Did you choose to be an atheist? CAN one choose to be an atheist? [Spirituality & Religion]

For me, not believing in a god is not a choice any more than not believing in santa claus is a choice.
I simply don't believe the story. The tales are improbable, the evidence unconvincing.
I can't decide that i believe that which i do not believe.

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SW-User

I never chose.. although i wouldn't consider myself an atheist, i just spent my whole childhood at a catholic boarding school being taught about christianity.. well often having it beat into me because i asked too many questions... just trying to understand and get it to make sense... and day and night and everyone else seemed to get right into it, but it just didn't work for me. I never rejected it. I actually really wanted to become a christian so i could feel normal like everyone else around me. But it all felt like people talking about a vacation they'd experienced together that i hadn't been on. I could listen and think wow, that seems amazing. But i could neither believe or disbelieve it because i wasn't part of their experience and never had my own.

Pikachu

@SW-User

That sounds like a pretty stressful time

SW-User

@Pikachu It really was. I feel i should have been just trying to be a child and do children things and learn to understand myself, but i was forced to continually struggle with the concept of religion while being made to feel bad that i wasn't understanding.

Pikachu

@SW-User

Sucks to be an outsider

SW-User

@Pikachu It does!