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Q) Who convinced you to become an Atheist?

I originally posted this question in the Atheists who love Science! Forum. The feedback has been great and sometimes a little comical, so I decided to also post it in the Athiest Humor forum to share the fun.

I am writing an opinion piece and would like participation in this informal survey.
Wanted to include most of the reasons people use to pick a religion, or think influence people to pick a religion (since many now claim atheism is just another religion). It does sound silly when they are reversed to be reasons of religion abandonment (for perspective).
I know the question is fundamentally wrong and the answers seem silly, but it is to help keep the selection narrow and to prove/disprove my hypothesis:

How were you convinced to become an Atheist?
(Select the most applicable single answer)
A) A billboard (or sign)
B) A book
C) A miracle
D) I’m not an atheist
E) I don’t know
F) I wasn’t convinced, it was a realization of who I was
G) A specific person (not an authored book)
H) I was mad at my god(s)
I) I have always been an atheist
J) My god is an atheist, therefore I am an atheist
K) By physical or verbal threats
L) I signed a contract and now I’m stuck being an atheist
M) I had to become atheist to marry my spouse
N) Atheists are cool, and I wanted to be like them
O) Other (please explain in one sentence)

2 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Keith A. Szilagyi on January 18, 2011 at 2:41pm

I would reply "G" but I'm afraid that they would kick me off this site.

Permalink Reply by §kürrý on January 18, 2011 at 2:43pm

Permalink Reply by 1311 on January 18, 2011 at 2:48pm

H and C because they go together.

"I was mad at my god(s) because of a book."

Permalink Reply by 1311 on January 19, 2011 at 7:33am

Oops....I meant H and B!

Permalink Reply by Lyra Silvertongue on January 18, 2011 at 2:59pm

This video helped me to let go of "belief in belief", and a lot of stuff I read (mostly online but in books also).

Permalink Reply by Nancy Norton on January 18, 2011 at 2:59pm

I would say partly C (the bible) but mostly F.

Permalink Reply by Marc Draco on January 18, 2011 at 3:09pm

Permalink Reply by Michelle on January 18, 2011 at 3:12pm

O-Other My inability to reconcile religion with scientific fact led me to be an atheist

---and then eventually that led to F :)

Permalink Reply by Patricia on January 18, 2011 at 3:13pm

'F' & probably 'I'. I remember 'trying' to believe when young, but couldn't. All I was noticing as a kid was seeing one thing & hearing another, & both were hypocritical.

Permalink Reply by Paula T. on January 18, 2011 at 3:30pm

G) My sons encouraged discussions about religion and that gave me the information/verification I needed to admit that religion is man-made, although I was skeptical for years. My sons, who are now 21 & 25, attended a roman catholic grade school and a Byzantine Orthodox school for high school........and they both considered themselves atheists before they graduated! :D

Permalink Reply by Ashleigh Carter on April 1, 2011 at 11:38pm

Grats on having awesome kids!

Permalink Reply by Donegal on January 18, 2011 at 3:31pm

(B)

I don't remember what lead me to first question religion and theism, but I know that reading The God Delusion made me more comfortable calling myself atheist rather than trying to fence-sit with the label agnostic (which I now know was an inappropriate use of the term anyway).