| 8/28/2013 4:26:52 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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verat
""No not really. The average human animals mind is set up in such a way that it has an inherent tendency to produce superstitious beliefs and habits.""
I guess you meant to say that the human mind is susceptible to hallucinations.
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| 9/1/2013 8:40:57 PM |
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bennthere200
Salina, KS
46, joined Nov. 2011
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verat
""No not really. The average human animals mind is set up in such a way that it has an inherent tendency to produce superstitious beliefs and habits.""
I guess you meant to say that the human mind is susceptible to hallucinations.
I think the average human mind is set up to seek comfort. That's why we build shelters, create gods and religions, and band together in groups. Some people are secure in themselves and don't need that comfort. It's the same reason some people stay in hotels and others camp
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| 9/1/2013 8:45:06 PM |
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bennthere200
Salina, KS
46, joined Nov. 2011
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I'm not sure if I became an atheist or if I am one. Nothing I have seen, heard, or read leads me to believe in a deity so I just quit thinking about one
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| 9/15/2013 4:30:59 PM |
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msincommunicado
Savannah, GA
65, joined Jan. 2013
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It's very simple, LOGIC and REASON!
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| 9/15/2013 9:12:14 PM |
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gravexbiltz
El Paso, TX
31, joined Sep. 2013
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I was raised up pentecostal, Bunch crazy folks ya' know? Joined the military and got away from the bible belt region. The more screwed up things I've seen and experiences I've I questioned stuff. I did my research and got into a lot Richard Dawkinins books, I denounced my faith. Religion to me just doesn't make any sense now.
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| 9/16/2013 3:54:59 PM |
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galiathon
Richmond, IN
48, joined Sep. 2013
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It's very simple, LOGIC and REASON!
Ditto!!!! But you forgot common sense.. 
[Edited 9/16/2013 3:57:16 PM ]
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| 9/17/2013 3:13:49 PM |
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notonyno
Tempe, AZ
60, joined Sep. 2013
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It helped a lot that my parents didn't force religion on me as I was growing up.Thanks mom and dad!From there common sense and rational thought took over.
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| 9/17/2013 5:17:58 PM |
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yankeeasaurus
Lubbock, TX
25, joined Aug. 2013
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The best way I've heard it put...
When you're raised in a generation that is focusing more and more on the internet, which is a world wide forum of information and logic, how can you come to any other decision?
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| 9/18/2013 11:56:50 PM |
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sweetprincess8
Stockton, CA
31, joined Nov. 2012
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no, that implies you were a believer and one day you CHOSE to not believe.
It doesnt work that way, and thats the real tragedy, all the self congratulatory atheists, like to imagine they more intelligent or advanced, but its simply a random biological event.
Everyone is born atheist. Faith is learned, often forced.
This forum(group) is NOT for theists.
Logic plays a HUGE role in why many people revert to being Atheist.
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| 9/19/2013 1:19:40 AM |
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galiathon
Richmond, IN
48, joined Sep. 2013
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isnt that generation the same one that thinks adding bacon to things is clever and made "here comes honey boo boo" a hit show?
i gotta be honest if there is one thing the 15-35 age bracket is, logical aint it.
Funny you would say that being your 33.. Lmao.. 
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| 9/20/2013 11:47:58 PM |
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fox8612
Arnold, MO
31, joined Jul. 2013
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I was becoming a youth minister and had to read the bible to do so, after reading it I was a devout atheist.
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| 9/20/2013 11:56:50 PM |
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fox8612
Arnold, MO
31, joined Jul. 2013
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Lol I have a master's degree not that it makes a huge difference, but after reading it and finding all the inconsistencies and horrible things "god has comanded" I believe its made up bs.
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| 9/21/2013 12:07:15 AM |
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fox8612
Arnold, MO
31, joined Jul. 2013
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(this post has been flagged as inappropriate, sorry.)
