I just became an atheist

KieranKennedy

I ask that you just take one moment to read this please, I feel as if I need to thank you, I mean you specifically as you sit here, and that is because I believe that the straight forward, intellectually rigorous and caring message which I have seen here, and in the other I atheists I have subsequently met as a result, played a huge part in helping me make the final leap.

Perhaps it is strange to use the word epiphany, but that is exactly how it happened. I was sitting in my sitting at the desk in my bedroom, looking out the window at the street below, listing to the music playing on my laptop. One line from a song called how it ends hit me, “You already know how this will end”. It was as if somebody switched a light on. In an instant I knew. I do already know how this will end. There is nothing more after death. No afterlife, no god, nothing. I already know how this will end. The people downstairs, my family, the four people I love more than anything in the world, I now know that at some point in the future we will all be together, and it will be the last time that ever happens. I know that some day when I feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin, it will be the last time I ever experience that. I know there will be no more life after I die, so I have to make the absolute best I can out of every moment I live. I have to breathe life in like a scarce perfume and not let go of anything, because I already know how this will end.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for your help.

son.of.jimi

Well now that you've made the jump... Don't forget your membership card! We meet on tuesdays!

But seriously... Fair play...

Zombrex

Good for you ... now get over to the Christian forum and start antagonising them!


(JOKING )

sink

Good for you. It can be quiet a shock for those who held strong religious beliefs, some may find it very difficult, but there is a great enlightenment when you start looking at the world through the prism of rationalism. If you need any help or have any questions feel free to ask.

eoin5

KieranKennedy wrote: »

I ask that you just take one moment to read this please, I feel as if I need to thank you, I mean you specifically as you sit here, and that is because I believe that the straight forward, intellectually rigorous and caring message which I have seen here, and in the other I atheists I have subsequently met as a result, played a huge part in helping me make the final leap.

Perhaps it is strange to use the word epiphany, but that is exactly how it happened. I was sitting in my sitting at the desk in my bedroom, looking out the window at the street below, listing to the music playing on my laptop. One line from a song called how it ends hit me, “You already know how this will end”. It was as if somebody switched a light on. In an instant I knew. I do already know how this will end. There is nothing more after death. No afterlife, no god, nothing. I already know how this will end. The people downstairs, my family, the four people I love more than anything in the world, I now know that at some point in the future we will all be together, and it will be the last time that ever happens. I know that some day when I feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin, it will be the last time I ever experience that. I know there will be no more life after I die, so I have to make the absolute best I can out of every moment I live. I have to breathe life in like a scarce perfume and not let go of anything, because I already know how this will end.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for your help.

Its a good way to live man, go easy on that perfume now .

Mickeroo

Good on you, it's a nice feeling to appreciate the true beauty of it all eh? I'm guessing you were listening to Devotchka?

Mena

Now go take a walk outside, and marvel in the undesigned beauty that is our natural world, it's all so much cooler now don't ya think? :cool:

philologos

OP, I'm sorry you have made this decision, but I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that you may consider the message of Jesus Christ in the future.

Piriz

hi there chap,
im really delighted for you, i feel atheists have a valuable perspective on life and am proud to be an atheist from such a young age...think i had it all figured out by about 13...
i'd like to mention that their is a way how people can live on after their death: you live on in the thoughts of those who know you and the achievments / contribution to the world you might be lucky enough to leave behind! make a difference if you can and you will live on after your death!

Good for you. I could see it coming with the threads you were posting. Hope it all goes well, and, as has already been said, if you've any questions feel free to come here and ask.

limerick_woody

welcome - I think you will find a rational view of the world liberating - be prepared to spend a lot more of your time irritated - though perhaps that is just me...

Húrin

Funny how there are so many atheists in Ireland these days. You would almost think it was geographically determined.

Húrin

Húrin wrote: »

Funny how there are so many atheists in Ireland these days. You would almost think it was geographically determined.

Oh I see what you did there Húrin, I see what you did!

Fanny Cradock

This doesn't come as a huge surprise given the evolution of your faith over 4 posts in the A&A and Christianity fora. From an apparent strong faith, which had moved to doubt by the 3rd and then to atheism by the 4th. Obviously you have been thinking these matter over for some time before posting otherwise it must have been one heck of a quick ride! Anyway, while personally disappointed that you have arrived at this decision, I wish you all the best in the post-Christian life you now construct for yourself.

