How long have you been an atheist?

[Bob L]

I'm curious to see just how long people have been atheists. Myself, I've only recently become an atheists, just a couple of months now, but I've been a seeker of one kind or another for years now. I did examine a number of things for a long time, seeked out and got information on atheism, and came to the conclusion that for me it's the most logical position to take. I've been very happy since I became an atheist, since I've always had my doubts about God and religion. My wife is not too thrilled, since she's a committed Christian, but we try to keep the peace by not discussion religious issues.

 

[9Westy9]

Not sure exactly. Probably 6 months or so

 

[mycorrhiza]

Atheist for 4-5 years. Pantheist for 2.

 

[freethinker44]

Myself, I've only recently become an atheists

Wow, you are doing better than me. I am still only one atheist.

Just kidding, I have been an atheist for about 17 years. Not for sure how exact that number is, but it has been at least 15 years for sure.

 

[Bob L]

Wow, you are doing better than me. I am still only one atheist.

Just kidding, I have been an atheist for about 17 years. Not for sure how exact that number is, but it has been at least 15 years for sure.

OOPS! Those fingers of mine again!

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I've probably called myself an atheist for about 8 years, but that change was more to do with realizing the proper term for what I already believed, not because I suddenly changed my beliefs.

I don't remember ever believing in any god, so looking back now, I'd say I've been an atheist as far back as I can go.

 

[Penumbra]

I didn't really have a black-and-white moment where I no longer had any deities in my worldview anymore.

I'd say somewhere around my early teen years is when atheist could start being a valid descriptor of me, or around 10 years ago or so.

 

[Panda]

I've always been an atheist for all my life I guess. Neither of my parents were religious in anyway so I never encountered religion at home and my school life wasn't particularly religious either.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Probably about 4-5 years.

 

[Zoe Doidge]

I'm curious to see just how long people have been atheists.

I suppose about 12 years now, I was raised Catholic and turned away from it in my early teens.

 

[lunakilo]

I'm curious to see just how long people have been atheists.

I am not sure when to count from.
I am not even sure when I first heard the word athist or figured out what it means .

I have never been religious. The family I grew up in was not religous.
I was baptized though as is tradition where I live and therefore became a member of the church of Denmark (protestant/lutheran).

Later in my teen I was also confirmed.
I had actually told my mother that I didn't believe in God and didn't see any reason to be confirmed, but then my grandmother told me how much she was looking forward to the event, and I just didn't feel like disapointing her.
So I was confirmed.

I never actually went to church, but I stayed a member until 4 years ago where a priest made me so angry that I filled in the form to leave the church.

EDIT: I was just browsing the wiki page on the church of Denmark and found the following which I find quite amusing
"the Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs, currently Manu Sareen, as the highest administrative authority of the Church."

Manu Sareen:
Born 16 May 1967 in India
Religion: Agnostic[1]

So the highest administrative authority of the Church of Denmark is an agnostic from India
Goes to show how seriously people in Denmark take religion

 

[waitasec]

it's been a gradual and fluctuating process for the last 20 yrs...
and i'm still learning what the term "atheist" means..

 

[dust1n]

Was until the age 14 I suppose, and then ever since I was 16, so about 7 years ago I became a truly antithetical atheist.

 

[Alceste]

I also don't remember ever believing in any gods, despite many years of church attendance as a child, so I guess I've been an atheist for 37 years.