I’m an atheist because, after much effort, I have found that the evidence against the existence of a god is more convincing than the evidence in favor of the existence of a god.
My overall conclusion is that gods and their corresponding religions are products of history, of early mankind’s primitive knowledge level, developed and refined over countless generations as a way to satisfy man’s innate spirituality and to cope with our ultimate and unavoidable mortality.
Gods and religions survive to this day because they effectively satisfy a fundamental human need for answers about life and our place in it. And, as Abraham Maslov suggests, “A satisfied need is not a motivator.” As long as people are satisfied with the answers their religion provides, they’ll stick with it.
Atheists are people who never had a religion, or those who reject their (birth) religion because they are no longer satisfied with it’s answers. I’m the first kind of atheist because, even though I was born and raised in a religious environment, I never accepted it.
As I approached adulthood I began looking for alternatives and ultimately settled on atheism, naturalism, and existentialism as the best explanations for reality.
Interestingly though, my other siblings went on to fully embrace Christianity on a fundamental level equal to my embrace of secular spirituality.
Outside links
Here are some articles explaining how and why others have come to embrace atheism.
- Why I am an atheist: Bhagat Singh’s essay Why I am an Atheist (1930) outlines his philosophical and ideological journey from religious belief to atheism, rooted in reason, critical thinking, and revolutionary ideals.
- Why I Am An Atheist: In “Why I Am An Atheist,” Michael Shermer recounts his journey from a born-again evangelical Christian at Pepperdine University to an atheist, driven by his embrace of science and critical thinking.