Who knows maybe you'll have another epiphany down the road! :pac:

Húrin

-JammyDodger- wrote: »

Oh I see what you did there Húrin, I see what you did!

old thread reference! *hi-five*

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

This doesn't come as a huge surprise given the evolution of your faith over 4 posts in the A&A and Christianity fora. From an apparent strong faith, which had moved to doubt by the 3rd and then to atheism by the 4th. Obviously you have been thinking these matter over for some time before posting otherwise it must have been one heck of a quick ride! Anyway, while personally disappointed that you have arrived at this decision, I wish you all the best in the post-Christian life you now construct for yourself.

In fairness, life and thought does exist that is not documented on boards.ie!

kiffer

Someone has changed sides!
Truly it is the end of times...

Time for a role reversal thread...
All the theists argue as atheists
All the atheists argue as theists
Agnostics... um. flip a coin?

Fanny Cradock

Húrin wrote: »

In fairness, life and thought does exist that is not documented on boards.ie!

I don't believe it!

Valmont

OP I'll take your membership fee. Direct debit is probably the most convenient but we take all major credit cards too. For and extra 29.95 you can have the 'God isn't real' coffee mug and pen set.

Galvasean

Well, I dont believe OP. I think he's a religios mole sent to spy on our meetings.
Dont tell him about the agenda until he passes teh initiation tests.

Galvasean

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

I don't believe it!

5uspect

Galvasean wrote: »

Well, I dont believe OP. I think he's a religios mole sent to spy on our meetings.
Dont tell him about the agenda until he passes teh initiation tests.

yes, teh tests!
I still have to collect my robe from the dry cleaners.
I got funny looks the last time... after all those stains...

That's a rather remarkable change in perspective OP. Looking forward to hearing more about it.

Dave!

Send an email to membership@atheist.ie and they'll send you out your free atheist pack complete with Origin of Species and the God Delusion! And an atheist button for you to clip onto your bag/clothes!

Dades

Heathens 1 - 0 Christians !!

Galvasean

Dades wrote: »

Heathens 1 - 0 Christians !!

The battle for human souls has begun!

fitz0

Well done OP! I found it really helped to finalise the whole thing to actually tell someone. Then I had my first gathering of like minded individuals, which has to be one of the strangest meetings Ive ever attended. BTW have you discussed this with your family? And out of curiosity are you still at an age where they would expect you to follow their line of thought if they are Catholics/protestants/jews/whatever?

sukikettle

Trust the same few to crowd in and pat his back.

Well man when that liberated sensation wears off and something devastating hits your life...although I hope it doesn't...you will look to a higher power for help. It's a very instinctive reaction because of who made you

and just in case you're taking comfort in a big bang theory...zero plus zero equals zero. Your existence was ignited by an uncreated being who lives outside of time. He set His standard in a book called the bible and those who die rejecting God are in serious trouble. Just because you don't believe you still have no control over what happens when you die. You and all the others in here including me don't honestly know what begins at the moment of death. Eternity is a long time to sacrifice for a short godless existence here

mickeydevine

sukikettle wrote: »

Trust the same few to crowd in and pat his back.

Well man when that liberated sensation wears off and something devastating hits your life...although I hope it doesn't...you will look to a higher power for help. It's a very instinctive reaction because of who made you

and just in case you're taking comfort in a big bang theory...zero plus zero equals zero. Your existence was ignited by an uncreated being who lives outside of time. He set His standard in a book called the bible and those who die rejecting God are in serious trouble. Just because you don't believe you still have no control over what happens when you die. You and all the others in here including me don't honestly know what begins at the moment of death. Eternity is a long time to sacrifice for a short godless existence here

Does the bible not tell ye? Is it real faith you have suki or are you just hedgin your bets.?

CerebralCortex

sukikettle wrote: »

Trust the same few to crowd in and pat his back.

Well man when that liberated sensation wears off and something devastating hits your life...although I hope it doesn't...you will look to a higher power for help. It's a very instinctive reaction because of who made you

and just in case you're taking comfort in a big bang theory...zero plus zero equals zero. Your existence was ignited by an uncreated being who lives outside of time. He set His standard in a book called the bible and those who die rejecting God are in serious trouble. Just because you don't believe you still have no control over what happens when you die. You and all the others in here including me don't honestly know what begins at the moment of death. Eternity is a long time to sacrifice for a short godless existence here

Wow who is afraid of the big bad God?