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| 9/21/2013 12:08:37 AM |
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fox8612
Arnold, MO
31, joined Jul. 2013
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Not letting bastard children into the church of god btw
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| 9/21/2013 12:15:33 AM |
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fox8612
Arnold, MO
31, joined Jul. 2013
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And molest children with no repercussions lol
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| 9/21/2013 12:21:07 AM |
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fox8612
Arnold, MO
31, joined Jul. 2013
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They look the other way with that kind of stuff it s pathetic
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| 9/21/2013 10:25:15 AM |
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the_gonz
Clermont, FL
70, joined Sep. 2008
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First experience was tour in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 7th Calvary Division I/7th between 1967 to 1968 conversations with priest and christian clergy officers. If you questioned killing and war and cried they responded "you're just a coward. Later college education ( Hunter College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice ) and working 20 years with NYC Corrections Department in addition to watching science and religious history channels oh yes and common sense did the job for me. My god is my conscious, my good heart and my ability to empathize and love with the living while I am still live and kicking. Long process but I'm content and happy with my self and really don't fear reaching the end of my road.
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| 9/21/2013 6:59:33 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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What I see in this thread is that most people have arguments -valid ones- to leave the church...while to be an Atheist is to agree with the concept of "No God". IAW, to be an Atheist means not to believe in the existence of God.
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| 9/21/2013 8:36:52 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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wow if these two young turds are representative of atheists, we are all f**ked.
I wouldn't call them "turds" but confused.
I know many people who left the church on account of some priests' behavior and the position of the church on certain social issues, but still believe in God. Atheism, as you know, has nothing to do with bad deeds but with no believing in the existence of a supreme being.
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| 9/22/2013 7:34:21 AM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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maybe, but it does seem that atheists are more than willing to assign blame to religion when a religious person misbehaves.
these two dinks have probably never done one useful or good thing in their entire lives.
No, you are wrong; Atheist don't blame wrong behavior on religion/s...it would be stupid to blame an entire group by the actions of few. No all priests, cardinals, bishops are pederasts.
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| 9/22/2013 1:36:40 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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you havent been reading these comments if you think the vocal atheists dont blame religion.
Oh, yes...I have been reading the posts...but the Atheists, the one I know and deal with in person don't waste their time with stupidity.
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| 9/22/2013 5:09:01 PM |
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the_gonz
Clermont, FL
70, joined Sep. 2008
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First experience was tour in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 7th Calvary Division I/7th between 1967 to 1968 conversations with priest and christian clergy officers. If you questioned killing and war and cried they responded "you're just a coward. Later college education which taught me critical reading skills ( Hunter College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice ) and working 20 years with NYC Corrections Department (where 90% of inmate population reaches out and become religious ) in addition to watching science and religious history channels oh yes and common sense did the job for me. My god is my conscious, my good heart and my ability to empathize and love with the living while I am still alive and kicking. Long process but I'm content and happy with my self and really don't fear reaching the end of my road.
I left more than the church I gave up all beliefs in all religious doctrines' and tenets and the ludicrous concepts of gods and omnipotent deities. When I say "my god" I refer to myself and my free thinking process and the choices I make in my life. I control only my own actions and take responsibility for those actions. I BELIEVE IN NO GOD OR GODS PERIOD...... just in myself and the choices I make good or bad.
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| 9/22/2013 7:18:16 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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the same goes for theists. there are many wise and intelligent religious people out there.
The great mythology...the one which has been WISEly used to render idiotic those intelligences that never blossomed
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| 9/23/2013 2:55:43 PM |
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azazel4
Morganton, NC
31, joined Mar. 2013
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My thing is why are the wanna be atheist blame everything on Christianity?? There are way more religions out there you know. I've never called myself an atheist, never will. Nothing against the people but it's just not me. Won't ever follow a religion either.
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| 9/23/2013 3:55:45 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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My thing is why are the wanna be atheist blame everything on Christianity?? There are way more religions out there you know. I've never called myself an atheist, never will. Nothing against the people but it's just not me. Won't ever follow a religion either.
Yes, all religions should be put on their places -dumpster-...but i guess people blame Christianity more because this is the one that has made more damage.
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| 9/24/2013 3:35:49 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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yet ironically when an atheist commits a heinous act, its just him being a dink.
