See i'm kind of the other way around. I was brought up Catholic and went to a Catholic school. I called myself Atheist from the age of around 10-17. It got me into a lot of trouble - constantly questioning God in a Catholic school. Although reflecting back, i think i would label that period of my life agnostic rather than Atheist. I was always interested in religion (The reason i did it the whole way through school) but not in a religious way, just in an interested kind of way. I guess you could say i found God when was about seventeen. Although i'll admit that that was the toughest year of my life and maybe i just found something to grasp to and pour my hope and fears into. I'm not sure.
I wasn't the typical "reborn" Christian. I still refuse to go to Mass and obey man made rules incorporated into the religion. I still wonder if i only turned away from the Church due to man. It's man who bred homophobia into the churches, not God.
As for those of you who know i major in theology at college - it was always going to happen, due to the interest. It was always my goal to be a religion teacher who wasn't attached to the Christian religion, that way i could teach the subject properly, but hey:
Atheism isn't a set of beliefs like a religion is, its one single, easy to understand, belief.
No, atheism isn't even a belief.
Atheists of the thread, have you guys always been atheist? are your parents atheist?
In retrospective, yes, I've never believed in any god. I just needed time to realize it, needed that someone told me not everyone believes in a god, time to learn about the concept of atheism. Religion lessons where obligatory or at least usual, and I never talked about beliefs with anyone back then. My parents? I don't know for sure, but it seems they're pretty much atheists. They wanted us to decide about religion for ourselves, which I find good.
They wanted us to decide about religion for ourselves, which I find good.
A very good way to grow up. Although i do believe in a religion, when i have kids i will not be baptizing them, but will be educating them. The plan is to have kids with my current partner who is Muslim: so it'll be education rather than indoctrination. Until they decide they would like to go to church or mosque, they can be "Atheist" as such.
Well that's their choice. Net year i'll be a religion teacher, so i'll make sure they hear about every single religion and teach them that atheism exists: that there are people who don't believe in God.
My partner wants to raise our kids Muslim. Not happening. I don't believe in forcing religion on anybody.
When I have kids I won't force them to be christian. They can be what ever they want as long as it doesn't hurt someone. But if they're atheist that's fine too. I hope that if I marry in the future that my wife won't want to force my kids to be something. It's not like I would stop her it's just that it would require a lot of work.
I hate that I always mess up the word wouldn't. it's not like I wouldn't stop her but when people want to force their belies on their childern then they can be very persistant. Sometimes not, but some people can be very hardheaded. A new question for atheist. Do you enjoy atheism? What do you have to look foward to in atheism?
I'm downright terrified when I think about death on occasion, other times it's more of an acceptance. At times it's easier accepting the mystery, other times, you just assume there's nothing and that scares me.
A new question for atheist. Do you enjoy atheism? What do you have to look foward to in atheism?
Atheism doesn't provide joy, as it is an absence of belief. I derive joy from the concept of "freedom from religion" though. I am more free to live my life how I choose and unbound by ancient texts and mythologies.
An atheist has the same things to look forward to as anyone else, with the exception of an afterlife. I look forward to simple things like a cold beer after work, or a ski trip or buying a new car next year. Not too different than alot of people.
[quote]Do you enjoy atheism? What do you have to look foward to in atheism?[quote]
Yes, i quite enjoy playing video games when all my freinds go to church lol.
i also kinda enjoy (and get annoyed) that my friends argue about how everything was put into existance. its fun to hear them say: "But it was created in seven days right? how does it work?"
do you enjoy atheism? What do you have to look foward to in atheism?
Yes, i quite enjoy playing video games when all my freinds go to church lol.
i also kinda enjoy (and get annoyed) that my friends argue about how everything was put into existance. its fun to hear them say: "But it was created in seven days right? how does it work? why would god not make mars habitable? and they defied god by stepping on the moon!"
Yes, the independence from any religious institution or constraint is enjoyable. And I can live without the advantage in means of social contacts that religious communities have.
What do you have to look foward to in atheism?
Life. This life here gains on value as soon as you realize it's the only one. Death is what gives more value to life, and even though I hate the thought of inexistence, if you think about it, it just means eternal rest for everyone, no hell or anything like it
