What "converted" you to atheism???

[Whitney]

What is your IQ? I haven't been professionally tested since I was in preschool.  

Do you have a college degree?  If so, what in?  And if not, why? professional degree in architecture

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult? inquisitive introverted creative gullible

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?  
I never had a scale tipping point I slipped out of organized religion before I dropped theism altogether.

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ?
I don't remember seriously questioning god in general till college...I guess I must have been 21 or so.

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?
At what age did you identify as an atheist?
I never felt the need to have a coming out moment; if it came up in discussion fine...no bad reactions other than from my mom and she seems to have gone into denial that it's just a phase or something.
Um...either 24 or 25, didn't mark it on the calendar or anything like people do with being "reborn."

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location?
Oklahoma City
Dallas area...um, 26.

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church?
Birth often more than once a week once I was old enough for choir

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?
Mom very religious, Dad didn't go to church except on Easter (now know he is nonreligious) Grandmother very religious, Grandfather religious (maybe very, he didn't like to talk about emotional subjects like religion),

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?  
I think most are afraid to question their belief because the bible says to trust God with all your faith and that to do otherwise is bad.  In order for me to explore my questions about religion I first had to convince myself that a loving god would be understanding of the questioning and would take me back the minute I realized I was pursing folly.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking?  And if so, how?
I don't know and don't particularly try anymore unless I think the person holds onto a potentially dangerous belief.

[MariaEvri]

What is your IQ? (
I have no idea

Do you have a college degree?
diploma of higher education in Graphic design and
bachelor in photography

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult?
 shy. Kept to myself.

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales? I believed in a god. I wasnt very religious. I learned about the world through science

For those of you who were born into nonreligious families, what caused you to eventually own these ideas for yourself?
my family is not non-religious.

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ?
I dont remember. Late elementary I guess

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?
I didn't bother to tell them.

At what age did you identify as an atheist?
somewhere between 15-17.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location?
I grew up in Limassol cyprus. Lived 7 years in Athens for my studies. Now I am back in Limassol

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church?
Church for my family meant only two times a year: for easter.
I stopped going about 10 years ago when I told my dad I'm an atheist., He was ok with me not going to church cause he is not religious (he's not an atheist)

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?
my mom believed in a god. Nothing special though. My dad believes there's "something" but he thinks religion is a joke

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?
I can't think right now... Stop hindering the progress of science I guess?

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking? And if so, how?
No. I don't bother.

[Asmodean]

I wonder things like....  Of people with IQ above 120, what percentage are atheists?

I seem to remember reading a study showing it to be higher than that of IQ-ranges 95-105.

Personality types, I think, could also be a factor.

...As can personality disorders, I suppose.

And I'm interested in demographics such as...  Were your parents religious?

No. Apatheists as far as I know.

And would you consider them 'fundamental'?

LOL! Not in any way imaginable...

Where do you live, Where did you grow up, and at what age did you move to your current location?  For instance... I moved from Dallas to Boulder at age 24.  (It couldn't have been soon enough.)

Northern Europe. Moved to my current location at the age of 22.[/quote]

[periwinklefish]

[LARA]

What is your IQ?
At least 135.  I was never told an exact value, but this was the cut-off to get into the extended learning program in school.

Do you have a college degree?
B.S. Cell Biology

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult?
passive, silent, thoughtful as a child; apathetic and wild as an adolescent and young adult; passive, curious and sad now

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?
The first time was when a Christian family my parents tried to help scammed them and completely trashed our home when they were paid to be caretaking it. They were hired partly because they were Christians and needed a new start. The second time was when believing relative who worked with Behavior Disordered children told me a story of a little boy they worked with who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and believed that Star Wars was real.  It seemed ridiculous to me that a person who lives in a fantasy world based on angels being real with an anthropomorphic deity that grants wishes and prayers is considered less delusional than someone who lives in a fantasy world based on Star Wars.

For those of you who were born into nonreligious families, what caused you to eventually own these ideas for yourself?
Having internet access and finding out I wasn't alone in my atheism and wanting to understand what the big problem was about evolution and other scientific ideas to believers.

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ?
14

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?
I was told to not ever say there wasn't a god out there listening to me. Incidentally I had also been told I was free to choose whatever belief I wanted as a child.  I guess this changed when I was told not to believe.  I was later given a book on Buddhism.

At what age did you identify as an atheist?
34.  Just hadn't really understood or cared about the label before this.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location?
I grew up mostly in the rural midwest, but lived abroad when I was young and was born overseas.  I currently reside in rural Oklahoma  

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church?
I went to a Catholic Church once when I was a child at my grandmother's behest.  I attended a Southern Baptist Church when I was a teenager for a few months at the request of a boyfriend.

