R there any Christians out there that grew up atheist? like your parents were atheists?
467879
Mother Christian. Father athiest.  They argued a lot over Adam and Eve VS Evolution.  My dad would win the arguments just because he was smarter.  I started out as an evolutionist, but I studied both sides of the issues and came to my own conclusion including evolution and scientific creationism.  I can argue with any evolutionist and either win or hold my ground now.  Never did have the discussion with my dad though because he left when I was 9.  He recently converted to Christianity and expects me to forget the abandonment.  I can't bring myself to act like nothing happened.\nSo did you have something you wanted to know? or just a poll?  You can email if there's something else you're after.
757356
You bet I did. I've probably been atheistic in my beliefs for 10-15 years, but only managed to truly embrace it this year.\n\nI struggled off and on with my doubts fo years, too, since I was a teenager. I grew up in a small Midwestern town of less than 1500 people. Everybody knew everybody else and everybody was either Lutheran or Catholic. Growing up, I didn't know ANYBODY who wasn't either, let alone didn't believe at all. Kids made FUN of those who didn't go to church every week. No, I wasn't one of them, I just knew kids who did.\n\nThe atmosphere here is still, in a way, like things were back in the 50s. People are generally polite, friendly, and trusting, honest folk, God-fearing. People unfortunately also keep some of those lingering prejudices from those days, even those that are my age. For example, my best friend in high school is a devout Catholic. Nothing wrong with that, was never an issue. However, within a year or two of graduation, she was pregnant out of wedlock. This was a gal who, as a teenager, denounced her own parents to me because they had her older brother out of wedlock. She loved her son and the father stayed with her and they eventually married.\n\nBut the point is, they didn't have much money to get married right away. When I saw her maybe 6-9 months after her first son was born and she showed me her engagement band, she told me that her son "would now have a father". Didn't outright use the b-word, but you know damn well what she meant. I don't know ANYONE my age who would still call a child of theirs born out of wedlock a b-strd, nor insinuate it. But she did. So that's an example of some of the outdated things people still have around here and it's worse for atheists.\n\nGrowing up, having another faith besides Christianity was bad enough, it was worse to NOT have faith at all. There was a stigma(and still is to a point) that atheists are selfish, sinful people who like to drink, smoke, do drugs, sleep around, etc. They also have the lovely stigma that atheists are Commies(more proof that people still think like it's 1954 around here at times), worship Satan, sacrifice babies, and burn Bibles.\n\nTo a point, I grew up thinking that atheists were angry, dark, evil, frightening people. When I started doubting, I fought it and I fought it hard. I didn't want to be associated with that sort of stereotype. I didn't want people to think I did those things because there's no WAY I'd do any of it. I'm not that kind of person.\n\nSo I doubted and desperately tried to find faith, find any reason at all to believe in God and like what I was taught. Didn't find it. So, seeing as how I was grown up, in college, had lots of friends from bigger cities who were of different faiths, I tried that. I tried looking into Buddhism and Wicca, hoping that if I couldn't find God in Christianity, I could find it somewhere else. Didn't work either. I was scared of being stereotyped, scared of letting the family down, scared of letting God down if he existed, wondering at times why I was made to doubt if God created me and wanted me to believe in him. The usual stuff.\n\nAfter several years of it, I just gave up caring and trying. I figured I'd let religion find me instead of exhausting myself trying to find it. Figured that sooner or later, if there was a religion for me, I'd find it. Lots of fights with the family, lots of humiliation and strife over me being "not Christian".\n\nThe final "puppet string" as it were, I suppose, was my cousin. Up until this February, I kept it quiet, just didn't care or worry about it. I've dealt with lots of nastiness in the family about being not "good enough", even when I WAS a believer and my cousin and his mother were the two biggest instigators. They were the ones who kept attacking and demonizing and humiliating me in front of the family.\n\nMy aunt,
1105655
Catholicism.\nAnd yes I have, which is why I'm an Atheist.
891887
I had a friend who was muslim and became atheist.  He literally sought political asylum to prevent having to return to his homeland and his family because he would have been killed.\n\nFor him, it was the same as everyone who becomes atheist -- development of knowledge, logic, and reason, and the slow recognition of the illogic of religion.\n\nHe's been in the USA for six years now and he's doing great, I'm happy to report, though his family disowned him for obvious reasons.  Last he heard, there was a price on his head -- payable in full by his own father.\n\nYeah.  GREAT religion, that.
