may encounter of a theological nature, but that's probably because of minimal exposure never prompted my parents or family to differentiate between perceived right or wrong.

I had gone to church hmm, maybe once, with a friend's family, but that was it. I was incredibly young and the only thing I can remember was trying to blow out the candles on the altar (Yes, I was a problem child lol).

That said, I think the only ties I'd still have to religion right now even if I had been raised going to church every Sunday would be an emotional attachment to an understandably huge part of my life, especially if you can imagine how large a part of someone's life it becomes when it's something they've always known. I think eventually I'd arrive at my current position.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

Yes and I did. I was Christian for maybe 3 years. I'd been having the idea in my mind for quite a while, but I think I rushed into it and eventually left Christianity(and all religions, revealed or otherwise) because I couldn't reconcile with what I did and still do consider to be a lack of evidence.

At the time I couldn't and still couldn't just settle for origins as we know it. I love science, don't get me wrong... I believe in the Big Bang Theory and I believe in the Theory of Evolution, but that still didn't, and still doesn't, explain what happened before or how.

Was that some mental epiphany? Not necessarily, but it pushed me a little closer to theism and at that stage I think I became a product of my environment; Christianity is the local religion here in the UK and I suppose that felt like the next step I'd take.

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

Ironically, given my previous statement about origins, I don't like the argument that the unexplained = God did it. I think that's an aspect we'll never fully know, but may choose to have faith in and believe nonetheless.
I just don't like when it's stated unequivocally and demonstrably as fact.

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

One thing that particularly grinds my gears is the presupposition that lack of faith equates to immorality and a host of other nasties. Not only is it ridiculous, it's incredibly hypocritical given the number of people labelling themselves Christian whilst arguably being the most un-Christ-like and, without doubt, worst people I've ever suffered the misfortune of meeting.

There are rotten apples in every orchard and anyone that has read and claims to use the Bible as a reference on how they should conduct themselves should know better than to throw the stone at all, much less first.

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

I don't think it improves my life but I don't think it makes it any worse either. Life is what you make of it and that applies to people of every faith or no faith at all.

 

[WoundedDeep]

I really like that Roonwit started this thread in an attempt to understand the reasons why people disbelieve in God. Thank you for your work.

Though this is a thread primarily for atheists (and I welcome their inputs), I hope to bring in some perceptions too, especially for those who once were theists but became atheists.

For people who were born in atheist families, I can say I pretty much know what it means to live with atheism never having known or believed in any God. I consider my own conversion a miracle because my parents were strict atheists who never thought for one second I should be a Christian. So what was it that brought me to God? Suffering. Unlikely it may seem, but that's the reality of my experience. Before I became a Christian, I was struggling with depression, hatred, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts and social withdrawal for 6-7 years. My family was a mess, my father was a bad tempered man who would threaten to kill my mom and I if any one of us provoked him. He would smash things in the house and raise his voice with a menacing look on his face. I was living in such fear since the age of 7. The emotional effect on me was huge, I thought of taking away my life but never had the courage to do it. It was at this lowest point in my life that I was brought to God, and the very first time I felt relief. I didn't even know who Jesus is, but I know the moment I heard His name I had a heavy weight lifted off me. I stopped hating and being depressed that very moment, that was what convinced me my experience is real to a tee and that there is a God who loves me.

You could imagine then that this is what made me believe for so long, because that experience alone was so convincing to me I couldn't doubt it. (and that was just one of the experiences I had with God) What are the odds that a Name alone could remove years of hatred and depression? None unless it is a Name so powerful that it alone can change things. Could anyone convince me then my faith in God is futile? No.

For people who were ex-theists, there is nothing inherently wrong with critically evaluating what you are being taught in churches or by theologians. In fact, the first few years of my belief was spent in debating/discussing with non-believers and even religious believers of other faiths about my faith and their faith. Since I couldn't be taught in any church (not allowed to visit any church), I read the Bible and prayed like a complete beginner. (You can imagine the confusion as an atheist upon seeing the 66 books of the Bible for the first time) Then when I discuss my faith with others, I began to understand the Bible more. Unlike most Christians, I understood the Bible through prayer and critical discussion with others. I too question what a particular verse means, but instead of relying on theologians and church leaders, I rely on inspiration from God Himself.

