what age did you stop beleaving in the religion you where raised with?

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Spencer to Adventure

For all of you atheists and agnostics, I just want to say that even though you had a bad experience with Christianity, doesn't mean you can't be spiritual. I found in contrast to atheism, that occultism branches off into practically any belief system there is. You can do whatever the hell you want, including weird abnormal shit that wastes time, or grants deep deep insight.

I replaced the unknowing and unfeeling God with my own determination to become a better person. I believe that God is an important entity or thought form, and even though he may or may not exist, he still holds weight whether he's merely an idea or a real physical entity. I am a mix of extrovert and introvert.

It's fucked up but I like it.

Please read a book.

[DarkKnightJared]

I was never really taught to believe any religion. My mom wanted me baptized, but my dad, who really didn't like the concept of organized religion, wouldn't and they let me make up my own mind.

My mom would tell me her opinions if I asked, tried to make a case to believe in God, and I researched all the other religions out there, with none really satisfying me in any way.

I guess I'm somewhere between an agnostic and diest. I'm not sure if there is a God, but if there is, I think it's very unlikely that it's one of the ones that are being preached and people kill over on Earth.

[Incognito]

My upbringing was kind of odd. It was one of those "we go to church on Sundays, but we don't pray/have bibles laying out/etc." It was if the whole family was posing. I got clued in to my own view very young (e.g. "hmm, something's fishy here") and informed myself as the years went on.

Unfortunately, my sister is a god-fearing woman who is instilling "don't do that, God wouldn't like it" into her two daughters, my nieces. I'm the cynical uncle of the family, so when they get a bit older, I'll start breaking them down.

[standardman]

I was raised Roman Catholic and went to both a Roman Catholic junior and high school.

I was around the age of 12 that I realised it made no damn sense and got in trouble constantly for asking 'why?' during religious education lessions (not to be confused with religious studies) and getting annoyed when I didn't get a good answer.

The punchline being that - after all this trouble - I talked to my parents and they told me they didn't believe either and the schools were just better. It came from a good place and, hey, catholic school girls!

[DarkKnightJared]

Originally Posted by standardman

... It came from a good place and, hey, catholic school girls!

I've never found a better piece of evidence of the existance of God then a gorgeous girl in a Catholic school girl uniform.

Originally Posted by Lord of the Cock Rings

I'm definitely on the atheist side of this, but in the off chance that there is a creator; I think our universe was probably a 5th grade science fair project. He's gone on to college and we sit in a terrarium under his childhood bed, or possibly on top of mom's china cabinet. [IF our universe got a blue ribbon]

Which, details aside, isn't all that far from the diest philosophy, from my understanding (that God created the universe, has little to no interest in belief, and leaves us to our own devices).

[ryanvc76]

Originally Posted by Cretaceous Bob

I have always been an atheist. I never believed any of the crap churches or crazy people told me. You can be jealous and try to deny that that's possible and include accusations of ego in the only applicable poll choice, but I still talk about how much I actively hated going to church as a kid. I remember having to bullshit my way through some Jesus talk in Sunday school, trying to pretend that I believed well enough so that none of the crazies would try to talk to me before the bell rang and I could go get a doughnut. And on the days no one brought any doughnuts I was a pissed little kid. I very much remember cringing at all the stupid babble about what Jesus did for them and meant to them, and having to force the word Jesus out of my mouth with some sort of serious tone fucking killed me.

Going to church was, as I felt at the time and still feel, the single worst and most dreaded experience in my childhood. It was even grating when I did YMCA shit and they'd mention God. I hated that crap.

The only thing that has changed with age is my respect for and aggression against Christians. I find them decreasingly tolerable.

I was going to type a response to the thread, but you already wrote EXACTLY what I was going to type! Well put.
However, I will say that for some, I don't think it is a question as to when you quit believing, but more one of when did you have your non-believing "coming out"? Everyone around you can make you feel like your a total reject when you're the kid that doesn't believe in the invisible sky daddy. Sometimes I only wish I was ignorant enough to believe, after all, "ignorance is bliss"!

//Ryan

[marina]

I started writing a response to this thread and it grew into a monster. If you want to read it, go to my blog Marina Rose Martinez. Otherwise, good day.

[roxymodest]

Originally Posted by Spencer to Adventure

Now I follow spiritual occultism, meditation techniques that allow one to achieve different forms of enlightenment. You don't have to be in an organized religion, and even if you are an atheist its healthy to have a little bit of soul searching.

Currently I'm working on symbolism that can slowly represent the world. The Tree of Life (kabalah) works in basically the same way. For all of you atheists and agnostics, I just want to say that even though you had a bad experience with Christianity, doesn't mean you can't be spiritual. I found in contrast to atheism, that occultism branches off into practically any belief system there is. You can do whatever the hell you want, including weird abnormal shit that wastes time, or grants deep deep insight.

I replaced the unknowing and unfeeling God with my own determination to become a better person. I believe that God is an important entity or thought form, and even though he may or may not exist, he still holds weight whether he's merely an idea or a real physical entity. I am a mix of extrovert and introvert.

It's fucked up but I like it.

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Please read a book.

what she said, first off. thank you sparrow i recommend 'the god delusion', even if Dawkins does a lot of ranting in it, it makes sooo much sense

and second: WOW you sound like my mother. now fuck off.
music is my religion, and whatever the fuck you're doing is fine and yes, still fuuuuucked up however you see it.
amen.

[tuttle88]

I went to a religious school (well Anglican but we pretend we're a real religion) and between the ages of about 12-15 I read the the bible while bored in Religious Education (It was compulsory to buy, I might as well use it).

From reading the Bible I decided that Christianity was full of shit. I would be interested in how many Christians/whatever have read the actual book?


p.s. My Good News Bible was fierce! I had X-Files stickers from Girlfriend magazine, pictures from Romeo+Juliet the movie and flower stickers covered in clear contact.

[DJ Trashy]

Originally Posted by tuttle88

p.s. My Good News Bible was fierce! I had X-Files stickers from Girlfriend magazine, pictures from Romeo+Juliet the movie and flower stickers covered in clear contact.

pshaw! I had a "One Way" bible w/ a denim cover.