When you were a Theist.

[Norstal]

I'm not an atheist, but I am an agnostic. I will never call myself atheist either, because I believe atheists are just as bad as the religious followers they so despise. Come at me.

*sigh*

Those are anti-theists. Atheists are peaceful and secular. Accusing atheists for being extremist is the same as saying all Christians are extremists. No where is there a requirement for atheists to be extreme.

[Alexandrae Rakes]

I'm not an atheist, but I am an agnostic. I will never call myself atheist either, because I believe atheists are just as bad as the religious followers they so despise. Come at me.

*sigh*

Those are anti-theists. Atheists are peaceful and secular. Accusing atheists for being extremist is the same as saying all Christians are extremists. No where is there a requirement for atheists to be extreme.

I understand this, but I'm basing my idea of atheists off of all the atheists I have ever met. My reasoning is faulty because they do not represent the majority; however, the atheists I am around daily constantly challenge others religious beliefs because they feel so threatened by them.

[Risottia]

Many Atheists have been in this mental state at some point in their lives.

I for one haven't. I always found this "god" idea as something belonging not to reality but to fairytales - and preferred those featuring titans, elves or dragons by the way. Or trains. I always liked trains. More interesting than religions.

Really, I can't understand what all the fuss about religion is.

[Syrrah]

I was taken to church until every Sunday until I was about 12. Faith never really held a lot of value for me, but I took god for granted. When I was around 10, 11, I started to ask those annoying questions. "Why do good things happen to bad people?", "Who made God?", so on and so forth. I've never had the question of evil satisfactorily answered, and I just naturally gravitated away from religious beliefs to agnostic/atheist ones.

[Lilistrea]

I understand this, but I'm basing my idea of atheists off of all the atheists I have ever met.

Do you base a lot of your opinions on solely anecdotal evidence?

[Nazis in Space]

Many Atheists have been in this mental state at some point in their lives. There are some who were Atheists from the get go, but this is not always the case. Most of us believe in God at some point or another.

My question is, if and when you were a Theist, what was your reasoning for holding that belief? What was it that made you believe? Did you want to believe?

To be completely honest, I don't think I ever had reasoning for being a Theist. My mother approved of my readiness to worship, and my father approved of my Bible studies. It just always seemed a good thing to do in that regard. This was before I realized that I didn't have to believe something to please my parents.

Having been a from the get-go atheist who at no point so much as thought of the theist route, always considering those neat little Noah's Arc cartoons and similar to be no different to, say, Spiderman, well...*

Though for some reason, I nonetheless went through RE classes and even confirmation. More because the family was protestant(-ish, it's complicated**) and I couldn't yet get out on my own, and not having anything better to do with my time between classes, though.

And truth be told, grade 11- 13 RE was perfectly sensible to take. As was grade 1-4. Grade 5- 10, ehhh... I distinctly remember our teacher being of the 'Metal*** means SATANISM' and 'Satanist cults sacrificing goats are totally real' crowd, spending her time warning us about the latter in particular. Though we did plenty of reasonably sensible things, too, but the nuttiness sticks out a bit.

Confirmation on the other hand, was something thoroughly silly to undertake. Waste of time.

Long story short, I never believed, nor did I ever want to. I was never so much as introduced to the concept of faith as something feasible - it was all show and fun, but not something I could've taken seriously at any point, whether I was five or fifteen years old. It seemed preposterous at any point in time, no exceptions. All the same, this doesn't preclude activity with regards to church-y stuff in general, which can be laudable as well as condemnable, and in any case, is a perfectly interesting subject for both, historical and sociological reasons.

I still think they're being preposterous with the whole invisible sky fairy, though.

* Family had a lot to do with it, obviously. Apart from my baptism, I never had contact with church-y or religious stuff until entering school, whereas I was practically bombarded with Once upon a time... [X] cartoons, other science-y TV stuff, and my father's not inconsiderable, and richly illustrated collection of science-y books. While my parents are more disagreeable with the church than with the concept of a deity as such, well, it's not that much of a step to take when that's one's background.

** Both catholic, but having their difficulties with the catholic church. So I was baptised catholic, went to protestant RE in school while they considered to, but didn't yet switch to the protestant church, made the protestant confirmation after officially switching to protestantism half a dozen years after starting to take the protestant RE classes, and finally opted out altogether at eighteen.

*** Rock was already mainstream and not objectionable.

[Sociobiology]

I understand this, but I'm basing my idea of atheists off of all the atheists I have ever met.

