When did your belief begin?

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Kataclismic's picture
When did your belief begin?

Chances are, if your parents were religious, that you were indoctrinated from a very early age and have no memory of when you started believing. If this is you then I would like to know your very earliest memory of your belief and how your concept of God has changed since you've matured. Your age would be a good note here too if you don't mind.

A smaller percentile will have missed the indoctrination for any of a multitude of reasons and found your way to religion on your own terms. From you, I'd like to know what age you began your journey, what was going on in your life at the time and how the church or your belief or God himself has helped you.

Please include details about your current beliefs and practices. I promise to only ask meaningful questions and implore my fellow atheists to respectfully adhere to this as well.
Thank you.

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Sapporo's picture
(Answering as an atheist and

(Answering as an atheist and former Christian)
Difficult for me to remember, the same as it is difficult for me to remember what my earliest memory may be.

I grew up in a family that celebrated Christmas and Easter, and I certainly went to church regularly earlier than I first remember attending.

I first read the bible very young (although saying that, I was older than the first time I attended church, which is the wrong way of doing things). If I did not encountered the violent Abrahamic god before that time, I certainly did when I read that book. That certainly gave me doubts about god, but probably more along the lines of its conduct rather than existential doubts - I don't think the distinction between the two really mattered to me at that time (i.e. I felt like I was in an one-sided conversation with god in my head, a god whose nature was malleable to me). I generally date that process as starting when I was about 7, and advancing until my early teens when I was a confident atheist).

My thought process from that time and to this day has essentially been to ask myself if an action is reasonable - i.e. proportionate, and being conducive to doing what is "good". This involves for example asking if the god of scripture is a reasonable being, and has reasonable expectations. Of course, this is a subjective exercise, as all aesthetic judgments are. But if someone was to limit themselves only to what they can absolutely know to be true, they would never do anything.

I am also unable to force myself to believe something to be true contrary to my inclinations - I would have thought that obvious, and yet we live in a world where people treat belief as a virtue.

Cognostic's picture
Went to Church a few times as

Went to Church a few times as a child. My family was not religious. I moved from California to Kansas when I dropped out of school. (Just stopped trying.) I sort-of went to school in Kansas. I was angry and along, the product of a divorced family and an abusive mother. I found Jesus in the late 60s early 70s. I was a "Jesus People." I roamed about the Kansas countryside with a bible under my arm, singing songs and witnessing to groups of mindless believers.

Several things happened. First I began looking at myself and the group I was with. The egos involves as each person insisted they wanted to witness or sing and be the star of the show. Everyone in the group including myself was a hypocrite. At this same time I was seriously considering being a preacher. A friend and I decided that the best way to do this was to visit every church in town and learn about god. That was the undoing of faith. More hypocrites, weird beliefs that were opposite to the one I was believing and it all led to the realization that no one knew what the hell they were doing. And then there was introduction to the business side of the church. Everything is about money. Everything is about the next big scam to get as many donations as you can. I was Christian for about two years and cured inside of three months.

UneducatedAtheists's picture
And a little about your brief

And a little about your brief Christian visitor. Born in a long succession of Christians, I slipped into Atheism at a young age, became angry and hostile to God, religion, you know the works. Was blaspheming horrendously for a kid, challenging God to prove himself, followed by the words "You don't exist".. until he did indeed blatantly and provocatively proved himself. Shut me up real good, I was so scared by the appearance I almost pissed myself. Anyways, I talked about the details since over and over with many people. I am not comfortable sharing my experience with total strangers. More so in this forum of all places. I don't care if you believe or not, that is your problem. I got my answer at a very young age, and at a very large dose. I guess I am one of those lucky ones.. or maybe I have purpose to serve.. Time will tell. Even though I slip into sin, and occasionally blaspheme when stuff is not going right.. Atheist habits. I will profess Christ and exalt his Saints upon pain of death if need be. For he is truly risen! What I saw, I saw, and others heard. My testimony is true, and I really could care less what any of you have to say about it.