CerebralCortex

Galvasean wrote: »

The battle for human souls has begun!

Hey whats is the story behind the pic it looks awesome.

kiffer

CerebralCortex wrote: »

Hey whats is the story behind the pic it looks awesome.

On the left is Horus...
On the gound with the wings, is Sanguinius, Primarch of the Blood Angels...
and the man on the left is the Emperor of Mankind.

Edit: that's a bit short...

Horus was formerly the favoured son of the Emperor of Mankind, but was corrupted by the Chaos Gods, and rebelled... leading a massive heretical war against the Emperor, culminating with a final assault on Earth...
In the picture Horus has just defeated Sanguinius in single combat and now must face the Emperor.
It's from the Warhammer 40,000 back story

Second Edit:

or if you prefer ... on the left is Lucifer, on the right is God, on the ground is Archangel Michael, defeated rather than triumphant in this story... all set in space.

jill_valentine

Warhammer 40k.

Dude on the left is Horus, who's busy betraying the God Emperor dude on the right.

Welcome aboard the bus, OP. It's awesome. Going to hell, but still, awesome.

sink

sukikettle wrote: »

Trust the same few to crowd in and pat his back.

Well man when that liberated sensation wears off and something devastating hits your life...although I hope it doesn't...you will look to a higher power for help. It's a very instinctive reaction because of who made you

and just in case you're taking comfort in a big bang theory...zero plus zero equals zero. Your existence was ignited by an uncreated being who lives outside of time. He set His standard in a book called the bible and those who die rejecting God are in serious trouble. Just because you don't believe you still have no control over what happens when you die. You and all the others in here including me don't honestly know what begins at the moment of death. Eternity is a long time to sacrifice for a short godless existence here

So a being who wrote the laws that govern our universe from general relativity to quantum mechanics approx 13,400,000,000 years ago revealed himself just 2,000 years ago on this tiny insignificant rock in a very inconspicuous corner of the universe so he could play mind games with us, demanding we believe in him but maliciously hiding all the evidence for his existence excepting for a book written by primitives who didn't even know the basic natural laws that govern their own lives. Right, got ya, you've won me over. :rolleyes:

Galvasean

Warhammer... I feel 12 again.

CerebralCortex

kiffer wrote: »

On the left is Horus...
On the gound with the wings, is Sanguinius, Primarch of the Blood Angels...
and the man on the left is the Emperor of Mankind.

Edit: that's a bit short...

Horus was formerly the favoured son of the Emperor of Mankind, but was corrupted by the Chaos Gods, and rebelled... leading a massive heretical war against the Emperor, culminating with a final assault on Earth...
In the picture Horus has just defeated Sanguinius in single combat and now must face the Emperor.
It's from the Warhammer 40,000 back story

Second Edit:

or if you prefer ... on the left is Lucifer, on the right is God, on the ground is Archangel Michael, defeated rather than triumphant in this story... all set in space.

Sweet!

Overblood

Well done keiran.

I think It's time to reinforce your newfound beliefs with some science! Find out how everything really works! I'd recommend "The Blind Watchmaker" by Richard Dawkins to get the ball rolling.

10000maniacs

sukikettle wrote: »

Well man when that liberated sensation wears off and something devastating hits your life...although I hope it doesn't...you will look to a higher power for help. It's a very instinctive reaction because of who made you and just in case you're taking comfort in a big bang theory...zero plus zero equals zero. Your existence was ignited by an uncreated being who lives outside of time. He set His standard in a book called the bible and those who die rejecting God are in serious trouble. Just because you don't believe you still have no control over what happens when you die. You and all the others in here including me don't honestly know what begins at the moment of death. Eternity is a long time to sacrifice for a short godless existence here

The argument that Earth is just a quality control factory for testing whether a particular humans brain software can float around in another dimension (Heaven) is just ludicrous. I personally would need to view heaven before buying into the concept.
Heres a couple of questions for all you bible beaters.
If god is omniscient, why does any Human being need to be tested on Earth anyway?
If god is omniscient, why does he/she allow innocent people to be murdered, or babies to die at childbirth? What is he testing? He knows the result anyway.
This god character sounds like a vindictive little b0ll0x the more I think of it. Or maybe he just didn't exist in the first place.
Also, eternal life sounds very boring. After the first 10 years there, I would want to kill myself. Oh no I can't, its heaven. I'd kill a couple of angels to get sent to hell. A change is as good as a rest.:)
Raise the churches I tell ye.:p

Borneo Fnctn

sukikettle wrote: »

Your existence was ignited by an uncreated being who lives outside of time.

