New to happy-athiest

[Libera]

I just found this forum after a quick google search and i'm really enjoying what i have read so far. Ive outgrown god at the same time as i outgrew santa and the other comfort buddies. Atheist for a good 10 years (im 15) but have only began really studying atheism this past year.

Obviously I don't attend church so I hope this is the place to express my views.

Atheism has made such a positive impact on my life. While i believe that its simply impossible to know what happens after death, the most logical answer to me is just the end of consciousness, or simply just the end. Because of this I have been able to live my life with a true "Carpe Diem" attitude and live my life to the fullest potential.

Hope to get to know everyone.

-Jake

[Whitney]

Hi Jake, welcome to the forum.  Congratulations on learning to think for yourself at such a young age.

[curiosityandthecat]

Like the boss lady said, welcome.   Being an open atheist at 15 can be tough, depending on your atmosphere. Glad to have you here!

[BuckAv]

I envy your ability to come to your senses at such a young age!

(I would welcome you to the site, but I am just as new here as you).

[rlrose328]

Hi Jake... welcome to the forum!  

[Kyuuketsuki]

Hi Jake,

Welcome to the forum

Kyu

[PipeBox]

Make yourself at home.  And so long as your thoughts don't contain extreme amounts of vulgar language or website spam, this is most definitely the place to post them.  

[DennisK]

Welcome, Jake.

I wasn't as bright as you at your age because I couldn't fully shake religion until after high school.  Kudos!  I hope you enjoy yourself here.

[McQ]

Welcome to the forum.

[oldschooldoc]

Jake,

Congratulations on being so open-minded at such a young age. I know how it feels, I too knew early on (about age 10, and in fact I am still young at 22) that religion wasn't for me. It is a liberating feeling when you realize you don't have to live your life trying to appease a non-existent being. As an atheist who just recently revealed myself to my family, I can say it isn't easy, but the peace of mind knowing that you do good for the good of people, and not for staying out of hell (what a joke), is very rewarding.

I am with BuckAv in that I can't welcome you because this is only my second day here. Hopefully friendships can be made that last because, although there are more atheist than people think, finding them isn't always easy!

OldSchoolDoc

[Libera]

Wow, I have not realized the challenges of being an atheist in a religious family. While my dad is very religious, I don't have it forced upon me. While I don't run around a shout about my ideas, I am very open to talking about them and they have not ever been a problem with my family, or with anyone else for that matter.

I think it's terrible that any atheist would have to hide their beliefs (or lack there of   ) in fear of discrimination, especially from their own family. I fortunately haven't yet been exposed to any discrimination but I empathize for those who have been.

Anyways, I just hope that atheism will be more accepted in the future.

[Elvis Priestly]

Welcome Liberia,

Families are an interesting thing when it comes to religion. Neither of my parents are exceptionally religious, but my father is a definite believer. My mother and I occasionally trade stories we have heard about the hypocrisy of organized religion. So perhaps I was lucky to have the leeway to decide for myself.

A friend of mine who is an atheist has a father and a brother-in-law who are ministers. Her mother and at least two of her sisters are extremely devout. She regularly gets in fights with her family over religious beliefs. It can be a very uncomfortable situation. Truly painful to watch.