Hello Chaps

[AverageJoe]

AverageJoe here. I'm an Atheist by the way.

[Cycel]

AverageJoe here. I'm an Atheist by the way.

Welcome Joe.  Have you been an atheist long?  Born into the condition perhaps or are you a later convert?

[AverageJoe]

I think I've always been one really. My family were never religious and I was only exposed at school during morning assemblies and religious education lessons - from an early age I just didn't believe what I was being told, none of the contradictions and obvious lies convinced me.

I remember the first realisation as a child that death was the end. Period. It wasn't a nice realisation - it felt scary and I was envious for a while of those that believed in afterlife and stuff, even though I knew they were deluded . Nobody led me to "believe" that, I concluded that must be how it is, all by myself.

Some time later, I asked my mother, who never really talked about religion, "Mam, is God real? Do you believe in him?"

Her answer, "No" That is all she said. "No" Just like that, straight to the point, no explanation - she had confirmed what I'd already worked out. I was probably about 10, and it was a few months after I had popped the Santa question (again her answer was simple and straightforward - no).

My mother never tried to influence my beliefs and only gave her honest opinion when I asked - she could have said "yes of course there is a god and heaven" even though she didn't believe herself, to "protect" me or not upset me or whatever. I have a lot to thank her for.

[wildfire_emissary]

Hey AverageJoe. I wish all average Joes are like you. Welcome!

[The Magic Pudding]

Despite these problems, one study classified 2.5% of the world's population as atheists, and a separate 12.7% as non-religious.[2]

I'm going to conclude from these indisputable figures that it is unlikely that an average Joe would be an atheist.
It's not impossible, you could have 2.4 children, consume 8.35 alcoholic drinks a week and you could get married 1.25 times.
Anyway a 75% above average welcome to you Joe.

[Tank]

AverageJoe here. I'm an Atheist by the way.

Hi AJ

If you're an atheists you're not average  

Welcome aboard, I've been away for a couple of weeks an I'm playing catch up on my greeting duties!

Regards
Chris