Comment by Steph S. on April 4, 2012 at 5:37pm

I would like to learn about this.

Comment by Selina Mannion on May 5, 2012 at 11:25am

do any of you guys have a story on becoming a theist to atheist. I am doing an anthology on stories of people becoming atheists.

Comment by James M. Martin on May 5, 2012 at 3:44pm

Selina, that story is 69 years in the making.  I started out protestant Episcopal, went agnostic, embraced Hinduism, dabbled in paganism and the occult, went Buddhist, then went anti-theist.  To quote the Dead, what a long, strange trip it's been.

Comment by Philip Jackson Armstrong on May 5, 2012 at 6:45pm

Selina I was never really indoctrinated. Around 1961 I was 6 years old. My stepgrand mother suggested that my parents introduce us to religion. Anyway, we went to the sermon and then the children went to Sunday school. I had no idea who jesus was, I had heard about baby jesus.  Anyway to make a long story short, the teenager doing the Sunday school class showed me a picture of a hairy guy in one of my grand mothers dresses and said HE LOVES YOU. I freaked spewed lots of bad words and was kicked out of Sunday school. That was the moment that I new there was something wrong.

Comment by Laars Zwarte on January 5, 2013 at 10:13am

Good day all,

New guy here, I go by Laars.

I am/was a sometime Buddhist - lapsed in the moment, but Atheism has been more on my radar lately. Especially during and after the US election where it was crammed down our throats.

I was not raised with religion, and I "chose" Buddhism...it made the most sense to me as to what I might ascribe to were I to "practice".  However I have had my share of difficulties with it, too. Some judgmental types who would tell me how I should practice.

Anyway, here I am, and I look forwards to some lively discussions. Thanks.

Comment by James M. Martin on January 5, 2013 at 4:30pm

Welcome, Laars.  I think that even though I was not approaching it from an atheist point of view, Buddhism really turned my life around: it helped me to stop drinking.  I did not thank any God for that, I just thanked Buddhism for showing me the way.  The Dhammapada is what did the trick. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 5, 2013 at 4:53pm

I enjoyed Buddhism as a way of seeing the world and creating new frames. I didn't like the mysticism, as I didn't like the mysticism of so many traditions. Atheism has no such barrier for me. If anything, it forces me to look within for decision making. I couldn't find any guru that had instand answers that worked. 
James, I am so glad to learn that Buddhism helped you overcome drinking. I like your statement, "I just thanked Buddhism for showing me the way."

Comment by Philip Jackson Armstrong on January 5, 2013 at 6:24pm

 I find it sad that people can't see the difference between Buddhism and the teaching of Buddha. Buddhism is a cult, team, social group, religion, whatever, it takes more than one person to belong. Not even close to what his message is.The message is not out there. It is inside you. You just have to find it. So sad.

Comment by Laars Zwarte on January 5, 2013 at 6:28pm

Hi everyone,

Just going to dive on in...

Buddhism's truths should be the human tenets, just as Christianity preaches love thy neighbor (conditionally, of course) but practices it far less than Buddhists do. I do not care for the mysticism in any religion, but there are redeeming qualities.

I would like to pick it up again, since meditation is also very useful to rewire and rest our brain.

Atheism is more practical in that it does not require me to find the rationale behind an allegedly all-seeing/all-knowing invisible entity.

Some consider us base or less intelligent because we do not ascribe to their beliefs, however I am inclined to agree we may be more prone to introspection that "tossing it up to g-d's will". Being accountable. That's about it.

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 6, 2013 at 12:12am

Phillip, I understand you feel sad about ... I am not sure. What is it about Buddhism that makes you feel not sad? Am I missing something that I could learn from you?

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