Greetings, everyone

[mboronha]

Hello everyone.

My name is Miguel, I live in Portugal, I'm 19 years old, and I'm an atheist (In Dawkins scale from 1-7, I consider myself a 6).

I found this forum through one of Twitter's atheist lists, and thought that it would be interesting to join this conversation. I'm an happy atheist, I do not find the need to believe in a creator of the universe, for it is its natural process that enthralls me the most. On the 1st of May, 2010, I started a blog dedicated mainly to Atheism, Nature, Science, the Universe, Religion, Philosophy and History. It is a reflection of my thoughts and interests, and I invite everyone to give it a look, and maybe follow it: http://atheistictemple.blogspot.com (you can also follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/mboronha).

I'm currently studying in Lisbon's University, taking a course in History, hopefully to fulfill my dream of becoming an Egyptologist.

My father is an atheist and my mother is a sort-of agnostic, though I know she doesn't give much thought about religion. I was brought up with no Father Christmas or Tooth Fairy fantasies, and educated in a regular school, with no religious education. When I started thinking about religion, around the age of 12/13, I thought I was an atheist, until I started getting interested in Paganism, or more specifically, Wicca. Through my adolescence I studied Paganism deeply, tackled with the Kabbalah, Solomon's Key and Hermeticism. From 17-18, because I felt a lack of a deep philosophy in Paganism, I started studying Hinduism and Buddhism. Close to 19, I refuted the last of these dogmas, and encountered my own true self as an atheist - and it gave me an extreme feeling of liberation. I certainly learned alot about philosophy with these studies, and a bit about life aswell. Hindu / Buddhist philosophy is very rich and deep, and if you remove all the bits relating to the supernatural, it is quite plausible, even for atheists.

I don't know what more to add, if you want to ask me anything, I'll be happy to provide an answer!

P.S.: I apologize for any spelling mistakes you might find, I'm not a native english speaker, and I occasionaly write some mistakes!

[Tank]

Welcome Miguel

That is and interesting and informative introduction and a pleasant example of somebody seriously thinking through their world view. You're going to fit in here very well. And your English is exemplary!

[elliebean]

Hello and welcome, Miguel!  

[Davin]

Welcome to the forums, I have no problem with spelling and/or grammar errors, it's your ideas that are important to me not how you express them... though I think your English is more than adequate to avoid communication problems.

[pinkocommie]

My father is an atheist and my mother is a sort-of agnostic, though I know she doesn't give much thought about religion. I was brought up with no Father Christmas or Tooth Fairy fantasies, and educated in a regular school, with no religious education. When I started thinking about religion, around the age of 12/13, I thought I was an atheist, until I started getting interested in Paganism, or more specifically, Wicca. Through my adolescence I studied Paganism deeply, tackled with the Kabbalah, Solomon's Key and Hermeticism. From 17-18, because I felt a lack of a deep philosophy in Paganism, I started studying Hinduism and Buddhism. Close to 19, I refuted the last of these dogmas, and encountered my own true self as an atheist - and it gave me an extreme feeling of liberation. I certainly learned alot about philosophy with these studies, and a bit about life aswell. Hindu / Buddhist philosophy is very rich and deep, and if you remove all the bits relating to the supernatural, it is quite plausible, even for atheists.

You and I come from the same non religious background and it seems like we had the same religious interests at the same time!  That's pretty awesome, I haven't met many people who I feel like I can relate so closely to.  =D  I hope you like it here.   :bananacolor:  

[mboronha]

You and I come from the same non religious background and it seems like we had the same religious interests at the same time!  That's pretty awesome, I haven't met many people who I feel like I can relate so closely to.  =D  I hope you like it here.   :bananacolor:  

Nice, I never did meet someone with a close experience to mine, so it is a pleasure.

Thank you all for the welcome!