From Belief to Atheism: My Journey

I never did. I have always been an atheist. My mother rebelled against religion and became an agnostic, but every agnostic I know who used to be religious points to the fault of religion in pushing them away. When you are already an agnostic, either apathy or reason takes the next step to atheism.

Childhood Experiences and the Beginning of Skepticism

My father was raised Catholic. With 14 family members, the church often visited to collect their share of produce during the Great Depression, which made my parents skeptical of the church's focus. Their grandmother was denied the use of the church after passing away because they hadn't contributed enough to it. From that point on, my parents never stepped foot in a church except for weddings.

Religious Exposure and Dwindling Belief

Despite my non-religious upbringing, my mother was supportive of religious activities, and she even subscribed me to a Picture Bible, a comic-book version of the Bible. I was a bright and inquisitive child, and the Picture Bible sparked my curiosity and skepticism. After reading it, I questioned the miraculous and pagan elements, such as the absurdly long lifespans, the flood of ridiculous proportions, and the bloodthirsty nature of the God depicted.

Exploration of Different Religions

As a teenager, I was baptized in an evangelical church hoping to find the right path. However, the strict expectation of conformity and literal interpretations of the Bible were too much for me. In my twenties, I dabbled with Mormonism, then Buddhism, and even identified as a pantheist for a time. But none of these faiths fully satisfied my curiosity and skepticism.

Athiest Identity and Acceptance

I didn’t rebel; I simply stopped believing. I was baptized as an Episcopalian and had a fairly religious family on my mother's side. Although I enjoyed comic books and were thrilled by the Marvel Universe, my skepticism grew stronger as I delved deeper into religious texts. The inconsistencies and cruel actions attributed to the divine left me questioning the validity of these beliefs.

Conclusion

I didn’t rebel. I tried really hard to believe, from calling out to Jesus to exploring various religious teachings. But I couldn’t make myself believe in the end. The Christian God is just one of many warlike sky gods, and there is no evidence for his supernatural nature. So, I shifted from skepticism to atheism and found comfort in the simpler, more logical perspective that is atheism.

My comics were better. The Picture Bible may have been a good idea, but it marked the beginning of the end for my belief in nonsense. Good riddance, I say, to the constant questioning and the persistent doubt that came with it. Atheism offers a clearer, more rational perspective on life and the universe.

Note: My comic book collection is a reminder of how much more I valued those fictional worlds than any religious text.