Hello, my name is Biniam and i am 16.
I found out that i was an atheist about 5 months ago. I have always been a logical and rational person but i never really came across the evidence against religion and god. The evidence i did hear was told to me by religious people, especially my parents. And the way they told me was like "Did you hear that scientist think we came from monkeys? ha ha that is very stupid and dumb". But through the internet, the evidence kind of found me. i was just watching random videos on youtube when i clicked on the documentary Enemies of Reason by Richard Dawkins. I hated it at the time and i was angry at some of the things he said. But it made me start asking question. That was the beginning of the finding out process.
Anyways, i am here because i want to discuss my real thoughts about religion and god. I still go to church and i still pray because of my very religious family. I do not think i can tell them that i am an atheist until i have the means to take care of myself. And it is very frustrating to hide my true feelings. So, I think that this forum will be kind of an outlet.
Hi Biniam10
Difficult times for you by the sound of it. We have a steady stream of teens coming here who are/have been through what you are going through. You are far from alone. I have never been a believer, so I have never been through the unbelieving phase, but many here have. Feel free to get your 10 posts under your belt and then ask away.
Thanks for making the effort to sign up and join in.
Welcome to HAF. (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg32.imageshack.us%2Fimg32%2F2922%2Fcheersi.gif&hash=d22c932723fd55512134b1ae98b018246ccbb424)
Regards
Chris
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Users who comply with forum rules will graduate to full membership after 10 posts.
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It is our hope that this small restriction improves the overall atmosphere of HAF.
Some threads you might find interesting.
Where did you get your username from? (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5133.0)
10 Things About Yourself (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=4940.0)
Tell us A Bit About Where You're From (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8215.0)
Photography (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=7607.0)
Non-religious pet peeves (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=6917.0)
Pets...what do you have? (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=7.0)
Favorite Song, with video (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8830.0)
How to tell your family you are an atheist. (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5111.0)*
"Rules for Conducting a Discussion" by Dr. Mortimer J. Adler (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5631.0)*
*You will need 10 posts before you can add a post to this thread, but you can read it at any time.
Hi Biniam. I could relate to your post, especially the way religious people misrepresent scientific findings. The old "Does your grandma look like a monkey?" bit slays them every time, doesn't it? ;) It's hard, living in a very religious family and feeling like you can't be honest about who you are. I hope that having places to vent (like here) helps take some of the pressure off. Welcome. :)
Welcome. I commend you for your self control, especially when hearing all the silly and ridiculous things people say with such self-assured knowing.
Quote from: Tank on February 24, 2012, 06:11:59 PM
I have never been a believer, so I have never been through the unbelieving phase...
Lucky Bastard!
Biniam,
My condolences. But you are home now.
Quote from: Truthseeker on February 24, 2012, 06:49:27 PM
Quote from: Tank on February 24, 2012, 06:11:59 PM
I have never been a believer, so I have never been through the unbelieving phase...
Lucky Bastard!
Thank goodness! I was brought up in England by a mildly Christian Mum and atheist Dad. So I was inoculated rather than indoctrinated. ;D
Hello and welcome!!! Like Tank, I've never believed in a god, but I've seen enough people on these forums who're struggling with this major change in outlook to know that it can be challenging. I hope you enjoy your time here, and that you get the support you need.
Welcome, Biniam.
You are among friends here (mostly). ;)
And if you hated "Enemies of Reason" you are gonna explode from "Religiolus"!
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 24, 2012, 08:03:09 PM
Welcome, Biniam.
You are among friends here (mostly). ;)
And if you hated "Enemies of Reason" you are gonna explode from "Religiolus"!
Religulous was a fantastic movie.
Welcome, Biniam. You're going through what sounds like an exceptionally difficult process right now. Lacking any other information, I have to say that it sounds like you're taking a practical and realistic approach when it comes to your family. However, as previously stated, you are among friends here, including the occasional theist who believes strongly in the right to explore one's own sense of meaning. I wish for the best for you, and hope that you know that you are not alone.
Quote from: statichaos on February 24, 2012, 08:09:27 PM
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 24, 2012, 08:03:09 PM
Welcome, Biniam.
You are among friends here (mostly). ;)
And if you hated "Enemies of Reason" you are gonna explode from "Religiolus"!
Religulous was a fantastic movie.
Welcome, Biniam. You're going through what sounds like an exceptionally difficult process right now. Lacking any other information, I have to say that it sounds like you're taking a practical and realistic approach when it comes to your family. However, as previously stated, you are among friends here, including the occasional theist who believes strongly in the right to explore one's own sense of meaning. I wish for the best for you, and hope that you know that you are not alone.
And a few kooks. Just so you know.
Quote from: statichaos on February 24, 2012, 08:09:27 PM
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 24, 2012, 08:03:09 PM
Welcome, Biniam.
You are among friends here (mostly). ;)
And if you hated "Enemies of Reason" you are gonna explode from "Religiolus"!
