Anyone ever become an atheist after believing?

[Castiel]

Perhaps an ironic reply on my part but I disagree. I always think that arguing the point (for either side) is worthwhile because it will increase everyone's understanding, even if they don't acknowledge it initially.

In normal cases I would agree, however the evidence would show that Kedge and a few others will simply ignore anything that doesn't fit within their preconceived attitudes and no matter how much you try to explain, either from a scientific or religious perspective just how ill informed they are they will argue white is black. There are a myriad of threads where this has happened, and a huge one in SC where many people spent a huge amount of time and effort in explaining to him, but to no avail. You are better off trying to reach those who are able to assess things objectively and are willing to at least listen.

 

[Kamwah]

Threads like these are always hilarious. The hardcore atheists will come out and take a swing or two, then one of the stupid Christians will come out and badly represent themselves.

I for one am a Christian and its a fact that the majority of Christians these days are not creationists. I'd offer to answer anyone's questions but knowing OCUK they'll just be full of malicious intent instead of a want to understand.

 

[elmarko]

What tends to happen is that people's minds get twisted by an immense amount of rubbish and contemporary influence and their peer groups so they turn into atheists. Not to mention that atheism is cool these days. But science, yes, science is OK.

Now when people realise that both spirituality and science are the same thing, they're going to start feeling quite stupid. We are humans, we cannot possibly have all the answers, and its hilarious when people think we do.

It's pretty much entirely based on what you mean by spirituality.

I do agree on the last part, which is why I love science - it doesn't pretend to have all the answers - rational people are OK with simply not knowing, as contrary to popular belief a bad answer isn't always better than none.

 

[Hodders]

Is it really so hard to be respectful of people's beliefs though? Because you don't share them they have to be shouted down and made to look stupid? There's a lady who comes round to my house on Saturday mornings spreading the word of God. I've told her in no uncertain terms that I am not a man of religious persuasion, but she still comes round to have a chat and discussion about religion. She respects my (lack of) faith and I respect hers, despite the fact that we don't agree with one another's views.

There's nothing less endearing than a zealot.

It is hard to be respectful of any belief that makes people mutilate the genitals of infant children (Islan, Judaism etc). It is wrong. The fact that religion makes it acceptable is one of the many many reasons that religion *can* be evil.

 

[Lysander]

Threads like these are always hilarious. The hardcore atheists will come out and take a swing or two, then one of the stupid Christians will come out and badly represent themselves.

I for one am a Christian and its a fact that the majority of Christians these days are not creationists. I'd offer to answer anyone's questions but knowing OCUK they'll just be full of malicious intent instead of a want to understand.

There is never ever ever any point in discussing religion with someone with different views. You won't get anywhere. There will never be a point where one side of the argument goes, "yes, you are right, I'm a believer/atheist".

I had a long discussion with my wife the other night about religion which thankfully didn't turn into an argument because we have a similar attitude to religion [though it seems my knowledge of Islam might need revising].

 

[Hamish]

Threads like these are always hilarious. The hardcore atheists will come out and take a swing or two, then one of the stupid Christians will come out and badly represent themselves.

I for one am a Christian and its a fact that the majority of Christians these days are not creationists. I'd offer to answer anyone's questions but knowing OCUK they'll just be full of malicious intent instead of a want to understand.

I have a question. I do not mean it with malicious intent. I was wondering what led you to decide that the Christian God is the only God and that the rituals of your particular sect of Christianty are the way things are meant to be, rather than becoming a Jew/Muslim/Buddhist/Pagan etc. And also how you reconcile that with yourself when so many other people are just as convinced as you are that their God is the right one.

 

[Hodders]

Please would a Christian here please explain why they don't believe that Mohamed ascended to heaven pulled by a winged horse, or why they refuse to believe in any of the other gods and religions.

We are all atheists - it is just that I don't believe in one fewer gods than you !

 

[elmarko]

Threads like these are always hilarious. The hardcore atheists will come out and take a swing or two, then one of the stupid Christians will come out and badly represent themselves.

