**The title is supposed to read

"Opinions from other atheists coming from religious families/bible belt greatly appreciated"

**

Ok, I just posted this in the other atheist thread, but was hoping to get some specific responses to the latter half of it from other people that grew up in religious milieus and are now atheist.

I grew up Christian, moved toward deism sophomore year of college when my history teacher explained the evolution of how mankind has understood nature - ie religion or metaphysics has been used for a long time to understand physics, life, existence etc, but science changed all of it. This made me believe god existed, but only as a deist god - which nullified my christian beliefs.

Later, I came to understand that if I am deist and believe I can't experience god - I ought not necessarily believe in god and became an agnostic. For the past 2-3 years I've been an agnostic, rationalizing my middle position to atheists by stating that it made more sense to me that all was created by something rather than nothing.

Slowly over the past month, I've come to understand that I am simply trying to explain something to myself which is currently unexplainable and that I am filling in the empty gap with - "maybe god did it". Furthermore, this thing I am trying to explain is 'the existence of existence' which is a fruitless endeavor at best, since stating that 'god created our system' simply leaves you asking 'what created god's system?' Therefore, believing in god or not disbelieving in god leaves you in the same quandary. If there is no empirical reason to believe in such a being - you might as well have an unbelief - atheism. So I guess I am officially an atheist, though I am still wary of calling myself one in public. If any others here live in the bible belt, you understand where I am coming from. There are IMMENSE negative connotations that come along with the word 'atheist' here, it is as if you are a devil worshipper or something. It is even harder for me, because I am so deeply engrained in the idea of god/christianity as being such an inherently good thing. At the same time, I could never go back to where I came from simply because of my positive emotional feelings toward such concepts.

Many of my closest friends are at the very least, not religious, so they don't care what I am. Yet, in my larger circle of friends, there are many christians and conservatives and I feel like they view me quite differently now, just because I've changed from being religious to secular. My dad even told me yesterday that he felt he has failed me, which made me very sad to think that my mere beliefs have brought him grief. Yet, this is what happens when a person is THAT deeply engrained into a belief for over 50 years. They REALLY believe I may go to hell and I can see how this would be very distressing. I don't want to bring this distress to the people around me, but there is little I can do about it while staying true to myself.

Any thoughts?



[This message has been edited by KikoSanchez (edited 01-26-2007).]

YA i heard that from a friend who went to a private christian school for his whole life. He commonly said he's a non believer and people would take it and push him back into bible study or something. Then one day he said he was an atheist wich means non believer or whatever the fuck you want to call it and BAM he's the devil

He just ignores people, And hopes one day they all become atheists to understand where he's coming from.

[This message has been edited by boozehound420 (edited 01-26-2007).]

Yes, I really don't care if other people don't want to be atheists, but I'd atleast hope they understand that it is a very logical position to take - and therefore should not be looked down upon.

Kiko,

Is it that you don't believe in the God they talk about in the bible and at church?

Or do you not believe in the idea that there is a higher power that created everything? Do you believe in an afterlife? Do you believe that humans have souls?

The people in your community who follow the bible and Christianity as it has been spoon fed to them do not really have faith. They have fear. They are afraid to examine their own beliefs. It's always easy to accept the truths that are given to us by others.

I was raised in a religious household (Baptist/AoG) and considered myself quite a devout Christian up until I was about 20 (less than a year ago). I also live in the bible belt (southwest Missouri). Thus far, I've been a bit secretive about it. Only my mom, sisters, and grandmother know that I deconverted. My mom and sisters believed in "once saved, always saved" so they think I'm going to heaven no matter what. My grandmother just convinced herself that "someday I'll come back to god". My dad would probably bust a nut if I told him. Frankly, I'd rather avoid the matter until he's paid for my college. X-D

Remember, we're atheists. It's no "sin" to mislead ignorant people in order to avoid undue criticisms and prejudices. If you think people are gonna give you shit, and you don't want to put up with it, you don't have to. Just give them an ambiguous answer, grin, and hope they leave you the fuck alone.

quote:Originally posted by THUNDERCOCK:

Kiko,

Is it that you don't believe in the God they talk about in the bible and at church?

Or do you not believe in the idea that there is a higher power that created everything? Do you believe in an afterlife? Do you believe that humans have souls?

The people in your community who follow the bible and Christianity as it has been spoon fed to them do not really have faith. They have fear. They are afraid to examine their own beliefs. It's always easy to accept the truths that are given to us by others.



I disbelieve in any concept of god, an afterlife or the soul.

Being an atheist in the midwest fuckin sucks. There's something unnerving about knowing EVERYBODY around you would freak out if they knew what you actually believed (or didn't believe).

I grew up in a very Christian, conservative family. I told my parents that I was having a "faith crisis" and that I didn't know if I truly believed any more and they threatened to kick me out. They claimed that it was "for my own good" since I would go to Hell if I didn't believe. That was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. I ceased to believe and never looked back to the beliefs of my childhood. I will never forgive my parents for forcing their religion upon me... it hurt to have someone I trusted so blatantly betray me.

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:



Remember, we're atheists. It's no "sin" to mislead ignorant people in order to avoid undue criticisms and prejudices. If you think people are gonna give you shit, and you don't want to put up with it, you don't have to. Just give them an ambiguous answer, grin, and hope they leave you the fuck alone.

I agree - that's the beauty of being atheist or agnostic... you can have a much more lax moral code http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif). Good luck on your journey, and you are very well spoken. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your explanation of your thought process that led to your becoming atheist.

[This message has been edited by nostromadu (edited 01-27-2007).]

I grew up jewish, and im an athiest now because I went/still go to a jewish school. The principles which were taught to me make no sense and some I find very immoral, while moral values are clearly visible when reading the bible. The interpretation I was taught made me feel distgust for theism, so Im an athiest now. I would type more about what I actually do believe but im on a school computer right now and dont have the time.

quote:Originally posted by nostromadu:

I agree - that's the beauty of being atheist or agnostic... you can have a much more lax moral code http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif).

Well, in a sense... I don't believe it's sinful to touch myself at night, for instance. http://www.totse.com/bbs/tongue.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/tongue.gif) But I'd say I'm much more moral than most of my Christian friends.