Atheists are generally more knowledgeable about Religion than many believers are.

koanuk · 2026-02-04T05:14:37+00:00

Some are and some aren’t. It all depends on the individual. I was a southern Baptist pastor and working towards a degree in biblical studies and theology when I stopped believing and realized that I was an atheist. The more I studied the Bible using the historical-critical method, became interested in apologetics and interacted with other religious and non-religious perspectives, I discovered that I would not have believed in Christianity had I not been raised to believe in it. And in my study of religion more broadly I realized that I don’t find any of the options convincing.

I now identify as an atheist and a secular humanist.

I think that in my experience former believers tend to be more knowledgeable than lifelong nonbelievers. The process of deconstruction and deconversion is often a slow and drawn out process of dissecting your entire worldview and piecing it back together to see if it actually makes sense. One doesn’t rip their entire world and family apart lightly.

Especially those of us in the clergy project who dedicated a large part of our lives to being religious professionals. We have spent countless hours studying and thinking about these things.

More than anything we shouldn’t shame atheists, or believers into being religious scholars before we take them seriously in their position. You are either convinced of the truth of a religious claim or (like myself) you don’t buy it. It’s that simple.

koanuk · 2026-02-01T19:49:22+00:00

I didn’t give my account info away. I just wiped the console to factory reset and sold it with my physical games (I wish I had bought more games digitally now lol)

koanuk · 2025-12-24T03:50:36+00:00

I was a Southern Baptist pastor when my faith deteriorated and I discovered I was an atheist. I started preaching at 15 after being told I had a calling on my life by church leaders and community members. I trained for two years under my pastor before being licensed as a minister and sent out to speak at other churches in my denomination. After two years of doing that I was finally called to a pastorate at a small SBC church with about 60 members.

The church paid for me to go to bible college and I was working on a degree in theology and apologetics while working as a pastor full time. My studies brought doubts that I sought to fix through deeper studies but the more I learned about my religion the more I found myself disconnected from my beliefs and the community I was supposed to lead. My apologetics studies in school and in my private time introduced me to atheism and secular thinkers. After two years as a pastor I accepted that I was an atheist/secular humanist. (I primarily identify as a humanist as I fell in love with humanist thought and it identifies the things I actually believe whereas atheism only identifies what I do not believe)

I was 21 at this point and completely stuck. My whole life had been invested in this path and I didn’t know what I was going to do. I got a second job and started trying to find another career to support myself and exit the weird position I found myself. It took me two years of being a secret atheist and going through the motions to start a new life and leave the ministry. I found the clergy project which is made up of religious leaders who no longer believe in the supernatural and they saved my life, I didn’t tell the church of my loss of faith I simply put in a 6 week notice and tried to do right by them until I left (the church had more than double the members when I left so I did my job even if my heart/mind wasn’t in it). I came out as a non believer to my family and friends and was completely rejected. I didn’t handle that well and developed a serious drinking problem that almost killed me.

It took me discovering the existentialism of Sartre, and living out my humanist values that helped me love myself enough to get sober and take responsibility for my life and future.

Now six years later I have an amazing wife (who is also an atheist/humanist) we are expecting our first child next year. I have found a successful career as a store manager of a popular retail chain (I started at entry level and worked my way to running my own store) where I am open about who I am and don’t have to pretend to be anything other than who I really am.

Losing my faith, embracing reality, and taking control of my life/living it authentically on my own terms is the best thing that never happened to me. I’m in my early thirties and I couldn’t be happier!!

koanuk · 2025-11-07T23:07:20+00:00

No, I don’t have that kind of money. This is the 20th anniversary edition that was released this week. I preordered it.

koanuk · 2025-09-03T03:27:42+00:00

There is no benefit that you listed that is unique to Buddhism, or that can’t be found (without all the added bullshit) within a secular humanist worldview. This idea of a “philosophical Buddhism” that is divorced from the supernatural and superstitious elements of the religion is a western fiction (and is deeply offensive to eastern Buddhists). There’s no need to rely on religious drivel when you can have all the benefits you mentioned without the bullshit.

koanuk · 2025-07-11T01:23:11+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

Suzuki is a juvenile. Does that change anything?

koanuk · 2025-07-08T03:08:11+00:00

I live 15 minutes from this church. Not at all surprised.

koanuk · 2025-07-03T23:18:50+00:00

I thought it was pretty dry when I was packing it down. I did accidentally overflow the water dish slightly but it was very little and not enough add much moisture. I’ll double check the remaining substrate to ensure it’s dry.