Only an idiot could think the a/s....and you know it very well...
BTW, unfortunately there are not as many Atheists as there are Christians...so, dear, regardless of all the crimes you think were committed by Atheists it will take centuries to establish a parallel
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| 9/24/2013 7:13:18 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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only an idiot was claim that if every criminal ever had been an atheist the crimes would not have happened.
that must be an idiot you know...since the a/s is quite idiotic
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| 9/24/2013 10:27:32 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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that the attitude of atheists on here.
if one blames religion for crimes, then one must by logical extension believe in innocence in atheism.
-
boy, stop looking for the cat's fifth leg...there is no such leg.
religion is responsible for centuries of crimes....and no, this doesn't mean all Atheists are lil flowers and all believers are bastards.
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| 9/25/2013 7:11:15 AM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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no you are talking out of a biased ass.
i said it once and ill say it again- religion is an excuse for crime, but with no religion those crimes would have been committed anyway.
REMARKABLE, how atheistic crimes are not blamed on atheism.
pretty dang convenient.
Blaise Pascal
Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions
Steven Weinberg
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.
THE A/S IS A REALITY, DEAR, BORN ON THE FACT RELIGIONS OBLITERATE THE THINKING PROCESS
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| 9/25/2013 9:22:04 AM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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oh! well if someone said it, it must be true!
Sorry, but i dont subscribe to the notion that quotes prove things other than those dead peoples opinions.
i cant help you with this thorn in your paw.
And who needs your help? BTW, I thank you for helping to move the threads in this group. Solon, kid.
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| 9/25/2013 2:16:21 PM |
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azazel4
Morganton, NC
31, joined Mar. 2013
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might as well become a nihilist at least not many people know what it means these days lol.
j/k j/k
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| 9/25/2013 3:11:24 PM |
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1mavrik1
Villard, MN
58, joined Jan. 2012
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Solon, (born c. 630 bc—died c. 560), Athenian statesman, known as one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece. He ended exclusive aristocratic control of the government, substituted a system of control by the wealthy, and introduced a new and more humane law code. He was also a noted poet.
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| 9/27/2013 10:40:46 AM |
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azazel4
Morganton, NC
31, joined Mar. 2013
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Yeah he wasn't really bashing on religion all he said imagine there's no heaven or hell. I did enjoy when he said the Beatles are more popular than Jesus or his other song "God".
"People always got the image I was an anti-Christ or antireligion. I'm not. I'm a most religious fellow. I was brought up a Christian and I only now understand some of the things that Christ was saying in those parables." - John Lennon
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| 9/30/2013 8:57:22 PM |
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i_stan
Byron, GA
68, joined Aug. 2010
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Service in Viet Nam 1969 . . . 
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| 10/29/2013 3:41:40 PM |
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summerraee
Statesville, NC
22, joined Oct. 2013
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Since I was just 11, I've questioned religion. I was Agnostic, I didn't know what to believe in. I wanted to believe there was a higher power, but at the age of 16 I've realized that there just isn't a God. No religion convinced me that there was one. They all were such bullshit.
