Hi I'm Dave,
My name's not really Dave, but Dave will do. I've been a Catholic most of my life, I was a rather naive follower of Christian doctrine for many years; operative word: "was". I truly bought into all of it; the divine grace, the goodness in people's hearts, always doing the right thing, and I thought that if I helped take care of others God would always help me take care of me; well that all seemed to work to spectacularly opposite effect. I'm not here to bore you all with my life's story, but suffice it to say I have considered all the evidence presented to me and I no longer believe in an almighty deity. Okay, case closed, right? Not really.
I just felt like I needed to talk to a few new blokes. Its tough, for 27 years you believe something and then you make a miraculous discovery that shakes your very being.
My stay may be brief, it may be long, but whatever the case may be I hope I get the chance to meet a few of you and further this new direction of self discovery.
Cheers,
Dave
Welcome! :-D
I can imagine that a change in thinking like that could be very intimidating. Feel free to browse the forum and participate in this party of heathens. In terms of nonbelievers, we have seasoned life-longers and newly nonbelievers such as yourself.
I'm going to bed though. It's nearing 6 am where I am.
Welcome aboard :) Hope you enjoy your stay. Feel free to jump into any discussion, or just post nonsense in the appropriate threads :P
Welcome to the forum!
Welcome to the Dark Side, Dave. We have cookies.
Quote from: "LuckyDave"for 27 years you believe something and then you make a miraculous discovery that shakes your very being.
Discovery is a very apt use of terminology when describing the journey from Christianity to atheism. It is a discovery of self, as opposed to a conscious choice.
However, my discovery was preceded by years of observing and learning. I intellectually realized that this Christian god simply cannot be as described long before the day I realized I had been an atheist for years. That was a "wow" insight, a true epiphany of wonderful self realization, but presented no personal conflict or sense of sacrifice. I must have been slowly working through that at a subconscious level for years before the moment of discovery.
Welcome! We got cookies? :shock:
Welcome to the shark tank Dave! Looking forward to your contribution to the forum.
Quote from: "stromboli"Welcome! We got cookies? :shock:
Yes, and boobies! Where have you been all this time?
Howdy!
Welcome!
Welcome ! Religion is bullshit.
Well...isn't that special. Could it be SATANNN? :twisted:
(//http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q490/atheola/church_lady1_282_29.jpg)
Welcome. :)
:-D Welcome aboard LuckyDave! Solitary
Quote from: "LuckyDave"Hi I'm Dave,
My name's not really Dave, but Dave will do. I've been a Catholic most of my life, I was a rather naive follower of Christian doctrine for many years; operative word: "was". I truly bought into all of it; the divine grace, the goodness in people's hearts, always doing the right thing, and I thought that if I helped take care of others God would always help me take care of me; well that all seemed to work to spectacularly opposite effect. I'm not here to bore you all with my life's story, but suffice it to say I have considered all the evidence presented to me and I no longer believe in an almighty deity. Okay, case closed, right? Not really.
I just felt like I needed to talk to a few new blokes. Its tough, for 27 years you believe something and then you make a miraculous discovery that shakes your very being.
My stay may be brief, it may be long, but whatever the case may be I hope I get the chance to meet a few of you and further this new direction of self discovery.
Cheers,
Dave
You say that you believed for 27 years, so I'm assuming that you are around 27 years old. If that is the case then your belief is based on brainwashing, peer pressure, and cultural indoctrination. That is the case with me. I was baptised, attended catacism & perichial school, and was confirmed. All of which was systematic brainwashing to obey and believe without question into what I now know to be a myth. I am not saying that YOU should believe it a myth, that is for you to decide. The thing is that whatever you decide, you should come to that conclussion honestly and by your own investigation. I call it an awakening. I am not a recruiter and don't actually care what you decide. There are no ranks to join if you decide that there is no god. The choice is purely yours.
The first thing that you should know is that "atheist" is a term that believers made up when they made up their god, so I for one am not confortable with the label. I believe that I am the natural way of things and the theist or believers are the exception in nature.
Secondly, in general "atheist" think critically and independently. We need facts and truths, not some idealistic metephor to rule our lives.
Understand that morality comes from nature not any religion. Morality and ethics is a product of society...ALL societies, beit a lion pride, a cannibal tribe, or a small town in Vermont. Morality is also dynamic and does not have true constants. What is socially acceptible for one culture and or generation may not hold true to the next.
