A Mormon's Road to Atheism (Very Good Read)

[MeTHoD-X]

Check out this here link (http://secularskeptic.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-road-to-atheism-part-1-what-took-me.html) for a very good read. Although, I can't really relate to him since I've been atheist since about age 13. I've always wondered what it's like to really convert after many years of indoctrination; now I know.

[Alice Shade]

Actually, some of people here might know that all too well... Well, in a bit of a different scenario, though.

I`m sure a lot of you heard your parents say, when you were kids - "Ignore the bullies, don`t fight back, don`t stoop to their level."?

Well, that`s... crap, to put it mildly. I`ve witnessed more then several accounts of people getting the guts to fight back, or simply getting fed up enough for a desperation attack. In any case, the feeling seems to be usually quite liberating. (I have a biased view for that, though, being a staunch believer in the "If someone slaps your cheek, break his arms.").

[PotatoeOfDoom]

wow. i'm only 14, and i've been pretty much atheistic since i started reading about evolution in 5th grade. one thing i (and science) still can't explain is <i>how</i> did the big bang occur? thats is why i still believe god may have created the universe, but afterwards left evolution to do its job

[MeTHoD-X]

wow. i'm only 14, and i've been pretty much atheistic since i started reading about evolution in 5th grade. one thing i (and science) still can't explain is <i>how</i> did the big bang occur? thats is why i still believe god may have created the universe, but afterwards left evolution to do its job

To address your concern, I will pray about the god of the gaps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_of_the_gaps) argument for you. Click that link and read all about it.

Basically, for as long as the notion of "god" has been around (read: a long time) people have been using what we can't explain as poof of god. The argument changes every century or so. It used to be thunder and lightning, the sun, rain, disease, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Science eventually explained those things to us, so we could no longer say "thunder is proof of god because we can't explain it." There will always be things science cannot explain. Always. That is not in an y way proof of a supernatural entity though. Not in a long shot.

Kudos,
Matt

[Lunchbox]

Good read that. I've moved on to http://richarddawkins.net/article,536,God-Is-Not-a-Moderate,Sam-Harris-and-Andrew-Sullivan-Beliefnetcom now, linked from that article. Absolutely fascinating. I think my productivity index at work may well hit rock bottom today.

[PotatoeOfDoom]

To address your concern, I will pray about the god of the gaps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_of_the_gaps) argument for you. Click that link and read all about it.

Basically, for as long as the notion of "god" has been around (read: a long time) people have been using what we can't explain as poof of god. The argument changes every century or so. It used to be thunder and lightning, the sun, rain, disease, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Science eventually explained those things to us, so we could no longer say "thunder is proof of god because we can't explain it." There will always be things science cannot explain. Always. That is not in an y way proof of a supernatural entity though. Not in a long shot.

Kudos,
Matt


that explains everything then and i see that eventually there will be no need to believe in a god at all.
thanks for the link, cus that really explains a lot to me

[Aimeethearrow]

I really understand what this man went through. I grew up Lutheran in a very conservative household, and my older sister was the only one to challenge that. When I was 13 I went to a confirmation class that changed everything. For those of you who don't know, in many churches you have to take what amounts to Sunday school class, learning about the history of the church, before you are confirmed a member.

The pastor was going on about the usual everyone-is-a-sinner mantra when someone asked a hard question: Does that include babies? How can a baby be a sinner?

After thinking for a moment, my pastor said, "Babies are sinners because they are selfish. They cry."

There had been doubts before hand and I had done a bit of research, but this is the moment that pushed me to atheism more than anything. Rejecting a belief that you were raised to never doubt, let alone challenge, is hard to do in any situation, but also a relief.

[Erasmus]

That's an interesting read. Some of the comments, too, make interesting reading:

* Good thing happens to good people: "Oh, see what happens when you're righteous?"
* Bad thing happens to bad people: "Look at God's justice!"
* Good thing happens to bad people: "Uh, it's OK... they'll get their justice in the next life."
* Bad thing happens to good people: "It's a blessing in disguise / a test / it's OK, the good people will be rewarded in the next life!"

[Kokoba]

After thinking for a moment, my pastor said, "Babies are sinners because they are selfish. They cry."

That is awful.

I mean I'm not some kind of ovary-pumped, biological clock is going off sort of gal, but honestly. That takes the damn cake.

[Fallen Hero]

Humans are by nature sinners in the bible.

[AaronD]

And human nature was said to be created by who again, in the bible?

[Fallen Hero]

I did not say it was right. I was just pointing out why that makes sense when it comes to that religion.