Hello everyone,
I am from the UK and in my late 30's.
I was raised as a Catholic and without dwelling too much on the processes involved I'm not one anymore.
Okay, well I'll dwell a bit perhaps but only to say that there was no great epiphany that caused me to question (what I accept to be) indoctrination over perhaps 15 to 20 years. I don't have any great misgivings about this upbringing, it wasn't filled with horrifying brainwashing or child abuse - the religious types were not dreadful paedophiles and firebrand preaching lunatics. Basically they were just nice people with a sense of community based around their (admittedly rather po-faced) beliefs. Think old ladies arranging flowers for the church and a grass mowing rota rather than door-to-door evangelists.
I have always been interested in all of the sciences and have been entertained by science fiction. later in my education I became a physicist and indeed still am.
The thing is, when I looked at things from a scientific point of view I realised that I never actually believed in God and never really participated in all the churchy goings on - I suspect I may have been afraid in a childish way of religious consequences when I was younger but that was really all it was. Rationally though, I gradually realised that the whole human spirituality and belief system is unsustainable for me.
Basically I eventually came to my personal decision about God about ten years ago in a happy and amicable way. No axes to grind in particular. I feel sad about the people who feel they need a shared belief in God to be good people and wish they could realise that they actually are decent and morally sound without it.
I also am aware that some people get social and mental satisfaction from such things and can only seem to get it there. Its probably a feature of human brains and is fine really - as long as they don't try to involve the unwilling then I am happy for them and feel that they should be left to do that.
I'm sort of easy going that way really - Its all good as long as you keep it to yourself and to people or groups who are interested or invite it.
I hope to have interesting discussions here and also hope that any opinions I may have will be of some value.
I am from the UK and in my late 30's.
I was raised as a Catholic and without dwelling too much on the processes involved I'm not one anymore.
Okay, well I'll dwell a bit perhaps but only to say that there was no great epiphany that caused me to question (what I accept to be) indoctrination over perhaps 15 to 20 years. I don't have any great misgivings about this upbringing, it wasn't filled with horrifying brainwashing or child abuse - the religious types were not dreadful paedophiles and firebrand preaching lunatics. Basically they were just nice people with a sense of community based around their (admittedly rather po-faced) beliefs. Think old ladies arranging flowers for the church and a grass mowing rota rather than door-to-door evangelists.
I have always been interested in all of the sciences and have been entertained by science fiction. later in my education I became a physicist and indeed still am.
The thing is, when I looked at things from a scientific point of view I realised that I never actually believed in God and never really participated in all the churchy goings on - I suspect I may have been afraid in a childish way of religious consequences when I was younger but that was really all it was. Rationally though, I gradually realised that the whole human spirituality and belief system is unsustainable for me.
Basically I eventually came to my personal decision about God about ten years ago in a happy and amicable way. No axes to grind in particular. I feel sad about the people who feel they need a shared belief in God to be good people and wish they could realise that they actually are decent and morally sound without it.
I also am aware that some people get social and mental satisfaction from such things and can only seem to get it there. Its probably a feature of human brains and is fine really - as long as they don't try to involve the unwilling then I am happy for them and feel that they should be left to do that.
I'm sort of easy going that way really - Its all good as long as you keep it to yourself and to people or groups who are interested or invite it.
I hope to have interesting discussions here and also hope that any opinions I may have will be of some value.