The more I discussed with others, the deeper I understood what the Bible was talking about, and subsequently, my faith increased. Why? Because I know I couldn't have understood verses in the Bible on my own or from the teachings of men (since I was wholly untaught in terms of theology). Any inspiration I got in a moment of discussion, it only validated the Bible more. That is a confirmation that the understanding came from God Himself. This understanding never left me nor did it change even though I am years into my Christian faith.

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To be convinced of God, one needs to be wholly untaught of men (or religion) and ready to examine what the Bible says with no preconceived ideas. Now I don't say this is the only way (God saves people who live under different circumstances), but I do believe that if we rely solely on what men or theologians say, we cannot be fully convinced in our own mind that the Bible is true. I am grateful to God even now that I was allowed to have this mind without preconceived ideas when I read and studied the Bible.

It is a sad reality that not all churches preach the true Gospel, and that not all churches have God's presence. If the leaders of the church do not have God's anointing or His presence among them, no message they preach will have any actual effect on the hearers. That is why many churchgoers are merely sitting in the pews, listening to a sermon just like listening to a seminar. There is no presence of God there, how then could they be moved to believe?

A church assembly moved by God is one whereby believers are in sincere worship and love for God, and if there are any sinners among them, they get convicted of their sin and cry out to God for forgiveness. If you enter a church building and everyone seems business-like or bored or just politically correct, then most likely God is not among them.

True Christians are marked by sincerity, a humble attitude and a life striving for holiness according to God's standards. They aren't perfect or above the rest of humanity, but through conversation and conduct, you can see that they know what they believe and live life with a new purpose. Early Christians were inspirations for the unbelievers around them, they could see that Christians were different in their lifestyles and were model citizens of gentleness and integrity wherever they lived. Sadly, this is rarely observed in today's world.

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As much as this forum is for arguments and debates, arguments in itself cannot convince anyone to believe in God, I am aware of this and that is why when I realise that both parties are going nowhere, I stop my discussion so as not to get one another heated up unnecessarily.

I speak only for myself, but I often find atheists' arguments irrational because they are open to almost all new concepts about outer space beings or life forms (even if they break the laws of physics), but they seem to close their minds to the concept that there is a God who breaks the laws of physics. This is where I see a biased inclination against theism and I get a little frustrated. I also get frustrated when atheists always seem to want more evidence for God but never seem to slow down and examine whatever evidence is already before them.

If atheists could really discard ideas that they read and learn from fellow atheists, I believe they will be able to truly examine and test the validity of the Christian faith correctly.

 

[DogmaHunter]

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

As in 99.99% of cases out there, your religious beliefs, if you have any, are related to your upbringing.

My mother had a catholic upbringing, but she never took it seriously (at least, that's what I hear from both her and family). Today, she actually says she's atheist if she is asked. Her parents though, were rather religious. So there definatly was that pressure to raise us as catholics.

My dad however, is a muslim immigrant. He's not a practicing one either. He doesn't give a rat's behind about halal food, doesn't participate in ramadan and it's been decades since he's been in a mosque.

Anyhow, when I was a baby, there was that conflict of what to do... baptise or not? Circumsice or not? And in school, what was I going to take as class? Christian Religion or Islamic Religion?

We ended up having neither upbringing. Instead, they opted for a secular education and agreed to leave it up to us once we were old enough to actually understand it and make an informed decision.

Thing is though... if you don't feed these stories to people when they are still a child... It becomes increasingly harder to make them believe it when they get older. First time I held a bible and koran, I was about 16-17. To me, it sounds the exact same as any other mythological story. Be it Thor, Zeus or whatever.

So, long story short: always have been an atheist I guess.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

I feel this misrepresents what atheism is.
There's nothing in atheism to "abandone". You don't need to do or buy into something to be an atheist.

You can abandone theistic beliefs or you can adopt them.
But no, I have never seen any reason to adopt theistic beliefs.

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

The "fine-tuning" / design argument. It (along with several other arguments) implies the universe is "too complex" or "too perfect for us" to be natural, which - when it comes down to it - is just a combination of a appeal to ignorance, special pleading and incredulity.

Another one would be kalaam and the variations thereof, which makes unsupported premises and in some cases even demonstrably false premises.

