I was also raised atheists but I found myself being entertained by the bashing of ridiculous claims of fundamentalists. Things like thunderf00ts “Why people laugh at creationists” or anything by Darkmatter2525 were just poking harmless fun. As time progressed, some of these YouTubers started making more podcasty stuff where they would rant and rave about the evil effects of religion on daily life and I was still on board.
When they all switched to bashing feminism I left pretty quickly because I had a good friend who was an outspoken feminist and I realized that the videos portrayed feminism all wrong. Who knows where I would be if it wasnt for her.
Off-topic but if you don’t mind me asking, how did you parents answer big questions like on the origins of the universe? Did they tell you religious people were wrong? (my religious parents go out of their way to differentiate us from ‘them’ so I’m curious.)
Just explain the big bang.
I mean, not as if anything else is true.
As for the “meaning” of life, my parents were quite blunt. And I’m also blunt to my kids: “there is no meaning. Life is what you make off it. Be excellent to each other and enjoy the ride”
Having been raised in a religious family myself, I never had to spend time with those parts either for the same reasons. Perhaps this only happens to people who are brought up without a clear policy regarding beliefs?
Atheism is not belief, but absence of it. It is not (different kind of) religion, but the opposite of it. Atheists can have beliefs, of course. For example, one can be a Buddhist, but those are not part of atheism.
Being raised as an atheist makes life so much simpler. Never had to spend time with those parts of YouTube, life was simple and clear.
I was also raised atheists but I found myself being entertained by the bashing of ridiculous claims of fundamentalists. Things like thunderf00ts “Why people laugh at creationists” or anything by Darkmatter2525 were just poking harmless fun. As time progressed, some of these YouTubers started making more podcasty stuff where they would rant and rave about the evil effects of religion on daily life and I was still on board.
When they all switched to bashing feminism I left pretty quickly because I had a good friend who was an outspoken feminist and I realized that the videos portrayed feminism all wrong. Who knows where I would be if it wasnt for her.
Off-topic but if you don’t mind me asking, how did you parents answer big questions like on the origins of the universe? Did they tell you religious people were wrong? (my religious parents go out of their way to differentiate us from ‘them’ so I’m curious.)
Just explain the big bang. I mean, not as if anything else is true. As for the “meaning” of life, my parents were quite blunt. And I’m also blunt to my kids: “there is no meaning. Life is what you make off it. Be excellent to each other and enjoy the ride”
Amen!
Having been raised in a religious family myself, I never had to spend time with those parts either for the same reasons. Perhaps this only happens to people who are brought up without a clear policy regarding beliefs?
Atheism is not belief, but absence of it. It is not (different kind of) religion, but the opposite of it. Atheists can have beliefs, of course. For example, one can be a Buddhist, but those are not part of atheism.