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?
My father was not very religious, although he has become more so now.  My mother was religious and very superstitious and believed in all kinds of things like ESP and telekinesis and the like.  She dropped this as I was older and became more Christiany, but now seems less religious.  We didn't attend church and my parents were occasionally critical of churches.

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?
Authority or perceived authority of the person requesting the rational thinking. I personally haven't tried to convert anyone, but I do speak my mind when religious people have argued with me.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking? And if so, how?
Nope.  I feel that people should be free to believe what they want, but they must respect the rights of others to do so as well.

[EssejSllim]

What is your IQ?

I don't know for sure, but Internet tests have placed it between 140 and 150.

Do you have a college degree?  If so, what in?  And if not, why?

No. I'm 16

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult?

As a child I was very introverted. Today I still am in a way, but mainly because I don't enjoy interacting with most people rather than just people as a whole.

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?  

Specifically, it was the debate over rights for the LGBT community. In general it was this realization that God was just like any other authority and should be questioned. I really rejected Christianity (my previous religion) on an ethical basis before a scientific one.

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ?

8th Grade so... 13. Ironically that's the age I was baptized at.

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?

My parents responded in different ways but I believe thy both came from a view point that it was just a phase and I would "find my way back"

At what age did you identify as an atheist?[/b][/u]

13. But almost 6 months after I started the process.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location?

I have always lived in Maine.

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church?

Always have. Every Sunday.

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?[/b][/u]

I'd say thy were all deeply religious but in a mild way.

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?  

Getting them to realize their doubt for themselves. It's basically like the premise of Inception. An idea is most powerful if it is self generated.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking?  And if so, how?

Yes. My best friend is from a Catholic family. He has always been a VERY liberal Christian and I think that just my openness about my atheism caused himto examine his beliefs and eventually to change them.

[wildfire_emissary]

What is your IQ? (if you know it... not procured from internet tests, please!)  In my senior year in high school, the school psychometrician tested me and said I had 125. I don't know  now.

Do you have a college degree?  If so, what in?  And if not, why? Yes. Bachelor in Secondary Education. M.A. in Educational Management. Currently, taking up my Ph. D. still in Educational Management.

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult? Introvert, introvert, caring respectively.

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?    I was a Herbert Armstrong type of Christian, then became a deist. But science books and HAF helped a lot in my "de-beliefing."

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ? 16. Fresheman year in college.

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns? They pitied me. And started casting demons out of me.

At what age did you identify as an atheist? 29. I wish people here would call me an atheist rather than a Satanist or an anti-Christ.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location? I never left my hometown here in the Philippines. I just moved to a new house adjacent to my parents'.

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church? Since I was born.

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious? My entire family is religious. So is my wife.

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?   Lead by example.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking?  And if so, how? Yes. Two of my students. I refuted every argument for their God's existence Socratically. They didn't become atheists but I guess I made sekptics out out of them. They have themselves to thank for that.

[momewrath]

What is your IQ? haven't had an official test since grade school - it was 140 then.

Do you have a college degree?  If so, what in?  And if not, why? Several associates degrees in applied marine sciences, B.L.A. in biological psychology

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult? very argumentative and defiant.

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?   I was attending Catholic school, and I was in 7th grade. It was a day that we had to attend a mass and everyone was reciting the nicene creed and I had this totally surreal, scary moment where I was suddenly in a room full of robots. It freaked me out and I decided at that moment I didn't want to be a part of it anymore.

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ? I don't remember exactly but maybe around 10 years old. No later than 12. Probably around the time I started menstruating.

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?[/b] I don't really remember the reactions when I questioned god. I asked lots of questions as a child. I would constantly argue about everything. When I told my parents I didn't believe in god, they let me switch to public school (in the middle of 7th grade) but I still had to go to CCD (like sunday school, sort of) so I could be confirmed in 8th grade. I wore a black dress and heavy eyeliner   After that, they left me alone about it. I would often ask them if they *really* believed that Jesus was god and rose from the dead and all that. I considered my parents reasonable, intelligent people and I just couldn't/can't understand how a reasonable person could actually believe that. They answered with a weak "yes".

At what age did you identify as an atheist? about 14 or 15

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location?[/b] I grew up in New Jersey, and I currently live in the same town I grew up in. I moved back here when I was 27 (I'm 30 now). There were almost 10 years in between when I lived in various locations, mostly around Florida and the Caribbean.

