That at 5 yrs old i told myself that god was a fantasy created by man

It takes just as much faith to not believe in a higher power as it does to believe in one.

It's your choice, my friend.
But keep in mind it is all about faith. <-I hate responses like this

The burden of proof is on the party making the claim.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God.

-Epicurus 33 A.D.

Your feelings are normal, we all need to belive that there is something greater than ourselves, a higher power that gives reason to the random events that make up our lives. Life is hard we all need something to get us through. Keep beliving bro it's a comfort we all need.

When I was five, I remember saying "Life is just a long dream in heaven". So, that's kind of the yang to your yin, so to speak. You were imprinted with an image of humanity creating God as a fantasy and I with the image of God creating humanity as a fantasy. Who is to say which is closer to the truth, if either?

Faith is believing what you know ain't true. It does NOT take as much faith to disbelieve. Those god fairy tales sound too good to be true anyway and it makes no sense to say on one hand that something always needs a creator but then postulate that that creator escapes the very rule they just made up.

What a smart kid!

I don't believe in religion at all. But I'm not atheist. I have faith that there is something that created us and that there is possibly life after death. I don't know about a heaven and a hell. Science doesn't know everything. You must remember that when it comes to knowledge there is way more stuff out there to learn than humans can comprehend. There could possibly be other worlds and realities and life forms. No one knows because all we know is what is in our universe and what the books tell us.

Sorry for your loss, I know first-hand what it feels like. My father passed away when I was 21. Still haven't fully recovered from that and I'm now 26.

Anyway, much like yourself I realized at a pretty young age (6 or 7-years old) that there's no such thing as a god, and that the bible is nothing more than a bunch of poorly written stories to instill "moral values" (if you study most "holy books" of the different religions, you'll find that these values are most often the opposite of what we consider good moral values today) in us, and make the population easier to control by the church (which until quite recently, and still do in some parts of the world, were the ones in power).

This is obviously not limited to christianity, every religion is based on pretty much the same story and has the same function and objectives.

I don't find atheism depressing at all, on the contrary I find science extremely fascinating and uplifting, physics and biology in particular. As we learn more about ourselves and the world we live in the better we can adapt to it and the closer we come to a full understanding of exactly how we came into existence.

I understand that it's difficult and heartbreaking to realize that once someone die, they cease to exist. I'd love to be able to go heaven when I die and meet my family and loved ones again, but it's quite simply so far-fetched and too lacking in evidence for me to accept.

I can't say with absolute certainty that there's no god and no heaven or hell, but neither can I say with absolute certainty that there are no unicorns or fairies - and most people including me certainly don't believe in those.

You see that's the thing god has infinte power and divine rule no man on earth can explain or comprehend somthing that complex but we can shed light on it folowing his teachings regardless what religon pray and submit to him and he will find his way into your heart

I have similar thoughts in regards to the possibilty of a god (or gods)... I could never summarize my stance on the subject here but in short I believe that you can apply the life lessons and human compassion side of religion to your life without all the hocus pocus things that I view as silly. Religion can influence people in very very scary ways which is why I have always been interested in it as well as history. I also realize that it can help people in very amazing ways and i think that's awesome. I'm just very skeptical myself, and I think I always will be... If going through life in an honest, respectable, peaceful way isn't enough I don't think I'd want to be in your cool little club when I'm done "here" anyways :)

I know what you mean as I was raised in church although not strickly, I always beleived in GOD but as o get older I have more doubts than not ! However I have 3 grandchildren and I feel as though in this age they have to have something good to beleive in ! O do not push religion but I put it out there for them and tell them to live by the ten commandments , they will do ok in life cause those are the guidelines basically

Religion & faith are definitely difficult to understand. There's not much that I can say to your post, but I felt that I should share my outlook on this topic to maybe help you out.

Growing up I was never sure of what to think when it came to religion and just like you, education (especially due to science) made it more difficult to understand. However, I do believe that there is a God, a creator, a higher power, etc. I'm not afraid of death and I don't think of life as a depressing story of being born and eventually dying. Life is what you make of it. If today was your last, can you say that you were the person you hoped to be? My point is, don't look at life in a negative attitude. See past religion and just be grateful for what is there. Lastly, enjoy what you can make of it.

first, let me say that i am sorry for the loss of your father.

your comments are very valid points.

though, so many find comfort in religion. that's the great thing about faith, you can have it if you choose. there's no science behind it. if you choose to believe, then it is real to you.

I know how you feel, i am 16 and have sort of come to term with the fact that when im dead thats it.. game over. It is a really depressing thought and it is so easy to start thinking about it way to much.
To be honest i think you have stumbled upon the main reason for religion. All religions have an afterlife of some sort and its because that we dont want life to end so we live in hope that after we die it doesn't. Religion just gives us a way that we can carry on living for ever.
Also if you are interested in science as i am the more you learn about everything the less sense religion makes.

It takes just as much faith to not believe in a higher power as it does to believe in one.

It's your choice, my friend.
But keep in mind it is all about faith.