(December 30, 2017 at 4:29 pm)Die Atheistin Wrote: Religion. I grew up in a moderate christian family but was thaught in school the fundamentalist way. I broke free at 13 years with help from a friend of dad's. One year later I told my parents about my experience in school and they told me they don't believe in Hell. Years later I started to question the existence of God and finally became an atheist at the age of 17. One day I asked my mom: "Why do we need to pray? Will God not help us if we don't?", she replied: "No, but it gives you positive energy." "But there's no evidence for a God" "No, but it makes you happy to imagine that a God and angels protect you". I was already an atheist before that conversation and I didn't suffer from it, so I'm returning to Christianity. Also, WTF? All of this, the brainwashing the confusion about what my parents believe, my broken heart when I found I was brainwashed and possible existential crisis. All of this could have been prevented if she told me exactly what she believes before or during the time I was in school.
If you wanna run away from reality and indoctrinate me from the moment I'm born to do the same, then at the very least tell me what you believe when I'm in my first years of childhood, not when I'm almost an adult and I ask you to tell me. Otherwise don't expect me to think like you.
I also remember that I was never a big fan of going to church or praying, not even in kindergarten. A that time I didn't understand what are all rituals for, why were all people in church crossing themselves, kneeling, praying, lightning candles, kissing icons. I didn't understand much of what the preist said (now I understand and I wish I didn't). Most of all, I didn't understand why we were forced to eat bread and wine. I was orthodox and I hated the Eucharist. There were real pieces of bread soaked in wine. The priest fed them to us with spoons. Granted, there were 2 spoons and each of them was put in a glass of water after getting in someones mouth, but still.
I am glad I became an atheist but wish I didn't go through all this pain.
If this is the worst pain that you ever experience you'll be a very lucky individual.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
