One of my areas of interest is the mind-body problem. This is an area of philosophy that explores the relationship of the mind to the body. Steven Pinker, professor of psychology at Harvard, published an interesting article in TIME this week called The Mystery Of Consciousness. If Wiki is accurate on Pinker, then he was raised Jewish and became an atheist at age 13. Time magazine named Pinker as one of its 100 most influential people in 2004. His views ought to be taken seriously. I hope to comment on his essay this week on The Dawn Treader. If you are interested in this topic, please go read Pinker's article.
What a coincidence! I became an atheist at age thirteen as well. I was a Methodist, though.
Posted by: Rob Ryan | January 22, 2007 at 15:26
Reminds me of "What Dreams May Come" where the following exchange takes place:
Albert: So what is the "me"?
Chris Nielsen: My brain I suppose.
Albert: Your brain ? Your brain is a body part. Like your fingernail or your heart. Why is that the part that's you?
Chris Nielsen: Because I have sort of a voice in my head, the part of me that thinks, that feels, that is aware that I exist at all.
Albert: So if you're aware you exist, then you do. That's why you're still here.
Posted by: B.A. | January 22, 2007 at 23:17
Good example.
Posted by: Mr. D | January 23, 2007 at 06:19
I was late to the party. I started having minor doubts at 15 or 16, which I suppressed. I remained devout until about 19 or 20, at which time I swung pretty hard the other way and started calling myself an "atheist." I started off Catholic.
Posted by: tgirsch | January 23, 2007 at 16:06