<jlrisdon@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1168490497.632833.310910@o58g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

Since atheists are in the minority, it seems likely most atheists were
actually raised by parents who had some sort of religious beliefs.

I'm curious as to when you first came to take an atheistic position and
exactly how it came about?

James

My parents we're basically atheists and let me figure things out for myself.
I have an older sister who is a born-again christian wacko.

<jlris...@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:1168490497.632833.310910@o58g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

Since atheists are in the minority,Not where I live.

In my home life and professional capacity, I come across very few theists.
They are very much in the minority, and tend to keep their beliefs to
thesmselves.
If they did otherwise, they would be considered to be a lttle "odd".

It seems likely most atheists were
actually raised by parents who had some sort of religious beliefs.My parents never pushed religion on me.

I had my religious influence at school.
Between the ages of 9 and 12, I used to attend church on my own.

I'm curious as to when you first came to take an atheistic position and
exactly how it came about?I started to read the bible more often, and became concerned about the

contradictions in it.
The final nail in the coffin was during a Catholic Pilgramage to Rome
during"Anno Santo" or "Holy Year" in 1975.
The trip was supposed to strengthen my religious belief.
After observing some fine examples of hypocrisy and nonsense in the City of
Rome and around the Vatican, It occured to me that something was quite
wrong, and that I had been lied to all of my life.
The defining point was a trip to the Church of St Andrew, where I saw
pilgrims, old men and women, shuffling on their knees up stone steps,
pausing at certain steps to kiss what was supposed to be the actual blood of
the crucified St Andrew, miraculously preserved on the steps leading to the
point of his crucifixion.
Some of them were in pain and their knees were scraped and bloody from the
effort.
"*****", I thought.
My faith in the Catholic church dissolved instantly.
Visiting the churches and cathedrals around Rome and viewing some of the
crazy relics they keep hidden there( they don't like to talk about them much
now - those relics have become a bit of an embarassment ) didn't help
either.
You can only look at so many pieces of the so called cross of the Holy
Crucifix before you start to think, "Hold on a minute- this is just a piece
of wood"

Later, by using reason and clear thinking, my faith in God dissolved too.
Overall, however, I'd say that the biggest contribution to my absence of
faith has been the bible itself.
I have always been interested in religious history.
When you combine a knowledge of religious history together with a knowledge
of the bible, the bible, it soon becomes abundantly clear that there is no
truth, or hidden meaning, or the word of God contained in it.
It is the best tool an atheist can use to disprove God.
It always amuses me when theists drop in here from time to time and
recommend that I should read the bible.
For most of us, it is having read the bible which has lead us here.

--
Steve O
a.a. #2240 (Apatheist Chapter)
B.A.A.W.A.
"Faith doesn't move mountains - it levels buildings."

<jlrisdon@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1168490497.632833.310910@o58g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

Since atheists are in the minority, it seems likely most atheists were
actually raised by parents who had some sort of religious beliefs.

I'm curious as to when you first came to take an atheistic position and
exactly how it came about?

James

It came about when my ability to reason developed.

<jlris...@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:1168490497.632833.310910@o58g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

Since atheists are in the minority, it seems likely most atheists were
actually raised by parents who had some sort of religious beliefs.

I'm curious as to when you first came to take an atheistic position and
exactly how it came about?

JamesIt came about when my ability to reason developed.

--
rb

jlris...@gmail.com wrote:

Since atheists are in the minority, it seems likely most atheists were
actually raised by parents who had some sort of religious beliefs.

I'm curious as to when you first came to take an atheistic position and
exactly how it came about?

JamesAge: 38

Reason: Far to many questions for which there are no answers.
--
There are none more ignorant and useless,
than they that seek answers on their knees,
with their eyes closed.
____________________________________________________________________
Rev. Karl E. Taylor