I could go on and on about the hypocracies of religion and try to prove my case for not believing in a god, but it isn't my responsibility to do so. The onus is purely on those that made up a god. This harkens back to what I said before. All people are born atheist and you have to be trained to believe in a god. Therefore it is up to the people that profess a god to prove it, not the other way around. This means that you don't actually decide to become an atheist, that you are convinced by others to not be an atheist.
All that being said you must understand that no matter what anyone tells you that "atheism" is in no way shape or form a religion. Some on this forum have describe it like this. Just because someone doesn't collect stamps doesn't mean they can be labelled nonstamp collectors. Atheism isn't a philosophy, a religion, or an organization. That you must be clear on. It isn't the opposite of religion either. Meaning it isn't "devil worshipping."
You must also understand the meaning of "secularism". Secularism is not atheism. So when people speak politically about secularism they are not describing atheism. For example, keeping prayer out of school or the ten commandments out of courthouses is not a plot to make people atheist. It has nothing to do with atheism. It has everything to do with seperation of church and state, and freedom of choice, and complying with the "Establishment Clause" of the US Constitution.
There are a few more things that you will have to relearn as your eyes begin to open. Things like:
Freedom of speech
Freedom of religion
Freedom of the press
I could write volumes on each but will not do so at this time.
I guess you are about on a journy of discovery. It is a forgone conclussion that any choice you make will have consequences.
Thats my two cents, now it is up to you.
Excellent post! =D> Solitary
Hey buddy; I used to pray to Boccob, the uncaring Lord of Magic...
I know it seems like such a trivial thing to do, but you think... maybe this time he'll care...
Well, I think Boccob is off in another dimension, and he feels no regret for his inventions...
Bow down to the supremacy of Sithrak, the god that hates you. Got any problems? It's Sithrak's doing! Blame all your troubles on Sithrak.
Welcome to AF.
Welcome ! Religion is bullshit!
Dave,
I'm going through a very similar situation. 18 years and I don't believe in any of it anymore. A series of events lead to it. Anyways, wanted to let you know you aren't the only one.
The process is really hard, but we can make it. Welcome to the forums... and reality. :)
I'm new too. Welcome!
Quote from: "leo"Welcome ! Religion is bullshit!
literally laughed out loud at this one
Quote from: "brandta5"Dave,
I'm going through a very similar situation. 18 years and I don't believe in any of it anymore. A series of events lead to it. Anyways, wanted to let you know you aren't the only one.
No offense but you seem like the type that might go back if "God performs a miracle.". (Yah! God led me to a good new job.) type miracle.
Quote from: "Moriarty"Quote from: "brandta5"Dave,
I'm going through a very similar situation. 18 years and I don't believe in any of it anymore. A series of events lead to it. Anyways, wanted to let you know you aren't the only one.
No offense but you seem like the type that might go back if "God performs a miracle.". (Yah! God led me to a good new job.) type miracle.
So what if he does? It's a process, not an instantaneous thing.
When I first realized that what I believed was ridiculous I'd try to find any reason to prove myself wrong. I was fucking scared of eternal flames. I'd pray occasionally, and tried to hide my doubts from others. Gradually I came to realize that I didn't believe.
Interestingly enough this process came around the same time I was discovering and being more open to myself about my sexuality. It was interesting to have those run along each other.
Don't fault someone if they stumble on the journey, just be there to support them.
Quote from: "The Skeletal Atheist"Quote from: "Moriarty"Quote from: "brandta5"Dave,
I'm going through a very similar situation. 18 years and I don't believe in any of it anymore. A series of events lead to it. Anyways, wanted to let you know you aren't the only one.
No offense but you seem like the type that might go back if "God performs a miracle.". (Yah! God led me to a good new job.) type miracle.
So what if he does? It's a process, not an instantaneous thing.
When I first realized that what I believed was ridiculous I'd try to find any reason to prove myself wrong. I was fucking scared of eternal flames. I'd pray occasionally, and tried to hide my doubts from others. Gradually I came to realize that I didn't believe.
Interestingly enough this process came around the same time I was discovering and being more open to myself about my sexuality. It was interesting to have those ruin along each other.
Don't fault someone if they stumble on the journey, just be there to support them.
Fair enough I guess. I imagine being someone who made the break immediate and completely it's harder for me to understand some people might sway at times.
Welcome, new folks!
welcome "dave".....enjoy the freedom of individual thought, introspective analysis and the ability to see the world without the blindfold of faith.
Hey I'm new too. Used to be a christian up until about 5 years ago!
Finally free from that b*llsh*t.
Quote from: "GreekMythologian"Quote from: "leo"Welcome ! Religion is bullshit!
literally laughed out loud at this one
It's funnier if you read it in the voice of Penn Jillette.