newbie here

[quartel]

Well I don't know where to start I've been brought up in a religious family but went from there to being agnostic (believing that there is a higher being than ourselves that created the universe) to then becoming an Athiest.

Well I dont know what being a Athiest is to be honest. I'm a person that thinks that Science is a pretty interesting way of describing the universe around us and in our best interest.

I also think that a person should decide for himself whether something is true. If someone said something to you, ultimately you have to decide if what is being said is true or not. I can never submit to something like religion that basically robs you of that basic right and I find the idea of that repulsing. Having said that I am ready to accept the fact I can be wrong and that God may exist and have created the universe. I'm fallible and so is Science and I openly admit that. The bible is considered infallible (cannot be wrong) and this is religion's biggest weakness and also it's strength.

I'm thinking that although my stance on religion is unpopular at the moment, in the future more and more people will stop believing in religion and eventually not need it to explain everything to them. Science has come very far but for many it is still not far enough. I'm optimistic  that continuing on the trend of increasing technology and education people will cease to be ignorant and lazy about their surroundings. People may one day swallow their ego for a moment and just admit they can be wrong about their belief system. That is how dialogue is created.

Is this what an Athiest is? Maybe you people can enlighten me. Of course I will decide if I will believe you or not.  

[SteveS]

Hi quartel - sure, sounds like an atheist to me.  If you do not believe in god because you find the religious argumentation weak - in other words, if you do not accept their claim that their god exists, then you are an atheist in my book.  Could some god exist?  Maybe.  So what?  Without positive evidence for some god existing how can we believe it does?  So, for me, I'm in much the same boat - of course there could be a god, can't rule it out completely (although some particular gods I think can be ruled out), but I'm open to new evidence/new ideas.  Problem is that if a claim is weak and unsupported then I will not believe it.  Doesn't mean the claim must be false - just means it is unverified.  I'm fine with sticking with "I don't know" to a lot of questions.  But, since there is no compelling evidence in favor of the existence of a god - I do not believe.  So I am an atheist.

Welcome to the forum!

[MommaSquid]

Welcome to the forum, quartel.  

Atheists don't have guidelines to follow, so we are all unique.  The members of this forum came to atheism in different ways, but we all share what we know and what we believe in a friendly manner.  That's why we like it here so much!  

Enjoy your stay.

[tigerlily46514]

Welcome, Quartel!
Hope you enjoy and find some of the answers you are searching for!  There are some awesome people here!

[Whitney]

Let me know if this helps with your question "what is an atheist?"

http://www.happyatheistforum.com/ftopic91.html

[rlrose328]

Welcome, quartel!  Glad to have you aboard.

[Steve Reason]

Hello! Welcome to our humble home, quartel. Don't be a stranger.

I think you'll find that most people here share your view. Most people that are atheist separate their opinion of religion from their opinion of the likelihood of a god. I imagine that most atheist people would have no problem accepting that a god(s) exist if they saw evidence for that; but I don't think you'd find many that would jump at the chance to form an arbitrary and man made system of worship for such a being.

[McQ]

Welcome, quartel. Asking this type of question is great. It leads to all of us evaluating why we believe what we believe and why we don't believe certain things.

You've gotten some solid responses to the OP, so I have nothing more to add except keep asking questions and welcome!