CyberLN's picture
UA, you wrote, “and I really

UA, you wrote, “and I really could care less what any of you have to say about it.”

You may want to think about all the words in that sentence.

UneducatedAtheists's picture
I think not, but thank you

I think not, but thank you for your suggestion.

CyberLN's picture
I’ll spell it out for you..

I’ll spell it out for you...the proper way to say it is, “I COULDN’T care less...”

Sheldon's picture
"I think not, but thank you

"I think not, but thank you for your suggestion."

That is a pretty fair summation of you really, and after I thought you were incapable of cogent brevity.

arakish's picture
Sheldon, at least he admitted

Sheldon, at least he admitted he does not "think." That is better than some persons of a "blustery" nature...

rmfr

Sheldon's picture
" I slipped into Atheism at a

" I slipped into Atheism at a young age, became angry and hostile to God"

It takes a special thought process to hate something you don't believe exists..

"until he did indeed blatantly and provocatively proved himself. Shut me up real good"

All the evidence suggests otherwise. Do you remember exactly what you think this deity did? Anything's worth a try at this point to try and shut you up.

"I was so scared by the appearance I almost pissed myself."

I doubt that indicates anything significant for you.

" I don't care if you believe or not, that is your problem."

Rest easy, this is not a problem for me, and I'd be stunned if it was a problem for anyone else here.

" I guess I am one of those lucky one"

I think "special" is a more apropos word.

" Even though I slip into sin, and occasionally blaspheme when stuff is not going right.. Atheist habits."

Not really, as neither of those concepts are real for atheists, as you'd know if you had the ability to read and understand basic word definitions.

"What I saw, I saw, and others heard. My testimony is true, and I really could care less what any of you have to say about it."

Is that what you came here to tell a load of atheists? You morons are so transparent, what you need is a pulpit, not a debate forum.

UneducatedAtheists's picture
Shut up moron, and begome

Shut up moron, and begome gatolick.

Sheldon's picture
You seem a very angry little

You seem a very angry little theist for someone who never stops telling us you don't care what we think. I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with your last reference, it's some sort of sexual slang no? Are you suggesting I phone your mother? She hasn't changed her number has she, I still have the card.

Kataclismic's picture
You guys are just ridiculous.

You guys are just ridiculous. I really expected the atheists to provide the disrespect, not somebody describing themselves as a "brief Christian visitor". If you are "not comfortable sharing" then perhaps you should have just kept it to yourself.

Thank you for your submission though, it really doesn't surprise me.

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Tin-Man's picture
Re: UneducatedAtheists -

Re: UneducatedAtheists - "And a little about your brief Christian visitor. Born in a long succession of Christians, I slipped into Atheism at a young age, became angry and hostile to God, religion, you know the works. Was blaspheming horrendously for a kid, challenging God to prove himself, followed by the words "You don't exist".. "

Soooooo...... Ummmm... Hmmm.... Okay, I know our beloved UneducatedDouche is no longer with us, but I just could not help but notice this statement he left for us to ponder. Am I to understand that he made the claim to have "slipped into Atheism", yet he then proceeded to rant and rave and insult and be hostile toward an imaginary being in which he supposedly did not believe??? Funny, but that sounds nothing like any atheists that I have ever known. Granted, I am not a professional psychiatrist, but that sounds more like severe psychotic anger management issues.

(My apologies, Kat. Just couldn't let that one slip by without comment.)

Cognostic's picture
@ God to prove himself,

@ God to prove himself, followed by the words "You don't exist".. until he did indeed blatantly and provocatively proved himself.

I pulled the same prank on my brother and he wet the bed. However, unlike the prank pulled on you, I admitted it to him and we had a good laugh.

UneducatedAtheists's picture
Unoriginal.. better luck on

Unoriginal.. better luck on your next try.

arakish's picture
When did your belief begin?

When did your belief begin?