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

Yes. Like I had to to with question 2. Atheism is not a belief. Atheism isn't trying to sell anything. Atheism is not a world view. Atheism is not a doctrine.

Theism is those things. Atheism is what you end up with by default if you don't do the things you need to do to be a theist.

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way?

Not believing things on bad evidence improves my life.

Being an atheist is a result of that mindset. Just like not believing in Thor, Santa, Unicorns, Bigfoot, alien abduction and Elvis still being alive is a result of that mindset.

Atheism by itself has no effect on my life.

(eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?)

I don't find inspiration, morality or purpose in beliefs that I do not have.

Do you find "inspiration, morality or purpose" in your lack of belief that Thor causes thunder? Surely you must undestand that this question is rather meaningless.

I'll answer like this:
Atheism does not inhibit me from finding inspiration, morality and purpose in my life through various means.

And I'll add to that that if we would dig deep into your mind, we'ld find out that your religion doesn't give you the inspiration, morality or purpose that you think it does. And that the actual source of that stuff will be pretty similar to my case and indeed any other human.

Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

Exactly.

Think about the impact that your unbelief in the existance of Thor has on your life. If you don't like Thor, then replace "Thor" with any other thing you can think of that you don't believe exists. Now consider that I feel about your god the exact same way.

It can't be hard to relate to it... There is literally no limit to the amount of things you don't believe exists, except the limit that is imposed by the size of your imagination.

Thanks, I look forward to learning from your responses.

I hope I lived up to your expectations.

 

[Ken-1122]

Questions:

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

I was raised in a Christian family. When I was young and was okay with taking everyone’s word for it, I was okay; but as I grew older and attempted to get to know God for myself, read and understand the Bible, and pray; my natural skepticism kicked in and realized I was unable to believe what I was taught about God and what was written in the Bible. When prayer didn’t work; I eventually lost my faith and no longer believed.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

I’ve never considered going back to Christianity again; however I do miss many of the relationships I had that were built around Christianity.

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

When people claim if you seek God you will find him; then they quote bible verses that confirm their claim.

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

*That atheism is a belief system
*That atheist believe everything science and Darwin tells us
*Because some other atheist believes something, I am supposed to believe it too!
*That atheist don’t want to believe because they want to behave badly

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

Thanks, I look forward to learning from your responses.

Roonwit

The lack of guilt and fear has made my life much easier.
I remember as a teenager when I was going thru puberty; even though I had never had sex; my natural high sex drive would cause my body to react against my will whenever I was around an attractive woman or girl. This I was convinced was a sin.
I remember reading in the Bible where it said (paraphrasing) “if your eye causes you to sin; it would be better to pluck it out because it would be better to enter heaven with only one eye than to go to Hell with both.”
At that time I didn’t have the audacity blind myself, but I wished I did because my eyes was causing me to sin; and because I was too scared to obey God's word; I hated myself even more.

Sometimes I look back and see what I went through as a Christian; I feel graceful I actual made it out alive

Ken

 

[quatona]

I'm not sure where is best to put this thread, but this seems as good a place as any. I don't intend this to be a debate thread. Instead, I would like to understand atheists and atheism better, because I think we Christians often believe we know all about atheism, when actually we don't. So I'd like to learn about it from people who actually hold this view.

For the purposes of this thread, an 'atheist' can be defined as anyone who lives their life without reference to God, regardless of whether this is because they believe there is no God, don't know whether there is a God, or don't care about God. If you are in that category, I'd really like to hear from you.

Questions:

Thanks for asking.

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

I have been raised Catholic, and by the age of 14/15 I realized that I didn´t believe.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

"Abandoning atheism" sounds strange to me. Atheism isn´t anything.
No, I have never been close to hold religious convictions.

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

To be honest, I find pretty much all of them utterly unconvincing.
I´ve spent a lot of time discussing every single one of the arguments here, and I think this can´t be done briefly. Sorry.

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

Most basically, I am time and again baffled by the idea that atheism is a world-view, belief-system, something that is meaningful or significant to me - while it actually just tells you one thing that I am not. Therefore it always surprises me when theists try to tackle atheism instead of giving arguments for their particular beliefs.

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

The latter, most definitely.

