Fellow atheists, tell me how you came to be a non-believer?
492819
I was raised catholic, spent k-seventh grade in catholic school. \npreteen rebellion brought me to start looking into other religions, more i learned about religion and the history of it and the world. more questions i had, more i got into trouble at school, cant question what every one knows as true right?  about that same time my mother got into a arguement with one of the priest, over sexism. (mom's very religious and a strong femismt) \nI was 14 when i decided that it was all made up by man, that we need something to explain everything we dont know. example: romans had a god to explain the sun right a burning cart with flying horse.  today we know what the sun is and to run around saying it's something it's not is just stupied.  Someday we will be able to explain everything, and there will be no need for a god.  \nFriends no issue, thought there are some i still cant talk religion with(i live in the bible belt) \nMy father is still catholic, but is open minded and we enjoy disscussion about differnt religions and the what the historical truths are. \nMy mom ya well ten years later she still not happy i dont follow her religion, but then even she hates the corruption in the catholic church.
914302
I am most likly going to become an atheist, I guess right now I am  a christian, but after I spent some time actually reading the bible I am coming to the conclusion that is it all complete bullsh it!
551376
Dear Sen831,\n\nYou request personal experience or evidence... \n\nI used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ. \n\nFor a draft-version of my journey from atheism to Christ, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html\n\nCan we believe the Bible? See http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/bible.htm\n\nFor scientific and intellectual evidence for the existence of God, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/godsci/evidence.htm\n\nFor evidence for the historicity and truth of Jesus Christ, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/jesus.htm\n\nCordially,\nJohn
723854
... Hrm. Good question and. Yeah, I think you would be an atheist. Atheism is the unbelief of god or anything above. If you just don't believe in the christian, Catholic, islamic etc etc, with all the "founded" religions, but believe in a greater power you are an agnostic, I think. \n\nEvolution is not part of Atheist belief, it's just a label. Somehow believing in evolution means not believing in god. But there are those who believe in both so why not someone who doesn't believe in either? \n\nAlthough I would like to know if you have any belief about how we got here. or "came to exist" The only other possibility that popped into my head was "aliens dropped us here like my dad suspected" but I'm sure there's more than three explanations as to how humans came to be humans.
1068406
A truly atheist person should not care whether a person believes in a God.  A true atheist can respect and accept others beliefs and rationally discuss different ideas and points of views intellectually and maturely.  A truly atheist person needs to take the time to edcucate themselves on the power of religion and learn about how religion has shaped our world.\n\nA truly atheist person sees how organized religions have shaped the world and although they do not share those beliefs they do appreciate the impact religion has had throughout history (wars, art, music, etc)\n\nAs an atheist, I have read the Bible and come up with my own interpretations.  I have three versions of the book that I reference just because I know that religion is about interpretation and each person has to discover that for themselves.\n\nI happily discuss and share ideas with people of faith in well balanced conversations.   In fact, I have had several discussions with my family (who are extremely religious), and most of our arguments regarding faith is that they could not leave me alone regarding my non-belief.  They are still trying to counter some of the statements they have been taught that are far stretches from the stories in the Bible because they never took the time to read and interpret the book for themselves.  I give them the respect and courtesy to go to church with them and keep my thoughts to myself.  When they attack me for not believing, trust me, I am well prepared to defend my feelings and correct their assumptions.  I can tell you some stories where I made the pastor of their church have to go back and re-read several passages for them and he did find that my interpretations were rational and plausible.\n\nI know exactly what you are talking about and I have to admit that those "atheists" you are referring to disgust me.  You get those types of people whether they are believers or non-believers.  They give a bad impression on true atheists.  Atheist's should never try to put people down for having faith.  A true atheist should never laugh at one another’s faith.  \n\nI will also admit to being in situations where believers have argued with me telling me my ideas are wrong.  I tell these people that faith is very powerful.  My beliefs are not in a higher power.  There is no need to argue about what is right or what the bible truly means in certain passages.  Our thoughts have been shared and let’s just grow from the knowledge and experience of that.  This is how humanity grows.  Let's appreciate our differences and appreciate the diversified perceptions that help us grow as a society.
457149
You don't "get" a non-believer to become a believer - that implies you want control of his mind, lending credence to the idea of brainwashing. Instead, you calmly present your opinions (*IF* asked for them), and you have the courtesy and respect for the "non-believer" that you'd wish him to have of you, and allow him to make up his *own* mind *without* any undue outside pressure to "see the truth."
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.
886145
I'm kind of a bi-believer :\n\nTechnically speaking I am an agnostic because I can't prove the existence of god one way or the other.\n\nHowever, I am currently working under the assumption that there is no god because of the utter lack of evidence.\n\nSome people just like to sit on the fence, I guess.\n\nA
595736
Actually, I believe that I am a borderline Atheist only because my mother has tried so hard to push God onto me that I fear I am not believing in Him, only to make her mad. Instead of letting me find God on my own, she keeps pushing me to go to church with her and stuff. So, that is why I said I believe that I am borderline Atheist.
792116
like what,   tell me what did god do to nonbelievers.!!!\n\n:>peace
1050427
The onset of reality.  Honestly, I just realized how much religion contradicted science.  I saw religion as an antiquated idea that tried to explain the unexplainable.  Once science got out from under the control of religion, it flourished and started to push religion back into the dark corners of "the unknown", where it continues to kick and scream for every scrap of control it can get.\n\nAnd I also couldn't accept a god that was so cruel, arbitrary and uncaring.  Reading the OT, I know that this was a god with whom I wanted nothing to do.  Even reading the NT, reading very closely, I wasn't that thrilled.  If this is what god is, I want nothing to do with him.\n\nThat, and I met someone who was unapologetically athiest.  I realized then that it was OK, I could be one too.  I realized that being an athiest doesn't make you a satan worhiper who bites of the heads of babies.  Most true athiests that I've met have been much better people than the rest.  They just choose to accept responsablity for their own lives and live without superstition.\n\nThat being said, I do enjoy studying about mythology (in which category I include all religions.)  I love the whole Jungian/Campbell view of it and what it tells us about who we are as a people.  Neat stuff.
835303
Atheists don't believe in deities, so they cannot be "believers" in that sense.\n\nI'm an atheist who is a "believer" in love, hope, humanity, etc.
510779
Yes (in a sense)...\n\nI used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ. \n\nFor a draft-version of my journey from atheism to Christ, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html\n\nCordially,\nJohn
697186
I know a lot of people are moral without believing in God. \n\nBut for me, for most of my life I didn't have much of a backbone, and I'm fairly certain I would have fell into some vices because of peer pressure if it hadn't of been for that last thread of 'no, this is against my religion' keeping me away from it.\n\nThanks
421946
At the age of nine, with a magic show gone horribly wrong (in my case) at a local Baptist church.  I had the numinous belief in the supernatural that all kids have through contact with such beliefs from the society they live in.  Then I saw a guy mystifying children with simple sleight of hand tricks and extrapolated from there, which I am sure wasn't what the pastor of the church intended at all.  It was a life changing moment, though I did not really know it.  I had decided to throw off the shackles of the mind that are required by religion and embraced logic, reason, and science as my "holy" trinity.
826382
Believer and non-believer is the division made by human beings to express their intolerance of a person having a faith different from ones own. God has no choice between the two. All are same for Him.
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 :)