Religulous was a fantastic movie.
Welcome, Biniam. You're going through what sounds like an exceptionally difficult process right now. Lacking any other information, I have to say that it sounds like you're taking a practical and realistic approach when it comes to your family. However, as previously stated, you are among friends here, including the occasional theist who believes strongly in the right to explore one's own sense of meaning. I wish for the best for you, and hope that you know that you are not alone.
We're all alone.
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
Quote from: statichaos on February 24, 2012, 08:09:27 PM
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 24, 2012, 08:03:09 PM
Welcome, Biniam.
You are among friends here (mostly). ;)
And if you hated "Enemies of Reason" you are gonna explode from "Religiolus"!
Religulous was a fantastic movie.
Welcome, Biniam. You're going through what sounds like an exceptionally difficult process right now. Lacking any other information, I have to say that it sounds like you're taking a practical and realistic approach when it comes to your family. However, as previously stated, you are among friends here, including the occasional theist who believes strongly in the right to explore one's own sense of meaning. I wish for the best for you, and hope that you know that you are not alone.
We're all alone.
Had a bad day (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg163%2F7355%2Fconsoling2.gif&hash=3a8ffba6dd009744a227ffe4896f21813251a0c2)
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
Great! Now I have that song stuck in my brain!
Welcome to the boards. When I was around you're age, I didn't feel comfortable coming out to my family either. My family always went to the 11 AM mass, so I simply asked if I could attend the 6 pm by myself. I believe I told them I felt I got more out of it spiritually when I went alone. I would than go to the bookstore every sunday at 6 and read, until it was time for mass to be ending.
Just a thought, if you want to attempt to get out of church without telling them at this point your an atheist. If it's a small church where everyone knows each other, you might try saying you want to try a different choice by yourself.
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 24, 2012, 08:17:57 PM
Quote from: statichaos on February 24, 2012, 08:09:27 PM
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 24, 2012, 08:03:09 PM
Welcome, Biniam.
You are among friends here (mostly). ;)
And if you hated "Enemies of Reason" you are gonna explode from "Religiolus"!
Religulous was a fantastic movie.
Welcome, Biniam. You're going through what sounds like an exceptionally difficult process right now. Lacking any other information, I have to say that it sounds like you're taking a practical and realistic approach when it comes to your family. However, as previously stated, you are among friends here, including the occasional theist who believes strongly in the right to explore one's own sense of meaning. I wish for the best for you, and hope that you know that you are not alone.
And a few kooks. Just so you know.
As proved by the comments following your post. :P
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
As ever it is my fate to play the intellectual manqué to your soccer mom.
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 11:34:57 AM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
As ever it is my fate to play the intellectual manqué to your soccer mom.
I like to think of it more like you're the Sheldon to my Penny.
Welcome, Biniam :D
Quote from: Ali on February 25, 2012, 02:36:54 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 11:34:57 AM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
As ever it is my fate to play the intellectual manqué to your soccer mom.
I like to think of it more like you're the Sheldon to my Penny.
Soft kitty, warm kitty....
Quote from: Ali on February 25, 2012, 02:36:54 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 11:34:57 AM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
As ever it is my fate to play the intellectual manqué to your soccer mom.
I like to think of it more like you're the Sheldon to my Penny.
The allusion was lost on me. Google sniggered briefly at my ignorance and directed me to Wikipedia which gleefully informed me that Sheldon "is calculating, and averse to sex, or even being touched." How ever did you know?
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 07:28:44 PM
Quote from: Ali on February 25, 2012, 02:36:54 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 11:34:57 AM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
As ever it is my fate to play the intellectual manqué to your soccer mom.
I like to think of it more like you're the Sheldon to my Penny.
The allusion was lost on me. Google sniggered briefly at my ignorance and directed me to Wikipedia which gleefully informed me that Sheldon "is calculating, and averse to sex, or even being touched." How ever did you know?
They watched "The Big Bang Theory"?
Quote from: statichaos on February 25, 2012, 06:52:11 PM
Quote from: Ali on February 25, 2012, 02:36:54 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 11:34:57 AM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
As ever it is my fate to play the intellectual manqué to your soccer mom.
I like to think of it more like you're the Sheldon to my Penny.
Soft kitty, warm kitty....
...little ball of fur, happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr purr purr. :D
A very warm welcome to you, Biniam! You're among friends here, and this board really IS a great place if you need a 'safe space' to bounce ideas off of other people, as well as goof off with friendly skeptics -- in the end, I'm not sure what we've got more of here, serious debate or goofiness, but I think it's a fabulous mix. I know from my own experience how hard it is, to be in a family where you feel like you can't be yourself and be totally honest. Just do your best to hang in there, keep learning and growing as a person, and meet as many new folks as you can. Glad to have met YOU!
