Your Religious Journey

I've never been 'indoctrinated' but was more exposed to a fair few. Though parents brought me up in a secular environment, not even getting me baptised, as a kid I was exposed to Catholicism a fair bit. Grandparents and most of my family on my mother's side are catholic, so whilst I was never really indoctrinated, I still had plenty of exposure. Eventually was exposed to more Anglican christianity, and seeing the differences between all the major denominations was a good alarm bell for me.

Eventually, I started feeling uncomfortable over having to do certain things during religious education classes, preferring to learn about other cultures rather than go over the Bible and such. Becoming more aware of the hateful aspects of Christianity and being exposed to the Fundamental strain of christianity was the final nail in the coffin for me. I am pretty much an atheist, and been so for many years now. I strongly reject all notions of theistic deities, though am more open to the idea of deistic Creator (only in the agnostic sense, mind you).

-Bluefinger v1.25-

Knowledge may be free, but human stupidity is infinite...

I went through a teen crisis and went to visit my brother and his wife for a week, who were at that time were devout born-again Christians. I converted to Christianity and soon began attending the local Baptist church. After about 4 or 5 years I realized I was getting more depressed and disillusioned. During that time I also taught vacation bible school and read a lot of Christian literature that the church had. That's when I decided the bible was written by men for men to dominate women and people from other cultures or tribes. I left Christianity for good in 1986.

Morning,

I make frequent visits at the local baptist church, but I don't bother too stay (without a reason, or social necessity). It's rather difficult, and doesn't help with the whole illuminated Cross and red carpet - not exactlya comforting feeling. It's practically endangered my progress in school, and group events. I refused too readthe 'holy' book, because I could not agree with those pushing it on me too cite uncomfortable side effects of God's wrath - or any other worshiping techniques too 'catch up' with other activities. It was a mess, to clarify an example: instead of sitting around in a large group, where most dangerous events occur. I would be outside, attempting too connect with nature or simply observe the differences. far from being illiterate, I don't think I would place blame on the church - but it is definitly a cause for the chain reactions of problems I've been through thereafter. Because of this 'House of God' I have to be careful what I'm walking into any more. I'm tolerant of their customs, but since I've read over the history behind it all - very disapointed with the human species too be so submissive under itself like that. They will say 'we'll all be together in Heaven one day!', yet they refuse to work as a collective (at least, to a literal positive ends). Instead, if one fault is found with someone in their territory, it was a very horrifying experience for me. I considered a baptism when I was about 13, but then dismissed such. I can only maintain this body for so long, so I figure: be your own saviour instead.

Hope my presence isn't a burden here.

I grew up in the south and my grandmother was pentecostal. I would go to church with her sometimes and get the sense scared out of me by talk of fire and brimstone and people talking in tongues like they are having a siezure. I started going to youth group because of an invite from friends in the 8th grade. I got into believing in Jesus and heaven. I then started to question the doctrine of hell. I searched the web and bible for a belief that doesn't believe in hell and I considered myself a christian universalist while still going to that youth group. One day at the youth group a woman came up and professed that her mother and grandmother were witches. I almost busted out laughing and I have lost all faith in any kind of heaven, hell, or revealed God. I still go to youthgroup to chill with people and find Jesus sluts(I still kind of live in the south). I consider myself a deist because I believe that there had to be a first cause to the universe, but I don't think we can gather knowledge on this "thing" at this point in time. I first heard of deism in the ninth grade from my history teacher as he told us the founders of this country were deists. I looked it up and found it to be a reasonable belief even though I was still a christian. After falling out with my faith I decided that deism was for me.

My bad double post.