191341
Hello The Great an... :)\n\nI was not raised in a Chrisitan home..my dad was an alcholic..my mom used to abuse us with a belt..If I listened to my mom and my dad, I would still be an atheist..\n\nI was not afraid of going to hell (I did not believe it existed)..I did not believe that heaven existed either (God was not real to me)..\n\nI tried the Wiccan religion..it had no answers for my drug addiction..or for taking away the feeling of loneliness..I did not like the idea of any god or godesses'..for if they were real, my life would not have a hell here on earth..\n\nI also tried Buddism..it said you have to find yourself within to change..that was the problem I was having..I could not change my self..No matter how much I tried.. :(\n\nI could not have followed the marjority..because before I asked Jesus into my heart, I did not even know that Christians were the marjority..I did not even want to know..I hated Christians..because they were sicky sweet..telling everyone that Jesus Loved them..they did not know how to have fun in life, they lived boring lives..\n\nThen one day, I just could not take life anymore (I was going to kill myself that day)..\n\nMy brother came over on Sundays to take my children to Church..he asked me if I wanted to go..I told him I was not dressed, he said he would wait for me..So I went to the Jesus Freaks Church (that is what I called them)..I cursed the Pastor..all he did is tell me that he Loved me and so did Jesus..I said I would be coming back next Sunday to curse him out again..\n\nThe following Sunday before I was able to say anything the Pastor asked if anyone wanted to be baptised that afternoon..before I knew what I was doing, my arm went up into the air..I was baptized that afternoon..\n\nThe next morning I was quoting scriptures from the Bible (I had never even read it before)..my oldest daughter came down the stairs and I said to her, I Love you and for the first time in my life, I felt Love for my little girl, she came running to me and we hugged each other, I was crying, because you see, I used to abuse my little girl.. :(\n\nI was immediately set free from drugs, greed, hatred, anger, self pity, lust, and fear of what tomorrow may bring..\n\nNo one, had ever able to give me total peace within my heart..or given me a reason to live..nor have they ever been able to fill the emptiness within..\n\nUntil that one day on August 28, 1978..when I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life and forgive me of my sins..for if one asks with a sincere heart, your sins will be washed away and you will feel as clean and as white as snow..a veil shall be lifted from your eyes..then and only then will anyone believe that:\n\nJohn 3\n\n16  ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.\n \n17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.\n \n===========================================================\n\nThank-you for asking this question.. :)\n\nIn Jesus Most Precious Name..\nWith Love..In Christ..
469015
I was raised as a Christian, because my Dad is a Lutheran pastor.  I follow the Bible explicitly, but I do study other religions in order to better debate with people.
717849
Why do you ask such a question? Anyway, born and raised a christian. I know I'm answering your question, but tell me this, would that matter to you, if you met a decent, respectful person of a religion different from your own?
714236
I know how you feel. I am an atheist with family who are superchristians. I have faded away from them. It is sad in a way but you cannot be happy being around people who think that they are better than you and are cooly polite. I don't need this kind of family. Life is too short to spend any part of it being unhappy when you don't have to.
910615
I called myself a Christian for years.  I wasn't really but I didn't know it at the time.  My mother was Catholic & dad was atheiest.  After husband's death I became a Wiccan.  I studied all sorts of reiligions because I wanted to understand everyone:), I know it's impossible but I have tried.  I became a born again Christian November 2001.  I try to quit putting God in a box and dusting Him off when I want something.  I try to follow the guidelines in the Bible and live as Christ, loving all and praying for all.  Somedays I really just stink at it, I am a work in progress.
701060
I am very respectful toward people who are Believers.\n\nEveryone in my family believes in God, but even if they didn't I would still be respectful.\n\nI've come to being an atheist after years of searching and trying to believe but not being able to convince myself....so this did not just happen over night.\n\nPlease do not paint us with the same brush. All atheists are not the same nor to we want to be.
1128202
I used to be an atheist. real hadcore stuff too, denying Jesus, questioning the existance of the supernatural, baspheming the holy spirit, thinking that all religions are man-made superstitions oft used for duping the weak minded. I would trust  "facts" and listen to "Reason". \n\nAnd then one day I felt something. a feeling inside my body that filled me with a pulsing force. A rythmic pounding form inside. tha-thump tha-thump tha-thump. Almost like there was a pump inside my chest that was somehow pushing the blood to all the furthest reaches of my extremities and back again. It was then that i knew that i was right, there is no god after all :)
399928
Only according to the Christians. Therefore as an Atheist, I would be classed as a disciple of the Devil, which would be difficult because I don't believe in God or the Devil in the first place. So how can I be classed as something that I believe doesn't exist? Obviously the Christians are a bunch of f**king liars :)
780472
Could atheists call themselves atheists if they formed a religion,  dude that's deep.... pass the bong....  what were we talking about  *cough*  *cough*
1158382
My not believing in god comes from me. I was raised to think, believe whatever I wanted. I was exposed through my life to most religions, beliefs, sciences, and theories. After looking at all, I chose. I used logic, and observations to make my decision, atheism was the choice. I came into life a clean mind with no beliefs, and over time made my own, but only after many years. Most of the theories I believe are my own, and I am the only one who believes them. The only influence on my beliefs is me, my thought.
1089479
Hello fearlessweirdo..:)\n\nI used to be an Atheist..so I can answer your question..\n\nWe are a humble people, putting others needs before that of our own..We are gracious, Loving, caring, kind and gentle..\n\nA true believer in Christ..thinks not of what is best for them..but what is best for others..\n\nThe reality is, that Jesus lived a sinnless life, He died for our sins, and that He rose again..and sits at the right hand of God our Father.. :)\n\nSo now my answer to you is..how can an Atheist find Jesus.. :)\n\nFor He is the way the truth and the Life.. :)\n\nFor whom the Son hath set Free is Free Indeed..Glory..Alleluia\n\nIn Jesus Most Precious Name..\nWith Love..In Christ..
24950
No. "Believing" in a religion because you were raised to isn't really believing, it is more of just following tradition- and SOOOO many people do that just because of what it is. There is usually no belief involved, just walking a walk because that's what's always been done.  That is a lot easier than actually having to know/study/learn what something is and believing.   :-)
919797
i was born an atheist (without belief in god(s) as everyone is, taught Catholicism (Christianity with saints), and then born again atheist for 20 years.\n\nbelievers are born without belief also, but they are taught to believe in one form or another, usually starting at early childhood.\n\nit's hard to shake the effects of brainwashing when it starts so young. some, like myself, are lucky to break free of the superstition.