In atheism? When I was born. I ain't never believed in any religion. However, I was abused by the church to point I had no choice but to "fake" my belief. Otherwise, never. Not in any religion.

rmfr

Kataclismic's picture
The grammar Nazi in me is

The grammar Nazi in me is screaming! By "belief" I was being very specific to the believers as atheism is not something you believe in, it is the defin..... well, you know so I'll cut him off there.

Thank you for your submission regardless, arakish.

HaveNoIdeaWhatYourSigMeans

arakish's picture
rmfr are my initials. RMF

rmfr are my initials. RMF Runyan is usually how I sign something, but on forum boards, I use "rmfr"

rmfr

Randomhero1982's picture
It's amazing how many of

It's amazing how many of these redneck cousin shaggers ware previously atheist.... UNTILL THE LORRRRRRD DID COME DOWN WITH HIS HEAAAAALING HAND!!!!

break out your banjos...

UneducatedAtheists's picture
I'm European, you 2nd rate

I'm European, you 2nd rate subhuman sister fucker!

arakish's picture
Okay. I am guessing

Okay. I am guessing education has fallen serious in Europe. Especially after that remark.

rmfr

UneducatedAtheists's picture
As exhibited by your lack of

As exhibited by your lack of knowledge of ancient Greek, but you can carry on denying your grave error which exposes you as an amateur at best.. and pretend nothing is wrong. I mean you're a self righteous atheist after all.

Randomhero1982's picture
How wonderfully Christian of

How wonderfully Christian of you cum guzzler. Hahahaha

Sheldon's picture
Is it me or did he have an

Is it me or did he have an unhealthy obsession with incest?

Now I think of it, can there be such a thing as a healthy obsession with incest?

Either way he was pretty weird, even for an excessively angry theist troll.

ʝօɦn 6IX ɮʀɛɛʐy's picture
My parents were Christian but

My parents were Christian but secular. When I turned 18 I decided to read through the bible; I also took up a commentary on it. This was all around the time when Dawkins and the four horsemen were gaining popularity, so there was a lot of talk on the subject in general. YouTube was also becoming a more solid platform, so I would watch videos from the Amazing Atheist and others as well, plus any responses to them. All the Sam Harris debates started going up too. Religion was just an all around fascinating subject, so wherever I had friends of other denominations or faith I would ask them to take me to their place of worship so I could experience it. I would also have discussions with their elders about their beliefs.

After high school I became an EMT for about two years, then went to college for microbiology before switching to psychology. I've been on this forum ever since.

(That's important to remember. It's always strange when I'm asked why I'm asking the forum certain questions. The best answer I can give, is out of habit. I've been on here too long to bother going somewhere else).

It's worth noting that before reading the bible I never read a book in my life. After reading it I couldn't stop. There's more books in my room than I know what to do with.

Kataclismic's picture
Thank you for your submission

Thank you for your submission, John. I see you are still intentionally avoiding all the questions that you intentionally avoid. At least you are consistent.

Sheldon's picture
He will never change. He

He will never change. He thinks if he lets the dust settle we'll all forget how dishonest he has been in the past. The real hilarity is the sententious way he tells others they are not contributing anything of value, as if he is the arbiter of what constitutes value, and no one will notice he values only his own ideas and beliefs.

ʝօɦn 6IX ɮʀɛɛʐy's picture
I told him what age I began

I told you what age I began my journey, what was going on in my life at the time, and how it helped me: 18, school, and paved the way for my scientific career. That was the bulk of what you asked.

As far as my current beliefs and practices, I'm a Christian, which I thought was obvious.

Kataclismic's picture
Yes, I think we were starting

Yes, I think we were starting to get the Christian feel from you, John. There are quite a few flavours of them though, my mother is Methodist. So can you tell us what version of Christian you are and what separates you from the rest of the wanna-be's?

CyberLN's picture
If memory serves, I think he

If memory serves, I think he once said he was SDA.

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