I Am An Atheist

@GlassDog We're all born as Atheists. Like most people in the UK at the times, I was taught christianity at school, where it was held up as "the truth". Other religions got a mention but they were said to be silly superstitions of primitive people. Asa result, I became quite a devout christian but, as I got more into it, I came to see it too was just a collection of myths and superstitions, mostly coming from the "silly superstitions of primitive people".

Breaking away from christianity was very difficult. Once that cult has its hooks in you they're very reluctant to let go. Even now christians try to claim that I could not have been a true christian because that can't accept the fact that a former christian got away.

@suzie1960 My grandmother was involved in certain branches of the church that seemed to me what could be described as cultish. I'm glad you managed to get away from that, although it's clear that they can only maintain beliefs by maintaining the illusion and by questioning you. I tend to think any belief system that can't and won't stand up to any scrutiny isn't one that people shouldn't really be investing so much in. I read an interesting world history which described how humans invented religion and why. It's a real surprise to me that it's still such a big part of people's lives.

@GlassDog In christianity, one isn't permitted to "question god". I think that's indicative of just how fragile the religion is. I've spoken to Pagans and found they're the complete opposite, questioning is actively encouraged. It's how we learn.

@suzie1960 I've probably been quite lucky in my exposure (or lack of it). My mother is a Methodist and her minister does openly question faith all the time (although generally as a tool to explain why faith is a good thing). I certainly don't get along with the ideal of things like papal infallibity.

@GlassDog There are some "stock answers" to some questions but, in my experience, asking a "non-approved" question is met with a (quite often angry) "you mustn't test god!"

@suzie1960 Yeah, that seems to be one of the ways of reinforcing it. That and the idea of promising rewards upon death (knowing that dead people can't refute it). I'm always suspicious of what is said can't be tested.

Same here. I was raised in a devout Catholic home, went to Catholic schools all my life. I used to think that atheist must have meaningless lives, but now that I am one, I found more peace, more wonder, and more fulfillment, and a lot less hate and intolerance.@suzie1960

@JimboSaturn I found my life changed for the better when I broke free of christianity too.