Atheists: u mad, bro?

[ecco]

Excuse me.

I was an atheist. I was actually pretty hardcore at one point. I know my own history, thanks.

Then what were you looking for when you said...

have a more objective look.

If you were still looking for God...

​

 

[Rival]

Then what were you looking for when you said...

​

If you were still looking for God...

​

I wasn't looking for God. I meant a more objective look at religion in general.

 

[osgart]

I became atheist because I didn't want to accept fantasy for reality. Humanity comes from a place of not knowing in our births, and original beginnings. Sin is a man made concept. And if a God is out there then that God would make known everything we needed to know simply and directly. I wouldn't have to compile historical, philosophical, and scientific evidence and proof just to be saved.

I don't like religions that make me apart of their plot. I'm fine with religions that are benign to those of no belief, or faith, and other beliefs or faiths.

I don't like to be left with making sense of scriptural nonsense. Life is too short to waste time on illegitimate books as if they were words of a divine authority.

My own religion is benign to all people, except for the worst people. And life is more of a mystery than a clear cut obvious situation.

Even if an intelligent agent exists as the source of all life on Earth it still would be a long way from a proven God, and it would only exist naturally. Whatever happens on Earth must happen naturally. There is no such thing as magic, supernatural occurrences. Anything supernatural if found would coincide with daily natural experience. Interventions, and miracles are pure fantasy. Every day of life is an improbable event to be grateful for.

 

[blü 2]

Atheist only poll, but everyone can partake in the discussion.

A lot of theists have ideas on why atheists leave their religions, but I don't often see them actually talking to atheists about their reasoning. Anger or rebellion tend to be a presumed, I've noticed. Is it true, though?

Here we can discuss our own personal reason, and how much of that was influenced by anger. The questions are in regard to, firstly, if anger was an initial motive, and secondly, if you are still angry. Mark all that apply!

I ran out of room to add more options (or at least, it no longer gives me the option to edit them), so if none of these apply to you, please describe your own experiences with anger vs. your previous religion. Thanks!

Anger played no part in my dissociation from religion. When I was 14 and was confirmed as a Pisco, I'd told myself this would mean I'd understand it all, not least life after death; but that didn't happen, so disappointment was briefly a factor.

But after that, irrelevance was the main thing. I vaguely thought of myself as agnostic for many years, then as atheist, and now I see I'm ignostic ─ that is, I think the idea of a real supernatural and of real supernatural beings is incoherent. Gods &c exist only as concepts and things imagined in individual brains, and the world behaves exactly as if that's the case.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It wasn't anger. I don't think I'm in touch with anger. I didn't believe god existed, got pulled into the church from my former friend, learned a lot about spirituality, sat in front the Eucharist one last time and left.

I didn't have emotional attachment to it, so no withdrawals.

I disagree with the theology, but if I had anger, it would be how many people have been hurt by Christianity not a god.

 

[Kooky]

I'm not mad, only disappointed.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Atheist only poll, but everyone can partake in the discussion.

A lot of theists have ideas on why atheists leave their religions, but I don't often see them actually talking to atheists about their reasoning. Anger or rebellion tend to be a presumed, I've noticed. Is it true, though?

Here we can discuss our own personal reason, and how much of that was influenced by anger. The questions are in regard to, firstly, if anger was an initial motive, and secondly, if you are still angry. Mark all that apply!

I ran out of room to add more options (or at least, it no longer gives me the option to edit them), so if none of these apply to you, please describe your own experiences with anger vs. your previous religion. Thanks!

The title made me laugh breh

 

[AlexanderG]

I couldn't answer this poll because none of them applied. I was raised in a secular home, and I can't ever remember my parents telling me there is no god or disparaging religion. I think I simply missed the indoctrination boat once I'd reached a certain age.

My view towards religion is maybe best described as "morbid fascination." It is truly intriguing to me how a mind can hold so much cognitive dissonance and believe things that have no actual justification, or even clear evidence to the contrary, as long as it serves a social or emotional purpose. I've become convinced that our brains evolved with a lot of layered flaws. Discussions with sincere theists lets me explore the boundaries of those flaws and the limits a mind can reach in order to sustain an irrational internal image of reality. I hope this doesn't come off as condescending. While it's how I feel, it really is interesting to me and I honestly enjoy the conversations.

If there's something I dislike most in the realm of religion, it's people who approach discussions in bad faith and seem willfully, determinedly ignorant. I still wouldn't call my feeling anger, though.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I fail to understand how anybody could be angry towards a super natural deity whose existence he doubts is real?

There is a famous quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. It is, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

(edited) *I too am a big fan of Christ, but not so much a fan of most organized religion.*

I guess with Gandhi's personsl racism, he is so unlike his philosophy.

It seems anger also stems from hypocrisy and sanctimonious platforming.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I'm not mad, only disappointed.

