Atheists: u mad, bro?

[stvdv]

especially since I accidentally hit post before it was done and couldn't edit the poll itself after the fact

I think the OP has value, because I think there are not many people without any anger. And seeing the heated responses on RF between Atheists and Theists, I would be very surprised if there is not at least some irritation hidden in quite a few on RF (but maybe I am the only one having anger issues).

I always thought I had no anger in me, because I never felt any anger for many decades. Until 1 day, Sai Baba casually remarked "you need not worry about being underweight, because your emotional body is huge".I did not get it straight away, but some time later He showed me how much anger is inside me (oh my God). I am just a "Master" in suppressing my anger, and I do it so "good", that I was not even aware of having anger anymore.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I never had a "prior religion" - so none of the options in the poll apply to my situation except perhaps the last one, as I would say that I am somewhat angry however. Obviously not at anything "the church" or any religion has done to me, personally - because I have never gone in for any of the nonsense to begin with, so it isn't as if I've been swindled or tricked or feel taken advantage of or betrayed. None of that. And since I never (not once) even had an inkling of belief in a God or gods, I can't, at all, feel that "the gods" are responsible for anything at all - especially nothing concerning myself - so there is no "blame" to be cast there for anything. It is actually an entirely foreign notion to me, and doesn't make much sense when others invoke it, to be honest.

So, on to the reasons for my "anger" toward religion. I am angry on behalf of my fellow man. All the ones who I feel are currently being swindled, taken advantage of, lied to - and this, mind you, is happening even if god(s) exist(s)! Not all of these ridiculous "belief systems" can be correct, after all - so someone out there is just blatantly lying about what they feel they can know or have come to know. In fact - it is a great many someones. And there you have it... a huge portion of people out there have been told ridiculous stories and are being compelled to believe them due to having been exposed by peers or elders, etc. It is a huge injustice in my opinion, and it makes me angry.

 

[Moonjuice]

None of the above. In fact, I'm not sure why "leaving out of anger" are the only options given. Why would someone think that the only way people leave a religion has to do with being angry? I think if you added "Left, but not out of anger, for other reasons" that would have received most of the votes. Instead, even though I would be considered an atheist, I can't answer the poll because none of the answer options apply to why I left. Nor anyone I know who also left, for that matter. If reversed it would look like: Why did you become a Christian? #1 - Angry at atheists? #2- Angry at science? #3- Angry at the universe? Etc. Etc.

 

[ecco]

I think I simply missed the indoctrination boat once I'd reached a certain age.

That says a lot.

All religions indoctrinate the young from before they can even speak. Once a child reaches a certain age, that indoctrination becomes more difficult.

My background is similar to yours. By the time I got exposed to religion (Sunday school) around age ten, I thought the whole concept was laughable.

 

[ecco]

because I think there are not many people without any anger. And seeing the heated responses on RF between Atheists and Theists, I would be very surprised if there is not at least some irritation hidden in quite a few on RF

Did you read the same posts I read? The only anger I saw was at the OP because of the obviously biased nature of the poll.

I always thought I had no anger in me, because I never felt any anger for many decades. Until 1 day, Sai Baba casually remarked "you need not worry about being underweight, because your emotional body is huge".I did not get it straight away, but some time later He showed me how much anger is inside me. I am just a "Master" in suppressing my anger, and I do it so "good", that I was not even aware of having anger anymore.

• You didn't feel you had a lot of anger.
• Then someone told you you have a lot of anger.
• They told you you are just suppressing your anger.
• You believed them.
• Now you believe you are full of anger.

That's really sad.

Maybe you need to put Sai Baba out of your life and find people who see the happiness in you.

 

[QuestioningMind]

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 has never been a factor for me. I stopped believing as soon as I realized that the only evidence anyone had that the god notion was true is that it's written in an old book. I remember being confused as to how supposedly rational adults could accept anything based on completely unverifiable evidence, but there wasn't any anger involved.

 

[stvdv]

That's really sad.

Really sad, that you have it so wrong
And even more sad, that you think you have it all figured out so well...about my life (you must be God...omniscient)

 

[Justanatheist]

I never had a religion the closest I got to a religious indoctrination was when my dad let me stay up late to watch Dave Allen! Hardly surprising I could never take religion seriously. So it is fair to say I am an atheist because of comedy.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I think the OP has value, because I think there are not many people without any anger. And seeing the heated responses on RF between Atheists and Theists, I would be very surprised if there is not at least some irritation hidden in quite a few on RF (but maybe I am the only one having anger issues).