Do you base a lot of your opinions on solely anecdotal evidence?

most people do base their opinions on other people on anecdotal evidence, you and myself included.
you don't check a womans credit score during a date, you have a conversation.

do be fair many atheists develop an aggressive attitude after being repeatedly confronted by the religious and told such things as you are incapable of morality, you are lying to children by teaching them science, you deserve to die. I chose these as personal anecdotes from when I worked a public museum, a job where I never debated religion and would only confirm or state I was an atheist when outright asked (because while I will avoid a subject for the sake of taste and an employer I will not lie for one.)
when confronted on a regular basis with such hatred a feeling of hostility and injustice is a very normal human reaction. some however, as with all people, become just as intolerant and abusive as those that abused them.
I reason I will attack religion due to its inaccuracy and harmfulness, but at the same time defend a persons right to have and believe it, and even the defend that religion does not preclude morality.

[Lilistrea]

Do you base a lot of your opinions on solely anecdotal evidence?

most people do base their opinions on other people on anecdotal evidence

That's not even really what I asked now, is it.

[The Soviet Technocracy]

My question is, if and when you were a Theist, what was your reasoning for holding that belief?

Perceived peer pressure and desire to conform with fellow classmates/children my own age.

Turns out my parents had nothing to do with it, although I never found out my father's opinion of it, my mother seems to not give a damn, actually.

[Meridiani Planum]

My question is, if and when you were a Theist, what was your reasoning for holding that belief? What was it that made you believe? Did you want to believe?

My parents and teachers told me that God exists. They should know -- they are adults, and adults know things. I could trust them, and I would see the truth of it when I was an adult.

That house of cards came crashing down pretty soon.

[A Ant]

How can you reason yourself into a position which is beyond reason? It'[s a faith thing, and at the time I felt an intense emotional connection to "something". From there, having been raised CofE I naturally put this feeling into the context of the beliefs I'd been raised with. Following that I began to question the box I'd put this feeling into, but not the feeling itself.

Now, there is no more "spiritual connection", if there even really was one to begin with. I've found myself to become unconcerned with the question of God, since as far as I can see it is not interested in me anymore even if it exists. In philosophy class, when most people get heavily into debates about God's existence, I simply shrug - there is little more I can do.

On a related note, I miss Gagatron. We talked about this sort of thing a couple of times.

[Mike the Progressive]

How can you reason yourself into a position which is beyond reason? It'[s a faith thing, and at the time I felt an intense emotional connection to "something". From there, having been raised CofE I naturally put this feeling into the context of the beliefs I'd been raised with. Following that I began to question the box I'd put this feeling into, but not the feeling itself.

Now, there is no more "spiritual connection", if there even really was one to begin with. I've found myself to become unconcerned with the question of God, since as far as I can see it is not interested in me anymore even if it exists. In philosophy class, when most people get heavily into debates about God's existence, I simply shrug - there is little more I can do.

On a related note, I miss Gagatron. We talked about this sort of thing a couple of times.

I agree. Gagatron was a bit strange and had numerous double standards, but he seemed like an honest fellow who was just struggling.

[The Soviet Technocracy]

My question is, if and when you were a Theist, what was your reasoning for holding that belief? What was it that made you believe? Did you want to believe?

My parents and teachers told me that God exists. They should know -- they are adults, and adults know things. I could trust them, and I would see the truth of it when I was an adult.

That house of cards came crashing down pretty soon.

p much this

[Michael VII]

I am a theist. If you must know, I am a mormon. I believe in my church because it makes me feel good, and feel loved by all when I go to the church. I wouldn't mind if it were proven to be wrong, well I would, I would be incredibly sad, but its truth doesn't really matter. The strong family values and friendships developed are great, along with the morals taught. (there may be backlash here as the church is strong republican and 'anti-gay' in a sense that it doesn't advocate gay marriage, but we don't hate you! ) In my school, I have very little friends and small social life, in church I have the greatest friends in the world and if I didn't have them, I probably wouldn't be alive at the moment.

That is why I believe in God, the feelings I receive in church and I continue going to church for the great friends I have.

[Mike the Progressive]

My parents and teachers told me that God exists. They should know -- they are adults, and adults know things. I could trust them, and I would see the truth of it when I was an adult.

That house of cards came crashing down pretty soon.

p much this

I just want you to know I hate you. I clicked that link to the Rebecca Black song and now I am going to have nightmares. Thanks, thanks A LOT.