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| 11/10/2013 6:05:54 PM |
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blkbarbied0ll
Long Island City, NY
39, joined Jul. 2012
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Index of Biblical Contradictions:
1. God is satisfied/unsatisfied with his works
2. God dwells/dwells not in chosen temples
3. God dwells in light/darkness
4. God is seen/unseen and heard/unheard
5. God is tired/never tired and rests/never rests
6. God is/is not omnipresent and omniscent
7. God does/does not know the hearts of men
8. God is/is not all powerful
9. God is changeable/unchangeable
10. God is just/unjust or partial/impartial
11. God is/is not the author of evil
12. God gives freely/witholds his blessings
13. God can/cannot be found by those who seek Him
14. God is warlike/peaceful
15. God is cruel/kind
16. God's anger endures for a long/short time
17. God approves/disapproves of burnt offerings
18. God accepts/forbids human sacrifices
19. God tempts man/doesn't tempt man
20. God send lying spirits/doesn't lie
21. God will/will not destroy man
22. God's attributes are revealed/cannot be discovered
23. God is one/many
24. Robbery commanded/prohibited
25. Lying approved/forbidden
26. Hatred to the Edomite sanctioned/forbidden
27. Killing commanded/forbidden
28. Blood-shedder must/must not die
29. Making of images forbidden/commanded
30. Slavery and oppression forbidden/sanctioned
31. Improvidence enjoyed/condemned
32. Anger approved/disapproved
33. Good works to be seen/not to be seen by men
34. Judging of others forbidden/approved
35. Christ taught non-resistence/taught and practiced physical resistance
36. Christ warned his followers not to fear being killed/Christ avoided Jews for fear of being killed himself
37. Public prayer sanctioned/disapproved
38. Importunity in prayer commended/condemned
39. Wearing of long hair by men sanctioned/condemned
40. Circumcision instituted/condemned
41. Sabbath instituted/repudiated
42. Sabbath instituted because God rested/because God brought Israelites out of Egypt
43. No work to be done on Sabbath/Christ broke this rule
44. Baptism Commanded/not commanded
45. Every animal allowed for food/certain animals prohibited for food
46. Taking of oaths sanctioned/forbidden
47. Marriage approved/disapproved
48. Freedom of divorce permitted/restricted
49. Adultery forbidden/allowed
50. Marriage/cohabitation with sister denounced, but Abraham married his sister and God blessed the marriage
51. A man may/may not marry his brother's widow
52. Hatred to kindred enjoined/condemned
53. Intoxicating beverages recommended/discountenanced
54. Our rulers are God's ministers and should be obeyed/are evil and should be disobeyed
55. Women's rights affirmed/denied
56. Obedience to masters/obedience only to God
57. There is/is not an unpardonable sin
58. Man was created before/after other animals
59. Seed time and harvest never ceased/ceased for seven years
60. God/Pharoah hardened Pharoah's heart
61. All Cattle and horses died/all cattle and horses did not die
62. Moses feared/did not fear Pharoah
63. Plague killed 23000/24000
64. John the Baptist was/was not Elias
65. Father of Mary's husband was Jacob/Heli
66. Father of Salah was Arphaxad/Cainan
67. Thirteen/Fourteen generations from Abraham to David
68. Thirteen/Fourteen generations from Babylonian captivity to Christ
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| 11/10/2013 6:07:15 PM |
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blkbarbied0ll
Long Island City, NY
39, joined Jul. 2012
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Index of Biblical Contradictions:
Cont...
