I DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD.

One day when I was still very young, I asked my father about his parents. I knew my maternal grandparents intimately, but I wanted to know why I had never met his parents.

“Because they died,” he said wistfully.

“Will you ever see them again?” I asked.

He considered his answer carefully. Finally, he said that there was nothing he would like more in the world than to see his mother and father again, but that he had no reason — and no evidence — to support the idea of an afterlife, so he couldn’t give in to the temptation.

“Why?”

Then he told me, very tenderly, that it can be dangerous to believe things just because you want them to be true. You can get tricked if you don’t question yourself and others, especially people in a position of authority. He told me that anything that’s truly real can stand up to scrutiny.

(nymag.com - "My Dad and the Cosmos")

I didn't always "not" believe in God. I grew up in a Roman Catholic home. My mom taught me to pray every night and I received bibles for Christmas and birthdays. I believed them. I believed in what my parents said, because my parents were right. Nothing, regardless of how mystical or fairy tale ever seemed like it could be fiction. It wasn't until high school, yes high school (took me a while), that I really started questioning things. When I actually read the bible.. and books on Egypt.. and books on the Incas.. and so on. That's when absolutely nothing made sense. AND I HID IT. I felt almost ashamed to not believe in God.
I remember the day I realized Santa wasn't real. I just knew. I knew that the idea of Santa was impossible, well at least on the evidence I held. I was about 10 years old. Realizing Santa wasn't real, made the toothfairy not real.. which made the Easter bunny not real.. and then years later, made God not real.

Now. I believe in stars. I believe in Science. I didn't "choose" not to believe in God, I mean there are some days where I wish I still did, but if God were to exist, I'd expect Santa to be right behind him.

So, if ever you'd like to have a conversation about religion, atheism, or science, and NOT yell at each other. I'm open for discussion!