I think it's funny how Christians think they can convince you that the Bible is God's word by quoting scripture. In other words....."I know the Bible is God's word because it says it is!"

I too was a Catholic School kid, was religion club President. I drank all the Kool aid until my mid twenties I started to question the veracity of the doctrine I’d been endoctinized with for 12 years. More reading and question over many years but now I’m comfortable identifying as an atheist.

I think there is a value in studying religious works, if nothing else you do understand humanity better, but I see the value in studying anything so maybe I am not the best to answer.

Oddly enough the only religious book that almost convinced me that I was wrong was the screwtape letters.

Hold your ground. Your life-your beliefs.

If you READ the bible - and by that I mean actually take in those words and consider them - the only thing it convinces you of is that it's BOLLOCKS.

I don't think there are degrees. You either believe in god or you don't

I felt the same as a teenager.

The next time one of those types say such a thing to you, try responding with the following quote:
"Trying to prove the superstitions you were raised with by quoting scripture is as pointless as trying to prove the existence of elves and dwarves by referencing passages from lord of the rings."

Religious people can only turn to that stupid book and that's the rub

That is literally a meme. Yes, it is not a work of civil reasonable people. Quaran is all about unicorns.

The bible will not convince you, unless you are already convinced. It's a mass of contradictions. (Not that I've read very much of it, or have any intention of doing so.)

The one I hear the most is, "You don't believe in God, so that means you worship Satan."
Most of the religious people I have talked to about it received there information from somebody pushing a message of fear or misinformation.

Intelligence, knowledge and reason will always lead to atheism; I think that is the story of most of us here. We are all born atheists and dogma turns us religious but, evidence sets us free.