No, I didn't grow up atheist. I wish would have brought up atheist. Then I wouldn't have been burdened with religious bs/god for nearly all my life. I love thinking for myself and getting to enjoy the world as it is. Growing up baptist really narrowed my thinking until I saw the light and left the dark side of religious bs/god. It's hard dating, being married,etc. to someone with different views of the world. Some people can deal with it and be happy. Then there is people that can't find common ground. There are ways for all of us to get along. It's just matter of finding it.

yes - I don't really feel that I dwell on being amongst non- believers, (even though I am) - I feel i am amongst people who are freer to tell their truths show their stuff - reveal themselves because there is no one hassling for a different reality. No I only come to this site, although I have many friends locally who are non believers and we can have a laugh (because I live in Northern Ireland and it gets pretty hot at times with Parades and burning 'Paddy' on enormous bonfires !

I don't get the point of a organization otherwise it may as well be religion.

Born and raised Roman Catholic. Became atheist in college.

Raised non believer. I've never belonged to to any groups, but there isn't much to offer in my part of the country. I think there are more now days but I don't have time. Mabey in a few years when the kids are out of the house..

No was told lies from birth. When I got old enough to reason saw the lies. Seen the abuse is when I wanted nothing to do with gods or religions

Never was a believer, here. I just think of myself as not a 'group' kind of person. I belong to 2 groups (not including this site) a local freethinker's group (meet rarely and it is more a mom's club) and a local board gaming group for weekly game night. Church-even the UU church in town- is just not my style. shrug but I plan on joining volunteer groups when I retire in 10 years.

I guess you don’t know until you try.

Basically. I became an atheist when I was thirteen, and became agnostic when I was fifteen. I am twenty six now.

Lifelong atheist. I recently joined Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and American Atheists, not because I want to go to meetings, but I want to support their legal efforts on the separation of church and state. I feel this is especially necessary now with amoral religious morons in government. I also donate to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.

I think it would be accurate to describe my parents as non religious..my mother is european so in the eyes of the dominant culture and also the dominant religion i was not intended to fit in. my father was the product of a very puritian and guilt ridden culture ( upstate ny ) that was not particularly enlightened. I was always being recruited by variious churches of somekind or another. It was humiliating being told as a child that i would be burned forever and ever unless i agreed with a particular religion..i my mind this was child abuse. however just becuase my parents were not of any religion persay did not mean they were immune to bigotry a virilant hatred of gay people 9 becasue they were genetically defective) or other groups in society.. I spent my entire childhood trying to engineer a divorce because these people were always fighting usually about money. I am still disinherited and disowned. unfortuantely one of them is still alive.. So if a person thinks one way or another way is no excuse for bigitory of any kind..

My upbringing and subsequent beliefs? My father's family was Italian (Roman catholic) and my mother's side was Russian-Jewish. I was never taken to church or temple except for weddings and funerals. My parents knew I was skeptical from birth, about most things. Especially any kind of authority. I think I was always Agnostic but at some points in rebellious youth probably considered myself atheist. The reality is I don't know what's out there and I have a profound respect for the unknown.

Life long atheist here. No I don't belong to any other groups outside this one and to be honest I'm only really because I enjoy debating.

I grew up without religion interfering so I don't have any desire to organize against it. It's simply a non-entity, but politically is another story.

I was always a non-believer. The only times I went to church was for a wedding or a funeral. I think my parents might have believed in god, but were not a fan of religion.

I never really spouted out about my non beliefs, and the religious never tried to force their crap on me. Granted, this was in the late 60's and 70;s so so there was no such thing as PC then. I never thought to have to speak ouy on my views back then. That went on for about 20 years. Then came the internet. I got turned on to quite a few out spoken Atheists who taught me about just how much religion is poison to people.

So then I started to read many books from people like Dawkins, Dennet, Tyson, Harris, and many others.

So I went on a rampage with my Science backround, and spent years debating religious nut bags. After a while I got to the point of not giving a shit what the religest had to say, so i made mi interests to back to education. but the stupid kept on going on, and on about their creationism and so I thought it was time to chime in.

I did for a while get into debates with believersand hit them with stuff that they coulden't give a response with out name calling and some really dumb ass shit.

I still do post some things about Atheism, but what I really think, and aspire to is Science, math, understanding what the universe really is. I am aware that we don't have all of the answers, and it is entirely possible that we might never get a grasp on every thing. there is. But I will always be a part of the people that testing things, observe things, questing things.

Even if I am wrong about every thing I hold dear. I would rather go out in failer than believing something that makes no sense.

So to answer your question. I Think I could be listed as both Atheist, and Agnostic. The point I have to explane myself. I am an Aatheist because I think that the notion of a god or gods is simply just silly.

I will also go with Agnostic because I don't have the ability to disprove that some sort of devine being can't exists.

sorry for the long winded comment, but the topick just struck a nerve and I just had to reply.

I really was born this way

I have never before belonged to a nonbelievers organization because I have never felt the need to proselytize.

I grew up secular - my parents and grandparents were not believers. I am not active in any sort of organization, mostly because they usually want money by way of dues and I just don't have any interest. As someone who has never been a part of organized religion my experience is different and I don't always find I relate to ex believers.

No. But I'd like to hear Seth Andrews speak. He's great.

I am a convert from a not too religious background. I have never been involved in any secular organizations and saw no reason to be part of any so I agree with your last statement.