I for one am a Christian and its a fact that the majority of Christians these days are not creationists. I'd offer to answer anyone's questions but knowing OCUK they'll just be full of malicious intent instead of a want to understand.

I agree, very few religious people in the UK are creationists, or take the bible literally.

Also, evolution isn't at odds with Christianity anyway - abiogenesis deals with how life began, but it's not supported by the same level of evidence as evolution is.

I think that problems only arise when people try to merge faith & science - when they clearly are dealing with two different things (excluding religious scientific assertions).

The one question which I ask every single religious person,

"Taking into account the religion you are born into is based entirely on cultural exposure (geographical location & family unit) - how can you square up the fact that you would be a different religion if you had been born in say Pakistan, or South America or Tibet?, or if you had been born into a family in an isolated tribe - you would not know god, he would not exist to you.

If the gods of old are no longer worshipped or forgotten in time - which no longer exist, what happens if the same occurs with the modern religions? - or is a religions existence reliant on having follows (which implies no existence outside of the people who believe it)".

 

[Theophany]

It is hard to be respectful of any belief that makes people mutilate the genitals of infant children (Islan, Judaism etc). It is wrong. The fact that religion makes it acceptable is one of the many many reasons that religion *can* be evil.

Yes. Because everybody who is religious believes that genital mutilation is a good thing. You do realise circumcision is practiced outside of religious circles for hygiene reasons, right?

"In 2005, about 56 percent of male newborns were circumcised prior to release from the hospital according to statistics from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality." (Relating to the USA).

It's hard to be respectful of people who make ill-conceived posts like this, but I manage to do it.

 

[DanielMMS]

This doesn't usually matter. It is a shame when someone who could have furthered understanding of our world has instead chosen God, but fortunately such people are few.

Are you entirely serious? Many great scientific thinkers professed theistic beliefs. I've always felt it ironic that Big Bang theory (oft used to dismiss the notion of a creator god) was first proposed by a catholic priest.

 

[Kamwah]

I have a question. I do not mean it with malicious intent. I was wondering what led you to decide that the Christian God is the only God and that the rituals of your particular sect of Christianty are the way things are meant to be, rather than becoming a Jew/Muslim/Buddhist/Pagan etc. And also how you reconcile that with yourself when so many other people are just as convinced as you are that their God is the right one.

It was a combination of research and studying the Bible and the Torah/Tanakh. I strongly believe that the Jews are God's people and that he has not turned away from them, they still prosper in this day and age and he will come back for them.

EDIT: Forgot to add, I believe my denomination of Christianity is the one of the oldest but that by no means that the others are wrong, there are true saved Christians in all denominations from Catholics to Quakers.

The other religions like Islam, Buddhism, Pagan etc IMO are just crazy. Nothing but bondage when Christianity is freedom, it's all about loving your neighbor as yourself which so many Christians fail to do.

I agree, very few religious people in the UK are creationists, or take the bible literally.

Also, evolution isn't at odds with Christianity anyway - abiogenesis deals with how life began, but it's not supported by the same level of evidence as evolution is.

I think that problems only arise when people try to merge faith & science - when they clearly are dealing with two different things (excluding religious scientific assertions).

The one question which I ask every single religious person,

"Taking into account the religion you are born into is based entirely on cultural exposure (geographical location & family unit) - how can you square up the fact that you would be a different religion if you had been born in say Pakistan, or South America or Tibet?, or if you had been born into a family in an isolated tribe - you would not know god, he would not exist to you.

If the gods of old are no longer worshipped or forgotten in time - which no longer exist, what happens if the same occurs with the modern religions? - or is a religions existence reliant on having follows (which implies no existence outside of the people who believe it)".

I was not actually raised religious in any way, my parents were weird I guess because they seemed to have no religion and I'm not even sure today what they are/were.
I'm not entirely sure about if that had happened, I guess that's why in the beginning he did more and now he doesn't do much XD

I believe faith and science can be one. Science is the How and Faith is the Why.