69. Infant Christ was/was not taken to Egypt
70. Christ was/was not tempted in the wilderness
71. Christ preached his first sermon on the mount/on the plain
72. John was/was not in prison when Jesus went to Galilee
73. Christ's disciples were commanded to go forth with a staff and sandles/neither staves nor sandles
74. A woman of Canaan/Greek woman sought Jesus
75. Two/one blind men/man besought Jesus
76. Christ was crucified on the third/sixth hour
77. Two thieves/only one thief railed at Christ
78. Satan entered Judas at the supper/after the supper
79. Judas committed suicide by hanging/died another way
80. Potter's field purchased by Judas/by the Chief Priest
81. Only one woman/two women went to the sepulchre
82. Three women/more than three women went to the sepulchre
83. It was early sunrise/sometime after sunrise when they went to the sepulchre
84. Two angels standing/only one angel sitting seen by women
85. Two angels/one angel seen at the sepulchre
86. Christ was to be three days and three nights in the tomb/only two days and two nights
87. Holy Spirit bestowed at/before Pentecost
88. Disciples commanded immediately after resurrection to go into Galilee/tarry at Jerusalem
89. Jesus first appeared to disciples in a room in Jerusalem/on a mountain in Galilee.
90. Christ ascended from Mount Olive/Bethany
91. Paul's attendants heard/did not hear the miraculous voice
92. Abraham departed to go to Canaan/did not know where he was going
93. Abraham had one/two sons.
94. Keturah was Abraham's wife/concubine
95. Abraham begat a son at the age of 100 years by God's providence/he then had six more sons without God's help
96. Jacob/Abraham brought the sepulchre from Hamor
97. God gave Abraham and his sons the promised land/they never received it
98. Goliath/his brother was slain by Elhanan
99. Ahaziah began his reign in the eleventh/twelfth year of Joram
100. Michal had five children/one child
101. David was tempted by the LORD/by satan to number Israel
102. Number of fighting men in Israel was 800,000/1,100,000, number of fighting men in Judah was 500,000/470,000
103. David sinned in numbering Israel/David never sinned except in the matter of Uriah
104. One of David's penalties for sinning was seven years of famine/there were only three years of famine
105. David took 700/7000 horsemen
106. David bought a threshing floor for 50 sheckles of silver/600 shekles of gold
107. David's throne was to endure forever/David's throne was cast down
108. Christ is equal/is not equal with God
109. Jesus was/was not all-powerful
110. The law was/was not superceded by Christian dispensation
111. Christ's mission was/was not peace
112. Christ did not/did receive testimony from men
113. Christ's witness of himself is true/untrue
114. Christ laid down his life for his friends/enemies
115. It was/was not lawful for the Jews to put Christ to death
116. Children are/are not punished for the sins of their parents
117. Man is/is not justified by faith alone
118. It is impossible/possible to fall from grace
119. No man is without sin/Christians are sinless
120. There will/will not be a resurrection of the dead
121. Reward/punishment bestowed in this/next world
122. Annihilation/endless misery the portion of all mankind
123. Earth is/is never to be destroyed
124. No evil shall/Evil will happen to the Godly
125. Worldly good and prosperity/worldly misery and destitution to be the lot of the godly
126. Worldly prosperity a reward/a curse
127. Christian Yoke is/is not easy
128. Fruit of God's spirit is love and gentleness/vengeance and fury
129. Longevity enjoyed by/denied to wicked
130. Poverty/Riches/Neither a blessing
131. Wisdom a source of enjoyment/vexation, grief, sorrow
132. Good name is a blessing/curse
133. Laughter commended/condemned
134. Rod of correction is cure for foolishness/there is no cure for foolishness
135. Fool should/should not be answered according to his folly
136. Temptation desired/undesired
137. Prophecy is sure/unsure
138. Man's life 120/70 years
139. Fear of man on every beast/fear of man not on the lion
140. Miracles are/are not proof of divine inspiration
141. Moses meek/cruel
142. Elijah ascended to heaven/none but Christ ascended to Heaven
143. All scripture is inspired/Some scripture is not inspired
The End.
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| 11/11/2013 8:57:54 AM |
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lostinthread
Climax, MI
33, joined Aug. 2013
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| 12/11/2013 11:28:04 AM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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tiger021480
North Las Vegas, NV
37, joined Jun. 2012
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Went through catholic education for 8 years and seen the truth of how politics and money is the main manipulation been caused from it over 100's of years... Do your research of history you see how it was manipulated date back 1095 that is a very good example of manipulation that keeps continuing is of how it started with the crusades and the wars which was brought over with crusaders over Jerusalem. Also another example: when Spain invaded Florida they sent missionaries across to use religion influence to get aid by native Indians to fight against the French and British. This is just a few examples the list carries on. Truth is if the romans did not kill jesus and let him live the truth would have been covered. They did exactly what he wanted was death. it's a working method that others have done as well so he lives as a superstar by a Crucifixion. he had 12 people to spread rumors and worked as brothers to manipulate words. why is the bible with heaven and hell so related to Mount Olympus and hell being so related to the underworld of Greek mythology. looks to me someone trying to re write their own story making up a religion. Maybe a hate on the Greek gods so a cult gets formed to re create a new book which should be mythology as well... Now lets go to science and organisms. The world with life is amazing especially when you learn about cells and how things evolved. I'm very excited about mars and the facts we find there. Because we believe once that planet was like this one and very possible cell life can be in the ground. Earth was a carb based planet even when dinosaurs existed but oxygen based cells lived under ground but eventually rose up and created layers in the atmosphere. Now that is why there were so many craters from asteroids because the oxygen was not there to create the layers to burn up anything reaching the ground... So wtf did god do with that when science can keep showing evidence of cell evolution. As far I see it this faith crap is a effen joke and people that believe it are actually ones with issues. When people lose their children these same cults will use it for attention but in a month completely forgot who they were and say it happened for a reason. So god just kills children for a reason I guess. Because not a freaking thing they say makes no damn sense when they put faith and religion in it. Not a fact in history they have proves anything as well as in science... The Vatican is guarded up more than the white house yet hiding true facts of history I'm sure is what got manipulated on that book called the bible... The worse people that judge are the ones that go to church. Every week they confess sins and always seem to repeat yet feel some kinda redemption they are good people but still turn out the worse people. lol... Anyway I'm a atheist because I'm a realist. I had to survive some bad stuff but it was not faith but it was me that saved myself as well I put myself in front to save other lives as well and no faith or god did that. 
