Atheists & Agnostics

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

54. Can't really say there was a specific point.

Tue Apr 17, 2018, 10:02 AM

Apr 2018

It was a journey with several steps for me.

Grew up a Christian (ELCA Lutheran), never really "felt" religion like others seemed to, but went through all the motions, convincing myself that eventually something would kick in.

Later in high school, did some reading and began questioning if any Christian church really was "right" - they all seemed wrong about some things. In college, reading a lot more, expanded that to all religions. How could any of them be correct? I think I still believed in some kind of god at that point, but had discarded belief in Jesus. Felt guilty for doing that, but it felt right.

Then I came across classic freethought literature. Robert Ingersoll really opened my eyes. Wasn't long before I knew I was an atheist.

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Does anyone remember when you became an unbeliever? [View all] angstlessk Apr 2018 OP

Yes. I was an alter boy at the time. padfun Apr 2018 #1

At about 16 years vlyons Apr 2018 #2

I read some books on Buddhism. angstlessk Apr 2018 #14

600k-plus Rohingya refugees beg to differ. malchickiwick Apr 2018 #51

I don't remember the date but I remember how I began questioning The Genealogist Apr 2018 #3

What kind of deity would be so cruel? Cartoonist Apr 2018 #6

I've certainly encountered some cruel theists The Genealogist Apr 2018 #7

Yes, and atheists are immoral!!! angstlessk Apr 2018 #15

Why shouldn't a deity be cruel? Mariana Apr 2018 #46

Same here. Comatose Sphagetti Apr 2018 #41

I don't think I ever believed. I tried to believe but could not MaryMagdaline Apr 2018 #4

Now there is an answer for the ages angstlessk Apr 2018 #8

It used to be convincing enough, I guess. :) MaryMagdaline Apr 2018 #27

At that age, I endured a weird sermon with a mention of Jesus following you everywhere and watching. Snarkoleptic Apr 2018 #5

Jesus as a balloon! angstlessk Apr 2018 #9

It was in college (I'm a late bloomer). 3Hotdogs Apr 2018 #10

THAT IS christianity! angstlessk Apr 2018 #16

Not JUST Christianity -- RandomAccess Apr 2018 #36

Raised in the Catholic Church...cannot remember EVER "believing" any of it... Moostache Apr 2018 #11

Indeed, why the first born sons to sacrifice? angstlessk Apr 2018 #17

Early, 12? years old, likely @ services in synagogue, elleng Apr 2018 #12

I started feeling skeptical Faux pas Apr 2018 #13

I remember not wanting to go to heaven angstlessk Apr 2018 #19

Who would want to go to heaven if it was filled with a bunch of smarmy bastards? 3Hotdogs Apr 2018 #31

I was a devout Catholic all the way through my teens. GreenEyedLefty Apr 2018 #18

I agree with being a closet atheist.. angstlessk Apr 2018 #21

Same here. Only a few family members and close friends know that Arkansas Granny Apr 2018 #29

Belief in supernatural beings just does not compute for me. unblock Apr 2018 #20

You musta been lucky outta the gate! angstlessk Apr 2018 #22

Raised by the ungodly. Voltaire2 Apr 2018 #23

When I asked a nun ... GeorgeGist Apr 2018 #24

Did you get the ruler or just told not to come around again? n/t The Genealogist Apr 2018 #33

7 or 8, i can't remember Butterflylady Apr 2018 #25

First CCD class, age 7 JenniferJuniper Apr 2018 #26

They can't answer those questions Cartoonist Apr 2018 #30

i was young CelticWinter Apr 2018 #28

When I found out Santa wasn't real, they all fell like dominoes after that. CrispyQ Apr 2018 #32

Same thing here. Mr.Bill Apr 2018 #37

I never did believe iwillalwayswonderwhy Apr 2018 #34

Church was where I learned to sing harmony. CrispyQ Apr 2018 #38

yes, so called heaven05 Apr 2018 #35

I was very young too, maybe around 6-7 when I refused to recite procon Apr 2018 #39

I was 12 and asked to "confirm" my belief Thunderbeast Apr 2018 #40

Guilt was and is all Catholicism teaches angstlessk Apr 2018 #50

It wasnt til recently that I realized that Jesus wasnt a Christian LakeArenal Apr 2018 #42

Age 4 Runningdawg Apr 2018 #43

Pets are the arbitrators of god angstlessk Apr 2018 #44

When I was about 55 years old. Delmette2.0 Apr 2018 #45

I have been crawling through the Atheist Experience videos for about 2 years rurallib Apr 2018 #47

I always was. Susan Calvin Apr 2018 #48

This message was self-deleted by its author Freelancer Apr 2018 #49

Nice to see someone mention Castaneda Runningdawg Apr 2018 #52

This message was self-deleted by its author Freelancer Apr 2018 #53

the trigility angstlessk Apr 2018 #56

Can't really say there was a specific point. trotsky Apr 2018 #54

That Which Is frogmarch Apr 2018 #55

Before I was 13. sakabatou Apr 2018 #57

Like many I was raised Catholic and went to parochial school rurallib Apr 2018 #58

Never did believe that crap, yortsed snacilbuper Apr 2018 #59