Well, and it's interesting, too, because my experience with other cultures -- European, Australian, etc. -- is that they find the American propensity to elevate these weird belief systems -- Christianity in particular -- to the level that we do in our society, utterly baffling. And it is EXACTLY like that, feeling like you're locked in an insane asylum and forced to "make nice!" LOL, I have felt that way all my life about it!! The encroachment into our government and politics in general is particularly disturbing to me.
I am always delighted when I run across one of the fence-sitters. They have already begun to employ their powers of reason to see that their religion is a man-made construct, and it's usually a fairly straightforward process to finish peeling off the veneer.
My atheist group is filled with people who once were True Believers™ of many, many faiths. We have former fundie Christians, Mormons, JWs, Catholics, Jews, Baptists, every kind. The single most common theme that runs through them when they join our group is an immense sense of relief that they can finally, finally be themselves without fear of shunning or other religious persecution. The need for a community and the idea that they may lose theirs is one of the biggest fears they have of revealing their true feelings. It comes up over and over and over again. You know, it's a lot to give up: Your neighbors, your friends -- and even in some instances, your family. I can understand why such fears drive the tendency to lie about one's true perspective toward the religion in which they were reared. One of the best things about my group is, we're able to fulfill that need for many who wish only to be honest about the loss of their faith -- and concurrent gain of a world that finally makes sense!
I am always delighted when I run across one of the fence-sitters. They have already begun to employ their powers of reason to see that their religion is a man-made construct, and it's usually a fairly straightforward process to finish peeling off the veneer.
My atheist group is filled with people who once were True Believers™ of many, many faiths. We have former fundie Christians, Mormons, JWs, Catholics, Jews, Baptists, every kind. The single most common theme that runs through them when they join our group is an immense sense of relief that they can finally, finally be themselves without fear of shunning or other religious persecution. The need for a community and the idea that they may lose theirs is one of the biggest fears they have of revealing their true feelings. It comes up over and over and over again. You know, it's a lot to give up: Your neighbors, your friends -- and even in some instances, your family. I can understand why such fears drive the tendency to lie about one's true perspective toward the religion in which they were reared. One of the best things about my group is, we're able to fulfill that need for many who wish only to be honest about the loss of their faith -- and concurrent gain of a world that finally makes sense!
