How does one become an atheist?

[jake-the-peg]

Tweaker asked this in the thread on JWs

Personally I grew up in a familly that wasn't particularly religious, and it slowly grew on me.

I certainly remember at the age of 12 the Headmaster doing a role call of who was Christian, Jewish etc. and then asked "any others" - I put up my hand and said I was an atheist.

There then followed much consternation and d bluster before he said rather arrogantly "Well I hope you find a religion one day"

I guess that was when I first identified myself as an atheist.

How about the rest of you? Do you remember when you first identified yourselves as atheists?

[jomifl]

Sandy, you have problems..martyrs robes for women?

[ludwig]

old_geezer // Atheism is not the default. Atheism is to believe there is no God. The default is not to have given it any thought so one doesn't yet have an opinion. //

I don't think that's right OG. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods. You're confusing it with anti-theism which is a conscious opposition to theism.

[Khandro]

@lazygun' The evidence I have is that I have met a thousand artists and though some may have been agnostic, nobody sticks in my mind as being a card-carrying ranting atheist (as manifest on AB). Actually, more artists were good scientists (Goethe springs to mind) than I believe vice versa. All artists are interested in science, but I don't know for sure how many scientists read poetry.

[jomifl]

Khandro, I think you are over generalising just a little. How many scientist have you known?

[LazyGun]

@Khandro - So, what you post as evidence is in fact nothing more than a general, sweeping generalisation - or did you engage each and every one of these "thousands" of artists in a controlled survey of their religious or spiritual condition?

Lets not even get into this nonsense about "ranting" atheists - all that tells us is how incredibly defensive and precious some people are on here about their religious beliefs, and,amongst those of faith, the pervasive and persistent belief that somehow, religion and belief in religion should be afforded automatic deference and respect. No, it doesn't. That day has long gone.

And we get to your final point, and I am sorry to say it is a spectacular fail - You seem to be dividing humanity in the artist types - all spiritual, all moved by god, whose work and inspiration is a gift from the almighty - and then there is the dastardly scientists - whose work involves no creativity, no insight or inspiration, and can scarcely appreciate a sunset, or a waterfall , or a poem.

What a blinkered view of humanity you have khandro , and how ill-informed. There is no such dichotomy in the human condition, except in your own imagination.There are just lots and lots of people with shades of belief, shades of rationality, and thats how their belief in religion is determined. Science is as much about inspiration and creativity as art.

[naomi24]

Khandro, I can only speak from personal experience, and I've no idea who you see as 'card-carrying ranting' atheists here, but your conclusion doesn't stack up.

[oneinam]

I know a few people who became 'cynical' and rejected their past beliefs after experiencing how unfair the world is to some. When people have no food, it is unfair.

[RATTER15]

>>card-carrying ranting atheist<< Maybe referring to me lol, I do get a little wound up on the subject at times.

[Khandro]

LG, Your post is something of an essay, and as you have put some effort into it, I should attempt a reply. I may have been a bit OTT, but sometimes it's the only way to get a point across. Re. the thousand artists, in that number there is a large proportion of full-time art students doing a BA Hons degree, or equivalent, many of whom I was personal tutor to during a 25 year period. In the UK mostly, but also in the USA, France and India. I also know, and have known many professional artists (I'm one myself, and come one here every couple of hours while I'm waiting for paint to dry :-) All I'm saying is that I have never found, that I can remember, anyone among them spouting atheism at me.
You are reading me completely wrongly when you say I want to divide people into two opposite types, it is the exact opposite I'm saying i.e. that a balance is needed between the two halves of the brain (as I put it), and a cold scientific view of the world requires also the other intuitional and emotional approach to make both a good artist and a good scientist. The latter embodied in Prof. Tony Ryan who I listened to interviewed on iPlayer this morning; there is someone with exhilarating capacity to use all his brainpower.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //All I'm saying is that I have never found, that I can remember, anyone among them spouting atheism at me.//

But surely the situation has to be taken into account. You find atheists here because this is where religion is discussed, but how many times did the topic arise between you and your art students? I'd guess not many so you wouldn't really know what those people thought about it, would you?

[Khandro]

naomi; I suggest that the majority of people who know you with any degree of intimacy, are well aware that you espouse atheism.

[owdhamer]

i became an atheist when the likes of the ayatollahs , paisley, mcguinness, adams, started spouting their vitriol .

[DTCwordfan]

How does one become an Atheist? Just sign on at the Job Centre, an experience guaranteed to make anyone an atheist.

[Khandro]

^^ Will you, or someone, please explain why babies are atheists!

[DaisyNonna]

Just be female. There seems to be no place in any organised religion for a woman. I admire those women who are fighting for recognition but I have no wish to be subservient in an organisation where I am not wanted.

[DaisyNonna]

Steve, weare meant to believe by whom? God?

[vulcan]

The theists I know believe that the new born child has inherited the sins of the parents,I'd rather believe the child was innocent.