[Risna]

Well back when i was a wee lad i would say i was a Christian. I never took it seriously and i quickly started to question my faith and soon became an agnostic (or a Mehist i really did not care). Soon I discovered science and embraced Atheism. But after a while its strong negative tone turned me off and I went on the search again for a religion. I found Buddhism two years later and I liked it because it both accepted science and embraced the individual. However after more research I rejected some of the teachings and I felt it was not strong enough of a religion for me. At this point i did not know who i was until i turned 16 two years ago. During my meditation (which my Taoist math teacher taught me) I had a sudden understanding of nature of the Universe and The All and became a Pantheist. I liked Pantheism because it was so open and there were no rules to follow. I could be who i wanted. But over time like Buddhism I felt as if it was not strong enough. I wanted a focus to my spirituality rather then just the Universe. I looked into earth religions because of my strong reverence of nature. I was a Druid for a short time but that did not last long. Then i was studying Norse mythology and i liked their Gods. They did not claim to make the world, they did not claim they cared about us at all unlike the Christian God. They had their own shit to deal with and even used us for their own ends (to fight in Ragnarok). So I instantly found that attractive. I found many of the Gods of the pantheon easy to relate too and slowly but surely became a Polytheist worshiping the Norse Gods. After a short while i became quite hardcore doing rituals, practicing blot, praying and worshiping daily. This continued for a few months. But then a month ago life took a dump on my head/ a shitstorm and for some reason I did not care so much about the Gods and the ceremonies anymore. I still believe the Gods exist but it feels as if they are really far away and unimportant. I am so focused on helping myself right now I do not have time for religion. But once I get past this phase i would like to go back.

[A Ant]

How can you reason yourself into a position which is beyond reason? It'[s a faith thing, and at the time I felt an intense emotional connection to "something". From there, having been raised CofE I naturally put this feeling into the context of the beliefs I'd been raised with. Following that I began to question the box I'd put this feeling into, but not the feeling itself.

Now, there is no more "spiritual connection", if there even really was one to begin with. I've found myself to become unconcerned with the question of God, since as far as I can see it is not interested in me anymore even if it exists. In philosophy class, when most people get heavily into debates about God's existence, I simply shrug - there is little more I can do.

On a related note, I miss Gagatron. We talked about this sort of thing a couple of times.

I agree. Gagatron was a bit strange and had numerous double standards, but he seemed like an honest fellow who was just struggling.

Aye yeah, plus he was slowly sorting through his double standards and eliminating them.

[Mike the Progressive]

Soon I discovered science...

She blinded me with...

[Conserative Morality]

You know, I'm willing to give Pascal a pass on that embarrassment. He did write it when he was dying after all. I mean, I'll probably be lucky if I'm not messing my pants when I'm dying, so I think a little perspective is warranted here.

We're all dying, friend, just at different rates.

[Distruzio]

Originally a misotheist masquerading as an atheist. Converted to Greek Orthodoxy a few years ago. I don't miss the days of anger or denial at all.

They believe and love for all the reasons I denied and hated.

[Conserative Morality]

Originally a misotheist masquerading as an atheist. Converted to Greek Orthodoxy a few years ago. I don't miss the days of anger or denial at all.

You don't miss the ability to cry out to the heavens: "SMITE ME, OH MIGHTY SMITER!"?

Are you even human?

[Distruzio]

Originally a misotheist masquerading as an atheist. Converted to Greek Orthodoxy a few years ago. I don't miss the days of anger or denial at all.

You don't miss the ability to cry out to the heavens: "SMITE ME, OH MIGHTY SMITER!"?

Are you even human?

I admit, I still sometimes do that. It's true.

[Conserative Morality]

I admit, I still sometimes do that. It's true.

Ah, then we have no problem.

[Hresejnen]

When I was a Christian, it was because it was the only philosophy I even knew existed. I led a sheltered life. When my friends started becoming atheists, I thought they were just doing it to be pricks. Which they were. But not all atheists are, of course.

When I was (well, called myself) simply a pantheist, it was because I had been argued out too many times between theology and science, but simply didn't (and don't) want to leave my few metaphysical leanings when examining the universe. Pantheism was a gradual transition to me.

Now I've expanded on my pantheism for want of a more solid philosophy and worldview. For want of culture, too. I'm pleased with how I've progressed, but never really left anything behind.

[Maroyce]

I'm a theist. I believe that there is one God, our Creator. He created all the things in Earth. He created us. God never does anything accidentally, nor mistakes. God's presence is too profound to be measured by mere sensation or emotion. If there is no God, we would all be accidents, the result of astronomical random chance in the universe. But, no. Our lives have profound meaning. And, yes, the life here on Earth is just a test. We will spend far more time in eternity, meaning, death is only the passageway to afterlife. We were made for immortality.


"Surely, God wouldn't have created such a being as a man to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality." - Abraham Lincoln. We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.