QuoteA very warm welcome to you, Biniam! You're among friends here, and this board really IS a great place if you need a 'safe space' to bounce ideas off of other people, as well as goof off with friendly skeptics -- in the end, I'm not sure what we've got more of here, serious debate or goofiness, but I think it's a fabulous mix. I know from my own experience how hard it is, to be in a family where you feel like you can't be yourself and be totally honest. Just do your best to hang in there, keep learning and growing as a person, and meet as many new folks as you can. Glad to have met YOU!
But make no bones about it, all of us here are "Going down, party time, all your friends here on HAF are gonna be there too, wer're on the highway to hell, no stop signs, speed limit, nobody's gonna slow us down"
Seriously Biniam, any resemblance of making light of your situation is purely by accident. My sentiment is as Amicale's. "Just do your best to hang in there, keep learning and growing as a person, and meet as many new folks as you can." As unintentional as it may have been at the time you, numerous others on this board and I were served an absolute, 100%, purebred lie with a side of control and manipulation. We were all given an ultimatum that was proffered to us where the wrong choice allowed us to enter into an eternity of torture, the likes of which are to scary to think about. So most of us are in the same boat and know where you are coming from. I have not been here long but I already feel like I was lost and now I am found. I have a feeling that the compassion here passes all understanding. I have gone on too long. My apologies. I get worked thinking about the lie deal.
We are, however, on a highway to hell. Only this time the highway is not paved with guilt, anxiety, fear, false hope, fairy tales and just general bullshit (actually I am still deciding if it is bullshit or horseshit. Possibly someone here on the board can help me out with that one). At any rate, you have a lot of friends, as the lyrics suggest, on this highway with you and we are all having a great time.
So strange to be talking this way given the hours upon hours of individual study I dedicated to the Bible and prayer. During my close to 15 years of hypnotized tenure in this teaching no one could have every convinced me that I was not on the ONLY right road. So very glad I have detoured.
Hi Biniam,
You're at the point I was at 16 - making the final separation between what you believe and what your parents do. It won't be easy, but the mental and emotional freedom is worth the struggle. This is a good time to do a lot of thinking and questioning, and to ask "Why do I think that?" whenever an opinion comes too readily. Study philosophy, and learn to spot intellectual dishonesty and logical fallacies. There's a lot to discover, and that will keep you going until you're independent and ready to strike out on your own.
Nice to meet you...Im new to the site as well...but not new to the atheist community
Welcome!
Doubly stuck in role playing, eh..? Like Tank, I never believed in gods, so I didn't have to deal with the issue of coming out of the closet and facing potentially serious consequences vs. living a lie, but I think as long as you try to be honest with yourself, you'll emerge victorious and relatively sane.
Hey,
I know how you feel, I'm in the same boat. It's hard to hide something from your parents sometimes, especially something as big as religion. I remember my dad always used to say that all he wants from life is for his kids to have a good future and to know God. Please know you aren't alone, and that using logic and reason to come to your own conclusion is something to be proud of. Even if your parents wouldn't support it, be proud of yourself for being able to tug off the blinkers of religion.
Look forward to seeing you around!
Quote from: dustygirl122 on February 26, 2012, 04:58:32 PM
It's hard to hide something from your parents sometimes, especially something as big as religion.
Not when your parents don't care overmuch. If they do, you can still put a positive spin on it by seeing the whole thing as training in being a better liar.
QuoteEven if your parents wouldn't support it, be proud of yourself for being able to tug off the blinkers of religion.
Yes. That.
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 07:28:44 PM
Quote from: Ali on February 25, 2012, 02:36:54 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 11:34:57 AM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
As ever it is my fate to play the intellectual manqué to your soccer mom.
I like to think of it more like you're the Sheldon to my Penny.
The allusion was lost on me. Google sniggered briefly at my ignorance and directed me to Wikipedia which gleefully informed me that Sheldon "is calculating, and averse to sex, or even being touched." How ever did you know?
This is us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEIn3T6nDAo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEIn3T6nDAo)
Quote from: Ali on February 27, 2012, 05:27:28 AM
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 07:28:44 PM
Quote from: Ali on February 25, 2012, 02:36:54 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 25, 2012, 11:34:57 AM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:27:21 PM
Quote from: En_Route on February 24, 2012, 08:23:13 PM
We're all alone.
I think we're alone now (alone now) doesn't seem to be anyone around! I think we're alone now (alone now) the beating of our hearts is the only sound.
Oh wait, you were meaning something more existential?
As ever it is my fate to play the intellectual manqué to your soccer mom.
I like to think of it more like you're the Sheldon to my Penny.
The allusion was lost on me. Google sniggered briefly at my ignorance and directed me to Wikipedia which gleefully informed me that Sheldon "is calculating, and averse to sex, or even being touched." How ever did you know?
This is us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEIn3T6nDAo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEIn3T6nDAo)
Their personal chemistry does strike a chord, ok.
Welcome! Congrats on never being religious! I never really was either, and when I finally tried to be, I turned atheist pretty fast!