(January 24, 2016 at 3:24 pm)TrueChristian Wrote:(January 24, 2016 at 3:17 pm)drfuzzy Wrote: I was raised holy roller Protestant. I had to memorize a Bible passage every day and recite it before dinner.
Then I went to college and met all sorts of people. I started loving science.
I played for churches for decades, and started really listening to what all those Bible verses was saying.
And one Easter, right in the middle of a service, I realized that I just didn't buy it. I didn't believe anything of what I was hearing.
I looked into other belief systems and new-agey stuff and I realized that I just didn't believe that either.
I wanted to say that I was a Deist, for a while, and I love Buddhism and the book of the Tao -
But I really just cannot make myself believe that a deity exists. Therefore, I am an atheist.
Thank you for your candor!
I recall you mentioned you work at a Catholic Church in some capacity? What is your opinion of the people who are there ( the pastor, the church employees, parishoners etc.) Is it toxic/repressive, or are the people at all likeable?
I love the people there, for the most part. That's why I still play, once a week. These are good people. It's a mostly open-minded, progressive group.
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans (wow, that was over ten years ago!) the very next day there were TWO 18-wheelers in the parking lot, with big signs everywhere (heading south as soon as these are full - donations welcome) people came from EVERYWHERE. I was helping load when a young goth couple arrived, and asked Fr. Baumann if they could donate. He said "everyone is welcome" and for a little while he had an atheist, two satanists, and a bunch o' catholics loading his truck together. They filled both 18-wheelers in 2 days and sent another a few days later. Yes, I like these people. But I don't discuss my lack of belief with them.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein