In America, at least, a great many atheists weren't raised as atheists - they grew up with some sort of religion, usually a form of Christianity, and later left it. This journey away from religious faith is often difficult, but can also be very interesting as well. A few people are willing to document their journeys, helping others along the way.
One such person is Anonymous Coward, who writes (via Pooflingers):
I was brought up in a religious family, and held to strict religious principles. I’ve followed, if not every single commandment of my religion or recommendation of my religious leaders, at least the most prominent ones. Not just the Ten Commandments (okay, maybe I’ve coveted a little, from time to time), but the other guidelines religious leaders have set as well. I’ve never drunk alcohol. I’ve never smoked. I’ve never seen an R-rated movie. I’ve never had premarital sex--which, as I’m not married, means I’m still a virgin. I went to church almost every Sunday, like I was supposed to, and outwardly at least was in almost every way a model member of my religion.
It’s only recently that I finally came to terms with the fact I didn’t really believe in my religion--or any other--at all.
That may seem like an odd phrasing, but that’s the way I mean it. I don’t mean that I stopped believing. I mean that I finally consciously realized that I hadn’t really believed it in the first place. I’d been fooling myself, trying to convince myself that I believed, but deep down I didn’t. That much is obvious now, looking back on some of what I’ve written, and some of what I’ve done. It’s just that it took me this long to be able to admit it to myself.
Why now? I don’t know, exactly. Maybe because I’ve been reading a lot of blogs lately, and I’ve been seeing not only how reasonable many atheists are, but how very unreasonable the religious too often are in their arguments; maybe that perspective is making me want to disassociate myself from the religious. Maybe it’s the way that religions are increasingly trying to take over public discourse and forge laws of intolerance that’s forcing me to choose sides. Maybe there’s no particular reason it’s now; it’s just that it’s been building up and now is when it happened to hit the breaking point.
It doesn’t matter why it’s happening now, though. It should have happened a long time ago.
This looks like it will prove to be a very interesting blog. I encourage others to visit, read, and leave some note of encouragement & support, if you can. This person deserves the support and well-wishes of others.
Understanding Atheism & Atheists:
- Atheism 101
- What is Atheism?
- Defining Atheism
- Is Atheism a Religion?
- Who Are Atheists?
- Why Don't Atheists Believe in God?
- Questions About Atheism
- Atheism Myths
- Polls on Atheism
Resources for Atheists:
- Atheist Activism
- Advice for Atheists
- Atheist Blogs & Blogging
- Books on Atheism
- News About Atheism & Atheists
- Rebuttals to Attacks on Atheism
Agnosticism & Agnostics:
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