Welcome to DU!
    The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
    Join the community:
    Create a free account
    Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
    Become a Star Member
    Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
    All Forums
        Issue Forums
        Culture Forums
        Alliance Forums
        Region Forums
        Support Forums
        Help & Search
    
Atheists & Agnostics
In reply to the discussion: At what age did you become an atheist/agnostic? And what brought that about? [View all]beveeheart
(1,507 posts)41. Watching my grandfather watch Oral Roberts
        save people on a small tv screen when I was about 10 years old in the 50's. 
My grandfather was an old-timey Methodist - no drinking ( I actually found his Temperance membership card after he died), no playing card games including solitaire on Sundays, also no real cooking on Sundays just heat up what had been prepared for the Sunday meal from the day before. When my sister and I spent a couple of weeks with him in the summers, he took us to tent revival meetings which I found hilarious with people rushing to the preachers to be blessed and saved from their sins.  My grandfather was one of those people and I never understood why he would do that because he was a very good hard-working man, much beloved by his family and his community. 
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
  Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
						
							66 replies
							
								
 = new reply since forum marked as read
							
						
      
      
					
						Highlight:
						NoneDon't highlight anything
						5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
						RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
					
                    
					
                    
                        At what age did you become an atheist/agnostic? And what brought that about? [View all]
							Bundbuster
							May 2024
							OP
                        
        
        About 25 years of age. I got tired of it being crammed down my throat AND
        Ferrets are Cool
        May 2024
        #3
      
        
        Due to family, church people, and friends' pressure, I joined the church and was baptized when I was thirteen years old.
        spike jones
        May 2024
        #7
      
        
        As George Carlin said, "I was a Catholic, until I hit the age of reason." (paraphrasing)
        alwaysinasnit
        May 2024
        #10
      
        
        Age: 21. Occasion: The night my 19 year old brother died in a car wreck.
        watrwefitinfor
        May 2024
        #16
      
        
        LOL - my atheist father would throw me a smirk as he read the Sunday paper on the couch
        Bundbuster
        May 2024
        #21
      
        
        About 8. When professional wrestling would come on TV after the church programs Sunday mornings.
        sybylla
        May 2024
        #23
      
        
        I went to Catholic School.  If you weren't Catholic you couldn't go to heaven.
        twodogsbarking
        May 2024
        #24
      
        
        I was 12. When my dad died. I hadn't been brainwashed, indoctrinated or groomed in anyway before that and ever
        brewens
        May 2024
        #26
      
        
        Always.  First time I had the concept of god explained to me I said "what the f*ck is this sh*t?"
        unblock
        May 2024
        #27
      
        
        ...made up this religion so he could divorce his wife to marry his pregnant girlfriend, who he later had beheaded.
        Bundbuster
        May 2024
        #44
      
        
        I think it was probably about 13 or 14...I grew up in the First Baptist Church
        walkingman
        May 2024
        #34
      
        
        I was a skeptic before I was a teenager, and a card-carrying atheist by around 15.
        Chainfire
        May 2024
        #51
      
        
        Seeing the control of repukes in the White House since 2000 I have become more agnostic!
        kimbutgar
        May 2024
        #55
      
        
        Would a weekly newsletter on the weirdness of religion in the world be appropriate here?
        Ranting Randy
        Jul 2024
        #65
      
        
        i think that age as well.. i have a memory of 'discussing' heaven with a friend  and i...
        samnsara
        Aug 2024
        #66