(no subject)
for someone who doesn't believe, I've realized that I spend a lot of time thinking about the idea of God. and when I say I don't believe, I don't want anyone getting confused. I believe in a number of things. I believe in family and love and respect. I believe that there are great and inspiring people in the world who I would love to someday meet. I believe I am a good person and that no one can tell me otherwise.
I just don't believe in God.
it's a touchy subject. a terrifying one, really. I don't enjoy having the 'religion conversation' with people. It's difficult for everyone involved, not to mention that I've yet to come up with a good answer for the string of questions I will inevitably get.
"But why?"
"What happened?"
"Did something bad happen to you to make you stop believing?"
"How can you not believe in God?"
"What DO you believe in?"
"Do you believe in ANYTHING?"
these are all perfectly reasonable questions, in the context they are asked- by a person with an unshakable conviction that God exists and God is a powerful force in their lives. they're entirely unreasonable to me, which is why I've yet to come up with a perfect answer. I'll likely never find it. I don't care to. I offer people only the best answer I can.
I just don't. There's no defining moment that I can identify as the moment I became an atheist. I used to attend church regularly, and I enjoyed my time there. I loved learning Bible stories and memorizing verses. I happily prayed every night. Nothing bad happened. I can't give anyone a definitive answer as to when things changed. How do you believe in God? Okay, turn that around and go the opposite way. That's how I don't. I believe in so many things that it would be fruitless to attempt to list them all. Being without religious faith does not rob me of any opportunity for morality or ethics.
I have convictions, very strong ones in fact. Constant education is one of the most important values I hold. Everyone should be constantly learning, continuously taking in from the world around them. I value honesty and intelligence. I'm very strongly convicted in the belief that there are and always will be ways in which you can better yourself.
My strongest conviction is that there is no God. and as I've gotten older, I've seen how this conviction can negatively affect me. There is a wide range of reactions to the news that I don't believe in God. Confusion, disbelief, anger, disgust. I walk on eggshells much of the time. I'm careful not to say or do anything that might offend those who do believe, even if it's simply my opposing beliefs.
The very idea of what I am and what my convictions are seems to offend people.
I just don't believe in God.
it's a touchy subject. a terrifying one, really. I don't enjoy having the 'religion conversation' with people. It's difficult for everyone involved, not to mention that I've yet to come up with a good answer for the string of questions I will inevitably get.
"But why?"
"What happened?"
"Did something bad happen to you to make you stop believing?"
"How can you not believe in God?"
"What DO you believe in?"
"Do you believe in ANYTHING?"
these are all perfectly reasonable questions, in the context they are asked- by a person with an unshakable conviction that God exists and God is a powerful force in their lives. they're entirely unreasonable to me, which is why I've yet to come up with a perfect answer. I'll likely never find it. I don't care to. I offer people only the best answer I can.
I just don't. There's no defining moment that I can identify as the moment I became an atheist. I used to attend church regularly, and I enjoyed my time there. I loved learning Bible stories and memorizing verses. I happily prayed every night. Nothing bad happened. I can't give anyone a definitive answer as to when things changed. How do you believe in God? Okay, turn that around and go the opposite way. That's how I don't. I believe in so many things that it would be fruitless to attempt to list them all. Being without religious faith does not rob me of any opportunity for morality or ethics.
I have convictions, very strong ones in fact. Constant education is one of the most important values I hold. Everyone should be constantly learning, continuously taking in from the world around them. I value honesty and intelligence. I'm very strongly convicted in the belief that there are and always will be ways in which you can better yourself.
My strongest conviction is that there is no God. and as I've gotten older, I've seen how this conviction can negatively affect me. There is a wide range of reactions to the news that I don't believe in God. Confusion, disbelief, anger, disgust. I walk on eggshells much of the time. I'm careful not to say or do anything that might offend those who do believe, even if it's simply my opposing beliefs.
The very idea of what I am and what my convictions are seems to offend people.