What made you stop believing?

[Stronk Serb]

What is the thing that made you to stop believing in any religion? What made you convert to another religion?

I never switched religions. What made me stop believing, the fact tha the Serbian Orthodox church does disgusting things. Pedophilia, homosexuality while strongly opposing them, shady businesses. It shackled my faith and my chains. If there is a God, my former church did not serve him wholly. Now I am at long last free .

[Loreley]

What is the thing that made you to stop believing in any religion? What made you convert to another religion?

I never switched religions. What made me stop believing, the fact tha the Serbian Orthodox church does disgusting things. Pedophilia, homosexuality while strongly opposing them, shady businesses. It shackled my faith and my chains. If there is a God, my former church did not serve him wholly. Now I am at long last free .

In my opinion, the fact that church does disgusting things has nothing to do with your faith.

[CharlieHorse]

I'm not of any religion now, I've never been, but I'd like to incorporate some Buddhist ideas into my life, and I'd like to learn how to meditate and calm myself and search for deep meaning and stuff.

[CharlieHorse]

I'm not of any religion now, I've never been, but I'd like to incorporate some Buddhist ideas into my life, and I'd like to learn how to meditate and calm myself and search for deep meaning and stuff.

[Stronk Serb]

In my opinion, the fact that church does disgusting things has nothing to do with your faith.

The feeling when you looked at someone as a pious figure and wanted to be like him, and seeing his picture in the newspaper next day with the headline saying "________ accused of being pedohpile/homosexual while in public being strongly.against it" breaks your faith. The church loses it's authority over the people.

[whoisme]

I am muslim and i never thought about being a disbeliever at all !

[Abyssal Echo]

I no longer claim any Denomination or attend church. all I can claim is I'm a Christian/Protestant.

[Cygnus]

I just started thinking after I started developing advanced thoughts, and realized that the idea of "god" and "jesus" is fake. I mean, religion controls people, that cannot be denied, the extent to what religion controls people is a different thing. There have been hundreds, maybe a thousand gods humans have believed in, how do you know yours is true? Plus, I believe in things when I see them, and I have seen no concrete evidence for any religion.

[Cicero]

Never have stopped, although, I do find Buddhism very interesting, and I sure wouldn't mind doing what mrsharkteeth suggested. I wouldn't mind at all incorporating Buddhism ideas.

[Human]

I used to believe in god slightly... I don't think I ever fully believed in god though. A couple of years ago I wanted a bible, but I think that's because I enjoyed and still do enjoy reading the stories, but not for religious purposes.

As I matured and started getting interested in astronomy and science I realised that it must be impossible for their to be a god.

[whoisme]

I used to believe in god slightly... I don't think I ever fully believed in god though. A couple of years ago I wanted a bible, but I think that's because I enjoyed and still do enjoy reading the stories, but not for religious purposes.

As I matured and started getting interested in astronomy and science I realised that it must be impossible for their to be a god.

Actually, the truth is the opposite !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4E_bT4ecgk

[Origami]

Actually, the truth is the opposite !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4E_bT4ecgk

Wrong place to shove your ideas on others.

Refer to OP:
What is the thing that made you to stop believing in any religion? What made you convert to another religion?

[BebeFleur.]

I'm not of any religion now, I've never been, but I'd like to incorporate some Buddhist ideas into my life, and I'd like to learn how to meditate and calm myself and search for deep meaning and stuff.
I'm with you Charlie. I am not currently with any type of religion. My mom is like "you need a religion in your life!" So I'm like, "Okay, I'd rather go to a Buddhist Temple." I agree with many of the Buddhist beliefs.

[HockeyLovesMe]

i never stopped and im mormon but we do lots of church stuff in a week so kind hard not to believe in something ... i dont believe in SANTA thogh haha

[Jess]

When I went to church, I always had doubts. I never fully believed in God. As I grew up, I had more and more doubts and eventually I stopped believing all together as I realized religion (mainly Christianity) made no sense and that a god just couldn't exist.

[Gigablue]

I was never religious, so I didn't stop believing. I just don't think religion makes sense. Most religions are internally inconsistent, not to mention inconsistent with reality. Science can explain the world, we don't need to invent supernatural explanations.

