I am both kinds of athiest (nastika and nirisvara). So, in that sense, I am not religious. Theravedas do not believe in any conversion ceremony unless you are

I am both kinds of athiest (nastika and nirisvara). So, in that sense, I am not religious. Theravedas do not believe in any conversion ceremony unless you are going to be a monk. I have no intention of becoming a monk, as Buddha taught about six-directional duties of a man, and he himself confirmed that thousands of people attained Nirvana while being in a family (was it to Batsagotta? My memory eludes me). And I am not sure I deserve your compliments. I drink occasionally (intoxicating drinks were forbidden by the Buddha), and I keep eating meat and fish. I reached the conclusion of absolute nothingness and human beings being not more than complex biological machines with Science only, and no Buddhism. I started with Buddhism to figure out what to do with the knowledge. So far, I am very glad, and I am finding what I was looking for and beyond. I was completely blown away by the ehipassika (come and see) philosophy, lack of blind faith, and the inherent logical structure of Buddha's teaching. I remain deeply impressed by the same.