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church? [/b]6 years old, catholic school. I went whenever they took us during the school day. My family didn't usually go to any weekend services.

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious? all were mildly catholic.

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?   I'm not really sure... I don't try to change people's religious beliefs usually. It's been my experience that it's a waste of time unless someone expresses interest and asks you questions. In that case, answer their questions and point them to as many resources as possible. Ultimately it's their decision and, imo, an atheist who doesn't come about their convictions on their own is just as useless as a mindless Christian.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking?  And if so, how? Not sure if this counts, but it's the best I have: Before committing to a long term relationship, I told my partner that I couldn't be with someone who believed in God. (As a bit of background, I moved in with him without knowing him very well) He was raised Baha'i and still carried the membership card in his wallet. We had a series of emails where we talked about religion and he eventually confessed to agnosticism and that was good enough for me. The rest is history.

[LegendarySandwich]

What the hell, I'll take it.

What is your IQ? (if you know it... not procured from internet tests, please!)  Here, just to be fair... mine is 130.  I'm sure most of you are smarter than me:)

I don't know.

Do you have a college degree?  If so, what in?  And if not, why? I majored in biomedical sciences, have a BS in nursing, and an associates in psychology and art.

Nope. I'm still in the 9th grade.

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult? Argumentative, tenacious, inquisitive, passive, other?  I was introverted and passive/easily disciplined but at times inquisitive, tenacious.

I don't know. I can't call myself anything without having doubts if that's what I truly am.

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?   Me.. it was one concept in my anthropology class: man needed and created religions.... all of them.  Since that time, I still have a hard time understanding why this fact doesn't "do it" for everyone else.....

I don't know. Probably just age. I think my brain just naturally grew out of religion.

For those of you who were born into nonreligious families, what caused you to eventually own these ideas for yourself?

Definitely not applicable to me.

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ?

Ehh...probably eleven, twelve? I'm not exactly sure, but I think it was when I was starting to become a teenager.

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?

I don't think I ever told anybody I was questioning Christianity. My mom is still trying to reconvert me after I told her I was an atheist though, by making me read the Bible and go to church and all that shit. My dad seems kind of saddened by it, but I think he accepts it for the most part. Nobody else in my family knows, I don't think. The friends that know don't really give a fuck.

At what age did you identify as an atheist?[/b][/u]

This year -- I'm fourteen.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location?

A small town next to Seattle, where I still live with my parents.

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church?

As far back as I can remember; usually once or twice a week.

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?[/b][/u]

I would say my mom is deeply religious, and my dad is mildly-to-deeply religious. I don't really know my other "caretakers'" religious views.

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?  

Teaching them to think rationally would be a good start.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking?  And if so, how?

Not that I'm aware of, no. I don't really talk to people about it outside of the Internet -- it's kind of an awkward subject.

[KDbeads]

What is your IQ?
Close to Kylyssa last time it was tested.  I shy away from letting people know, the number intimidates too many, causes problems.  Makes people over compensate and subconsciously degrade me when they speak to me or show me anything.

Do you have a college degree?  If so, what in?  And if not, why?
BSCrE (ceramic engineering) minor in Psychology (emphasis on deviant psychology, helped me understand my family   )

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult? Argumentative, tenacious, inquisitive, passive, other?
Insatiable reader, nerdy, geeky

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?  
I read the bible.  Several times at the request of the church when I had questions.

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ?
between 9 and 11

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?  
"read your bible, the answers are there"

At what age did you identify as an atheist?
somewhere in my mid teens

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church?
Birth until 11, 2 to 3 days a week  Edit to Add: that was when the church basically tossed us out because my mom and dad filed for divorce, they sided with my dad.

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?
My family is fundamental pentecostal.  All of them.  I'm the black sheep even though my brother is the drug addict, thief, etc and is currently sitting in jail.... again.

[Godless]

What is your IQ?
No idea

Do you have a college degree? If so, what in? And if not, why?
I'm currently majoring in Electrical Engineering.

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult?
As a child, I was pretty quiet, obeyed my parents most of the time.
As a teen, I was pretty withdrawn and geeky.
If you consider the age of 20 as being an adult, then I'm a lot more open to try new things (tried weed for the first time a couple weeks ago), a lot less shy and I'm a more relaxed person.

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?
I was never really that religious at any point in my life.

For those of you who were born into nonreligious families, what caused you to eventually own these ideas for yourself?
My parents are Buddhist, but I pretty much developed my own opinions of religion and made up my mind.

