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Post by KaNgArOo on Nov 25, 2003 18:20:29 GMT -5
1. At what age did you become an atheist?
Hasn't happened yet, but I'm no theist/deist either
2. What flavor of religion were you indoctrinated to believe in prior to your deconversion?
Baptist
3. What led you to eventually reject your religious beliefs?
Logic! Inconsistencies in the bible, such as "God created Satan with the full knowledge that Satan would cause all this trouble, therefore God is the origin of all evil" (and NO minister, priest or other religious leader could ever refute that one to my satisfaction!)
(Added in later) 4. Where did you find out about Atheists Anonymous?
From Auntie Social dahhhhlink.....
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KEvb0
Maverick's Chew Toy
Posts: 21
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Post by KEvb0 on Dec 2, 2003 23:34:20 GMT -5
Hey, I'm Kevin from NY. I was raised Catholic, but never really took to any of it, so I've been at least without a religion for pretty much all of my life. My aversion to religion really started when I entered college and began taking philosophy classes. I more or less stumbled onto this site while browsing some philosophy stuff.
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Post by AuntieSocial on Dec 3, 2003 7:57:18 GMT -5
Welcome Kevin! Philosophy, eh? I'm going to be studying philosophy soon ... I look forward to picking your brain Welcome to the board! Glad you found us. Was there any reason, in particular, that you didn't buy into Catholicism when you were growing up?
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KEvb0
Maverick's Chew Toy
Posts: 21
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Post by KEvb0 on Dec 3, 2003 12:02:55 GMT -5
Actually Sunday school first put me off. I learned enough about the bible and Christianity to see that there is a difference between what is written and what is practiced. I began thiking, why should I go to church rather than read the bible myself and make my own ideas of it? Plus if practice should be based on the bible, than most Catholics that I came into contact with obviously felt that they could make what they want out of the religion. I felt that if practice is just your own interpretation when it comes down to it, than it is just a system of living that you create for yourself, so why should you listen to the Pope or the priest? As soon as I was confirmed I never went to church again, and I didn't feel any different about my beliefs or as a person. In fact I felt that I had a greater degree of freedom. At the same time I began paying attention to the news, beginning my interest in journalism. I noticed that I didn't believe in what the Pope more or less commanded and I became aware of issues like abortion and capital punishment. I then started to read more books and started dabbling in philosophy. Again I found inconsistancies.
Why did Descarte believe in God when what he says about mind and body seemed to deny it to me? Why did philosophers have to make sure they said they believed in God or face punishment? These were the thinkers, the searchers of truth, yet they were attacked by religious institutions if they didn't believe. Rousseau and Voltaire were heroes of mine. I love Candide and suggest that any Atheist or Agnostic or Skeptic read it, as well as Origin of inequality by Rousseau.
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Post by ~*Frizzy Lizzy*~ on Dec 19, 2003 16:05:04 GMT -5
1. At what age did you become an atheist? About 12/13 yrs
2. What flavor of religion were you indoctrinated to believe in prior to your deconversion? Methodist i suppose i was never really made to believe in anything.
3. What led you to eventually reject your religious beliefs? Love of science and logial thinking.
4. Where did you find out about Atheists Anonymous?
Google lol
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Post by AuntieSocial on Dec 19, 2003 17:24:53 GMT -5
Welcome to the board, Frizzy Lizzy! You were raised as a Methodist too, eh?
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Post by pieisgood on Dec 21, 2003 17:10:28 GMT -5
At what age did you become an aethiest:
5
What religion were you going to be? + Why did I reject it?
Actually, I had no religious beliefs to begin. My dad gave me both sides of the debate of atheist/theist, and aethiest was infinetly more logical. First there was nothing, and then there was God. um..... how? Both sides have the problem of "how did it all start that everything is made out of," but the atheism actually makes sense from there on out.
Where did I find out about it?
To be honest, I wasn't trying to find an aethiest site, I did a google search for mafia because I just played a whole bunch of games, I love it and all other strategy games, and I'm pretty good. This sight came up for the mafia forum, so I came here and realized that hey, it's an aethiest site too. sounds great. I signed up for mafia, but I will participate in the conversations too.
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Post by ~*Frizzy Lizzy*~ on Dec 21, 2003 17:18:15 GMT -5
Welcome to the board, Frizzy Lizzy! You were raised as a Methodist too, eh? well you could kind of say that, my family is the most unreligious family ever...
