Hey. I'm new to this site - and Arkansas. (Fayetteville) Grew up Roman Catholic, but mostly I think because the folks thought that's what one should do, more than any dogmatic beliefs. They taught us early to "question everything", so the whole religion thing didn't last past the age of ten or so!

I was raised as a lutheran, in a small town where everybody “believed.” At age 8 or so, I began to see that I was being asked to believe some rather improbable things (wait a minute...talking snakes? wait, nobody else in the whole world had a boat?). The “decision” to be atheist came from the realization that what the theists believed simply made no sense.

I don't think I was ever completely indoctrinated. We attended church when I was very young but didn't discuss much about religion outside of that. Plus, my mother was not a believer, though she didn't really make that known until later. We stopped going to church before I really understood what it was all about. I guess I grew up with the belief that you should be a good person and that should be enough. I tried for many years to be a believer, but could never get past my doubt. I guess I finally accepted in my 40s maybe, that I just don't believe any of it. Now I look at my believer friends (most are...I live in the south), and wonder how they do not question it. Especially my educated friends. Indoctrination is the only explanation I can come up with.

I was brainwashed since birth - church 3 times a week, bible study 5 nights a week. My siblings still go and believe - im the Black Sheep. I was about 18 when it dawned on me the evolution was not only possible, but it had to be true. All the evidence supports evolution.

I am an atheist it wasn't a conscious decision as much as it was a realization. I didn't choose not to believe, I just didn't encounter a sensible and persuasive argument in favor of faith.

I didn't choose not to believe in sasquatch either, I reviewed evidence critically and was not convinced.

I woke up!!!

It's a personal choice after one reach certain level of awareness

I decided at age 13 to cut all ties with the church

Belief isn't something decided on, belief just happens. Either believe something or don't believe something. If a "decision" to believe is made, then how can it really be belief.

I didn't know what to call myself for a while and then realized that my beliefs fit the definition of agnostic.