Name: Ethan Radatz
Born: July 21, 1991
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Affiliation: None, at the moment
Label: Atheist
Former Religious Affiliation: Laid-Back Christian
My Story:
Let me start out by saying, I used to be a laid back Christian. In my youth (early teens), I went to church and believed what my parents believed, same religious affiliation, same political affiliation. In my late years of middle school and early years of high school, I began having feelings for my own sex and having less feelings for those of the opposite sex. I knew I was gay, but I never told anyone and I went through the motions of being a straight man. During my high school days, I already did not care much for church or religion in general, it was boring and seemed to just be a way to control people. I still enjoyed the idea of religion, as in I liked the video games it produced and the entertainment value it held. By college, I had looked up Richard Dawkins and watched all his documentaries and videos and very much agreed with whatever he said. In college, I came out to my parents as well (for being gay, not an atheist). I’m a psychology major so I like to think of how religion deals with people’s personalities, behaviors and cognitions. I’d like to dedicate my future to setting aside religious views for more rational ones. I already have a friend who is nice and everything, but I have observed him become increasingly “holy”. He no longer likes Disturbed music as he once did, he no longer enjoys horror movies as he once did, I shudder to think of what else he will drop because it is deemed “ungodly”. When we discuss religion, I don’t believe he understands that he could be wrong, he always seems to take a position where he is right and I am wrong, even though he could be in any other religion and believe just as strongly. Atheism just clicks for me, in a way nothing else does. I don’t believe in hellfire, angels, demons or divine judgment. These things are only interesting as fictional topics like fairies or unicorns. My views are rational and I would not like to worship something I cannot see or hear. I’ve seen the studies of religion and I lean toward the side that it’s just a happy feeling that you can get when your “brain is on religion”. I really can’t tell you how to come out as an atheist. I’d just be honest and say that you don’t believe in any God or gods. I brought in “The God Delusion” at my job and read it in my spare time. When asked about it, I simply gave them a straightforward answer and they accepted it. If you have no way of expressing yourself, go to a Christian chat room and talk or watch some stimulating videos. Don’t be afraid to speak out because you have one person that does think you’re absolutely right, and that person is me.
Tagged with: ethan radatz atheist christian moderate ohio 1991 gay straight dawkins god delusion coming out
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It seems to me that you really did not try to fully comprehend the christian aspects. Just like we have bad and good people everywhere we also have good and bad CHRISTIANS. Nobody is perfect and we all comit sin at one point in time but when you really become a christian it dosent mean you are giving up all the “fun” stuff. It just means that you understand that Jesus died on the cross for all of us. I would really like for you to come to my church. We have an online service every sunday. & nobody is judging you because your gay and it should definately not stear you away from religion because of it. http://www.calvarychurch.cc (:
(FROM WAA) I’m going to add this comment… just to show that Christians will try and witness everywhere – even when they aren’t welcomed. This is a site dedicated to helping people come out and be proud to be an atheist, and yet they still try and convert people here. Sad.
You really have the audacity to comment and tell me that my observation falls flat? Well, we do have free speech so you are free to criticize, HOWEVER, some opinions are weighted more than others. You separate out people that say they are Christians, but still say they are “bad” people, how foolish. If I was talking to an atheist friend, we may disagree on some points, but I’d very rarely think they were a “bad” person. Melissa, I don’t ever think people judge me for being gay, as they would be seen as stupid and ignorant. It would be a waste of my time to talk to someone that was so venomous to changing or accommodating another person’s viewpoints. You come on this site, a site meant for people to make bonds and come out as an opposition to your hair-brained religious scam and clutch your cross until your hand bleeds. Do you chant “Forgive them Lord, for they do not know what they’ve done”? Give me a break, your pitch is faulty and I’m not buying what you’re selling. Committing “sin”, is just making a bad decision or a stupid choice that you’ll be chastised for later. If you sleep around behind someone’s back, you’re gonna: 1) Potentially lose your original partner, 2) Be seen as unfaithful and a person that wouldn’t be able to have a stable relationship, you see that? The “sin” of adultery is just a bad decision with some negative consequences, there is no “man in the sky that will place you in a fiery pit after you’re dead”, there just isn’t and has not been demonstrated to show such a thing exists. So, Melissa, take your bible, your link and your crazy religion pitches somewhere else, because this isn’t the place they will work, this site doesn’t have “on-the-fence” atheists, this site has people that reject your claims. Have a nice day.
listen here melissa theres nothing wrong with a little help being converted into an atheist! and im sorry but there really is no fun in being a christian, it covers your entire life, you have no room for yourself only strong belivers have fun on missions and stuff, but people who are going through things, not so much. and not only that you cant question him or think second thoughts or condemed to life in hell. i dont hate god, i do respect christians, but im kina pissed that your insulting us ON OUR OWN WEBSITE.