 

[essentialsaltes]

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

I like to say that I *realized* I was an atheist when I was about 10. My family was nominally religious, but we were not churchgoers. I suppose I believed in a god, because people around me talked about him. But it was not really a considered belief.

When I was 10, I had something of an unreligious experience, where I had a sudden moment of clarity where it became obvious to me that I didn't actually believe that any gods existed, and it was equally clear that souls do not exist.

Some of the inputs that may have spurred this reaction include some knowledge of people of other religions. All of them sincere believers, and all mutually contradictory beliefs. And the death of a pet.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

I've retained an interest in religion, the supernatural, the paranormal. I pursued more information about them, but the results of the investigation were that there was nothing in any of them. So I wouldn't say I ever came close to abandoning atheism, but I did search long and hard for any reasons to do so. And came up empty.

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

All of them, I guess!

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

Oh my, yes. Indeed that's one of the main reasons I participate in religious forums like this one... to dispel myths about atheists.

Atheists worship Satan, themselves, science...
Atheists really know gods exist, deep down inside.
Atheists are immoral.
Atheists are hedonists.
and so on.

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

Closer to not fishing. But I might actually turn things around. Atheism is not something that improves my life, but is the result of something else more fundamental that improves my life.

My study of religion, the supernatural, the paranormal turned me from a weak to strong believer in various aspects of these things into a skeptic. Accepting beliefs only when sufficient evidence has been presented has improved my life. I am not taken in by scams, or snake oil, and at least have some defenses against political rhetoric and empty shibboleths. Because I am skeptical, I am an atheist.

If I had to point to a benefit from being an atheist, it would be more directed at particular religions. Some of them involve various forms of social control to keep women down, or poor people down, or gay people down. Be content in this life, for your reward will come in the next. You are less worthy than that person. God hates you. Although I wasn't likely to be the target of that kind of suppression or control, atheism could certainly liberate people who suffer from these burdens.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I feel this misrepresents what atheism is.
There's nothing in atheism to "abandon". You don't need to do or buy into something to be an atheist.

You can abandon theistic beliefs or you can adopt them.

QFT.

Not believing things on bad evidence improves my life.

Being an atheist is a result of that mindset. Just like not believing in Thor, Santa, Unicorns, Bigfoot, alien abduction and Elvis still being alive is a result of that mindset.

I wrote my response blind without having read the others, but this is exactly what I meant about skepticism being the more fundamental quality, and that atheism flows from it, rather than benefits flowing from atheism.

 

[keith99]

...

Oh my, yes. Indeed that's one of the main reasons I participate in religious forums like this one... to dispel myths about atheists.

Atheists worship Satan, themselves, science...
Atheists really know gods exist, deep down inside.
Atheists are immoral.
Atheists are hedonists.
and so on.
...

You left out my favorite. That atheists are ignorant regarding Scripture. As others have pointed out the problem is many atheists have actually read the entire Bible.

 

[Albion]

I'm not sure where is best to put this thread, but this seems as good a place as any. I don't intend this to be a debate thread. Instead, I would like to understand atheists and atheism better, because I think we Christians often believe we know all about atheism, when actually we don't. So I'd like to learn about it from people who actually hold this view.

While Atheists are free to answer your questions, this IS a debate and discussion forum where Christians have as much right to discuss the issues as do Atheists.

 

[Cute Tink]

So I'd like to learn about it from people who actually hold this view.

Great approach. For the record, while I don't believe in any gods, I also just don't care anymore.

1) Have you always been an atheist, or did you become one? If you became one, could you outline the journey that brought you to atheism. If you have always been an atheist, could you outline the influences that brought that about (eg. the attitudes of family, friends, teachers, etc towards theistic belief).

I used to believe in God and I actually asked to go to church as a kid, but I found the experience boring. In middle school, someone asked me and I realized that I just didn't really anymore. I didn't feel the presence of any god, so, by high school, I identified as an atheist. I tried going back to church again when I was 16, but I just didn't believe in a God anymore.

2) Have you ever come close or given serious consideration to abandoning atheism? If so, what were the reasons / arguments that you found most convincing for theism / religion?

I don't find any arguments particularly convincing, but I believe people have solid personal reasons for believing in God.