Are you entirely serious? Many great scientific thinkers professed theistic beliefs. I've always felt it ironic that Big Bang theory (oft used to dismiss the notion of a creator god) was first proposed by a catholic priest.

Recently a study showed that 70% of Atheists are males and that the majority of under 60s in scientific fields were Theists and that changed in the over 60 age bracket.

 

[Lysander]

I have a question. I do not mean it with malicious intent. I was wondering what led you to decide that the Christian God is the only God and that the rituals of your particular sect of Christianty are the way things are meant to be, rather than becoming a Jew/Muslim/Buddhist/Pagan etc. And also how you reconcile that with yourself when so many other people are just as convinced as you are that their God is the right one.

They're the same God. People just have different paths and cultures.

 

[Hatter The Mad]

Like all people in this world, I was born an atheist.

Like most people who believe in god or a particular religion, I was brought up to do so (by my mother and my school).

I then reverted to atheism after becoming more educated and therefore skeptical and critical.

 

[CREATIVE!11]

I believe there is some powers that be, but not the way Christianity has made them out to be in their storybook known as the bible.

What does that make me?

 

[Lysander]

Like all people in this world, I was born an atheist.

Like most people who believe in god or a particular religion, I was brought up to do so (by my mother and my school).

I then reverted to atheism after becoming more educated and therefore skeptical and critical.

Indeed, you became more educated into human ways and human thinking. It's only natural you became an atheist.

I believe there is some powers that be, but not the way Christianity has made them out to be in their storybook known as the bible.

What does that make me?

An agnostic. Or a Deist/Taoist.

 

[dirtychinchilla]

It was a combination of research and studying the Bible and the Torah/Tanakh. I strongly believe that the Jews are God's people and that he has not turned away from them, they still prosper in this day and age and he will come back for them.

EDIT: Forgot to add, I believe my denomination of Christianity is the one of the oldest but that by no means that the others are wrong, there are true saved Christians in all denominations from Catholics to Quakers.

The other religions like Islam, Buddhism, Pagan etc IMO are just crazy. Nothing but bondage when Christianity is freedom, it's all about loving your neighbor as yourself which so many Christians fail to do.



I was not actually raised religious in any way, my parents were weird I guess because they seemed to have no religion and I'm not even sure today what they are/were.
I'm not entirely sure about if that had happened, I guess that's why in the beginning he did more and now he doesn't do much XD

I believe faith and science can be one. Science is the How and Faith is the Why.




Recently a study showed that 70% of Atheists are males and that the majority of under 60s in scientific fields were Theists and that changed in the over 60 age bracket.

Interesting opinions, but you've really not answered the question with regards to why you disagree with other religions. Why is it that your religion is viewed as the one?

Personally, I'd be much more sympathetic to someone's viewpoint if they didn't state that their God was the one; if they had a position of something like there's a higher being/beings but I don't know what it/they are then it would be substantially easier to comprehend and accept as valid.

Unfortunately, most religions take the view of ours is the one and the others are false, which is one of the reasons why I struggle with religious people.

 

[Lysander]

It was a combination of research and studying the Bible and the Torah/Tanakh. I strongly believe that the Jews are God's people and that he has not turned away from them, they still prosper in this day and age and he will come back for them.

EDIT: Forgot to add, I believe my denomination of Christianity is the one of the oldest but that by no means that the others are wrong, there are true saved Christians in all denominations from Catholics to Quakers.

The other religions like Islam, Buddhism, Pagan etc IMO are just crazy. Nothing but bondage when Christianity is freedom, it's all about loving your neighbor as yourself which so many Christians fail to do.

Have you read the Quran? I've only dipped into it but the parts I've read are far from crazy.

As for paganism being "crazy"... I think you need to read up on your history, then you'll see that the majority of Christian festivals sprung or were stolen from Paganism.

 

[Hodders]

It is hard to be respectful of any belief that makes people mutilate the genitals of infant children (Islan, Judaism etc). It is wrong. The fact that religion makes it acceptable is one of the many many reasons that religion *can* be evil.