In a gingerbread house?

Goduznt Xzst

KieranKennedy wrote: »

Perhaps it is strange to use the word epiphany, but that is exactly how it happened.

happened pretty much the same way for me also mate. I was sitting down for breakfast, about to bow my head and give thanks when I suddenly seen myself in the third person, the way I'd viewed Jews at the Wailing Wall or Muslims bowing towards Mecca and how I'd viewed them as so misguided and wrong. I could go into more detail about it, but it was basically just an overwhelming acceptance that my God did not exist, and that nobody was listening.

It literally was an epiphany and an understanding of when people talk of "a moment of clarity". The most simplistic way I could describe it is to imagine one of those child's toys where they have to put circles and squares through holes of the same shape, my whole life it had felt like I'd been trying to push the square block through the circle shaped hole, the moment where I suddenly stopped believing felt like suddenly making the square block go through the square hole. All of the scraps of knowledge I'd learned about the world, history, society and the Universe suddenly made sense when you removed God from the equation.

Húrin wrote: »

Funny how there are so many atheists in Ireland these days. You would almost think it was geographically determined.

Seriously Húrin, how long are you going to drag out this tired line of argument. You might as well just put "Atheism is the same as Theism" in your signature as that is pretty much all the majority of your posts amount to. If someone says something positive about Atheism, you'll be in like a light to say "isn't the same true of Theism though?" or if someone says something negative about Theism you'll be in to say "But isn't the same true of Atheism?"

We get it... alright... you can stop now... or keep dragging it out, whatever. :rolleyes:

sukikettle wrote: »

Well man when that liberated sensation wears off and something devastating hits your life...although I hope it doesn't...you will look to a higher power for help. It's a very instinctive reaction because of who made you
and just in case you're taking comfort in a big bang theory...zero plus zero equals zero. Your existence was ignited by an uncreated being who lives outside of time. He set His standard in a book called the bible and those who die rejecting God are in serious trouble. Just because you don't believe you still have no control over what happens when you die. You and all the others in here including me don't honestly know what begins at the moment of death. Eternity is a long time to sacrifice for a short godless existence here

Congratulations Suki, this post will single-handedly embolden the atheism of the OP better than any of us could. What a great example of the nonsense he's leaving behind

sukikettle

Look lads argue all you want...God exists and you'll find out soon enough. For such a random world it certainly heavily resembles a bible written quite a long time ago. Funny how we are enacting word for word its prophecies and our ultimate fate. And don't ask where ... read it yourself. I don't have enough faith to be an athiest and yes without God you should be afraid Mickey D because if He doesn't have ya the devil does

Borneo Fnctn

Look Suki, just give up. Kieran is our friend now.:P:P:P

jill_valentine

sukikettle wrote: »

Look lads argue all you want...God exists.

Whoa.

Well, since you put it that way...

:rolleyes:

sukikettle

Lads I'm not here to convert...that would take a miracle...when I say I don't truly know what happens at death I mean at what point the great and terrible day of Judgement happens. Of Heaven I am assured as a child of God. Those who die in unbelief can't get into Heaven. It's as stupid as turning up at the white house and expecting Obama to have a place for you at the dinner table.. And let's face it lads you have more of a chance in your present state of that happening then getting into Heaven
By the way...the other difference between a believer and an unbeliever. You couldn't pay us enough money to give up what we have whereas you guys if the nightsky turned red and an earthquake erupted you can bet your bottom dollar more than half of you will be found on your knees begging God to help you and that's a cert...

sink

sukikettle wrote: »

Lads I'm not here to convert...that would take a miracle...when I say I don't truly know what happens at death I mean at what point the great and terrible day of Judgement happens. Of Heaven I am assured as a child of God. Those who die in unbelief can't get into Heaven. It's as stupid as turning up at the white house and expecting Obama to have a place for you at the dinner table.. And let's face it lads you have more of a chance in your present state of that happening then getting into Heaven
By the way...the other difference between a believer and an unbeliever. You couldn't pay us enough money to give up what we have whereas you guys if the nightsky turned red and an earthquake erupted you can bet your bottom dollar more than half of you will be found on your knees begging God to help you and that's a cert...

sukikettle - doing more for atheism than Dawkins, Dennet, Harris and Hitchens combined.

