Why I Am Anti-Theist

[God of Mr. Hanky]

Now, I didn't even dare think about saying that I didn't want to go to church. My Mother would have beaten me to death.

I remember going to my da, who often described himself as a cliff-hanging Catholic ('we don't believe in God, but we do believe that Mary was his mother') and telling him that I didn't believe and I didn't want to attend Mass anymore. He very calmly and patiently explained that he didn't believe either, but still went to Mass every Sunday, and that I was risking breaking Mam's heart if I refused to go. He didn't threaten me (not that he ever did), but made his point. He wouldn't have me take the chance on hurting my mother.

I went to Mass until I left home.

Boru

I find that sort of emotional manipulation through drama disgusting. If your mother really cared rhat much about you, then she would have given up her selfish delusions of being the matriarch of an idyllic Xtian family. She may have thought of better ways to bond with her children, such as going for walks together on Sundays. My mother wasted one fine Xmas Eve for us last year at church when I traveled to visit her, and it was two hours I'll never get back!

What about your father, when you were ready to quit? Did he help her teach you the ideas which he didn't believe himself? Parents should not for any reason teach what they know are lies!

So you werent physically coerced into church attendence, although you weren't particularly willing when you went. Please be aware there is much coercion going on in other countries, particularly in the US.