Becoming an Atheist

[sebar nl]

Recently i became interested in atheism and I really feel like becoming one. My family is non-religious so that shouldn't be a problem. i also red "the god delusion" and i agree with almost everything that book says. the only thing is I don't really know how to tell the people in my life that i'm an atheist. Can i plz get some help from some fellow atheist on how to do this. non-atheists feel free to post too. Because I wanna know when atheist bother you and how you think this can be prevented.

 

[slevin8989]

You don't have to do anything to be atheist all you have to do is belief that there is no god and nothing else.

 

[Calobi]

Don't mention it? If someone is all like "Jesus/Mohammad/*Insert other name here* is the True Savior" just be like "OK" and move on. Why is it important that everyone knows your view on religion?

 

[Knonsense]

the only thing is I don't really know how to tell the people in my life that i'm an atheist. Can i plz get some help from some fellow atheist on how to do this. non-atheists feel free to post too. Because I wanna know when atheist bother you and how you think this can be prevented.

Whose business is your quantity of theism, and why? Generally, unprovoked displays of religion or irreligion are tiresome for me, personally.

 

[Legion]

1: Religion, like sexuality should not be an issue. Don't bother bringing it up unless it's asked about.

2: You don't choose to be an Atheist, if you believe that there is no God, you are one.

3: I like you Castle Crashers avatar.

 

[AkJay]

Well, why do you need to tell them? i am an athiest, and if someone asks me i will tell them, but i don't go around saying "Hi, i am ____ and i am an athiest, how are you?"

 

[The_Deleted]

If you're an Atheist, why would you need to tell anyone.

 

[Actual]

My family is non-religious

You're already an atheist, no need to hold a press conference.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean by atheism.

 

[Hazy]

3 Things you never discuss:

1.Religion
2.Politics
3.How to beat Bald Bull.
Don't start the conversation, or say you aren't religious if somebody asks you. Simple as that.

 

[Trendkill6]

There really isn't a way to become athiest, you either participate in a religion or just say fuck it I'm an athiest.

The key to being a good athiest is just not making a big deal of it.

 

[ZeroMachine]

Well... here's the problem. You can't "become" an atheist on demand. Just ask yourself this question:

Do you believe in a higher power?
If yes: no matter what you say, you are not an atheist. Sorry.
If no: You are one. Plain and simple.

As for telling the people close to you, it's as simple as "by the way, I'm an atheist". Don't make a big deal about it. If they do, fine, but if you treat it like it's a matter-of-fact thing, then people will be less likely to give you flak for it.

Also, the only time atheists bother me (I'm not Christian or anything, I just believe there's something and we can't know what it is) is when they call me stupid for believing in a "sky fairy". I fucking hate that with a fucking passion. I almost punched one of my best friend's mothers in the face for it once. You're entitled to your belief, just don't become one of those self-righteous atheists and insult others for theirs.

 

[Knonsense]

Do you believe in a higher power?
If yes: no matter what you say, you are not an atheist. Sorry.
If no: You are one. Plain and simple.

2: You don't choose to be an Atheist, if you don't believe in God, you are one.

Probably shouldn't pick nits, but if you don't believe in God but you don't believe in the absence of God, you're agnostic. It isn't so cut and dry.

 

[Legion]

Do you believe in a higher power?
If yes: no matter what you say, you are not an atheist. Sorry.
If no: You are one. Plain and simple.

2: You don't choose to be an Atheist, if you don't believe in God, you are one.

Probably shouldn't pick nits, but if you don't believe in God but you don't believe in the absence of God, you're agnostic. It isn't so cut and dry.

Fair enough, I did think my wording was bad on that one.

 

[ZeroMachine]

Do you believe in a higher power?
If yes: no matter what you say, you are not an atheist. Sorry.
If no: You are one. Plain and simple.

2: You don't choose to be an Atheist, if you don't believe in God, you are one.

Probably shouldn't pick nits, but if you don't believe in God but you don't believe in the absence of God, you're agnostic. It isn't so cut and dry.

It is when it comes to atheism. Atheism is the denial altogether of the existence of a god. Theism is the firm belief there is some sort of god. Agnosticism is when you believe either could be true. Yes, I didn't cover agnosticism in my list, but he wasn't trying to shoot for that, so I went basic.

 

[ad5x5]

I'm an atheist.
Doesn't require much effort - just don't do anything religous.
I do enjoy debating theology with my friends though, who are all manner of religions. They seem to enjoy debating it as well.

Just make sure if you do, you don't belittle their beliefs. Accept they have them and they are entitled to them.
Don't become an evangelical atheist. They annoy me as well.

-A

 

[Uncompetative]

I'm an Atheist. I have been for 32 years. It rarely comes up. However, the main thing is...

I have opted out of Christmas.

So, to be fair to my relations I told them this well-beforehand so that they had the option to not buy me any gifts and told them I wasn't going to buy them any gifts. Interestingly, I have found that this works out very well as I don't get rubbish presents anymore (socks, aftershave) and can spend all the money I have saved over the Summer on the October-November game glut. I don't have to put some of that money towards some relatives gift and find myself short of the amount I need. I don't have to wait until the 25th to unwrap games that were gifted to me and find out that they were either:

- not what I had hoped for
- not what I asked for (wrong system!)
- not including receipts (so no returns)
- duplicates!!

Now, I don't want to come across as a meany and people will go "What! You don't celebrate Christmas!", but you could be Jewish... just because everyone else is being sucked into some, well, let's face it, commercialized kitsch redistribution conspiracy that is bereft of Religion for most people, doesn't mean you have to as well. However, since I have been of drinking age I have bought drinks/wine/sherry for everyone, but that is Pagan and I have no problem with Season's Greetings and being a Merry man.

A question was famously asked of a little girl on TV:

"Who was born on the 25th of December?"

She thought for a while... and then said with triumph:

"Santa!"

Tells you a lot, doesn't it.

 

[Lullabye]

i also red "the god delusion" and i agree with almost everything that book says. the only thing is I don't really know how to tell the people in my life that i'm an atheist.

I read that book to! and i couldn't get over the bias in it.

Im a nihilist(which can be agnostic or atheist) I don't believe in a god/deity and don't want to. On that note I don't believe there is no god/deity. (read it a few times, there is a difference) but Im not content with just saying, "oh, idk, thats good enough for me!" I do believe that a deity and its objective existence and its believed subjective existence(this especially) are as of now no longer required to be looked upon as a taboo subject with which people avoid or attack like its their arch enemy. I just want to find out, an be done with it.

 

[Lullabye]

I'm an Atheist. I have been for 32 years. It rarely comes up. However, the main thing is...

I have opted out of Christmas.

So, to be fair to my relations I told them this well-beforehand so that they had the option to not buy me any gifts and told them I wasn't going to buy them any gifts. Interestingly, I have found that this works out very well as I don't get rubbish presents anymore (socks, aftershave) and can spend all the money I have saved over the Summer on the October-November game glut. I don't have to put some of that money towards some relatives gift and find myself short of the amount I need. I don't have to wait until the 25th to unwrap games that were gifted to me and find out that they were either:

- not what I had hoped for
- not what I asked for (wrong system!)
- not including receipts (so no returns)
- duplicates!!

Now, I don't want to come across as a meany and people will go "What! You don't celebrate Christmas!", but you could be Jewish... just because everyone else is being sucked into some, well, let's face it, commercialized kitsch redistribution conspiracy that is bereft of Religion for most people, doesn't mean you have to as well. However, since I have been of drinking age I have bought drinks/wine/sherry for everyone, but that is Pagan and I have no problem with Season's Greetings and being a Merry man.

A question was famously asked of a little girl on TV:

"Who was born on the 25th of December?"

She thought for a while... and then said with triumph:

"Santa!"

Tells you a lot, doesn't it.

I didn't know he was born on the 25th. so yeah, quite alot actually......./snicker

I totally agree. unfortunately for me I go to a catholic highschool. So when i refuse to say a prayer in my homeroom class or dont go for the whole secret santa shi..stuff, you can imagine the crap that i have to deal with. So I basically recited a paragraph I found here on the internet that I found summarized their religion nicely for my schools talent show. they thought i was going to play Beethoven's 5th.

luckily for me it was the last day before summer break. I can't wait for next year.

 

[Skeleon]

There's no need to go around announcing your atheism. Makes no sense whatsoever.
Me, I just responded whenever asked that "I was not religious".
They either left it at that or asked me to specify, to which I would then reply "I wasn't baptized because my parents wanted me to decide. I spent a lot of time learning about religion in school but never felt any personal need for it, beyond mere scientific interest."
Of course, that only works with my particular biography.
But I think the general jist of my opinion is clear: Just say how it was in your specific case if asked.
Tell them what made you become an atheist.
But don't go around telling it to people as if this was somehow an important story.
Most people who consider themselves Christians or whatever don't really care about your story anymore than you care about theirs.

 

[Unknower]

3 Things you never discuss:

1.Religion
2.Politics
3.How to beat Bald Bull.
Don't start the conversation, or say you aren't religious if somebody asks you. Simple as that.

Umm errr, what's a Bald Bull? Why would someone want to beat him/her/it? More importantly, how do you beat a Bald Bull?