How does one convert to being an atheist, seriously? I am not a religionist btw!

1. 75

   Shil1978posted 15 years ago

   How does one convert to being an atheist, seriously? I am not a religionist btw!!

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2. 0

   gulnazahmadposted 15 years ago

   If you do not believe in the presence of any God than you are an atheist there is nothing to do but believe. Atheism is the absence of belief that any God exist.

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3. 70

   wyanjenposted 15 years ago

   Atheism is simply a lack of belief.
   If you are looking for belief system, look into secular humanism.

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4. 85

   Pcunixposted 15 years ago

   As others said, you don't convert.
   
   Perhaps of more interest is how your being open about your lack of belief will affect your family and friends.  Some may be upset, angry or convinced that you have been possessed by demonic forces.
   
   In some places, you could even be physically assaulted and even charged with a crime!
   
   I do second the recommendation about Humanism.  The United Universalists churches are often humanistic; that can be a place to find like minded people.

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5. 60

   Merlin Fraserposted 15 years ago

   You don't convert to Atheism, it is not in itself a belief, in fact it is quite the opposite, it is an abscence of belief.
   
   Take me for instance, I do not believe in the existence of God as defined by the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths so does that make me an atheist ?
   
   In the narrow mind of some people the answer would be yes but to me they are wrong.  I just happen to believe Man invented God...not the other way around.
   
   I am a Pagan, not one of these modern pagans that seem to think that Paganism is some sort of ancient religion which they are trying to invent.
   
   It isn't and never was, but that wanders away from your question.     
   
   The only advice to give in situations like this is you obviously have questions in your mind that need answers.
   
   Keep asking those questions but listen to the answers with an open mind.
   
   I have my answers, and that is I discovered a long time ago how simple things became and how much easier they were to understand once I removed God from the equation.

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   Chasukposted 15 years ago

   I disagree, at least partially.
   
   Atheism and theism are both active philosophical stances. Atheism is the belief that deity does NOT exist. Theism is the belief that deity DOES exist.
   
   One can be converted to either viewpoint.
   
   An illustration:
   
   If we divided the world into those who believed in Santa and those who didn't, we could call them anti-Santaists and Santaists. If we discovered a group of people who entertained no belief concerning Santa at all, it would be illogical to call them anti-Santaists, as the word anti-Santaist implies a belief concerning the existence Santa, even if it is a negative belief.
   
   The same is true of atheists (anti-theists).
   
   I am an atheist, by the way.

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7. 68

   chatpilotposted 15 years ago

   Hello Shili1978, I am a former Pentecostal evangelist who has changed his views to that of atheist. I don't think converting to atheism is a proper term. There is nothing to convert to, it is just a change of opinions and the letting go of former beliefs or belief systems.
   
   I think that atheism is a growing process and every atheist has taken this journey in their own ways. Some were never theist from the start while others like myself were once believers. For me the more I read the bible the more questions I had. I questioned its gods reasoning for allegedly doing certain things that the bibles authors claim he did.
   
   Those questions eventually led me to investigate deeper the origins of the bible and its authors. My research over the years has led me to believe that the bible and all god or goddesses are simply the creation of man.

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8. 61

   Scott Mandrakeposted 15 years ago

   "Atheism and theism are both active philosophical stances. Atheism is the belief that deity does NOT exist. Theism is the belief that deity DOES exist.
   
   One can be converted to either viewpoint."
   
   This would not be conversion it would be retrogression, as we are not born with a belief in god(s) rather taught for various moral and sociological reasons.  Trying to explain that to an ardent believer however, will likely spark a fiery debate

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   The black mistposted 15 years ago

   what is secular humanism?
   I have been baptisted but there are somethings i dont believe that are in or that i have heard are in the bible. What would be my actual religon for this??

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10. 60

    Gilbert Smithposted 15 years ago

    Asking how you convert to atheism is like how you convert to not being a Circus performer, or how you convert to not being seven feet tall.
    
    I like the term "unaffiliated" myself. I don't want to be thought of as agnostic, religious or atheist.
    
    The existence of God is a question that nobody can answer, even if they think they can, so I prefer to not waste time worrying about it. Rather, I'll just take life for what it is and try to enjoy it on that level.

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11. 68

    trishoolposted 15 years ago

    well that is easy. Do you believe in fairytales? If Yes, then you are a lemming, if no, then you are an atheist/agnostic

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    nightwork4posted 15 years ago

    i don't think you can convert to being an athiest. to me it's simply a fact that you don't believe in god . some people try to make it sound as though being an athiest is a belief unto itself but i disagree. in my opinion , if you believe in a creator or supreme being of any kind then you are not an athiest.

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    dabeanerposted 15 years ago

    One doesn't "convert" to atheism.  We are all born atheists, then most of us are indoctrinated while children into one or another set of fantastic (fantasy) beliefs.  Some few of us realize later what was done to us, and we discard those childish beliefs that most adults hang onto.  We then become "born again atheists".

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14. 84

    Good Guyposted 15 years ago

    It's all in your mind.  You can believe in anything.  No one can force you to "convert," contrary to popular belief.

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15. 79

    fatfistposted 15 years ago

    It's like having an abortion.
    First you need the blessing of your Pastor.
    Then you need the signature of a Rabbi.
    Finally, you need the support of a Mullah.

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    f_hruzposted 14 years ago

    It's like an evolutionary process. When you look around and observe with some degree of rationality, you may find religiosity was part of our human cultural development, but the degree of irrationality required of you to follow any religion as if they offered a better understanding of the real world, may soon enough convince you that a science based understanding of nature and the real world is much better to your emotional and intellectual development as a thinking being than wasting your time hoping some gods will come your way to bless you and show you what next to do with your life ... now extrapolate this wasted human capacity over a whole nation and what do you get?

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