I was born and raised "soft" atheist. I've always wondered how I'd have faired with a different upbringing, and have a great deal of respect for those who overcame religous upbringing.
HarryKeogh
Unregistered
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- Jan 2, 2003
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- 11,319
varwoche said:
and I have a great deal of respect for your parents!
I was raised as believer. I was told to pray every night.
I can't remember when I got over that, but I did.
Every time I visit my mother (christian) and father (agnostic?, racist?, realy old school anyway
)
and we watch, say, a documentary about apes and sh..stuff...
Me and my father then start to talk about evolution and if my mother hears this conversation, there's a really awkward pause.
"My son doesn't believe in evolution!" Sad.
I remember walking out of the dinner table last christmas, when she wanted to read from the bible. I said do you believe that Silmarillion is real story? Of course she didn't. Because it was a fantasy.
I really want to believe...no, that's not it. I really want to KNOW there is a god, so I can finally understand the one with the golden heart. My mother.
ps. I hope this is readable. I had a few drinks.
I can't remember when I got over that, but I did.
Every time I visit my mother (christian) and father (agnostic?, racist?, realy old school anyway
)and we watch, say, a documentary about apes and sh..stuff...
Me and my father then start to talk about evolution and if my mother hears this conversation, there's a really awkward pause.
"My son doesn't believe in evolution!" Sad.
I remember walking out of the dinner table last christmas, when she wanted to read from the bible. I said do you believe that Silmarillion is real story? Of course she didn't. Because it was a fantasy.
I really want to believe...no, that's not it. I really want to KNOW there is a god, so I can finally understand the one with the golden heart. My mother.
ps. I hope this is readable. I had a few drinks.
chrisberez
Thinker
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2004
- Messages
- 234
Re: Re: born atheist
Man, right on. Actually I envy those brought up atheist. It took me close to ten years to extricate myself from the living hell that is christianity. Now I can't even figure out how or why I believed any of that nonsense in the first place.
wollery said:
Man, right on. Actually I envy those brought up atheist. It took me close to ten years to extricate myself from the living hell that is christianity. Now I can't even figure out how or why I believed any of that nonsense in the first place.
I'd say my parents raised me in an agnostic/secular way. They never coerced or pushed religion of any kind on me. I think one is agnostic, the other atheist, both secularist.
Unfortunately this country is not secular and christiany was forced on me at every turn throughout my life. I cannot say I was raised an atheist, my memories of school etc are constantly being made to feel guilty because I didn't believe like others, even if I said I did or attempted to.
I don't know if it is the same now or ever was in the other bits of the UK. I sure hope not.
I respect my parents for letting me make up my own mind, that's the best I can say of it.
Unfortunately this country is not secular and christiany was forced on me at every turn throughout my life. I cannot say I was raised an atheist, my memories of school etc are constantly being made to feel guilty because I didn't believe like others, even if I said I did or attempted to.
I don't know if it is the same now or ever was in the other bits of the UK. I sure hope not.
I respect my parents for letting me make up my own mind, that's the best I can say of it.
Re: Re: born atheist
My earliest memory having to do with religion was at age 5 being asked by another kid at school if I believed in god, answering no, getting bullied off the monkey bars, and not particularly caring due to a sense of smug superiority.
I don't recall that particular question arising.Tony said:
My earliest memory having to do with religion was at age 5 being asked by another kid at school if I believed in god, answering no, getting bullied off the monkey bars, and not particularly caring due to a sense of smug superiority.
Re: Re: Re: Re: born atheist
Long conversations about the universe with my dad the physicist , staring at the night sky while he taught me the constellations.Tony said:
evildave
Unregistered
E
I was born alive. Therefore 'alive' is a default position, at least for me.
Would death be preferable from the religious POV? As I understand it, there's all that 'good stuff' religious people believe that's s'posed to happen after their corpses starts rotting.
I'd think a lot more of them would be killing themselves or getting themselves killed to collect their 'big prize'.
Would death be preferable from the religious POV? As I understand it, there's all that 'good stuff' religious people believe that's s'posed to happen after their corpses starts rotting.
I'd think a lot more of them would be killing themselves or getting themselves killed to collect their 'big prize'.
plindboe
Graduate Poster
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2003
- Messages
- 1,246
My parents never forced any beliefs onto me, so I was free to make up my own mind. Even today I don't know if my parents believe in God or not, though I suspect my father probably doesn't, since we have the same mind-set. I sure am glad I wasn't born into a fundy home.
evildave
Unregistered
E
If there's a 'sucker born every minute', we're overdue to see another big Darwin Award Qualifying Event.
People forget there was a Jonestown, a Branch Davidian compound, Solar Temple, and a "movement for the restorations of the ten commandments of god", among many, many others.
People don't bother to teach their kids about what such groups are, and are astonished when their own precious kids get sucked into one.
It's a simple conversation. The cult-twisted kid tells them they can be saved from unspecified 'things'. "Just try it!" They invite your kid to a party where they'll talk about 'stuff'. Next thing you know they've got a tamborine and a robe and are dancing around an airport telling everyone how the 'comet is comming', or even worse, getting Baptised!
If you don't talk to your kids about religion, someone else surely will.
Tell your kids: "Just say 'no' to gods!"
Above all, make sure they know how to make "right" decisions for themselves. How to be skeptical. How to analyze and interpret what people are saying, and what they are trying to convince you of. These things are very different.
Above all, tell them what peer pressure is, how it's applied, what it's used for, and why it is best to be immune to it.
Make sure they understand what an authority is, and what being an authority means, and especially the limitations of authorities. After all, that older, softly spoken and educated man might be a *gasp!* priest!
People forget there was a Jonestown, a Branch Davidian compound, Solar Temple, and a "movement for the restorations of the ten commandments of god", among many, many others.
People don't bother to teach their kids about what such groups are, and are astonished when their own precious kids get sucked into one.
It's a simple conversation. The cult-twisted kid tells them they can be saved from unspecified 'things'. "Just try it!" They invite your kid to a party where they'll talk about 'stuff'. Next thing you know they've got a tamborine and a robe and are dancing around an airport telling everyone how the 'comet is comming', or even worse, getting Baptised!
If you don't talk to your kids about religion, someone else surely will.
Tell your kids: "Just say 'no' to gods!"
Above all, make sure they know how to make "right" decisions for themselves. How to be skeptical. How to analyze and interpret what people are saying, and what they are trying to convince you of. These things are very different.
Above all, tell them what peer pressure is, how it's applied, what it's used for, and why it is best to be immune to it.
Make sure they understand what an authority is, and what being an authority means, and especially the limitations of authorities. After all, that older, softly spoken and educated man might be a *gasp!* priest!