vorjack
Moderator
Via Dan Fincke over at Camels with Hammers, a link to a really neat chart at the NYTimes: How Different Groups Spend Their Day.
It makes me wonder how much of my day I spend being an atheist: reading atheist blogs, thinking about apologetics and counter apologetics, rolling my eyes at church signs, etc. I'm trying to decide whether or not I spend more time thinking about religion now than I did when I was a Christian.
phrankygee
Member
" I'm trying to decide whether or not I spend more time thinking about religion now than I did when I was a Christian."
I spent a lot of time DOING Christian stuff, and talking to Christian people, but very little time actually THINKING about religion, when I was (nominally) a Christian.
When I started *thinking* about it, I was on my way out. I think a lot more nowadays. About religion, and everything else.
i don't spend any time being an atheist. i spend all my time being a human that makes silly jokes.
Kodie
Member
I've spent most of my life thinking of it not much at all. I've spent the last few months in sort of an evaluation and learning period. I learn great stuff here, and I guess for the last 15 or so years haven't really "taken stock" of my atheism, so to speak. I wanted to make sure I still was one by testing things I think with others on the internet instead of by myself. I don't really take it lightly not to believe in god, but I didn't really start with any religion to begin with, so I didn't have a period of searching and finding it for myself, so I guess like anything, I think someone ought to be sure instead of following along like a sheep. I'm not very scientific-minded so I wanted to pay attention to good reasons brought up by other smart people instead of being an atheist because I always was one. I've had a few dramatic (you might call them) periods of intense thought on the subject but nothing like bringing it out into the open. My family doesn't talk about it at all since my grandfather died, and he was really the only one who expressed himself as an atheist and the things he read or thought any time he pleased, and then it really wasn't open for discussion, as I learned when I got into an argument with him in my teens.
I might add, I spend this time for myself as a learning and growing experience, not to tell anyone else to be an atheist except maybe incidentally as the topic arises. In my offline life, and other irrelevant forums, I don't bring it up except if asked.
green411
Member
I always felt that "being an christian" was kind of a stupid thing. The idea of it I mean. One of the reasons why I left christianity is that "christian" actions were no different than just "good" actions in general, and plenty of other beliefs have good moral standards. If I took a vow of silence, or if I was mute, No one would know what specific religion I stand for, they would just see me as a good human being. So I think that "being an Atheist" is no better than "being a christian" unless you are talking about shoving your ideas down other people's throat, which both sides can be guilty of.
DDM
Member
When I was a believer, it wasn't very strong faith. I spend a hell of a lot more time as an atheist than I ever did thinking God existed. I've often wondered why this is, but I think I have a good explanation, at least for myself. To me, it's so obvious that God is made up and the stories of the bible are manipulative and exist to have people act a certain way. I don't know the purpose of the bible being manipulative, but I'm always amazed at how people buy into it. Teaching people to hate others for no readily good reason except for "because God says so" is destructive to society as a whole.
Perhaps the most glaring flaw I see in religion is that the universe is far, far bigger than most people give it credit for. The school of thought that everything was created with humans in mind, which is at the center of almost every religion, is obviously wrong when I look out on a starry night. By having religion put humans at the center of everything it automatically elevates them to being more important than they really are in the universe. Maybe it's just a result of people trying to find their place in the universe, but I'd rather face the cold hard truth than live in some "happy" fantasyland.
Those are the main reason I'm so interested in religion now that I'm an atheist: I don't understand how people can buy into it when it's so obviously not true.
rodneyAnonymous
Member
I'm trying to decide whether or not I spend more time thinking about religion now than I did when I was a Christian.
Ouch, good point. I think I might spend more time thinking about religion now.
In my defense, my deconversion was relatively recent, especially compared to the amount of time I was religious, so total time spent is a different story.
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