scombrid

Southern Baptist ----> Non-denom ----> Deist ----> agnostic ----> atheist

I was raised Southern Baptist and attended Episcopal elementary school, Lutheran middle school, and Catholic high school. I reject Biblical literalism and YEC by the the time I was 8 years old. My parents fostered that by not sending me to the academically impoverished fundamental Baptist Schools. Still I never really knew the terms agnostic or atheist. I just questioned everything as I went along and eventually when I realized that I didn't believe in prayer, personnal relationships with god, or any of the biblical stories that I didn't believe in God. For years I just looked at the street corner preachers and TV evangelists as a nutter fringe and considered myself a liberal Christian. Agressive proselytizing by a family friend sent me to the internet for rebuttle information. There I discovered that my self- discovered worldview was essentially atheist. I'm really and agnostic atheist since I can't really know. However, I've receive absolutely no evidence for divinity and side with atheism.

SharonDee

A coworker of mine went from Christianity (CoC brand) straight to Judaism. His story is <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/7wells/religion/index.html" target="_blank">here</a>, if you're interested. (His site is on FreeWebs which is s-l-o-w.)

Splat

Corgan, now that your straw man has been burned up, I have a question for you.

Except for brief flirtation with christianity in 7th grade, I wasn't raised with a religion and have never felt any compelling need for one. But if I suddenly decided that I did want a religion, how would I know which one to pick?

They all claim to be the True One, and best I can tell, there's no evidence that any partiular one has any advantage over the others. What should be my basis for choosing?

chrislee

I don't this is really a question about the issues
facing atheists living in a theistic society, although the misunderstanding that leads to questions like this being asked, is definitely an issue.

Why should we? You're making the mistake of
thinking that the believers' presumptions even apply to us - we're outside their religion
so they don't.

It's not a belief but the absence of one. And there's nothing to "cling to". Do you "cling to"
not believing in Santa Claus?

Maverick

I think this thread will be more appropriate in Misc. Religion Discussion.

Maverick - SL&S Moderator

ybnormal

Maybe it would make sense, if you first acknowledge your own stated absolute.

This in turn, could answer WHY? there often is atheist "angst".

If as children, these folks were absolutely, brainwashed Christians, why is it not obvious to you, that there would often be some "angst" involved, when as adults, they seek to deprogram themselves?


brighid:
I began questioning in 1st grade... and told little girls shouldn’t ask such questions...

Yes, children should never ask questions, yet, never have "angst" when they do.
DUH!


brighid:
... the Church and all the people we thought were our friends shunned our family.

...and during one of the most difficult times in our lives I was totally ignored.


southernhybrid:
Some people just take longer to heal from the emotional truama that may have taken place during their childhood exposure to Xianity.

BINGO!

On the other hand, Corgan, you have those who are without "angst"...

Splat:
Except for brief flirtation with christianity in 7th grade, I wasn't raised with a religion and have never felt any compelling need for one.

Key words maybe, wasn't raised with a religion thus, never felt any (angst?)

Makes sense to me...

Denshuu

Agnosticism is a form of atheism - A very welcome allowance of evidence and no belief.

A new religion is, in all probability, invented every 10 seconds. There really is no point.

Atheism is a lack of belief - No belief to cling to.

Sorta' like that strawman.

bonduca

Over a fifteen year period, I went from Christianity to agnosticism to atheism. I've been atheist for about three and a half years. During my agnostic phase, I considered several other faiths, some other versions of Christianity, some not.

Next question?

[ August 16, 2002: Message edited by: bonduca ]</p>

Eudaimonist

I was agnostic for a few years after deconverting from Catholicism.

That's what I did when I was agnostic. Of course, I didn't study ALL other religions -- that would take a lifetime -- but I did cover the major ones. I was unconvinced by them largely for similar reasons to which I was unconvinced by Christianity.

Sephiroth

I never considered myself as an agnostic but as an atheist I did spend some time studying other religions and the fact is that the other religions rely on the same sort of no-evidence-required faith that Christianity does.

[ August 16, 2002: Message edited by: Sephiroth ]</p>