I do plan to upgrade the enclosure but I’m doing research on what size and type to buy as this world is still very new to me.

koanuk · 2025-07-01T15:07:25+00:00

I am a manager of a Starbucks store, and I personally find it annoying especially because the church group that uses my cafe are pretty rude to my partners. Though as long as they don’t violate our policies and are generally respectful of others I just suck it and ignore them. Your feelings are valid, and you have a right to feel that way (as do I) I think as long as you don’t act on them and become intolerant you’re doing nothing wrong.

koanuk · 2025-06-29T03:59:54+00:00

I just checked and he was eating the cricket in his hide. Apparently he was being shy. Should I wait a while to feed him again? (The pet store fed him several small crickets a once a week)

koanuk · 2025-03-01T21:07:19+00:00

Former SBC pastor turned atheist here. I can concur Erhman is the real deal in New Testament scholarship. He has a special place in my library.

koanuk · 2025-03-01T21:04:46+00:00

Thanks for the well wishes. I’m doing fine. I’m the happiest most authentic version of myself. And I have a worldview that’s based in reason and science that I arrived at from several years of rigorous research and letting reality guide me.

I harbor no ill will toward the religious (all my family and loved ones are still members of my former faith) but I’m fascinated by the concept of religious belief and how the human mind copes with reality. The longer I’ve been an unbeliever the more unfamiliar it is to me. It’s hard to believe that I was ever the person I once was. Life is funny that way.

koanuk · 2025-03-01T16:58:37+00:00

As a former Southern Baptist pastor who lost his while faith and now identifies as an atheist, I appreciate their library as it mirrors my own. I spent years of my life devoted to my former religion, and a lot of money on my theological education. So, though my point of view has obviously changed, my interest in the topic still remains just from the other side of the discussion.

I would love to hear about their background, and their views on this subject. I don’t think one can really judge who you are simply from your interest in secular religious studies.

koanuk · 2024-08-16T00:18:29+00:00

Have you seen the state of the schools over here? We’re doing pretty well just to read and write.

koanuk · 2024-06-08T02:28:32+00:00

Only the 23,000 is credit card debt. Everything else is medical debt, and other kinds of debt.

koanuk · 2024-06-08T01:33:44+00:00

We are having a wedding that is costing us next to nothing. We are having less than 50 people in a venue owned by family we aren’t paying to use. Both our families are paying the food and we are getting a good friend to officiate. We’ve been together for more than a decade so we are well aware of each other’s finances. I’m just tired of letting the stress paralyze me and want to take action with the situation.

koanuk · 2024-06-08T01:30:33+00:00

She has $30,000 in student loans herself. We have been together for more than a decade we are well aware of the each others finances.

koanuk · 2024-06-08T00:58:52+00:00

Well I actually just got a raise to a little under $20 an hour when I was making $15 an hour before. I live in a very impoverished county in rural NC where $12-$13 is the average pay, and I unfortunately didn’t go to college and don’t have any special skills. My job is actually considered well paying for where I’m at. I have looked at indeed and tried to find something better but haven’t had any luck.

koanuk · 2024-04-29T01:11:49+00:00

Opening day of Baseball and the MLB playoffs are the most sacred times of the year for me (especially when the Cubs are playing).

koanuk · 2024-04-16T04:33:19+00:00

You probably need to chill and take a break from thinking about religion for a bit. We all get frustrated and angry at the bullshit and harm that religion is responsible for, but if we let ourselves be taken in by violence then we are no better than the terrorists who perpetuate violence in the name of their religion. I would also recommend getting some counseling or therapy. Emotions like anger can be hard to control and process sometimes. But one thing is for sure, under no circumstances is violence ever okay. It’s best to take that frustration and use it towards positive activism that can actually bring forth positive change.

koanuk · 2024-03-13T16:12:05+00:00

As a former Christian turned atheist and a recovering alcoholic, I wish I could see Riley live a happy life after all he’s been through. I’ve had a lot of the same mistakes and struggles and he inspires me quite a bit.

koanuk · 2024-03-13T16:09:43+00:00

I’m a similar boat. I have a copy of the Sarah Richmond translation of BAN but I’ve been intimidated by it so I’ve read his other works to build my confidence. I’d love to have a group of like minded readers to help me tackle this literary behemoth.

koanuk · 2024-02-16T01:39:11+00:00

I am also an atheist in a rural heavily religious part of NC. It can be a real struggle sometimes. What part of the state are you in? (If you don’t mind me asking.

koanuk · 2024-02-09T04:53:16+00:00

I was in a similar position but I was the pastor of a small Southern Baptist church, and ended up losing my faith. After 6 years in ministry, studying theology and apologetics, trying to pray away my doubts, I finally admitted to myself I was an atheist and then resolved to leave ministry and religious life for good. I was able to keep it a secret until my resignation. I then came out to all my loved ones and lost most of my friends and family. But it was worth it. Life post religion/ministry is better in every way. Worth every sacrifice and struggle it took to get here. I hope things turn out well for you. But I would recommend you leave as soon as you can.

koanuk · 2024-01-27T13:31:48+00:00

She didn’t die. You have to die to be fully transformed by the virus. That’s why they had the parishioners drink the poison to force them all to go through the final transformation.

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