Why over a period of time sometimes a theist turns atheist and an atheist into a

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   Sundeep Katariaposted 9 years ago

   Why over a period of time sometimes a theist turns atheist and an atheist into a theist?

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   LoisRyan13903posted 9 years ago

   Just my opinions but maybe a person was raised in a God-believing family then as he grew up he stopped believing for one reason or another.  Maybe he saw a lot of bad going on around him and wondered why if there was a God why did these bad things happen.  Or a child who believes in God stops believing in him the same reason why he stops believing in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy.  For an athiest to become a believer may be a person realizes he is mortal and is afraid to die.  Or sometimes they witness a miracle and realizes that without God that miracle would not have happened

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   fpherj48posted 9 years ago

   Hello Sundeep......IMHO, human beings can and do change their ways of thinking......believing.....at any time for many reasons. 
   What we learn (are taught), our own experiences in  life and all that we can see, hear and touch, are left to our own perceptions.and abilities to reason.
   One may adopt a way of life, an agenda or allegiance in a particular manner and walk down that path for a period of time.  However, due to events, acquired knowledge, inspiration or due to in depth research....may see these things in a new light, with different meanings and this can cause a shift in thinking.
   From Theist to atheist.....or vice-versa can be not terribly unlike a change in political views....or an alteration to one's personal codes and constitution.
   We have free will and the ability to use our intelligence to make decisions and choices,all  throughout our lives.
   These human capabilities can be a wonderful blessing and/or a lethal curse.......depending on how it is used and put into action.   I don't believe it is for any one individual to judge the heart & mind of another........except of course in matters that directly effect life & death.
   You have asked a very deep and complex question, my friend.....with answers of equal depth and complexity.
   A debate panel could easily spend endless time and opinions on this single topic.I would LOVE to be a member of such a panel!
   I hope my response will suffice for now.  Thank you, Sundeep.

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      Sundeep Katariaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for appreciating the question so much.  I wish you could share more of your views in your unique and gifted style of writing.

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      fpherj48posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Sundeep...I'm fairly infamous for "sharing my views"...even arbitrarily at times.LOL  In fact, I could introduce you to people who may be pleased if I shared my views a little less!  (If you know what I mean)  Thank you for always being so sweet.

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   mariexotoniposted 9 years ago

   I grew up in a god-believing, Christian family and am now a non-believer.
   
   My reasons:
   -College taught me more about evolution and I was really curious about religion and learning about more views than just my old Christian views
   -Less time around my family to influence me
   -Found myself surrounded by people who had more relaxed attitudes towards religion (I think we choose the people we surround ourselves with)
   -Grew farther apart from friends with believer views- not because they believed but because of the distance between us. Then I started to realize that they were highly judgmental of my views, so i was happy that I was hanging out with them less
   -Also read more books and tried to find out what I actually think about what I believed in
   
   There are probably reasons I am missing, but to sum it up- my environment influenced my views greatly.

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   M. T. Dremerposted 9 years ago

   Some have mentioned it already, but it really depends on personal knowledge and experience. Significant changes in either could shift personal views in anything, not just theism and atheism. Because of these potential shifts, we should all work harder to accept where we're at, rather than arguing all the time.

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      Sundeep Katariaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks. Your last sentence is very thought provoking and deep.

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