I accepted Atheism today

[Go4th&X]

MD, after chatting to you the other night, I'm glad to hear that you've finally come to some sort of conclusion.

Not that my first impressions hold any relevance, but you seem to have a good head on your shoulders. Not many break the indoctrination spell.

Good luck to you!

 

[DepricatedZero]

I'm happy for you metricdragon, and at the same time a little concerned.

So let me offer you first congratulations and cheers for rationality and breaking the bonds you have.

Let me next offer you condolences for the inevitable hardships ahead with family and friends, whether it be faking religiosity to maintain friendships or watching life-long friends walk away. It can be hard, and I know I - and likely numerous others here - can commiserate.

I hope you don't live in an area where the cost of apostasy might be claimed.

If the transition is much easier for you, I'm relieved. Three cheers!

 

[metricdragon]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement,

After the 2nd day, I feel vigorated and unmoved. I am sort of disturbed at how fast the actual transition has been, I was expecting a bigger fight on the part of my "conscience", but I suppose the worst is truly over.

Thanks everyone here, you were really a big help.

 

[masterjedijared]

After reading your posts over the past couple of weeks it's been very interesting to watch your growth. I myself only went through my own deconversion (of a sort) starting about a year ago and coming to a crescendo about half a year ago. While I wasn't coming from a fundamental perspective at any point I can appreciate that it can be rough.

Congratulations, good sir, and well done.

 

[AndromedasWake]

Hi metricdragon.

Just a quick response here, as I've just got back from the pub after several rounds.

It was a pleasure to see this topic pop up in the RSS feed. I remember seeing your reply to me in your previous topic about reasons for accepting atheism. Although I did not find time to reply, I recall well from your post that you gave me the impression of being here to learn, and not to preach. You approached the topic with a genuine desire to challenge yourself, and your further discussions (and this topic) reflect that.

I suspect that during your exploration of atheism you'll encounter many questions. I'm sure that members of the community, myself included, will be happy to address them. After all, most atheists are constantly questioning themselves - it is a fundamental part of testing your lack of belief and checking that you are justified in holding to it.

I look forward to seeing your future topics.

 

[Steve5513]

Congratulations on freeing your mind from bronze age garbage!

Here's your welcoming present!

Now go forth and see the universe for what it really is!

 

[Commander Eagle]

Looks like I've missed some stuff over the weekend. Welcome to the club, metric; sorry that there's no T-shirt or anything. And just let me apologize in advance on behalf of the evangelists who will pester you to death if they ever find out about your new position. Forgive them; they know not what they do.

 

[Case]

Damn, the present, right... there ya go.

 

[metricdragon]

masterjedijared, this is going to sound weird, but it's actually been interesting for me to watch myself transition too. It's really weird how just a few weeks ago I was so sure of myself and how that doubt quickly led me to this. I'm sort of disappointed in myself for not giving myself more time to think about it, but I kept telling myself that I had been in 10 years of doubt, which I had. The disappointing part was that most people that are quick to change are usually really quick at changing back, but I feel nearly free of that now.

AndromedasWake, I really have to thank you for making that really long and difficult to comprehend post that time, I actually had to read it a bunch of times to really get it, Your reasons for atheism are what got me thinking not about why there is no god, but why there is a god. I always accepted the fact that God existed as an axiom (if that is the correct word), but yourself, Commander Eagle, Baranduin and others demonstrated to me how god needn't exist in our world. I still have a lot of questions, that just lead to other questions, but after asking them I just feel embarrassed like I should have researched them myself.

Steve5513 and Case thanks for the presents, a real glimpse of the universe is appreciated.

Commander Eagle I live in the Middle East and people here are waaaaaay too disgusted by apostates to even attempt to bring them back. The punishment is death in Islam, something I had huge problems trying to come to terms with, but whilst they're not likely to kill me if they find out, they'd probably think I deserved it.

I'll just keep it to myself for now.

 

[Master_Ghost_Knight]

Commander Eagle I live in the Middle East and people here are waaaaaay too disgusted by apostates to even attempt to bring them back. The punishment is death in Islam, something I had huge problems trying to come to terms with, but whilst they're not likely to kill me if they find out, they'd probably think I deserved it.

I'll just keep it to myself for now.

That is going to suck donkey balls, because seriously your situation maybe a danger to your own life and I wouldn't be so confident about them not doing anything (just because you knew your neighbors it gives you a false sense of security). They must never find out, extra caution is advised. And if you could move someplace safer when you have the means to do so is and advice that you should take into consideration.

 

[Case]

That is going to suck donkey balls, because seriously your situation maybe a danger to your own life and I wouldn't be so confident about them not doing anything (just because you knew your neighbors it gives you a false sense of security). They must never find out, extra caution is advised. And if you could move someplace safer when you have the means to do so is and advice that you should take into consideration.

Dude, this is not a movie, and you're not in a position to tell him what to do. He lives there, you know. Please. I appreciate your concern, but cobbler, stick to thy last.

