Former believers, did you feel religion scammed you?

[Something completely different]

I feel abused to some extent, the catholic priest asigned to teach "religion" in our school would regulary "disciplin" children like it was 1950.

He never abused anyone sexualy though, but he was vicious and cruel. He once pulled a kid out of the classroom on his ear and that kid had a blue and red ear for weeks.

Other than that, I hate the absolutly dispicable clanish impact it can have on a society, when someone like that is permited to continue working because he is seen by the comunity as a "figure of authority and respect". That to me is the worst scam there is.

[Bad Writer]

I feel abused to some extent, the catholic priest asigned to teach "religion" in our school would regulary "disciplin" children like it was 1950.

He never abused anyone sexualy though, but he was vicious and cruel. He once pulled a kid out of the classroom on his ear and that kid had a blue and red ear for weeks.

Other than that, I hate the absolutly dispicable clanish impact it can have on a society, when someone like that is permited to continue working because he is seen by the comunity as a "figure of authority and respect". That to me is the worst scam there is.

People may argue that it's the person himself that chooses to act this way, but however much this may be true, a great deal of this priest's temperament can probably be attributed to his ass-backwards faith. If there was ever a reason to abolish the Catholic Church it's to get these angsty men away from small children.

[Tonus]

I feel embarrassed that I used to be a christian. I also I feel jealous for those that were never in a faith. Is there anyone else that feels this way?

I only regret that I didn't come to my senses earlier. The particular brand of Christianity I was raised with (JWs) wound up working in my favor seeing as we grew up in a very bad area, and if we'd had a less fundamentalist-led upbringing we probably would have integrated well into our environment. And that environment wasn't conducive to a happy life, IMO.

But at some point it was no longer necessary to remain ignorant, and I hung on for many years beyond that point. It was not entirely a waste, and I'm pretty happy with how things have turned out. But even a ten-year head start would've been useful.

[Whateverist]

I feel embarrassed that I used to be a christian. I also I feel jealous for those that were never in a faith. Is there anyone else that feels this way?

I only regret that I didn't come to my senses earlier. The particular brand of Christianity I was raised with (JWs) wound up working in my favor seeing as we grew up in a very bad area, and if we'd had a less fundamentalist-led upbringing we probably would have integrated well into our environment. And that environment wasn't conducive to a happy life, IMO.

But at some point it was no longer necessary to remain ignorant, and I hung on for many years beyond that point. It was not entirely a waste, and I'm pretty happy with how things have turned out. But even a ten-year head start would've been useful.

I'm always amazed to hear it when you say you came out of the JWs. That just seems like a particularly severe version. But you seem to have extraordinary balance and perspective. Do you still get on well with your family and friends who are still in, or do they shun you if you go apostate?

[paulpablo]

the church owes me a fuck load of time, wasted on religious education and standing up and sitting down at church. I often wonder how much of the worlds resources are wasted on religious.

Muslims have to pray 5 times a day! add onto that the obsessive washing of the body before each prayer.

[Tonus]

I'm always amazed to hear it when you say you came out of the JWs. That just seems like a particularly severe version. But you seem to have extraordinary balance and perspective. Do you still get on well with your family and friends who are still in, or do they shun you if you go apostate?

Hmmm, there's a bit of a story to tell, to be honest. At present they still consider me a member, though I haven't been to a regular meeting in a good eight or nine years, and have not been to the Memorial (the annual observance of Christ's death, which they unofficially consider mandatory to attend) in two or three. Those among my family who know about it already left the JWs themselves long ago. Those who don't are mostly uncles/aunts/cousins that I normally have very little interaction with. Being cut off from them would have almost no impact on my life.

My mother would shun me if she knew, but that would be a much greater inconvenience for her than for me. She must suspect, but I doubt she wants to know. I am sorely tempted to write a letter to the Watchtower Society stating my situation and formally disassociating myself, as I think that after a short period of upheaval, my general situation could only improve. Deliberately cutting the ties has otherwise never been a priority because once I stopped being active there is no real difference between where I am now and never being one in the first place.

The primary impact would be the reaction of those non-family JWs who live nearby and whom I run into now and then. It would be awkward to see people who ordinarily offer a warm smile and a greeting try their hardest to pretend that I'm not nearby and/or that they've never seen me before. But even that would not occur frequently and would be a minor issue; it's not me rejecting them, after all.

[Walking Void]

It took away from my video games time. So yes, religion did scam me.

Oh, OH! Especially christian-based religion classes, that was a waste of memory.

[Bad Writer]

It even scams the scammers.

[viocjit]

It even scams the scammers.

Yes preachers like priests and ministers are too scammed. But I'm sure that some Christian apologists lie for personal reasons (money , pleasure to manipulate people , being highly-respected etc...).
Also I think that some of them believe and make "pious frauds" like they think that these lies can save us.

Therefore there are four possibilities :
1.You believe all you say.
2.You don't believe what you say.
3.You don't believe all you say because you use the "pious fraud".
4.You're not a preacher.

[Lemonvariable72]

It even scams the scammers.

Yes preachers like priests and ministers are too scammed. But I'm sure that some Christian apologists lie for personal reasons (money , pleasure to manipulate people , being highly-respected etc...).
Also I think that some of them believe and make "pious frauds" like they think that these lies can save us.

Therefore there are four possibilities :
1.You believe all you say.
2.You don't believe what you say.
3.You don't believe all you say because you use the "pious fraud".
4.You're not a preacher.

Lee strobel comes to mind as does william lane craig.