Yes. Because everybody who is religious believes that genital mutilation is a good thing. You do realise circumcision is practiced outside of religious circles for hygiene reasons, right?

"In 2005, about 56 percent of male newborns were circumcised prior to release from the hospital according to statistics from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality." (Relating to the USA).

It's hard to be respectful of people who make ill-conceived posts like this, but I manage to do it.

Oh come on - did I say all religious people - no. Your average C of E churchgoer member is harmless (deluded but harmless).

Also I am not referring exclusively to male circumcision (of which only a small %age is medically necessary). Full female circumcision is far more barbaric and damaging and is also promoted through faiths and beliefs.

No I cannot 'respect' those beliefs and to be honest neither should anyone. They should be shouted down and pointed out as evil.

 

[aln]

Evolution as a whole teaches everything came from nothing, but yet the scientific method clearly shows that nothing produces nothing, so if there was nothing in the beginning there would be nothing now, there is no logic here. The scientific method clearly shows there has to be a cause, what is that cause under the evolutionary framework?.

Atheism is a position of ignorance, it has to ignore the truth, it does not want to be held accountable to God, it seeks it's own pleasures in Satans system of things. Agnosticism is in limbo land.

Actually Evolution teaches that something comes from something only it mutates along the way. What I think you're actually referring to is the big bang but I doubt thats as much definitive "we came from nothing" as much as "we don't really know".

Of course when you talk about god you're literally talking about coming from nothing. You either accept your god came from nothing, came from something you don't understand or has always existed. If you're willing to accept such a thing on faith, why can't you accept the universe came from nothing, something we don't understand, or has always been?

Your position doesn't make any sense it's like arguing you believe we can defy mavity with our minds in the absence of any proof that such a thing is possible, only going one step further to suggest you belief is fact and the rest of us will be doomed because we cannot levitate.

For the record though, the vast majority of us are willing to accept you can fly with your mind or that god exists, if only you just show us some proof. Until that point, feel free to enjoy your cult.

 

[Kamwah]

Interesting opinions, but you've really not answered the question with regards to why you disagree with other religions. Why is it that your religion is viewed as the one?

Personally, I'd be much more sympathetic to someone's viewpoint if they didn't state that their God was the one; if they had a position of something like there's a higher being/beings but I don't know what it/they are then it would be substantially easier to comprehend and accept as valid.

Unfortunately, most religions take the view of ours is the one and the others are false, which is one of the reasons why I struggle with religious people.

If I could explain it to you then I would but it's hard to do so. There are spiritual things which someone who is an Atheist would just look at me and think I'm crazy and tbh I don't blame you.

Well there are still polytheist religions today, isn't Hinduism one? I don't see why you have something against monotheism, the only problem I see is people trying to constantly shove it down your throat, thankfully I don't know anyone like that.

Have you read the Quran? I've only dipped into it but the parts I've read are far from crazy.

As for paganism being "crazy"... I think you need to read up on your history, then you'll see that the majority of Christian festivals sprung or were stolen from Paganism.

Yes, I'm well versed in the contradictions of the Quran and what it teaches while saying it's of the same Abrahamic God. My SO's family are Muslims.

Paganism isn't too crazy. I understand a lot of the festivals were taken from them but only a clueless Christian would tell you that those days are actually the correct days to celebrate such things, Christmas and Easter are not the dates of Birth/Resurrection.

Oh come on - did I say all religious people - no. Your average C of E churchgoer member is harmless (deluded but harmless).

Also I am not referring exclusively to male circumcision (of which only a small %age is medically necessary). Full female circumcision is far more barbaric and damaging and is also promoted through faiths and beliefs.

No I cannot 'respect' those beliefs and to be honest neither should anyone. They should be shouted down and pointed out as evil.

I don't believe Judaism or Islam promote or even teach female genital mutilation. There is a reason for why Jews do it, I assume it's the same for the Muslims as Islam is Christianity and Judaism squeezed into one.