I guess I'll start with backstory. 

When I was young I was never taken to church, only when we went to my grandmothers house. My dad was big into preaching all the time but never practicing what he said. I remember trying to get my dad to go to church, even dragging my brother to a church down the street from us, and trying to get him to go. of course he never did. and I never actually had any interest in church I just wanted him to get out of the house. 

He refused and of course I made trouble and skipped school and did all kinds of other things to try and get him to pay attention to what was going on. 

I grew up and eventually moved with my mom. He became very super christian and started preaching to me harder, I tried. I really did. I wanted nothing more than to have something in common with him. I tried to believe. I prayed and went to multiple churches and according to his family when I confided in them I wasn't trying hard enough, or praying enough. I had too many questions and I have always felt like an outcast because of it. 

It never made sense to me and so I recently quit trying. I have found myself feeling better, and living a healthier lifestyle and happier since. 

I've also found something to submerge myself into and learn about and do everything to learn everything that I can so that when my dad finds out (and he will eventually) and he tries to debate me (this I know for a fact) I can win this time. 

I have become the thing he hated. A godless heathen. 

I won't be straw manned any more, and when I am I will be educated enough to fight back with logic and reason.

I think you'll find folks here who probably have a similar story... you're in good company, regardless.

Welcome!

Welcome!

(March 20, 2017 at 2:19 am)godlessheatheness Wrote: I've also found something to submerge myself into and learn about and do everything to learn everything that I can so that when my dad finds out (and he will eventually) and he tries to debate me (this I know for a fact) I can win this time. 

Such a debate will only result in loss on both sides.

Welcome to the land of the sodomites. (We only call it that because of Vorlon.)

Your story seems as much a cautionary tale of how families fuck us over as it is about religion. But mix the two and you have the kind of stuff of which psycho-therapists' dreams are made. Sadly it is a common tale.

It seems you can start a family with much less preparation than you can begin driving a motor car. My mother and father meant well -don't they all?- but were entirely inept. I was 'blessed' by my father's being away a lot on account of his employment by the navy. My mother wasn't a god-botherer, but he sure was. I was the second of a long line of babies they turned out together. Things went well enough for we earlier iterations but by the time my youngest brother (#7) came along, my father was retired and so had time to read the bible all night every night until he managed to put himself in the psyche ward. My mother was just garden variety manic depressive. So while #7 was in high school, they were both in the hospital and he was left to write the checks to keep the homestead afloat. So religion sucks but so does the ignorance and neglect which run rampant in families.

Howdy Pawed-ner!

Debating against a fantasy belief can be difficult. The holder of the belief has the ability to magic away all arguments. Good luck. Glad you're here.

(March 20, 2017 at 7:40 am)popeyespappy Wrote: Such a debate will only result in loss on both sides.

You are probably right. My dad is the absolute worst about arguing and even unprompted he will start arguments about stupid things.
for example my brother used to watch that my little pony show, and my dad started a huge fight about how that show was part of the "wussification" of America. I wasn't even part of the argument and he basically beat me down emotionally until I couldn't stand it.

He knows how to hurt people and I don't think he realizes he does it. I truly feel for his new wife. The day will come when she has to be argued with and she will learn how bad he really is.

I love my dad, but I can't be around him for long periods of time.

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(March 20, 2017 at 8:09 am)Whateverist Wrote: Welcome to the land of the sodomites. (We only call it that because of Vorlon.)

I thought maybe it might have been a creationist cat thing.

Belated welcome, Godless Heatheness. May you grow in atheism.

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Welcome to board, you will many like minded people here, we all have different back stories on why we became Atheists, the fastest growing method of thinking next to being a Muslim. Best of all were not assholes who shove it others faces. Unlike the people who knock on your door, or bother you in a parking lot....

Welcome!

Sorry your relationship with your father is strained. My relationship with my mom is much the same.

A long time ago I set a boundary for my mom, that if she crosses it---it's gonna get real, with the quickness. She chooses now not to cross that line, and our relationship is much the better.

(March 25, 2017 at 12:16 am)Sterben Wrote: Welcome to board, you will many like minded people here, we all have different back stories on why we became Atheists, the fastest growing method of thinking next to being a Muslim. Best of all were not assholes who shove it others faces. Unlike the people who knock on your door, or bother you in a parking lot....

Oh that reminds me, you mind if I tell you about my lord and savior, beating things with a hammer?

I don't have to worry about any rules besides not hitting people or other people's things!