Well, perhaps you are right, in suggesting that your experience is more common than I think, but walking away from the church is different from being an atheist, don't you think?

Did you ever really believe that God did not exist, during that period away from church, or did you just take a break from all of the religious stuff for many years? Anyway, sometimes we need to take a break to do our own thinking, in order to put it all back together, later. Perhaps that's what happened in your situation. Maybe you were agnostic during that period. Anyway, if you are happy with your belief, that is all that matters, don't you think?

Good question. Atheism, likely arises through thinking at a later time in life, not early indoctrination. So, most atheists are likely those who are adults, who have done their own thinking, as adults.

Given, if a child is indoctrinated with atheism and survives until an adult, it would not be unlikely for that person to want what they have never had, the love that religion provides, so they may come out and seek religion.

A child will choose whatever makes him/her feel secure when they are uncertain due to inexperience. To tell a child that there is nothing out there for them and they are on their own, is scary. So, a child is much more likely to choose the philosophy that says there is something out there that will protect them, always, and that will love them like their mother, and that will lead them to an always-after, an always-after that will embraced him/her (the child), forever, in loving arms when they die.

Again, "Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.” (Aristotle). Islam and Christianity, as well as other beliefs/religions, are more likely to succeed if the indoctrination is started at an early age, generally speaking, in my opinion. There are exceptions, of course, but I am referring to man, in general, not in particular. So, this works best in children, as most children are too inexperienced to do their own philosophical thinking as they have not had the experience that growing up to adulthood gives them.

Thank you for challenging my thinking.

Yes, be it the thunder, lightening, or other scary not understood force of nature. Another good one, thinker green!!

you are a thinker - good/pertinent response!

Just wondering if lying ("BIGGEST LIAR") has degree in heaven or is any lie just a sin? If so, Obama and Trump just may end up living in the same heavenly neighborhood with all other lying presidents if they make it to the promise land.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/16/world/islam-fastest-growing-religion-trnd/index.html

"That means that Islam -- currently the world's second-largest religion -- will surpass Christianity as the world's biggest religion by the end of the century, the study projects."

"Why? Muslim women have more children, on average -- 3.1 children compared to 2.3 for all other religious groups combined, Pew says. Also, those of the Muslim faith tend to be, on average, seven years younger than non-Muslims."
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This really bolsters the idea that one's religion, for the most part, is the religion of their parents, not the one of their choosing, and that means that we are brainwashed, for the most part, into a religion. So, it may not be surprising that the largest religion belongs to the largest group that does the best brainwashing?

“Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.” Aristotle was a very smart man.

Will any Hogg challenge the idea that the religion of most religious individuals is the religion of their families? Did
God set it up this way or is this just a human trait, in other words, to accept the beliefs of ones parents?

"Drawing the line in the sand" and others. Open your brain, and do some real thinking. No president is without some bullshit to spread around. How do you think they get elected? Much on promises even they know they can't keep. Obama was just more subtle/clever with words than others. Trump is out in the open. Show me a perfect president. It can't be Bush, nor Obama. And now Trump is being weighed?
Check out promises broken:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/jan/05/tracking-obamas-top-25-campaign-promises/

Well, I voted for the guy, based on the other choices available, but I still think Zarkaria hit it right on the head in his description of Trump. Obama was also a bullshitter, but he was much more subtle than Trump.

I can't believe that so many others have not caught on to Trump's demeanor, yet. Zakaria hits it right on the nail.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/18/politics/zakaria-wiretap-trump-don-lemon-cnntv/index.html

Agree, and if she really knew how to "help America find common ground" (title of post and article) she might not have lost the election in the first place. She did not know, and I would doubt she knows now. Period.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/18/hillary-clinton-says-shes-ready-come-out-woods/99346698/

Jails are loaded with perverts, in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, California and elsewhere. What's new?

Must agree with you.

Jesuit Priests sell slaves to save Jesuit College (now called Georgetown University)
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/12/us/georgetown-university-slaves-life-campbell.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=image&module=photo-spot-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0