Why Atheism?

[THUNDERCOCK]

Were you raised by your parents to be an Atheist? Have you conducted scientific experiments designed to disprove the existence of God? Did Father Mahoney touch your pee pee in Sunday School?

Tell us, why have you chosen Atheism? Don't post links to other websites to explain your views. I would like to hear YOUR personal reasons and experiences for concluding that Atheism is right for YOU. Use that thing on top of your neck. It's not an ornament.

I would like to know why YOU are an Atheist.

Ok? Discuss!

[Kykeon]

My parents rose me as nothing, taking me to various churches (and a mosque) so that I could make an informed decision by myself when I was ready. My father is an atheist (though he never mentioned it until I told him what I believed) and my mother was raised Catholic, now an agnostic.

I "chose" atheism becuase it made the most sense. I struggled briefly through a few religions (none of the were Christianity. That one seemed the most rediculous to me pretty much off the bat) before I started really listening to what scientists had to say. It occured to me that scientists had evidence to back up what they were saying, while religions had only the words of these old books. It didn't take long after that for me to recognize myself as a full-fledged atheist.

EDIT: A few grammar/spelling mistakes.

Another thought: atheism and science made more sense to me because science uses logic and religions use faith. I've never put to much stock in faith.

[This message has been edited by Kykeon (edited 01-25-2007).]

[boozehound420]

I wasnt raised as anything. I dont even remember my parents having a discussion with me about the subject other then saying theres a heaven. I've had conversations with my mom who ses she's Christian. She feels intimidated to express her views because me and my older brother ended up pretty strong atheists, she feels left alone. Same with my little brother. He does believe in a god, the only thing different with him is my mom put him into a private christian school for grade 8,9. My dad doesnt talk about it but if I try and guess what to call his views it'd be agnostic.

Ive always been good at science, never persued it more then highschool though. I tutoured most of my friends at school, and everybody hated me for it because i would come reaking like weed or in pain from drinking 50% booze all night the day before(happend ALOT). I wouldnt do homework and would ACE tests. The only way i can explain being good at science and math is being able to rationalize everything good and Instantly being able to look past what you first see and go throught the data again quikly.

Thats the only real answer I could give to as why i can see all the holes and bullshit in religion.

[easeoflife22]

I'm an athiest because I don't believe in imaginary things. I don't have to do experiments to disprove god, cause nothing has been presented to me to suggest that one exists. Numerous experiments have been done that point to multiple flaws in all religious texts therefore they have little to no credibility. To follow a religion, I'd have to ignore numerable truths and logic, but with atheism, I have to ignore nothing. Pretty much anyone who has the balls to criticise their religion will no longer believe because it doesn't make any damn sense. I was taken to church as a child but my parents decided to not take me again when I asked my mom, "what's wrong with these people", during the service. Also the church seemed more concerned with getting a percentage of my dad's paycheck than saving our souls. Basically I never went to another service because I'm a free-thinker and won't accept lies just because it's in a old book revered by stupid people.

[CreamOfWarholSoup]

Ignorance.

[LostCause]

My parents raised me Messianic Jew. A lot of people think Jews For Jesus is some kind of crazy Heavens Gate cult, but in actuality it's the basis of Christianity. The first Christians were Messianic Jews.

I was very interested religion from an early age and had already read the bible before starting first grade. I continuously badgered my parents to take me to different churches and temples and religious functions. I begged them to take me to see Benny Hinn Ministries and actually dressed as Tammy Faye for fifth grade Halloween. Genuinely scary pictures, hahaha.

But, over the years I acquired so much from all kinds of different religions that I found that I believed in them all the same. Every one I came across taught good basic values, had great stories with good morals, and ultimately taught me a whole lot about life and the world around me. And one thing I found in common with all religions is that I just genuinely didn't believe in their god. All the gods seem too mystical for me.

Science is my god and in my opinion it doesn't get any more holy than that. But, it doesn't stop me from believing that religion has a place in spirituality and in the world. I think it's a beautiful thing that can help people a lot and teach people a lot. I wish I believed more.

Cheers,

Lost

[flatplat]

Most of what I learnt of their religion came from my grandmother’s generation and RE at school. My parents are both very apathetic to religion.

It never really made sense to me. As I grew older, my parents continued to reassure me that there is no such thing as magic and encouraged rational thinking. And here I was in RE class, learning about these miracle people that all seemed to be exceptions to the rules. There's even a man that comes back from the dead and that just seemed illogical. (My pet quail didn't come back to life after being slaughtered by rats )

As I progressed in school, RE and the older members of my family were being contradicted more and more often by simple things I learnt in other classes. By the time I was 9, I had unceremoniously dumped religion into the same pile as witches, fairies and Santa Clause and had started getting into the natural sciences.

When I was 13, I decided that perhaps I had been a bit harsh, and started looking a little more into religion again. I read the NT and parts of the OT and found myself unconvinced. To belive in what I had read would require huge leaps of imagination and faith that I didn’t have in me.

I didn’t bother looking into very many other religions after that (I read a bit into Buddhism, and that was it) So many different groups and fractions claiming they were right. And all requiring that I put part of logic and rationality behind me. So back in with Santa they all went.

Ever since then, I have been more and more convinced that there is no such thing as a higher power, and that the world can run without one.

[random_jew]

This must have already been said but I don't send my time preaching to god not because of some inner injustifications but because I chose not to. As said in some earlier post i randomly glanced, I prefer facts and not theories to shape my world.

For example, I'd prefer the Big Bang theory over Islam (What I would be if my parents actually cared about what I believe in.)

I'm not saying Islam is terrible, I would personally think of it as the best religion if it wasn't for its unnecessary fundamental ways.

Religion has saved no lives (literally speaking) instead millions have died for it's name. Please don't set up an argument but I believe religion was the perfect place to resort to in the earlier times, for example the time of Alexander but not when we can probably prove most of the "miracles" that caused people to adapt the ways of books that have probably been twisted a dozen times from the original.

Too Long/Didn’t Edit

EDIT: Just thought of something,

Why Atheism?

Why not?

[This message has been edited by random_jew (edited 01-26-2007).]

[xray]

quote:Originally posted by THUNDERCOCK:

Have you conducted scientific experiments designed to disprove the existence of God?

Did you learn nothing in the other thread of yours? Proof is a reasonable requirement to believe in something, not to be absent of belief.

[Gorcrow]

I am an atheist because I know better than to believe the lies of religion.

There is no god.