[randomnessqueen]

people focus too much on the bad things that certain people from certain groups from certain religions do, and use it to justify denying all religions everywhere.
i did some of the same things though when i was little, and i had a skeptical phase.
but now i have yet to find a good reason to stop believing.

[Stronk Serb]

people focus too much on the bad things that certain people from certain groups from certain religions do, and use it to justify denying all religions everywhere.
i did some of the same things though when i was little, and i had a skeptical phase.
but now i have yet to find a good reason to stop believing.




I was also influenced by other things. I started practicing communism before I stopped believing. Better things in life started happening to me. I am not saying that Lenin is a divine deity or that there is one, but being a non-believer has made me stronger. I was taught that God rewarded the faithful. I never got rewarded for my faith, ever. When I think about it, I only got punished. Why would God let all his faithful suffer like they did and some still are? Either he is a piece of shit, or does not exist.

[randomnessqueen]

I was also influenced by other things. I started practicing communism before I stopped believing. Better things in life started happening to me. I am not saying that Lenin is a divine deity or that there is one, but being a non-believer has made me stronger. I was taught that God rewarded the faithful. I never got rewarded for my faith, ever. When I think about it, I only got punished. Why would God let all his faithful suffer like they did and some still are? Either he is a piece of shit, or does not exist.

but in any religion, god is seen as something beyond our world and wanting for our spiritual growth. so why would he bother with our shortlived pleasures and pains? why would he reward your faith with gifts and temporary things?

[Stronk Serb]

people focus too much on the bad things that certain people from certain groups from certain religions do, and use it to justify denying all religions everywhere.
i did some of the same things though when i was little, and i had a skeptical phase.
but now i have yet to find a good reason to stop believing.

but in any religion, god is seen as something beyond our world and wanting for our spiritual growth. so why would he bother with our shortlived pleasures and pains? why would he reward your faith with gifts and temporary things?

Not gifts as material things. Gifts that are to strengthen my faith even more. Never happened. Why would he reward my faith? Because for 15 years, I followed every teaching of the Orthodox church to the word. I suffered for my religion. I was taught not to fight, but forgive. Those teachings made me suffer like a piece of shit, and if he does not give a damn about me and many others suffering because of him, he can go eff himself. I am not going to believe he exists, nor believe in a piece of shit who does not care abot anyone. He said we are free, but we must be faithful, or we burn in Hell. If he existed, I would rather die free and burn for my freedom, then bend my knee to someoe who does not appreciate my faith.

[randomnessqueen]

Not gifts as material things. Gifts that are to strengthen my faith even more. Never happened. Why would he reward my faith? Because for 15 years, I followed every teaching of the Orthodox church to the word. I suffered for my religion. I was taught not to fight, but forgive. Those teachings made me suffer like a piece of shit, and if he does not give a damn about me and many others suffering because of him, he can go eff himself. I am not going to believe he exists, nor believe in a piece of shit who does not care abot anyone. He said we are free, but we must be faithful, or we burn in Hell. If he existed, I would rather die free and burn for my freedom, then bend my knee to someoe who does not appreciate my faith.

but youre still thinking that, caring for you means rewarding in frivilous ways. as i said, he is transcendant and wanting for spiritual growth. why would he care at all about rewards or what your physical pains are, those are so shortlived, and mean nothing in the long run.

[Stronk Serb]

but youre still thinking that, caring for you means rewarding in frivilous ways. as i said, he is transcendant and wanting for spiritual growth. why would he care at all about rewards or what your physical pains are, those are so shortlived, and mean nothing in the long run.




Because, if he exists, we would've had a vassal relationship. He would be the liege, while I would be the vassal. The whole concept is based on the vassal serving the liege, and being rewarded for his service.

[Harry Smith]

common sense

[randomnessqueen]

Because, if he exists, we would've had a vassal relationship. He would be the liege, while I would be the vassal. The whole concept is based on the vassal serving the liege, and being rewarded for his service.

god is not a person. he doesnt have a human mind. he doesnt think like people. you cant have a human relationship with something beyond form, its all based on the idea that he thinks in the way humans does.
if thats how god worked, i would stop believing too, but its not.

[Harry Smith]

god is not a person. he doesnt have a human mind. he doesnt think like people. you cant have a human relationship with something beyond form, its all based on the idea that he thinks in the way humans does.
if thats how god worked, i would stop believing too, but its not.