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Post by nonny on Jan 15, 2004 9:08:08 GMT -5
NOn do your parents know your atheist and how do they feel about it? I want full and long detail. Sorry ck i havn't been on this thread in a while. To answer your question, yes my parents do know. My dad doesn't care and my mom is pissed about the idea. But i live with my dad is it is all good. I actually have several real time friends that are atheists, so i am not a closet atheist. I'm very open about it. If I tell someone and the don't like it they can kmwa. I htink most colset atheists are more scared about what poeple will think rather then discrimnation. I still have to go to church with my mom when i see her, but i don't like it. I ussauly sit and think about all the things wrong about what the preacher is saying. I do not try to convert poepl but i do have disscussions with my theist friends about it all. Does that answer your question enough ck?
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Post by ck on Jan 17, 2004 17:14:51 GMT -5
Sorry ck i havn't been on this thread in a while. To answer your question, yes my parents do know. My dad doesn't care and my mom is pissed about the idea. But i live with my dad is it is all good. I actually have several real time friends that are atheists, so i am not a closet atheist. I'm very open about it. If I tell someone and the don't like it they can kmwa. I htink most colset atheists are more scared about what poeple will think rather then discrimnation. I still have to go to church with my mom when i see her, but i don't like it. I ussauly sit and think about all the things wrong about what the preacher is saying. I do not try to convert poepl but i do have disscussions with my theist friends about it all. Does that answer your question enough ck? Yes that does... Im a closet atheist right now cause im not gonna lie.. I am afraid of what people are gonna think but their is alot more to it then that... Ive told my parents before and they totally killed my life.. so right now im keeping it secret. My parents hull me to church and i really odnt like it... I guess maybe when im older i will tell them when i can support myself but right now my parents are supporting me.
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Post by nonny on Jan 22, 2004 9:44:19 GMT -5
Well once you are 18 you should tell them and they can't make you go to church or any of that. Of course there is the possiblity that they might kick you out, so if I were you i would save a little bit of money before that time, or if you go ot college prepare to move int o a dorm.
But if you are also worried about other family members and/ or friends turning on you if you tell them, then they are just not that smart. They are also bigots religion wise. It's like griffey's post, she wqas worring about telling a friend she is an atheist. But if you have had a friend for a while one little difference shouldn't make a difference. They aren't that great of a friend(s) if they don't accept you for who you are. And for other family members you can't do anything about them, but rember you might share a bloodline with them but that doesn't mean you have to like them.
Good Luck ;D
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Post by AuntieSocial on Jan 22, 2004 12:38:43 GMT -5
My parents hull me to church and i really odnt like it... I guess maybe when im older i will tell them when i can support myself but right now my parents are supporting me. ck, a thought occurred to me ... if you approach this from a different angle, you might learn a lot about the workings of religion, or your parent's religion in particular. You have the opportunity to watch the happenings of your parent's church first-hand. While your stuck going to the services anyway, learn their doctrines and determine why it is that you find them unbelievable. You don't have to disclose your reasons to anyone, but it may be information that comes in handy later in your life. It may even get your parents off your back for a while as they may see you as getting involved (or showing an interest). Just a thought. I found that the information I learned about the Methodist Church and Salvation Army, the originas, the philosophy of their founders (John & CHarles Wesley) to be of great value to me when I am conversing or debating with theists from Methodist, SA or Wesleyan backgrounds. I actually wish I have learned more when I was on the inside (and had the contacts who would answer my questions without wondering about my 'alterior motives')
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Post by nonny on Jan 22, 2004 22:37:46 GMT -5
That is a really good idea Auntiesocial.
Then also when a theist ask you ,ck, why you don't believe you will have a ton of answers.
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Kalena
Seasoned Citizen
Posts: 115
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Post by Kalena on Jan 25, 2004 16:54:19 GMT -5
Even though I already posted my life story on religion in a different thread, I think I should answers these questions anyway.
1. At what age did you become an atheist?
Ever since I was born.;D But I didn't find out I was called an atheist until I searched online a couple of years ago.
2. What flavor of religion were you indoctrinated to believe in prior to your deconversion?
None. The family I was mostly raised in were non-religious but I did tried Wicca, but it lasted only about, um, three days.
3. What led you to eventually reject your religious beliefs?
I never had any religious beliefs, so I didn't reject anything.
4. Where did you find out about Atheists Anonymous?
On google.
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Acriku
Maverick's Chew Toy
I am the law.
Posts: 35
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Post by Acriku on Feb 6, 2004 23:47:47 GMT -5
Maverick's QuestionsLet's stir up some discussion. I have a couple of questions for you to answer: 1. At what age did you become an atheist? 13, yeah I know that's young.2. What flavor of religion were you indoctrinated to believe in prior to your deconversion? Loose Judaism (loose as in "meh")3. What led you to eventually reject your religious beliefs? 1) Finding a group I can identify with, and 2) never getting satisfiable answers to my many questions about God.(Added in later) 4. Where did you find out about Atheists Anonymous? Google search (man I love my google). Not many sites give you this amount of quality, which is why I joined the forum
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