3) What arguments for theism / religion do you hear a lot but find completely unconvincing? Can you briefly explain why?

Any arguments claiming that a particular God is a necessity for the existence of everything or that anything is perfect for the existence of people. Mostly it's the blatant misrepresentation of the alternatives that I find insulting.

4) Are there any misconceptions that you find that theists / religious people often have about atheism / atheists, which you often find yourself having to explain?

Mainly it's the belief that atheists are atheists because of a rebellion against or a hatred of God. That we really do believe but we don't want to be held accountable or want to be our own god. There is also the "atheists don't believe in anything" lie that I have seen plenty of.

5) Do you feel that being an atheist improves your life in some way? (eg. does it help you to be more moral, give you a sense of purpose, inspire you?) Or is it just an absence of God, with no significance for you, as not fishing is to a person who doesn't go fishing?

Essentially insignificant. I really don't think about it much, except here. I have a moral code that I mostly got from society and I follow it by choice because I have to live with myself.

 

[WoundedDeep]

You left out my favorite. That atheists are ignorant regarding Scripture. As others have pointed out the problem is many atheists have actually read the entire Bible.

By ignorance, it means atheists don't understand the Scriptures fully and correctly. Reading the Bible does not equate correct understanding, if you don't believe in a book's author, there is no way you can correctly understand what the author means.

 

[keith99]

By ignorance, it means atheists don't understand the Scriptures fully and correctly. Reading the Bible does not equate correct understanding, if you don't believe in a book's author, there is no way you can correctly understand what the author means.

Oh and this garbage. Only Christians can understand Scripture which basically translates to anyone believing differently is defined as being wrong.

Anyone making the same argument regarding any other book would be laughed off the stage. Scripture says what it says.

Oh and those last 2 are not something I came up with, they are the thoughts of one of the most influential Christian writers of the last 100 years.

 

[Percivale]

Just want to mention I identify with the responses to question 4. There are so many misconceptions going around among people that mostly associate only with those who agree with them, especially in religious groups. Indeed I identify with many of the other answers. I'm a skeptical type too, and don't agree with all I was brought up with. I do, of course, find some theistic arguments convincing, in a probabilistic way, but find others quite unconvincing.

 

[WoundedDeep]

Oh and this garbage. Only Christians can understand Scripture which basically translates to anyone believing differently is defined as being wrong.

Anyone making the same argument regarding any other book would be laughed off the stage. Scripture says what it says.

Oh and those last 2 are not something I came up with, they are the thoughts of one of the most influential Christian writers of the last 100 years.

Unfortunately, it IS a fact that any book cannot be understood correctly unless you are closely acquainted with the author. If you wrote a book today, can you guarantee that people 2000 years later will understand exactly what you meant? No, because people will interpret your words differently. That's not garbage, that's reality.

The Scripture is even more special, because it has a spiritual meaning to its literal words. To take the Scriptures literally is already a path of error.

 

[Belk]

Unfortunately, it IS a fact that any book cannot be understood correctly unless you are closely acquainted with the author. If you wrote a book today, can you guarantee that people 2000 years later will understand exactly what you meant? No, because people will interpret your words differently. That's not garbage, that's reality.

The Scripture is even more special, because it has a spiritual meaning to its literal words. To take the Scriptures literally is already a path of error.

No, that is what is known as an opinion.

 

[keith99]

Unfortunately, it IS a fact that any book cannot be understood correctly unless you are closely acquainted with the author. If you wrote a book today, can you guarantee that people 2000 years later will understand exactly what you meant? No, because people will interpret your words differently. That's not garbage, that's reality.

The Scripture is even more special, because it has a spiritual meaning to its literal words. To take the Scriptures literally is already a path of error.

A lot of best selling authors will be rather distressed to learn from your great store of knowledge. Guess they should all stop trying to write entirely as only those who already know them can understand what they write anyway!

I can guarantee that if I wrote something that survives 2000 years and gets translated the person who bothers to learn about the customs and expressions of my time will understand it far better than someone who feels some spiritual connection to me and does not do those things.

And if what i wrote is constructed from old texts in a different language the one who at least knows which verses were actually there in the earliest texts will fare much better than those who never learn some did not show up until several hundreds of years later. Or worse yet learn that and still cite a verse because they like it.