Why

 

[AlexanderG]

From your own words above, you were never an atheist. You may have gotten burned out. You may have gone through a stage of skepticism. But, since you were still looking for (longing for?) evidence, you weren't really an atheist. At best a skeptist.

Excuse me.

I was an atheist. I was actually pretty hardcore at one point. I know my own history, thanks.

Ecco, I would really caution you against this kind of argument. You can't know what's in someone else's mind better than they do. In fact, I'd say the only thing I'm absolutely certain of is the content of my own thoughts, and anyone who smugly insists my thoughts aren't what I'm thinking lets me be absolutely certain that they are wrong. It's obnoxious when Christians say the "you were never a true Christian" phrase to atheists, and it's equally obnoxious when you say this to Christians. It's a terrible argument, you're wrong, and respectfully you should stop it.

 

[Rival]

I'd be curious to know how many folks left their cultural religions before trying other religions or other kinds of theism. I notice a lot of former atheists from Christian countries become Dharmics.

 

[Rival]

Ecco, I would really caution you against this kind of argument. You can't know what's in someone else's mind better than they do. In fact, I'd say the only thing I'm absolutely certain of is the content of my own thoughts, and anyone who smugly insists my thoughts aren't what I'm thinking lets me be absolutely certain that they are wrong. It's obnoxious when Christians say the "you were never a true Christian" phrase to atheists, and it's equally obnoxious when you say this to Christians. It's a terrible argument, you're wrong, and respectfully you should stop it.

I'm not a Christian, but thanks. I agree.

 

[McBell]

Atheist only poll, but everyone can partake in the discussion.

A lot of theists have ideas on why atheists leave their religions, but I don't often see them actually talking to atheists about their reasoning. Anger or rebellion tend to be a presumed, I've noticed. Is it true, though?

Here we can discuss our own personal reason, and how much of that was influenced by anger. The questions are in regard to, firstly, if anger was an initial motive, and secondly, if you are still angry. Mark all that apply!

I ran out of room to add more options (or at least, it no longer gives me the option to edit them), so if none of these apply to you, please describe your own experiences with anger vs. your previous religion. Thanks!

My leaving was out of disgust, not anger.
Don't get me wrong, there was some anger, but there was more disappointment than anger and much more disgust than disappointment.

 

[McBell]

I'd be curious to know how many folks left their cultural religions before trying other religions or other kinds of theism. I notice a lot of former atheists from Christian countries become Dharmics.

That is interesting.

Personmally, I am not looking for a religion or deity.
I figure if a deity want my attention they will know how to get it.
And if they do not know how to get it, they are not worthy of the title god.

 

[MikeF]

Atheist only poll, but everyone can partake in the discussion.

A lot of theists have ideas on why atheists leave their religions, but I don't often see them actually talking to atheists about their reasoning. Anger or rebellion tend to be a presumed, I've noticed. Is it true, though?

Here we can discuss our own personal reason, and how much of that was influenced by anger. The questions are in regard to, firstly, if anger was an initial motive, and secondly, if you are still angry. Mark all that apply!

I ran out of room to add more options (or at least, it no longer gives me the option to edit them), so if none of these apply to you, please describe your own experiences with anger vs. your previous religion. Thanks!

My non-belief was not the result of anger. Family stopped going to church when my parents divorced (Catholic, my mother got too much grief as a divorcé with 4 young kids). This gave me some space to think about religion on my own, non-belief soon followed.

 

[Suave]

I guess with Gandhi's personsl racism, he is so unlike his philosophy.

It seems anger also stems from hypocrisy and sanctimonious platforming.

Please forgive me, I did not realize he was racist, I shall never again mention his name nor shall I ever again quote him.

 

[Revoltingest]

I never had religion, so I never left it.
Anger towards it was never a factor.
No anger at all.
Occasionally some derision though.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Please forgive me, I did not realize he was racist, I shall never again mention his name nor shall I ever again quote him.

I think I'd much prefer a person whom is openly left imperfect and flawed, then one who has been intentionally embellished through qualitative adoration and subsequently made to look clean and pure as it were.

 

[Tiberius]

Atheist only poll, but everyone can partake in the discussion.

A lot of theists have ideas on why atheists leave their religions, but I don't often see them actually talking to atheists about their reasoning. Anger or rebellion tend to be a presumed, I've noticed. Is it true, though?

Here we can discuss our own personal reason, and how much of that was influenced by anger. The questions are in regard to, firstly, if anger was an initial motive, and secondly, if you are still angry. Mark all that apply!

I ran out of room to add more options (or at least, it no longer gives me the option to edit them), so if none of these apply to you, please describe your own experiences with anger vs. your previous religion. Thanks!

Terrible poll. It assumes there was anger. For me, leaving religion had no anger at all.