I did't "want" to become one, it was just a natural progression as I got older (since I was raised Christian). I was a serious Christian once, and eventually realized that the Christian life was a never ending cycle of trying to convince myself this wasn't some BS. It became clear that everything I did or accomplished in life was through my own effort. If I lacked anything it was my fault; if I gained anything, it through my own effort.
I eventually started to realize that my life was no different with or without a god in the picture. I had some serious struggles at the time, and the fact this only magnified the fact that God was no help.
I lived a Christian life, took it seriously, and it was the most depressing and lonely time of my life. Looking back, I'm embarrassed by it, as well as angered by all the wasted time. So my atheism is more personal than others here, who are simply atheists because they never had a good reason not to be.
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God was not real to me. So I may have not been a classic atheist. But I was some kind of anti-biblical, anti-Christian theist person for a near decade. (I think at least six years).
God was not real in my experience. So I assumed what I didn't know no one else probably knows either. An agnostic or deistic agnostic of some sort.
As some atheists of late have wanted to place both agnosticism and atheism in pretty much the same category, I don't see why atheist should complain about me volunteering my past experience for an answer.
Originally posted by RBHILL (OP)What made you want to become an Athiest? "Original post by Subscriber RBHILL on 17 Mar '16 07:32"
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This question is impertinent.
Why?
Because an individual's decision regarding God's Plan of Salvation and Eternal Life is a private rather than a public matter
between an individual and the Sovereign God of the Universe.
To any Agnostics or Atheists who may be here, please consider reading John 3;16-17 and/or Acts 16:31;
Originally posted by Grampy BobbyPenn and Atheist would disagree that it's a private matter.
[b]What made you want to become an Athiest? "Original post by Subscriber RBHILL on 17 Mar '16 07:32"
______________________
This question is impertinent.
Why?
Because an individual's decision regarding God's Plan of Salvation and Eternal Life is a private rather than a public matter
between an individual and the Sovereign God of t ...[text shortened]... y Agnostics or Atheists who may be here, please consider reading John 3;16-17 and/or Acts 16:31;[/b]
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Originally posted by RBHILLIn my case I didn't become an atheist as I have always been one.
While I did go to C of E [Church of England] infant and primary schools where the daily
assembly ended with a prayer, I never believed in a god, and never saw the point of
praying [one of my earliest memories of school is deciding that praying was pointless
and couldn't work.] which was fine because nobody really cared if you joined in or not
and most of my contemporaries were also atheists.
Having learned about the issues as a teen and then adult I have come to the conclusion that
being an atheist is the only rational position to take [on this subject] but that conclusion is not
a reason for me becoming an atheist as I never have been one.
Religion has never appealed to me, and I have never felt the slightest need or desire to believe
in a god or gods.
Which makes for a pretty boring story, but in the UK I suspect this is the most common position
for people my age or younger who are atheists.
I suspect you are more likely to get 'interesting stories' of 'deconversion' from the USA or other
parts of the world where religion is a bigger deal. [not to say that there aren't people from the
UK with such stories, they are just rarer.]
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Originally posted by Grampy BobbyIt's a perfectly acceptable question, very much suited for this forum, and anyone who
[b]What made you want to become an Athiest? "Original post by Subscriber RBHILL on 17 Mar '16 07:32"
______________________
This question is impertinent.
Why?
Because an individual's decision regarding God's Plan of Salvation and Eternal Life is a private rather than a public matter
between an individual and the Sovereign God of t ...[text shortened]... y Agnostics or Atheists who may be here, please consider reading John 3;16-17 and/or Acts 16:31;[/b]
doesn't want to share their story is free not to answer it.
And I/We would have to not just be theists, but Christians to care what the bible says
on the topic.
Originally posted by googlefudgeSo Jews don't care what the Bible says?
It's a perfectly acceptable question, very much suited for this forum, and anyone who
doesn't want to share their story is free not to answer it.
And I/We would have to not just be theists, but Christians to care what the bible says
on the topic.
Last I heard, the OT is still their scripture.
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Originally posted by sonshipI think you are [or were] very confused.
God was not real to me. So I may have not been a classic atheist. But I was some kind of anti-biblical, anti-Christian theist person for a near decade. (I think at least six years).
God was not real in my experience. So I assumed what I didn't know no one else probably knows either. An agnostic or deistic agnostic of some sort.
As some atheists of ...[text shortened]... I don't see why atheist should complain about me volunteering my past experience for an answer.
But I was some kind of anti-biblical, anti-Christian theist person for a near decade.
It's really quite simple. If you believed that any sort of god or gods existed, then you were a theist.
If you didn't believe that any sort of god or gods existed, then you were an atheist.
God was not real in my experience.
This sounds to me like you didn't believe that a god existed, which would have made you an atheist.
Although your words are very unclear on this point.
As some atheists of late have wanted to place both agnosticism and atheism in pretty much the same category,
None that I have seen.
The answers "I am/was an atheist" and "I am/was an agnostic" are answers to two different questions
and are not at all the same thing.
"I am an atheist" is an answer to the question "do you believe in the existence of a god or gods?".
"I am an agnostic" is an answer to the question "do you claim to know, and/or that it is knowable, that
a god or gods exist?".
You can be neither, either, or both an atheist and an agnostic. But they are not the same thing.
I don't see why atheist should complain about me volunteering my past experience for an answer.
I don't see why an atheist should complain about you volunteering your experience either.
Although for apparently for different reasons.