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Explain Why You're an Atheist...
- Thread starter scikidus
- Start date
ladiesman391
New Member
I'm an atheist because I had no religious influence what so ever in my upbringing so I can see religion for what it really is, bullshit.
theatheistguy
New Member
Seriously? Waoh, were you living on the moon?ladiesman391 said:
ladiesman391
New Member
Okay, I'll revise that, growing up in Australia I was in-directly influenced, but in my own home my parents and grandparents and other family members never spoke of religion or God EVER, to this day I have never heard my father speak about religion, the most religious thing I heard him say was when we were camping and a storm passed through while we slept and his tent was directly beneath a dodgy tree which we pointed out to him the next morning and he said "oh well if it's my time, it's my time.", His casualness and calmness about it scared the hell out of me intitially as a young boy, but later on I realised how little fear and regret he lives his life with (and he is definitely one person that can say has lived his life). It wasn't until I was 18 or so that my mother admitted she started believing in Buddhism and re-incarnation, but only on a mild philosiphical level inspired by Ghandi I think, she never attempted to become a monk and probably has read very little on Buddhism and never talks about it. I've only ever been to church once, when I was about 10yrs old with my friend and his family and it scared the shit out of me, the amount of preaching and intimidation they used was frightening (imagine going every Sunday!)., I never went back there again the whole experience left me feeling perplexed. Science on the other hand I found MUCH more interesting from a young age. My parents also divorced when I was like 12, so there's very little religious influence in my upbringing. Is that enough information on my childhood for you theatheistguy, you sarcastic bastard! It's spelled "woah" btw. And I think you're still upset that I called you a retard.theatheistguy said:
I like to think I'm a good story teller 
Right...I live in Glasgow, Scotland. Now, this is a city divided (very unfortunately) by religious tags and groups. Mainly Protestants vs Catholics, with the former presenting themselves as loyalists (pro-British) and fans of Rangers FC and the latter being nationalists, seperatists and often aligning themselves with Celtic FC. It is a pathetic spill-over of the Northern Ireland conflict.
Now, that is not what characterises Glasgow - the people are famous for their hospitality and sense of humour (so I'm told - I'm not biased! ), but it gives a good idea of the environment I've been exposed to - religion was a major part of my childhood.
My family were Roman Catholic - my gran is stict to the point of matriarchal (sp?). I used to attend church every Sunday, go to confession, receive sacraments etc.
But I've always been a very curious person. I would ask questions about everything and my parents could always answer. Then I asked my mum, "What would it be like is there was nothing?". In hindsight that is a very immature question, like asking "What's north of the north pole?" but at the time it seemed to make sense to me. My parents, naturally, couldn't answer - so my dad told me a better question would be to ask, "What was there before the big bang?". So, I asked my mum.
To understand this next part, one must understand my mum's relationship with the Catholic Church. She very much believes in the equality of women and this created animosity between her and the Church. As a result, she had a complicated relationship with them - she was a Catholic but she did not like the Church.
She was uncomfortable saying that God existed before the big bang, so she suggested I look it up on the internet.
This was during the first years of youtube and in particular the rise of youtube's eternal atheism vs theism debate. I found a video by capnoawsome, admittedly not the best source of atheism, but it worked. I began to question my belief in God - then The Root Of All Evil first aired on Channel 4. I watched it and it served to move me away from theism comletely. If Richard Dawkins has converted even one man, then he was me. Over the years I have read atheist literature such as The God Delusion and God Is Not Great plus scientific works such as The Elegant Universe, A Brief History of Time, The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker. I have watched and subscibred to atheist youtube channels like The Amazing Atheist and thunderf00t.
I have spent a large amount of time thinking about religion and atheism and so on. I am sixteen now and a solid atheist, a 6.9 on Richard Dawkins' 7-point scale. I'm looking to study a few sciences at university after I get my Highers. I doubt any of this would have been possible if it were not for being born with an inquisitive mind - thank God I was
Right...I live in Glasgow, Scotland. Now, this is a city divided (very unfortunately) by religious tags and groups. Mainly Protestants vs Catholics, with the former presenting themselves as loyalists (pro-British) and fans of Rangers FC and the latter being nationalists, seperatists and often aligning themselves with Celtic FC. It is a pathetic spill-over of the Northern Ireland conflict.
Now, that is not what characterises Glasgow - the people are famous for their hospitality and sense of humour (so I'm told - I'm not biased!
), but it gives a good idea of the environment I've been exposed to - religion was a major part of my childhood.My family were Roman Catholic - my gran is stict to the point of matriarchal (sp?). I used to attend church every Sunday, go to confession, receive sacraments etc.
But I've always been a very curious person. I would ask questions about everything and my parents could always answer. Then I asked my mum, "What would it be like is there was nothing?". In hindsight that is a very immature question, like asking "What's north of the north pole?" but at the time it seemed to make sense to me. My parents, naturally, couldn't answer - so my dad told me a better question would be to ask, "What was there before the big bang?". So, I asked my mum.
To understand this next part, one must understand my mum's relationship with the Catholic Church. She very much believes in the equality of women and this created animosity between her and the Church. As a result, she had a complicated relationship with them - she was a Catholic but she did not like the Church.
She was uncomfortable saying that God existed before the big bang, so she suggested I look it up on the internet.
This was during the first years of youtube and in particular the rise of youtube's eternal atheism vs theism debate. I found a video by capnoawsome, admittedly not the best source of atheism, but it worked. I began to question my belief in God - then The Root Of All Evil first aired on Channel 4. I watched it and it served to move me away from theism comletely. If Richard Dawkins has converted even one man, then he was me. Over the years I have read atheist literature such as The God Delusion and God Is Not Great plus scientific works such as The Elegant Universe, A Brief History of Time, The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker. I have watched and subscibred to atheist youtube channels like The Amazing Atheist and thunderf00t.
I have spent a large amount of time thinking about religion and atheism and so on. I am sixteen now and a solid atheist, a 6.9 on Richard Dawkins' 7-point scale. I'm looking to study a few sciences at university after I get my Highers. I doubt any of this would have been possible if it were not for being born with an inquisitive mind - thank God I was
TheTachy0n
New Member
I am an atheist because I can't see any evidence suggesting there is a god.
theatheistguy
New Member
Didn't need to tell me anything, just needed to say you didn't grow up in a Christian home or go to church. Also, still not annoyed at you calling me a retard because I have the ability to get over things and laugh back at childish tantrums.ladiesman391 said:
ladiesman391
New Member
I just wanted to have the last word here, if you had to get over it then it had to have affected you to begin with, I believe you're over it now though.theatheistguy said:
Wolf-n-Beast
New Member
I'm an atheist because i am too old to have imaginary friends.
Counterpoint
New Member
Because it is only logical to be an atheist.
AtheistBrit
New Member
I'm an atheist because there is no proof of anything supernatural.
Uncertainty
New Member
I was raised in a Christian family and was confirmed and all that crap, but the entire time I never really thought about the stuff I was playing along with. At around age 16, I started to actually think about it and quickly realized its all a bunch of lies. After that realization I researched astronomy, the history of religion, and began reading atheistic texts by people like Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins. I am a naturalist and I love life!
Sir Pwn4lot
New Member
Neffi said:
The analogy was also in his TV series "The Virus of Faith".
I can't remember when or how I ever even started thinking about religion. My family isn't religious at all. All I remember was one day arguing the atheist point of view. I guess I am an atheist because reason prevailed in my mind. Religion just seemed like a false institution from the start to me.
henrikrocker
New Member
Where evidence leads,I follow.