 

[Master_Ghost_Knight]

Dude, this is not a movie, and you're not in a position to tell him what to do. He lives there, you know. Please. I appreciate your concern, but cobbler, stick to thy last.

In the in a variety of countries in the midle east apostesy is a crime punishable by death, by their law he is should be hanged. It is something not to be taken lightly.

 

[JustBusiness17]

Damn, the present, right... there ya go.

Is that Nibiru?

 

[metricdragon]

Dude, this is not a movie, and you're not in a position to tell him what to do. He lives there, you know. Please. I appreciate your concern, but cobbler, stick to thy last.

In the in a variety of countries in the midle east apostesy is a crime punishable by death, by their law he is should be hanged. It is something not to be taken lightly.

Indeed, I just read that the punishment for apostasy here is death >.>

I had no idea...

There are definitely people that probably think they would please their lord by killing me, but thoughts and carrying things out are distinct.

Nevertheless, I'll keep quiet.

 

[RichardMNixon]

Some of you might think that the word "accept" sounds too religious, but I'll explain what I mean.

I think accept is the perfect word. Sometimes I wish there was a god and a heaven, but wishes don't affect reality, being an atheist is about accepting the world as it is. If you want the world to change, put your hands to work, not to prayer.

Congratulations, and good luck with those nasty apostasy laws.

 

[Case]

Is that Nibiru?

This is V838 Monocerotis.

 

[Commander Eagle]

Is that Nibiru?

This is V838 Monocerotis.

No, this is Sparta.

 

[Case]

No, THIS is caketown.

 

[Dragan Glas]

Greetings metricdragon,

Your description of your reaction - or lack thereof - on having "lost your religion", indicates that you'd subconsciously done so some time ago and had only taken this final nudge (two weeks - here on LoR - is too short a time to de-convert from scratch) to consciously accept what you already felt ("knew") within yourself.

This opens up all sorts of possibilities for growth for yourself - "atheism" simply says what you're not, not what you are.

There is a wealth of philosophical and even spiritual material from which to learn - assuming that you won't suffer for seeking to explore such...!?

The poetry of Rumi (if not Khalil Gibran) and Omar Khayyam, to name but two, would help uplift one's mind and heart. I'm certain you would be familiar with others of which the West knows nothing.

Compassion - even if you no longer assign its source to Allah - is something which you should cultivate within yourself.

[Not just for yourself and towards others - but that others might not find fault with your seeming "lack of faith".

You would know best how to portray yourself to family, relatives, neighbours and friends, but could you safely portray yourself as - if not be - a "Secular" Muslim, rather than "Fundamentalist"? I apologize for the use of such generalizations - but I trust you'll understand my meaning. Who knows how many "secular" Muslims are, in fact, atheists?

There are a few Arabic sites for atheism - one being Ladeeni, although as I don't read Arabic, I can't say how helpful it would be to you. Equally, could you access this or any other without risk to yourself or loved ones?

Islam at the Crossroads, by Muhammad Asad, is interesting in his appeal to a earlier time where a more open-minded Islam embraced multi-culturalism, rather than the somewhat limited cultural outlook of those at the time of writing (1935) and of today. I've also found Crossroads! Islam in the 21st Century of interest. Obviously, Arabic versions would probably be more preferable - provided you can safely access them without risk to yourself or loved ones.]

There are some books on Critical Thinking listed in the "General Scepticism" forum, which may be of interest. [Again, Arabic versions being preferable!]

Wherever your path leads, know that you're not alone.

Kindest regards,

James

 

[metricdragon]

Greetings metricdragon,

Your description of your reaction - or lack thereof - on having "lost your religion", indicates that you'd subconsciously done so some time ago and had only taken this final nudge (two weeks - here on LoR - is too short a time to de-convert from scratch) to consciously accept what you already felt ("knew") within yourself.

Hi James, thanks for your response and yes you're right, I realised today that my faith had been dead to me for nearly a decade. Literally dead. I remember hearing a friend talk about praying and the "energy" he felt after doing it and I noted to myself that I felt nothing of that sort in doing so. I have been vociferously active about my religion for ages, but I was always aware that I didn't feel the same things or even believe the same things as everyone else.

Religion had been a dead set of ideas to me for years. Other than fear and sorrow, I felt nothing in relation to it. It merely hovered in despondence, being a slight connection between myself and society.

Thanks for your recommendations, but I barely speak a word of Arabic lol. I can read it and I can understand the Qur'an at parts, but I don't speak Arabic. English is my first language. My family moved to the UAE from the UK when I was 14 for a variety of reasons, but I haven't been able to grasp much less anything of Arabic.

Compassion - even if you no longer assign its source to Allah - is something which you should cultivate within yourself.

Thankfully, I've always thought that compassion and most of these emotions were directly due to chemical reactions within our brains (or whatever else it could be). So I'm fine in that regard, but a problem from such is my inherent inability to lie.

Despite my disbelief in god, I find it very very difficult, if not harder, to lie to the people around me. The idea of never telling them of my decisions kills me. I've resolved to return to the UK very soon, but I need to get a few things in order within myself first. I still haven't gotten over the fear.