Atheist

[Tweefo]

Like most atheist's it took me long and slow time to change. I grew up in a Christian, Afrikaans family on a farm where there was no question of believing or not. As far as I can remember it was Chris de Burg's "Spanish Train" that started me thinking. Up to this point if you sang about God it was a Pasalm or a Gesang. I then went and did my national service and saw things that did not quite rhyme with a just and fair world view. Started reading books that did not just tell me things I would like to hear. Supertramp's Logical Song" came out and it all went down hill from there. Luckily we live in a country and age where you don't get killed for your believes but that might change of course.

[Ockham]

For me it was a scientific education. Also grew up Afrikaans and Christian, although very watered-down and almost just for the show of it. Thing is, I think I actually only truly believed until about the age of about 12, but it took onother 10 years to actually be honest with myself about it. By the time I graduated (from the Potchefstroom Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys, nogal) I had lost all pretense of faith, although I must admit to keeping it a secret from my conservative colleagues at work.

[Skeptic]

Also Afrikaans and Dutch Reformed background. I never felt home in the church, and could never really taken active part, because I never had that "feeling" everybody was talking about. I then reasoned it out, but still went to church in the odd occasion, not trying to offend family and friends. Luckily my wife and son are with me in this. We have a business in a fairly conservative community in Cape Town - thus one has to be very careful that one does not offend any of the customers. So one can say we live a sort of a double life - We never go to church anymore, and we try not to discuss religion. So that is the price one has to pay for being different - sometimes it is quite hard but it will not change my belief system in any way.

[Sentinel]

I read the bible!

[wandapec]

I read the bible!

[Anacoluthon64]

First, I listened to the priest.

Next, I listened to the world.

Finally, I listened to myself.

'Luthon64

P.S. Good one, Sentinel!