If god isn't human then what is he?

[Stronk Serb]

god is not a person. he doesnt have a human mind. he doesnt think like people. you cant have a human relationship with something beyond form, its all based on the idea that he thinks in the way humans does.
if thats how god worked, i would stop believing too, but its not.



How do you know?

[randomnessqueen]

If god isn't human then what is he?

god is a formless being.
god couldnt be human, simply by nature. by being human, that would make him not god.
the concept of god is perfect being, and there are very obvious flaws with humans.

i know that he is not human, because by nature, they are opposite. just by being human that would disqualify him as possibly being god.
and i know he doesnt work on a system of physical reward because, if he did, you wouldnt be an atheist right now.


-please do not double post. -Emerald Dream

[Harry Smith]

god is a formless being.
god couldnt be human, simply by nature. by being human, that would make him not god.
the concept of god is perfect being, and there are very obvious flaws with humans.

There are very obvious flaws in your version of God. Do you believe the Old testament or are you a non-literalist?

Also how do you know that he isn't human, do you have a source which directly proves this?

[randomnessqueen]

There are very obvious flaws in your version of God. Do you believe the Old testament or are you a non-literalist?

Also how do you know that he isn't human, do you have a source which directly proves this?

im not jewish, i just believe in god.
again, the idea that he is human already goes against the idea of god. you could put this against any definition of god in any religion, and him being human would completely oppose it

[Harry Smith]

im not jewish, i just believe in god.
again, the idea that he is human already goes against the idea of god. you could put this against any definition of god in any religion, and him being human would completely oppose it

Ok, so you believe in something you have no proof for?

[Stronk Serb]

im not jewish, i just believe in god.
again, the idea that he is human already goes against the idea of god. you could put this against any definition of god in any religion, and him being human would completely oppose it

It says in the Old Testament that god made humans to look like him, their physical appearance inspired by that of his own. By your definition God can be anything, from a ghost to a flying spaghetti monster.

[randomnessqueen]

Ok, so you believe in something you have no proof for?

no. i believe in something ive experienced. and have never been given any good evidence to say otherwise

It says in the Old Testament that god made humans to look like him, their physical appearance inspired by that of his own. By your definition God can be anything, from a ghost to a flying spaghetti monster.

no, it says he made man in his likeness. and that doesnt refer to humans in the scientific sense, but humanity in its classical sense. god made their spirits in his likeness, the body was just dirt. by jewish definition, god is perfect, and so cannot be human, nor have human qualities.

Please don't double post, use the edit or multi-quote buttons instead. ~TheMatrix

[Appypollylogges]

I was born a Catholic, now I'm in between agnostic and atheistic.
What first turned me off was that religion causes so much conflict in the world.
Nowadays, there's that, the fact that religion is causing people to withhold rights from other people, and after having gone through depression I've come to the conclusion that no god would let that sort of thing happen.
I don't have a problem with spirituality, but as far as religion, I think the world would be far better off without it.

[Harry Smith]

no. i believe in something ive experienced. and have never been given any good evidence to say otherwise


so you've experienced God?

[randomnessqueen]

so you've experienced God?

yes i have.
and being a philosophy of religion student, i face evidences for and against different god beliefs every day. so im not simply avoiding arguments(theyre what i love), and ive never heard one from atheists that was both reasonable and sound. i am a philosopher before anything else, i want to find truth not back up for my opinion. if i hear a good argument, i will take that into account.

[Stronk Serb]

I was born a Catholic, now I'm in between agnostic and atheistic.
What first turned me off was that religion causes so much conflict in the world.
Nowadays, there's that, the fact that religion is causing people to withhold rights from other people, and after having gone through depression I've come to the conclusion that no god would let that sort of thing happen.
I don't have a problem with spirituality, but as far as religion, I think the world would be far better off without it.



You reached the same conclusion I reached after 15 years, of which the last 8 have been a total suffering, just for God. I realized that religions that enforce their will on you like Christianity (you sin, go to Hell) are the reason the workd backwarded a lot. Buddhism is the only peaceful religion along the Wiccan religion (I think, not sure) that allow yiu to choose without telling you that you are going to burn in eternal damnation.

yes i have.
and being a philosophy of religion student, i face evidences for and against different god beliefs every day. so im not simply avoiding arguments(theyre what i love), and ive never heard one from atheists that was both reasonable and sound. i am a philosopher before anything else, i want to find truth not back up for my opinion. if i hear a good argument, i will take that into account.



