Topic: Non-Religious Conversion Reactions (Angry / Sad)?

[Themoralskeptic]

I take your point, but I think the same point can be made the same way in the other direction. I don't know of any born again Christians or conversions to any religion that feel as though they are worse off now. It is important to point out that you can be an atheist and still have a meaningful life full of mystery and complexity, because that is often an unfounded criticism. That, however, does seem to be the default mental picture no matter what you believe, and there is no 'high ground' to be had on the mystery or greatness of life...except perhaps against the religions that deny life's importance.

I guess in conclusion the state of mind after any kind of conversion is never anger or sad, be it atheism or anything else. The same way that it would seem that rich people should be happier, but that isn't the case either.   

[Desert Fox]

I think you are taking my argument the wrong way. Not saying that a person cannot be happy for being religious just that the argument you hear from the religious that you are destroying somebody's happiness (By convincing somebody that there is probably no god) is at least mostly unfounded. A person can be just as happy or satisfied not believing in any gods as believing in them.

Now, it is true that whenever anybody ever converts to a belief, they tend to become devout. Reading about Alexandra Romanova and when she converted to Russian Orthodox, how she became extremely devout. With ministers becoming atheists, they often become very evangelical. I don't consider it good or bad. I also know of no real equivalent in the reverse where somebody was a strong arguer for atheism and switches to theism. If there was one, I would be interested in listening to their arguments.