I think it interesting that "anger" is given such a negative connotation. I truly believe that anger is the appropriate response to any number of situations. Granted, I don't believe that many of those situations include "flying off the handle," and I truly look with unabashed disdain at anyone physically lashing out in anger under otherwise "normal" circumstances (that is, excluding things like people trying to actively harm the person lashing out) - even if the target of their anger is some inanimate object. Abject lack of control that is... with a hefty dose of ignorance of the blatant fact that destroying or damaging unrelated property isn't going to do a single thing toward helping the situation. It is completely illogical and there is really no excuse for it. I don't even care if they imagine it makes them "feel better." Basically, what I am trying to get it (but being a bit too wordy about it, admittedly) is that there is more to "anger" than just stomping around, being dumb and breaking things. And because of the various levels, aspects I believe that "anger" has - I feel that "anger" itself is not a definitively "bad" thing.

 

[stvdv]

I think it interesting that "anger" is given such a negative connotation. I truly believe that anger is the appropriate response to any number of situations. Granted, I don't believe that many of those situations include "flying off the handle," and I truly look with unabashed disdain at anyone physically lashing out in anger under otherwise "normal" circumstances (that is, excluding things like people trying to actively harm the person lashing out) - even if the target of their anger is some inanimate object. Abject lack of control that is... with a hefty dose of ignorance of the blatant fact that destroying or damaging unrelated property isn't going to do a single thing toward helping the situation. It is completely illogical and there is really no excuse for it. I don't even care if they imagine it makes them "feel better." Basically, what I am trying to get it (but being a bit too wordy about it, admittedly) is that there is more to "anger" than just stomping around, being dumb and breaking things. And because of the various levels, aspects I believe that "anger" has - I feel that "anger" itself is not a definitively "bad" thing.

I agree, the emotion anger is not a bad thing at all (as I explained a little while ago). It depends how you use that energy (of the anger).

 

[ecco]

Really sad, that you have it so wrong
And even more sad, that you think you have it all figured out so well...about my life (you must be God...omniscient)

So wrong? Really? You wrote...

I always thought I had no anger in me, because I never felt any anger for many decades. Until 1 day, Sai Baba casually remarked "you need not worry about being underweight, because your emotional body is huge".I did not get it straight away, but some time later He showed me how much anger is inside me (oh my God). I am just a "Master" in suppressing my anger, and I do it so "good", that I was not even aware of having anger anymore.

My synopsis was based on what you wrote.

• You didn't feel you had a lot of anger.
• Then someone told you you have a lot of anger.
• They told you you are just suppressing your anger.
• You believed them.
• Now you believe you are full of anger.

Instead of just being condescending, show where my synopsis is wrong.

 

[stvdv]

Instead of just being condescending, show where my synopsis is wrong.

You are the one starting of being condescending to me, remember, don't turn it around. I just echoed your words to wake you up, not to do that to me

 

[stvdv]

Instead of just being condescending, show where my synopsis is wrong.

To answer the question:
My feelings were suppressed, hence I was not aware I had the anger stored in me, but it was creating diseases in me
Thanks to Sai Baba, who made me aware of this suppressed anger, I was able to gradually transform it

 

[ecco]

You are the one starting of being condescending to me, remember, don't turn it around. I just echoed your words to wake you up, not to do that to me

Duck and dodge again. Bye.

 

[stvdv]

That's really sad.

Maybe you need to put Sai Baba out of your life and find people who see the happiness in you.

Really sad, that you have it so wrong
And even more sad, that you think you have it all figured out so well...about my life (you must be God...omniscient)

Instead of just being condescending, show where my synopsis is wrong.

You are the one starting of being condescending to me, remember, don't turn it around (see first quote starting with "That's really sad"). I just echoed your words to wake you up, not to do that to me

Duck and dodge again. Bye.

Atheists: u mad, bro?

NOTE: Thanks @ecco for pointing out not to use color/bold/underscore in other's quotes when referring, as it might give wrong impressions and changes it, I never thought of it that way. So, I changed it here and use another way from now on

 

[McBell]

Atheists: u mad, bro?

Flying home to claim victory?

 

[ecco]

Atheists: u mad, bro?

If you are going to quote me, do not put things in red or bold or italics or large font that I did not put in red or bold or italics or large font. That is dishonest.

Did you do that to make me sound mad when I wasn't? That is dishonest.

 

[stvdv]

Flying home to claim victory?

?

 

[stvdv]

If you are going to quote me, do not put things in red or bold or italics or large font that I did not put in red or bold or italics or large font. That is dishonest.

Did you do that to make me sound mad when I wasn't? That is dishonest.

True, I never thought of it that way. Thanks, I remember that. I changed it.

I did not do it to make you sound mad, just to refer to (I'll change this habit and do it in another way from now on)