Would you be an atheist without the internet?

[Jasen777]

For us ex-theists - do you think you would be an atheist today if the internet did not exist? Think about not only your direct experience with the internet, but also the internet's wider impact on society.

[Huxley]

Do you therefore think the internet is creating atheists?

It doesn't seem to bother Islam much.

[mojo2501]

The internet has certainly reinforced my athiesm...but I've been a non-believer since 1985....waaaay before the internet....blame it on a Culture and Personality course in Anthropology. And sitting next to a guy I had a crush on...Howard...my first introduction to athiesm and discussing religion in any sort of objective way. (Howard already had a girlfriend but his ideas and ways of thinking took root and stuck long enough to keep me following this "crooked" path to this very day. )

I would just say that the internet is the perfect forum for discussion...dialogue and beyond. Athiesm is easier to discuss and reflect upon in this way...I would certainly have a hard time finding like-minded people without this sort of access. But I'd still be an athiest regardless of the internet!

[sexorcista]

For us ex-theists - do you think you would be an atheist today if the internet did not exist? Think about not only your direct experience with the internet, but also the internet's wider impact on society.

Love that question!

Answer: NO...I have been a non believer for years - before the internet came into existence.

Eek! Yes..folks...there was a time before the NET.

Thinking back on that time...I think there were probably more atheists (non church goers) around Australia during that time than there appears to be now. (check the stats..not they are reliable for this question anyway).... When I left church and therefore home...it was very easy for me to slot into non christian life. In fact 'christians' during that time were thought of as being 'weird'...Umm...and some types were even purposely avoided by the general population ie/ Mormons/SDA's etc. People used to laugh at the Hare Krishners banging around the city street but other eastern religions weren't that obvious unless you were part of that culture. Immigration has impact on religious participation.

I guess that's a totally different experience of America society?

For me...being a non believer or an atheist apart from the NET has been a non event - no big deal and not a topic for much conversation. ...its like..."SO what'...

[hoverFrog]

Yes..folks...there was a time before the NET.

And Tim Berners-Lee said "Let there be an agreed communications protocol" and lo there was. Vint Cerf did say that there really should be mail on that thing and lo, there was mail.

I'm definitely for a polytheistic system here. There's more than one Father (of the Internet).

As a method of communication and dissemination of information there is nothing quite so effective as t'internet. I think that it is fair to say that without exposure to ideas people do not adopt them.

[sexorcista]

Yes..folks...there was a time before the NET.

And Tim Berners-Lee said "Let there be an agreed communications protocol" and lo there was.

As a method of communication and dissemination of information there is nothing quite so effective as t'internet. I think that it is fair to say that without exposure to ideas people do not adopt them.

yeah but people do sometimes have the odd unique idea without that 'exposure'.

For me that's a problem with the net. The information is so replicated therefore it becomes boring - over and over the same stuff gets shunted around on billions of blogs and webs. I think in many ways people become somewhat competitive online to be one of the first with the 'news' or some bit of info that they think others cannot live without.

Anyway...I think for christianity in general its been an evolution of format. The advent of the Online Ministry...The 'just send us money' people and for others it could be seen as a lazy arse way to meet your 'witnessing' quota without leaving your house. It is a very cost effective method.......and I gather heaps and heaps of people have been sucked in. Given that the 'internet' or its use is very addictive....people are often 'hooked' into belief systems that are not 'healthy' - the hell and brimstone 'ministries' are doing well, not to mention the christian advertising.

Back to atheists....
Generally writers do well out of the net. Richard D has almost achieved rock star status. Umm...the other american dude Sam Harris also enjoys a 'following'. I don't swallow everything idea or line .....
I think for me....personal observations and experiences inform rather than following the 'written word' as much of christianity had done with its devotion to the 'bibble'.

[Jasen777]

Do you therefore think the internet is creating atheists? It doesn't seem to bother Islam much.

I think it helps. Besides the practical aspects, the internet has made us us more connected to other cultures than ever before, promoting pluralism and indirectly atheism. Islamic countries are less connected to the interenet, and not to mention, the penalty for deconverting from Islam is quite harsh and alot of countries.

A couple of key points of my deconversion happened due to the internet. It's likely I would not be an atheist now without the internet. I think I would still get there though, but it would have been a longer and more painful experience.

[Jasen777]

For me...being a non believer or an atheist apart from the NET has been a non event - no big deal and not a topic for much conversation. ...its like..."SO what'...

It's certainly different in the Bible Belt.

[happycynic]

I came into my atheism through introspection and just sitting and thinking during church, so the intertubes really didn't have anythying to do with it. I do credit them for raising my awareness about how atheists are treated nation/world-wide, and exposing me to a veritable feast of intellectual musings (once i found this site and was able to avoid the belligerent weirdos ).

[sexorcista]

For me...being a non believer or an atheist apart from the NET has been a non event - no big deal and not a topic for much conversation. ...its like..."SO what'...

It's certainly different in the Bible Belt.

Oh yeah...it would be tough.

I think no matter where you are in the world - the same kind of constriction and lack of freedom / alternatives can be felt within a christian - evangelical / bornagain / fundy family.
Family life can be like a jail term. At least that's been my observations.

[Huxley]

I think there can be no doubt the internet exposes you to far more argument than the relative amount of books you can read.

[digitalsaint]

I was a cowed non-believer prior to the internet.
I've always been a bit of skeptic, though for awhile I really tried to be believer (blame it on a girl).

But that was also in the south, and so I think it was a matter of survival (or at least reduced anxiety) to remain quiet about my at-the-time agnosticism.

Since the advent of the internet, and the ability to commune with like minded skeptical folks I've found a much more confident voice. The one thing I've always envied believers is that sense of community.

So I've come out of the closet (as it were) since the internet. It's given me a louder voice, and more confidence in asking tough questions.

[Neon Genesis]

| might not be an atheist if it wasn't for the Internet. If it wasn't for the Internet, I wouldn't have had all the support I've had from my online friends during my deconversion from fundamentalism which ended with me deconverting to atheism. Almost everyone I know offline is a fundie and so I don't have many people who I can be open with about my thoughts but I have lots of online friends who love me for who I am and who I can turn to them for support. So, if it wasn't for my online friends to help me with my grappling with religion, I might not be an atheist today.