[Edited 12/11/2013 11:31:51 AM ]
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| 1/2/2014 3:57:35 AM |
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greekusurper
Phoenix, AZ
30, joined Feb. 2009
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well here it is. If you feel like sharing with the rest of us about how you became an atheist post it here.
I became an atheist from a combination of reading the bible, science, and history. The major reason was the bible though. The more I read it the less and less I believed.
Same here...I was raised christian...My bishop told me if i read the bible and prayed about it I would know the truth. He was right, the answer was just not what he expected.
I read it and realized it was the most morally corrupt book on earth, designed to justify every cruel social action from slavery to sexual discrimination.
And my study of other religions revealed alot of different things..I like buddhist beleifs, and hindu-except for the no meat thing...My study of muslim culture led me to the conclusion that it was created by muhammed as an attempt to unify judaism and christianity...just didnt work.
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| 1/6/2014 2:51:04 AM |
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truthwriter
Thomasville, GA
27, joined Jul. 2013
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It was a combination of an all powerful and all good God not being consistent with the bad things that exist in the world and reading the book The Inhabited Universe which said something to the effect of if you were intent on truth you should seriously consider that God and Jesus didn't exist. Anyway when I seriously considered it I thought it made more sense that God didn't exist. But still for about three months I wasn't sure and prayed for some sign from God if he really existed. Finally deciding he didn't. There are now many reasons why I think the God belief doesn't make any sense. It doesn't really explain anything. No logical method or mechanism is given that would explain how God is able to do anything. Magic is not a logical method. I'm often asked where the universe came from if I tell someone I don't believe in God. So I try to explain that ignorance of how something occurred does not prove it happened by some certain method. Or I mention something about the Big Bang theory and stellar and biological evolution. Anyway I think either it's impossible for complete nothingness to exist or there is something about complete nothingness that causes a Big Bang.
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| 1/21/2014 5:04:14 AM |
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pharoahj91
Victorville, CA
26, joined Sep. 2012
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I came to the realization on my own terms back when I was 18 years old that the religious beliefs that I was raised and pressured to believe in & accept as a child & throughout my teenage years had made no logical sense to me. For me, it was instinctual, but it was a gradual process for me to know for sure how I was feeling was legitimate....especially when I felt like an outsider for holding secular views compared to the majority of my family who are all Christians. Back when I was 6 years of age, I was already in doubt about my religious views...so it was never like I ever strongly believed that some supreme being existed. I can say that I was in denial & lied about believing in some god just so I wouldn't upset or disappoint my family members. Anyways, I decided to do my own private independent research by consistently reading each religious text of the three mainstream religions-(Judaism, Christianity, & Islam) and Mormonism on skepticsannotatedbible.com....recognizing the similarities & differences in interpretation, inconsistencies, logical fallacies, unhealthy philosophies, and immoral barbaric rules the texts encouraged of its followers in the name of their specific supreme being in some verses. I looked into the arguments against the belief of Christianity and other religions watching videos on YouTube from Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Ayn Rand, Bill Maher, George Carlin, Richard Dawkins, Penn Jillette, Greta Christina and others. Watching "The Atheist Experience" show on YouTube made a huge difference when it came down to questioning further against theism. I read up quotes made from atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers of our past centuries which was also helpful. I debated with many Christians, few Muslims, and rarely agnostic theists/atheists who defended religion as not being socially harmful to humanity. We have a big atheist community on Facebook that keeps growing every single year...so it was interesting and a great learning experience for me to read everyone's opinion on the topic. What made a huge difference was studying up scientific explanations about our world-(Biology/Evolution, Geology, Cosmology, etc) and the history behind each religion on where the ideas people held in ancient times originated from. It seemed to me that every religion that people created during that ancient period plagiarized ideas from religions that had