Atheist Filipino
I'm an Atheist in a christian country, the Philippines. I did believe in "God" when I was younger, I always looked up to him, I prayed that everything was gonna get better, I did my best to try and believe, but my questions were left unanswered.
If we actually look back to the time Spain colonized the Philippines, Filipinos had their own beliefs and culture, but were ultimately washed by the Spaniards. I wouldn't say their style of spreading the word of "God" was any peaceful. Filipinos were brainwashed to follow their religion. Men's and women's rights were taken from them forcefully, they were enslaved, r@ped and abused.
How can we just forget those happened?
If you actually think about it, "God, is all loving and peaceful." How can you correlate those words to the situation? THERE ISN'T a correlation. Even if "God" exists, far too many religions exists, who can we truly believe in this world?
Crime is rising in the Philippines, people think it's the lack of belief in "God", but it's not.
EVEN if someone believes in "God", they are still capable of doing bad things. It is due to the lack of discipline, bad economy, low salaries and unfairness in this country.
People also blame our leaders, they're partially correct, but it is worth to mention that we live as one in a country.
Now, let me get back. Atheism is heavily looked down on in this country, they say we're satanists, and we belong in hell, but how is that possible when we don't believe in the Bible, that doesn't mean you'll need to lecture and discriminate people like me
I respect every religion, I think it's nice to have some hope in this world. But I just don't believe and that gives me peace. I respect you, and some other people does too, and you shouldn't stereotype every other atheists that they're evil and have no respect, because every person is different and there are different types of group/community.