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god"?
Maybe when I was like 12 or 13.

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?
Everything acted like they didn't know what I was talking about, others didn't really care.

At what age did you identify as an atheist?
15 or 16.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location?
Northern Virginia, which is a pretty liberal area. I still live there, but since I'm in college I'm further down south in Virginia (I live in an apartment).

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church?
I've never been to church. I have been to a mosque a few times with one of my friends that is a Muslim. He's not like a fundamentalist freak or anything though.

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?
Both of my parents are only a little religious (unless you don't consider being a Buddhist to be religious).

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?
When there is a common goal to work towards.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking? And if so, how?
I don't believe so. I don't really try to change people's minds since I don't care how they think. I believe that people need to make up their own minds rather than having someone else lecture/preach to them.

[terranus]

What is your IQ? Haven't taken one since I was 18. Not sure if I'd do a whole lot better now, but back then I think I got like a 127.

Do you have a college degree?  If so, what in?  And if not, why? Working on it. For the past 7 years now.  Majoring in Geography.

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult? As a child? Energetic, curious, creative, happy. As an adolescent? Lazy, illogical, depressed, stressed, athletic. As an adult...still lazy, partially insane, curious (again), content (but not happy), and (depending on the time of day) drunk.

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?   Believe it or not - The DaVinci Code. Although my political and morally conservative values had begun to slip sometime before this, after reading this book I began to wonder...what if the Church is really hiding secrets like this? How much of their past have they covered up? How much has the bible and the story of Jesus been edited since the original version? Basically, I began to wonder - what is there that the Church doesn't want me to know? Thats when I began to research the true story of Christianity and, eventually, religion as a whole. I ended up taking waaaay more religious studies classes than I should have, and eventually found out the dirty little truth about all religion - they're just another unnecessary creation of the human imagination.

For those of you who were born into nonreligious families, what caused you to eventually own these ideas for yourself? N/A

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ? 14 - When I went to Church camp, and everyone around me kept talking about having this wonderful religious experience interacting with god the entire time they had been there. I had no idea what they were talking about. ?Unless god was the 2 sophmore cheerleaders staying in the room next to mine...in which case I had quite a great experience myself.

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?I didn't. I live in the bible belt. I would've been beaten, most likely, had I tried.

At what age did you identify as an atheist? Still have trouble identifying as one, even though I know I am. I prefer the term Non-Theist.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location? Grew up in Florida Panhandle, Mississippi and Louisiana. Live now in FL Panhandle again. Not by choice. Will be moving after I graduate.

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church? My mom was a church choir director...so fairly young. Pretty sure I was baptized as an infant. Went to church fairly regulary until age 15, when my mom deconverted and left the church. I was still a Christian until I was about 20...but I don't think I've been to a church service since I was 18.

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?[/u] Dad is religious, Godparents are deeply religious, Stepdad is...not very forthcoming...but is a math professor, so he at least has some brains, and Maw is a good 'ole fashioned dirt-worshipping tree hugging environmentalist atheist hippie.

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?  Not wasting your time. Let them figure it out on their own.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking?  And if so, how? No, but then I really haven't tried all that hard either.

[Guardian85]

What is your IQ? (if you know it... not procured from internet tests, please!)
140 or so...

Do you have a college degree?
Working on it (Political Science)

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult? Argumentative, tenacious, inquisitive, passive?
Inquisitive

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?
Increased self-confidence led to less need for "the holy crutch"


At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ?
14

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?
Worked it out mostly on my own

At what age did you identify as an atheist?
Round 16

[fester30]

What is your IQ?
They said I had an identical...idetist... something memory, but I don't remember.  (130)

Do you have a college degree? If so, what in? And if not, why?
BS in Social Psychology.  Will be eventually going for a second in either physics or meteorology (depending on where the military moves me next)

What were you like as a child, adolescent, adult? Argumentative, tenacious, inquisitive, passive, other?
Inquisitive and argumentative.  I was one when I wasn't the other.

For those who were religious and at some point became an atheist.... what was it that tipped the scales?
I met an Egyptian named Horus (in a book, not in real life, I'm not crazy) while reading about Egyptian mythology.  Then I met some Indian named Khrishna (is that how you spell it?).  Once I saw that the Jesus story had ancestors, I realized that I couldn't make up my mind which one was supposed to be my savior, so I decided not to be selfish, and I sent them on their merry way to save others.  There are a whole lot of souls they could save instead of waiting for me to make up my mind.

