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How I became a skeptic

Solus

Graduate Poster
S
Joined
Dec 26, 2005
Messages
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I’d like to share my little story of how I became a skeptic & atheist. Took me many years to become a full skeptic it was gradual process. Years ago as I child I believed in god and all sorts of silly things. I recall vividly believing in aliens visiting our world especially (thank you X-files). As I got older I became agnostic but still I held on to paranormal/conspiracy beliefs. I have to thank intuitive logic, Art Bell and Carl Sagan for my abandonment of all paranormal as well as religious beliefs. I hit on the Art Bell radio show I think when was 16 great show to listen too but total BS. The show's mistake is it went too far; I actually started to question what I heard. A few weeks of his show with scientific advances always being covered up with government conspiracies was too much for me: it was beyond disbelief. When I actually checked the information there was nothing solid all nonsense. I was a doubter of the paranormal for many years throughout highschool but art bell ended any and all belief in such matters.

Made me quite a skeptic and thereafter I became uncompromising: show me good evidence first or get out of town. Annoyed the ghost believers espeically, how dare I dismiss their stories to mere rational common occurences. Later I randomly hit on Carl Sagan’s book a demon haunted world and it helped bolster my growing skepticism. Science is indeed the only hope of mankind.

Atheism came naturally to me the god concept makes no logical sense other than for societal cohesiveness. One can only be agnostic so long eventually you either believe it or you don’t. I think though skepticism is innate within us. Some will become skeptics naturally others will not. Ironic in my case is that the woos (as they are called) actually created a skeptic :) or maybe brought it forward strongly within me. For the intelligent I believe truth will prevail. In the end skeptics will probably always be the minority but rest assured no matter what the conditions we will always exist. I do my part by trying to at least miminize the nonsense people buy into.
 
Welcome to the forum! And thanks for sharing. I remember having similar experiences with religion, the more extreme the religious ideas became, the closer to the door I'd be.

Solus said:
One can only be agnostic so long eventually you either believe it or you don’t.
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Ohhh, careful! There might be people here that wouldn't particulary agree ;)

I think though skepticism is innate within us. [...] In the end skeptics will probably always be the minority but rest assured no matter what the conditions we will always exist. I do my part by trying to at least miminize the nonsense people buy into.
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Hallelujah brother. Raises a fist towards the congregation, and shouts: Can I get an amen!
 
Actually I have to thank Art Bell too. I used to work night shift and the only thing on the radio that could make me laugh was "Coast to Coast". I found skeptic.com while I was looking up some tripe about reptoids or something. Good ol' Mike Shermer. I took to it right away.

Then I found Sagan.

Then I found JREF.

The end.

Edit: Duh. Forgot to welcome you.
 
Solus said:
Ironic in my case is that the woos (as they are called) actually created a skeptic
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Hey, most of the atheists I know, myself included, were created from religion. I think it's fitting ;)

Welcome (I'm a newb here, too).
 
redwards said:
Hey, most of the atheists I know, myself included, were created from religion. I think it's fitting ;)

Welcome (I'm a newb here, too).
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Perhaps I am the exception. I was never really religious. Sure I believed in God when I was younger, but I also believed in St. Nick. I lost my religion on my own in my early teens but didn't become a "full time skeptic" until October of last year.
 
I, too, appreciate your story. My skepticism solidified after my book of ghost stories was published and I went on tour. People's gullibillity astounded me. Their rage at anyone who would show the slimmest flicker of doubt troubled me. It was quite a ride, and I'm not over it yet. I have more on the interview page of my website where I had to tell it like it is because people kept thinking I was a spiritualist and on their side in the ghost business. I'm glad you shared your story. Keep up the good work. ---Mariah.
 
Solus said:
I have to thank intuitive logic, Art Bell and Carl Sagan for my abandonment of all paranormal as well as religious beliefs. I hit on the Art Bell radio show I think when was 16 great show to listen too but total BS. The show's mistake is it went too far; I actually started to question what I heard. A few weeks of his show with scientific advances always being covered up with government conspiracies was too much for me: it was beyond disbelief. When I actually checked the information there was nothing solid all nonsense. I was a doubter of the paranormal for many years throughout highschool but art bell ended any and all belief in such matters.
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(Emphasis added)

Consider for a moment that this is not remotely a mistake, but entirely deliberate. The likes of Art Bell and Alex Jones are part of the mind-control. Their shows are way over the top and make everyone who believes in conspiracies seem like a moron or a target of a secret government that has their number and wants to kill them. They are both experts at what they do, and they fool many, many people.

Most conspiracy theorists fall for them, despite the hidden symbolism in their very names.
 
I used to be the most devout CAtholic who ever annoyed the hell out of everybody. Then I began to feel hemmed in by dogmas that didn't make sense; my mind was in a vise. I began reading Bertrand Russell, Brigid Brophy, and Sartre (Sartre just for the cachet, didn't understand him), and James Randi. I felt so liberated it was like being born agin'. When my brother came home from his sophomore year in college, we sat talking one night and discovered we had both been on the same voyage toward free-thinking but had been hesitant to say so. There aren't many allies when you lose your faith. I've learned to go it alone and be prepared for vicious attacks if I speak my mind. But at least I have a mind.
 
I used to be the most devout CAtholic who ever annoyed the hell out of everybody. Then I began to feel hemmed in by dogmas that didn't make sense; my mind was in a vise. I began reading Bertrand Russell, Brigid Brophy, and Sartre (Sartre just for the cachet, didn't understand him), and James Randi. I felt so liberated it was like being born agin'. When my brother came home from his sophomore year in college, we sat talking one night and discovered we had both been on the same voyage toward free-thinking but had been hesitant to say so. There aren't many allies when you lose your faith. I've learned to go it alone and be prepared for vicious attacks if I speak my mind. But at least I have a mind.
 
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I used to be the most devout CAtholic who ever annoyed the hell out of everybody. Then I began to feel hemmed in by dogmas that didn't make sense; my mind was in a vise. I began reading Bertrand Russell, Brigid Brophy, and Sartre (Sartre just for the cachet, didn't understand him), and James Randi. This was a decade before "Cosmos" and Sagan's books, but I welcomed his works too. I felt so liberated it was like being born agin'. When my brother came home from his sophomore year in college, we sat talking one night and discovered we had both been on the same voyage toward free-thinking but had been hesitant to say so. There aren't many allies when you lose your faith. I've learned to go it alone and be prepared for vicious attacks if I speak my mind. But at least I have a mind.
 
Did I say I had a mind? Couldn't delete my previous message which Imeant to edit. Well, it isn't a very GOOD mind.
 
Is Art Bell a true believer? I listened because I thought it was very funny, but I didn't get the feeling that Art really believed. While he didn't argue with his guests, he didn't seem to agree much- I sort of felt he was giving them plenty of rope, and snickering into his cuff. A straight man, but no punch line forthcoming... all the way to the bank. Do you think he will come out of the closet after retirement?
 
I used to go to Church almost every Sunday (for about a good year and a half). The only reason I went was because the minister was actually really good. He actually explained things out of the bible in terms of when they were written and what they may mean today. He also said that genesis was "JUST A STORY". Now that, was good.
Now there is someone else and they just spew stuff out like we are supposed to know what the hell it means. The usual, you know. All for the best anyway, I was getting sleepy and confused.
 
Thanks for the replies and support. Seems we all find different routes to our skeptic nature. But I think it is indeed "nature" maybe there is gene :). Shows like Art Bell though are terrible a few like me might learn something learn some critical thinking but imagine the millions that listen to that stuff and actually buy into it.
 
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