If god is a existing being, how does he eat, breathe and reproduce as all living beings do, except viruses.


-merged double post. -Emerald Dream

[randomnessqueen]

If god is a existing being, how does he eat, breathe and reproduce as all living beings do, except viruses.

youre still thinking physical living things. god is transcendent and formless.
anything that is born must die. god was never born and will never die, he just is.
alos, viruses arent considered living.

[Croconaw]

I never believed in the first place.

[Bethany]

I stopped believing because the concept of a supreme being. I found it impossible that there was a supreme being who gave a mission to life - it simply seemed too convenient. I was inclined to believe religion was man-made because it seems designed to give answers - to give positive answers to the difficult questions humans faced. Religion seemed like something designed to make humans feel better - that their life isn't pointless, has meaning, has a universal goal of life, has a universal code of ethics, and that they have some sort of afterlife or higher state to strive for.

[Appypollylogges]

Buddhism is the only peaceful religion along the Wiccan religion (I think, not sure) that allow yiu to choose without telling you that you are going to burn in eternal damnation.

Yeah I find that ancient or eastern religions are (as well as more interesting) more pleasant. I'm a big fan of Taoism.

youre still thinking physical living things. god is transcendent and formless.
anything that is born must die. god was never born and will never die, he just is.
alos, viruses arent considered living.

Look ,
why are you sticking your nose in here?
There's is nothing and I mean NOTHING wrong with believing in a god, but the discussion going on is why people might NOT believe in god. So why are you bothering to argue?


-merged double post. -Emerald Dream

[Ace of Spades]

Buddhism is the only peaceful religion along the Wiccan religion (I think, not sure) that allow yiu to choose without telling you that you are going to burn in eternal damnation.

Quakerism should be added to that list.

The Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, are an active, involved faith-based community who are devoted to their traditional testimonies of pacifism, social equality, integrity, and simplicity.

Hell/damnation is nonexistent in Quakerism.

[Stronk Serb]

Quakerism should be added to that list.

The Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, are an active, involved faith-based community who are devoted to their traditional testimonies of pacifism, social equality, integrity, and simplicity.

Hell/damnation is nonexistent in Quakerism.

I heard of it. Aren't the Christian churches considering it a heresy or a false religion?

[Stronk Serb]

youre still thinking physical living things. god is transcendent and formless.
anything that is born must die. god was never born and will never die, he just is.

That is not what I was taught. God is the unity of three, the father, the son and t the Holy spirit. But how did those three entities create themselves? I find it hard to believe that they made thenselves in some manner. A father cannot be a father without his partner, the mother. A son cannobe a son without mother.

viruses arent considered living.

They are living beings. They might not eat and breathe, but they reproduce. They have their DNA, so they must be living.

[Ace of Spades]

I heard of it. Aren't the Christian churches considering it a heresy or a false religion?

Quakers were one of many groups persecuted by England's parliament and the Church of England under the Conventicle Act in 1664.
Other instances of persecution were laid out in the Quaker Act of 1662, which required people to swear an oath of allegiance to the king, which Quakers did not do out of religious conviction;
the Act of Uniformity in 1662, which required the use of all the rites and ceremonies in the Book of Common Prayer in church services;
and the Five Mile Act in 1665, which sought to prevent nonconformists from living in incorporated and chartered towns.

[lowride]

I know how u feel about the church but stay strong and not give up

[Stronk Serb]

I know how u feel about the church but stay strong and not give up

The church taught me to be weak. That has changed.

[Sweet Smart Smexi]

I'm Wicca/Pagan and get really offended about things people say. But I love Wicca/Paganism. My best friend is Buddhist, and it seems such a simple religion :)

[Harry Smith]

yes i have.
and being a philosophy of religion student, i face evidences for and against different god beliefs every day. so im not simply avoiding arguments(theyre what i love), and ive never heard one from atheists that was both reasonable and sound. i am a philosopher before anything else, i want to find truth not back up for my opinion. if i hear a good argument, i will take that into account.

