Why My Religion or Nonreligion?

[JoeyKnothead]

Why did you choose or accept your religious position over others?

[JoeyKnothead]

I chose, or more properly am compelled to, atheism due to the unprovable nature, and contradictory claims regarding the gods I'm aware of. I also base my atheism on my understanding of how religious belief can come about.

[McCulloch]

As a Christian, there were always some things which I felt uncomfortable about, questions with answers that did not easily fit. As I examined them further and deeper, the difficulties became more not less abundant. One drop here, another drop there, ultimately it was a flood. Eventually, I had to admit to myself that I just did not believe anymore.

I had thought that I might have lost the sense of fellowship and purpose that the church represented. But I have found that I have found more sense of purpose and meaning in the disabled community than I ever found in the church. Others have found the same in environmental, social or even political associations. It is life-affirming to be able to appreciate and participate in whatever good various people may be involved with. I can recognize the goodness of what some Christians do, what some Muslims, what some Jews do as well as what the non-religious do. As a Christian, I never felt free to do that. To recognize the good nature and deeds that each one is capable of somehow always seemed to be rooting for the other side, or was always spoiled by the belief that the good works of other may ultimately be a bad thing, leading people away from Christ.

[cnorman18]

Why did you choose or accept your religious position over others?

I discovered, rather late in life, that there was a religion that shared my values, my priorities, and my attitudes - and did NOT insult my intelligence, demand unquestioning belief in anything, or waste a lot of ink and air making pronouncements about things no one can know, like what happens after you die and what God is and thinks. Judaism, for me, is remarkably self-consistent, deeply insightful about the human mind and heart, deeply humanistic and deeply ethical, and inclined to reject supernaturalism as anything but superstition and myth.

I could say more, and have; but that will do for the moment.

[Jrosemary]

Like CNorman, I'm a Jew-by-Choice. Except that I don't feel as if I had any real choice about it--I fell in love with Judaism, and that was that.

Part of it was the lack of a creed, leaving me free to be a monist, theist, agnostic or even an observant atheist. Part of it was the tradition of arguing with God. (Ok, that was an enormous part!) Part of it was the lively Torah study at my shul and all the debates and discussions it encourages.

And part of my love for Judaism came from lighting Shabbat candles, enjoying Shabbat dinners with family and friends . . . and all the things we do in Judaism to sanctify the home.

There are some things about Judaism that I could live without, and some things that drive me crazy--and I know that it doesn't appeal to everyone, which is fine. But I can't imagine myself anywhere else.

[T-mash]

Why did you choose or accept your religious position over others?

Education teaches you "critical thinking". Critical thinking and religion do not mix.

[FinalEnigma]

Why did you choose or accept your religious position over others?

Education teaches you "critical thinking". Critical thinking and religion do not mix.

Critical thinking and the majority of religion do not mix.

[T-mash]

Critical thinking and the majority of religion do not mix.

All the other religions are stupid, except for mine?
It doesn't matter what your religion is. There is >zero< evidence for any of them, they are all equally against any form of critical thinking. Critical thinking is objectively looking at reality and seeing what is observed and what can be explained/proven. No religion has thus-far been able to proof their view. In fact, no religion has even been able to show that there is ANY reason at all to even start assuming it COULD be true, and it is very likely that all of them are wrong. Period.

If you pick a religion and a faith, you pick something that goes against "critical thinking". You choose to believe something that has no merit and is nothing more than the thousands of other man-made myths. Even if a god exists, it's still illogical to believe in one - looking at religions current track record of never putting forward any evidence and constantly being debunked.... and humanities track record of making up nonsense.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Why did you choose or accept your religious position over others?

Education teaches you "critical thinking". Critical thinking and religion do not mix.

You confuse critical thinking with adolescent ridicule.

[T-mash]

You confuse critical thinking with adolescent ridicule.

Thank you for your tremendous contribution to this thread. I always appreciate people trying to put words in my mouth

Corrected it: "Education teaches you adolescent ridicule. Adolescent ridicule and religion do not mix."