I Am An Atheist
I don't believe in something if there isn't proof of it. I was raised in an Atheist family and brought up a logical thinker. My family never tried to make me believe in Santa or God or anything else unless there was proof of it.
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Bushranger · 70-79, M
Has there ever been a time in your life when you thought that religion might be a viable option? I ask because I was raised in a nominally Methodist family, even though my parents weren't practicing (I found out many years later that my father left the faith when he was criticized for defending a young single woman who had fallen pregnant. Wish I had known that while he was still alive). I attended Church, Sunday School and even the youth group.
What I found as I grew older, however, was that the people of the Church could not answer questions without reference to their religion. Even as a young pre-teen, I was having difficulty in accepting the concept that every thing could only be explained by reference to God. So my faith was weakened but not broken.
I finally lost faith altogether when a nephew was diagnosed with bowel cancer at around 12 months of age. The, I'll admit well meaning, Church goers all spoke of how it was God's will and how He works in mysterious ways. Not a lot of comfort for my nephew or the family and absolutely heartless in the eyes of a young teenager.
Damn, never thought I'd put that out there. I'm so glad for the anonymity of this site.
What I found as I grew older, however, was that the people of the Church could not answer questions without reference to their religion. Even as a young pre-teen, I was having difficulty in accepting the concept that every thing could only be explained by reference to God. So my faith was weakened but not broken.
I finally lost faith altogether when a nephew was diagnosed with bowel cancer at around 12 months of age. The, I'll admit well meaning, Church goers all spoke of how it was God's will and how He works in mysterious ways. Not a lot of comfort for my nephew or the family and absolutely heartless in the eyes of a young teenager.
Damn, never thought I'd put that out there. I'm so glad for the anonymity of this site.
SW-User
@Bushranger yeah I never understood that, considering if god exists, what good could possibly come from making children suffer from diseases? Also like all Abrahamic religious say, why does anyone who's not a follower of that specific religion go to hell regardless of how good of a person they are? That's just goes against my logic
Bushranger · 70-79, M
@SW-User The reason for childhood suffering and death that I've heard quoted on here the most is original sin. Mind you, they temper it by saying that the children are saved from hell and go straight to heaven. Don't you find that comforting? (Sarcasm alert for those who missed it)
God gave evidence of his power and grace to the whole world in his creation. Anyone who fails to accept that is doomed to go to hell. I guess I don't need the sarcasm alert when I say that I think that's fair.
God gave evidence of his power and grace to the whole world in his creation. Anyone who fails to accept that is doomed to go to hell. I guess I don't need the sarcasm alert when I say that I think that's fair.
SW-User
@Bushranger original sin? That just sounds twisted and sick. Really I don't think any of it really matters as long as you're a good person and that's not what religions preach
Bushranger · 70-79, M