preceded it. Many people back then were curious about the world, but were also ignorant about the "Earth's Atmosphere". This reason is beside them wanting power, control, and seeking other ambitions to further their own agendas. It only took one whole year for me to be secure with my own secular views. I became a strong atheist after that & Christianity became a memory of my brief past. I'm technically an atheistic pagan & humanist too. Which is why I identify myself being a Nontheistic Pagan & Humanist. Regardless, I am generally still a gnostic atheist & will forever remain so. Speaking for myself, there is no good reason for me to believe or be open-minded to the idea that there may be a god who controls the world and people's lives. I'm a firm believer that everything has a natural explanation. We may not have every answer to why life exists or how things happened to exist....but there is an answer out there. If we cared to seek our own answers, we would've had possibilities of receiving them. It is important to put an effort on striving to look for answers to your questions. I also feel that it is okay to admit to yourself & others that you "don't know" whenever you don't know an answer to a question. That is a lot better than being dishonest pretending you know all the answers to how things work or how we came to existence. I believe that life has always existed....but life also evolves too. No of us were alive 4.54 billions ago, so how would some human who written a religious text know with certainty how the world came to existence? lol! We have fossils & DNA to find out for ourselves what was here before us. The fact of the matter is that there isn't a shred of evidence of the existence of a supreme being besides religious people in power having a doctrine stating that some supreme being of their own version exist and our purpose in life is to worship him. I'm a realist...so I just accept things the way they are....not try to make up reasons why things happen or why people behave the way they do. My motto: "Don't dwell in the past, focus on the present, and hope for a good future." 
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| 2/2/2014 2:48:25 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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forumfriendly2
Norfolk, VA
41, joined Sep. 2013
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my deep hatred for god,religion and every christian on earth!
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| 2/27/2014 10:48:02 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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my deep hatred for god,religion and every christian on earth!
see, if you hate God it means, for you, it exists....which is the opposite of Atheism.
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| 3/24/2014 7:54:45 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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tonyfur
Seminole, FL
68, joined Apr. 2009
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And don't forget plain logic as a reason to not believe. And the fact that I don't believe in fairy tales.
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| 3/30/2014 6:50:43 AM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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anthony209rida
Morgan Hill, CA
42, joined Oct. 2013
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I was born catholic the lady who ran the Sunday school when I was ten usta keep me after class n would physically beat me bloody n then when I culdnt fight back no more would rape me in the church guess she felt empowered needless to say no amount of prayers worked n I stop believing
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| 5/26/2014 6:18:39 AM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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blakwho
Goshen, IN
45, joined Mar. 2014
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Iy wasn't a choice for me...it's a conviction ...
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| 7/4/2014 8:04:35 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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grblah
Grand Rapids, MI
43, joined Aug. 2013
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I went to a Catholic school for part of my early years. My family was Baptist so the school made us pay more since we didn't belong to their Church. Umm yea ok. I'll assume that's because they figure in what the kids donate at church into the tuition or something.
My dad passed from lung cancer when I was 9. I started my doubt there and by age 14 I was 100% Atheist. I've always told the girls that I've dated over the years what my beliefs were.
On a few occasions I feel the relationship took abuse from my beliefs. I never tried to push them on anyone, nor did I make fun of theirs. On the other hand, their family would ridicule me or ask me how I can be so stupid, in a nutshell. It wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back, but it did add to tension.
Grand Rapids is a highly religious place, IMO. Finding peeps with similar beliefs here has been interesting.