For those of you who were born into nonreligious families, what caused you to eventually own these ideas for yourself?
N/A

At what age did you start questioning the existence of "god" ?
30

How did those you spoke to about it react when you told them your concerns?
Haven't as of yet, just had my tipping point a month ago, and I've been in another country.  I think that's a conversation to have in person.

At what age did you identify as an atheist?
33

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now, and at what age did you move to your present location?
Illinois, Arkansas, and 27

At what age did you start and how often did you go to church?
Since I was baptized as a baby.  Every Sunday until the age of 12, then most Sundays.  After high school, it was on and off for the next 12 years (six denominations as member, many others as observer).  

Of your caretakers, how many were: nonreligious, mildly religious, deeply religious?
My Mom and Dad were deeply, in that they considered God in everything, although since my brother and I got out on our own they don't go to church at all and seem to have allowed more secular things into their home over time.  Nowadays I'd say they are mildly.  My wife is mildly, and I'm not so sure how she will handle this, except that I know she won't stop loving me or want to divorce me or anything.  Maybe she'll join me.

What do you think the single most important thing is, in being successful in getting the religious to think rationally?
Their attitude and place in life.  You can tell them anything you want, but if they're not able to think rationally to any degree, they can explain away anything you tell them since in their mind, God is all-powerful, therefore they can use that to make any truth.  (He put dinosaur bones there to test us, right?)  It's just like a drug addict or alcoholic.  An intervention won't even convince them there's a problem unless they're in a place in life where they are open-minded enough to listen and understand.

Have you been successful in causing a believer to change their thinking? And if so, how?  Not completely out of Christianity, but I was able to convince him that homosexuality is not a sin, women should be equal, and there's an opening in the Bible to reach heaven by works instead of grace.  (That may be the one that eventually gets him.  What's the value of accepting Jesus as your savior if that's not the only way in?)  The next step would be to mention the stories about man-gods like Jesus that predate his existence.  If doubt can be thrown on the divinity of Jesus, a Christian is pretty much left with the realization that he's not really Christian, he's a Jew from 2000 years ago.  Of course, God could have planted those stories in other religions to test our faith .

[rawrdog822]

1. I got my IQ tested when I was 10.  If I remember correctly I got in the 150's.  I also found out I had A.D.D.  Joyful.

2. I do not have a college degree...yet.  I am currently a student at Florida Institute of Technology for Aerospace Engineering.  Freshman.

3. As a child I was pretty inquisitive.  I used to ask my teachers at Sunday school the questions like, "Who created God" and stuff like that.  Really just simple curiosity, but they didn't like that.  I became an atheist in my childhood as well at age 11.  I believe I have also stayed pretty inquisitive throughout the years as well.  

4. I was never really too religious, but I kept trying to make excuses for their being a God.  I thought things like maybe God was dead, and prayer would revive him.  And then I thought that maybe he was alive, but he just didn't care.  I remember thinking, if I planted an extremely large garden with trillions and trillions of flowers in it would I care if one of them died?  Eventually, I realized that all I was doing was making excuses and came to the conclusion that there was most likely no God.

5. I really got to read other questions before I delve into the ones before it.  This is most likely the question I should have answered to instead of the one above.  Anyways, my parents weren't very religious.  We went to church every once in a while but that was it.  Everything else is in answer #4.

6. Age 11

7. I grew up in southern MA.  Literally 10 min north of Rhode Island.  I moved to Florida for college, and then back to help out with some family stuff, and then I will be moving back down to Florida again.

8. I don't remember when I started going to church.  But I think my family went something like twice a year.  Christmas and my grandfather's mass.  I continued going to my grandfather's mass after I became an atheist just because I felt as though I should pay some form of respects.

9. My dad is somewhat religious.  He doesn't like the church because he believes it's corrupted, but he does believe in the trinity and stuff like that.  My mom is less religious.  She is probably more agnostic in her views.  But when I first became atheist she was more religious.  She was convinced that it was a phase and I would go back to believing.

10. Logic and Reason

11. I'm pretty sure I have converted three people, though honestly, not on purpose.  I don't go around seeking to convert people.  I figure, to each their own, and that's really it.  Don't get me wrong, if the topic comes up I will give my view and my reasons why and whatever comes from that just happens.  One was a co-worker while I worked in high school.  Another was a close family friend who I actually just "converted" a few months ago.  I honestly feel kind of bad about that one because he is in his 40's with a wife that is a pretty strong Catholic.  And my last one was a deacon of a church in Oklahoma.  I met him online and me and him had some friendly debate and such.  Eventually he became an atheist.  I'm actually friends with him now on facebook too.