My full Atheist journey

From Christianity to Judaism

The speaker recounts a winding path from Christianity to atheism. At 18, after his parents let him choose whether to attend church, he called a synagogue to ask why Jews didn’t accept Jesus as the Messiah. He enjoyed talking with a female rabbi so much that he began attending services and decided to convert to Judaism. When she moved to Israel, he found another synagogue and started studying Torah with a male rabbi.

From Judaism to Atheism

Four months before his planned conversion, the male rabbi said there was no evidence the Bible happened exactly as written and suggested it may have been made up to teach moral lessons. The speaker was stunned. After hearing the point repeated the following week, he quietly slipped out, pretending he might be going to the restroom, and never returned.

He later emailed the rabbi to say that their conversations had helped lead him to atheism, while thanking him for making him feel welcome.

Overcoming Fear of Hell

The speaker’s next hurdle was fear of hell. After watching The Atheist Experience, he researched the idea and came to understand the Jewish concept of Sheol as the grave, rather than a place of fiery punishment. He says he no longer fears hell and is now a complete atheist.

A Vision of the Future

The video takes a notably futuristic turn as the speaker imagines science eventually finding a way to resurrect the dead, control the weather, grow food in deserts, and build artificial worlds. He pictures interviewing historical figures—including Jesus, if the biblical characters were real—to learn what actually happened.

The most personal part of this vision is bringing back his pets, including a childhood dog his mother told him had run away so he wouldn’t be sad. He hopes to get a house and a new dog named Max within five years.

People Mentioned

• The speaker
• The two rabbis
• Matt Dillahunty
• Tracy (surname unclear in the subtitles)