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| 7/6/2014 1:26:02 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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u_sabato
Oslo
Norway
45, joined Jun. 2014
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well here it is. If you feel like sharing with the rest of us about how you became an atheist post it here.
I became an atheist from a combination of reading the bible, science, and history. The major reason was the bible though. The more I read it the less and less I believed.
Pretty much the same for me too. But throw in an uncle who is a catholic priest telling you that your un-baptized baby will live in purgatory for the rest of eternity to help seal the deal.
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| 7/7/2014 1:11:03 AM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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beddy_tear
San Diego, CA
34, joined Apr. 2014
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FACT: We were ALL born atheists. No child comes into this world with beliefs in ANY god. It is not until we undergo religious indoctrination that we are taught religion. So you don't "become an atheist", you just go back to being one. 
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| 8/9/2014 8:08:54 PM |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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FACT: We were ALL born atheists. No child comes into this world with beliefs in ANY god. It is not until we undergo religious indoctrination that we are taught religion. So you don't "become an atheist", you just go back to being one.
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| 8/9/2014 8:12:46 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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Pretty much the same for me too. But throw in an uncle who is a catholic priest telling you that your un-baptized baby will live in purgatory for the rest of eternity to help seal the deal.
You have to give them an A+ for creativity. Yes, to have convinced people the birth of a child is the result of sinning is nothing but pure and unadulterated, creativity.
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| 8/9/2014 8:16:07 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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On the other hand, their family would ridicule me or ask me how I can be so stupid, in a nutshell.
And they said those things to you because there is nothing more arrogant and daring than ignorance.
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| 8/9/2014 8:19:23 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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duchessa
Yonkers, NY
64, joined Aug. 2008
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And don't forget plain logic as a reason to not believe. And the fact that I don't believe in fairy tales.
One of the best posts.
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| 8/14/2014 11:20:26 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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gradallg3wd
Valley View, TX
49, joined Dec. 2013
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I was raised by a pack of hippies and don't know any better
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| 9/1/2014 4:45:55 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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cjma79
Davenport, FL
38, joined Sep. 2011
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I was born in an atheist household, very uncommon for a puertorrican family, they still sent me to a private catholic school where I had bible studies. But they always tell me to use common scene and to question everything. After that went to college and got a BS in biology, after taking many science course there was no need for a god. Everything was pretty much answered, and now even more with Stephen Hawking, my hero.
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| 9/2/2014 12:21:21 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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qudyq
Victoria, BC
63, joined Mar. 2014
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Just had to think about it.From a historical, psychological, sociological, philosophical, natural sciences, and common sense, there is no other conclusion for me.
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| 1/17/2015 7:45:55 AM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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ionist
Denver, CO
54, joined Sep. 2014
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I didn't "become" an atheist. I have never believed.
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| 2/12/2015 7:26:57 PM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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anthonymorta357
Philadelphia, PA
21, joined Jan. 2015
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I'm not aetheist but I'm not religious either I don't know what I am
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| 4/11/2015 8:31:21 AM |
What Made You Become An Atheist? | Page 3 |
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belphegor1943
Austin, TX
34, joined May. 2012
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well here it is. If you feel like sharing with the rest of us about how you became an atheist post it here.
I became an atheist from a combination of reading the bible, science, and history. The major reason was the bible though. The more I read it the less and less I believed.
Education.
I was raised in a religious household. After awhile, I started thinking what was actually being told to me. There was actually a heaven and hell, god and the devil, demons, all kinds of scary spooky stuff; we have been placed here for our faith to be tested; this all knowing, all powerful Lord couldn't figure out which souls were loyal to him.
So it was a lot of little thoughts like the above: "Wait a minute, he's all-knowing, but he had to send us here to earth to test our faith?"
The story is just so full of holes and contradictions it's not even funny. Then when you bring it up to them, they say, "this is why you have to have faith". 
You have to have faith because the story was concocted by an imbecile. Either that, or the person was just plain lazy, because the story is not even good.
[Edited 4/11/2015 8:33:32 AM ]
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