Goduznt Xzst

sukikettle wrote: »

Look lads argue all you want...God exists and you'll find out soon enough.

Maybe you'll find out that the Muslims where right all along and you'll be sent to Islamic Hell with the rest of us. Think about how angry the God of Islam is getting everytime you pray to the false Christian God :rolleyes:

sukikettle

sink I'm not falling for your crap because I prickle that conscience of yours sweetie...God is who He is...take it or leave it. He will never bribe you or cajole you...that is what free will is and I know you've heard of that. Most unbelievers are hurt and/or lonely people. I feel you brother (or sister)...something made you angry to turn away. But ya know what He loves you and He'll be there...God bless

sukikettle

ummm goduznt... The muslim God and Christian one are the same...our difference is Jesus and Mohammed...who they were. The Christian God is the God of Isaac and Ishmael who went on to create the Jewish and muslim faiths and out of the Jewish line we were given Christ....so don't go blowing off ignorant detail

SAVE_ME.222

KieranKennedy wrote: »

I ask that you just take one moment to read this please, I feel as if I need to thank you, I mean you specifically as you sit here, and that is because I believe that the straight forward, intellectually rigorous and caring message which I have seen here, and in the other I atheists I have subsequently met as a result, played a huge part in helping me make the final leap.

Perhaps it is strange to use the word epiphany, but that is exactly how it happened. I was sitting in my sitting at the desk in my bedroom, looking out the window at the street below, listing to the music playing on my laptop. One line from a song called how it ends hit me, “You already know how this will end”. It was as if somebody switched a light on. In an instant I knew. I do already know how this will end. There is nothing more after death. No afterlife, no god, nothing. I already know how this will end. The people downstairs, my family, the four people I love more than anything in the world, I now know that at some point in the future we will all be together, and it will be the last time that ever happens. I know that some day when I feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin, it will be the last time I ever experience that. I know there will be no more life after I die, so I have to make the absolute best I can out of every moment I live. I have to breathe life in like a scarce perfume and not let go of anything, because I already know how this will end.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for your help.

Hello, firstly - no problem it was an interesting read.

Secondly - this is my first post on this forum, I would be "agnostic" as the definition goes in the sense that I highly doubt a christian god exists, I can't be 100% sure though.

I am also agnostic in the sense that I believe a higher power may or may not exist (be it aliens, or undiscovered-dimensional beings, or whatever).

ANYWAY on to the question - when you say 'there is no god', are you referring to the christian god in the bible, or just any generic superpower?

There is nothing more after death. No afterlife, no god, nothing. I already know how this will end.

How do you know for certain? Or are you just saying it's unlikely.

Thanks

sukikettle

Like I said before...angry young men most of you under 21 no doubt...up late in your bedrooms hating Christians, the world and resenting your parents. The bible has a lot to say about rebelliousness which all of this smacks of.

sink

sukikettle wrote: »

sink I'm not falling for your crap because I prickle that conscience of yours sweetie...God is who He is...take it or leave it. He will never bribe you or cajole you...that is what free will is and I know you've heard of that. Most unbelievers are hurt and/or lonely people. I feel you brother (or sister)...something made you angry to turn away. But ya know what He loves you and He'll be there...God bless

I'm an atheist so I must be psychologically distressed. Of course if your reasoning is true this also means that your God send sad lonely people to hell.

Borneo Fnctn

sukikettle wrote: »

Most unbelievers are hurt and/or lonely people.

Yeah well you're the one with an imaginary friend honey.

jill_valentine

sukikettle wrote: »

The bible has a lot to say about rebelliousness which all of this smacks of.

You're supposed to stone us, as I recall.

You've been letting it slide lately though, the Big Fella won't be pleased...