Don't you think it's convenient that any evidence for God e.g moses, the bible your 'experience' has occurred in times before they could be accurately captured, I mean it seems strange that no new evidence of this almighty has occurred in the last 1000 years

[britishboy]

Don't you think it's convenient that any evidence for God e.g moses, the bible your 'experience' has occurred in times before they could be accurately captured, I mean it seems strange that no new evidence of this almighty has occurred in the last 1000 years

there has been weak evidence such as ndes and miracles but agree with you religion is like Chinese whispers a bit

[randomnessqueen]

Look ,
why are you sticking your nose in here?
There's is nothing and I mean NOTHING wrong with believing in a god, but the discussion going on is why people might NOT believe in god. So why are you bothering to argue?
-merged double post. -Emerald Dream

im not trying to open up argument
im just talking with comrade mike at the moment

[randomnessqueen]

That is not what I was taught. God is the unity of three, the father, the son and t the Holy spirit. But how did those three entities create themselves? I find it hard to believe that they made thenselves in some manner. A father cannot be a father without his partner, the mother. A son cannobe a son without mother.



They are living beings. They might not eat and breathe, but they reproduce. They have their DNA, so they must be living.

im not talking christianity, im not talking about god. you said youre atheist, which should mean you dont believe in any kind of god, not just that you dont believe in a christian god.

[Danny Phantom]

I stopped believing in Catholicism, mainly because I don't agree with their views on certain things (gay marriage, drugs, etc.) and find a few hypocritical points. But I don't hate it or anyone who follows it, heck, some of my best friends are Catholic.

[randomnessqueen]

Don't you think it's convenient that any evidence for God e.g moses, the bible your 'experience' has occurred in times before they could be accurately captured, I mean it seems strange that no new evidence of this almighty has occurred in the last 1000 years

im not jewish, i just believe in god. i dont base it off the bible or anything.
also, yes, plenty of things no different than back then have happened. but people keep focusing on the jewish god and events around him.

[Stronk Serb]

im not talking christianity, im not talking about god. you said youre atheist, which should mean you dont believe in any kind of god, not just that you dont believe in a christian god.

I was recalling the teachings of my former church. I do not believe in any gods or other non-physical entities without further concrete evidence. I am more agnostic then atheist I guess.

[randomnessqueen]

I was recalling the teachings of my former church. I do not believe in any gods or other non-physical entities without further concrete evidence. I am more agnostic then atheist I guess.

thats good, at least you are just looking for truth.
every other atheist ive spoken to on here has just trying to backup atheism with dogmatism, and chooses ignorance of anything else.

[Sweet Smart Smexi]

I belive that we are all Gods/Goddesses in a way :)

[TheDeepestDepths]

One of the reasons I love the series 'His Dark Materials' and the character of Mary Malone so much is they both accurately describe and convey my feelings and opinions on the faith I was born with. (Roman Catholic)

When I was a younger Sunday mass was something I had to do - it was the Sunday routine in my house so I didn't think about it very much. I just started to dislike and disagree with my religion and all religion in general.

Don't get me wrong I still believed in doing good and helping people and still do these things. But despite all that, simply because I refuse to conform to the religions laws and beliefs I disagree with, I will be punished for it. People have quoted "the word of God" at my friends telling them they are going to Hell because they are gay. For some reason being gay means you're unholy and "unworthy of salvation".

It would be one thing if these were just people's radical beliefs, but they were quoting the scripture I was supposed to be following and obeying with my whole "minds, body and soul" so the speak.

The character Mary has some beautiful ways of describing religion the way I see it.
1) “The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake.”
2) “I stopped believing there was a power of good and a power of evil that were outside us. And I came to believe that good and evil are names for what people do, not for what they are.”
3) “...But it gradually seemed to me that I'd made myself believe something that wasn't true. I'd made myself believe that I was fine and happy and fulfilled on my own without the love of anyone else. Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but I never would. I'd spend all my life without ever going to China, but it wouldn't matter, because there was all the rest of the world to visit... And I thought: am I really going to spend the rest of my life without feeling that again? I thought: I want to go to China. It's full of treasures and strangeness and mysteries and joy.”

With number 3, replace being in love with sex/ sexual pleasure or even being in love with someone of the same sex. Why shouldn't I? What's wrong with it other than the Bible saying so?