I used to be a Christian and would visit religious forums. Occasionally, I would come across an atheist poster and my responses to them probably made it appear that I never read what they wrote, but I did. When I started doubting my faith, some of those answers came back to me and helped me in my deconversion process.
Why did I believe? I would imagine coming from an abusive home where I had to obey without question made me more likely to be attracted to a religion with a control freak for a deity. All my life I had been told, I was dumb, ugly or stupid and that is how I viewed myself. It made me feel good that some god bigger than myself loved me even if I had to give up who I was for that love. Other religious people believe because they too have some sort of vulnerability or weakness that religion sooths. Instead of hating them, why not pity them?
Why did I believe? I would imagine coming from an abusive home where I had to obey without question made me more likely to be attracted to a religion with a control freak for a deity. All my life I had been told, I was dumb, ugly or stupid and that is how I viewed myself. It made me feel good that some god bigger than myself loved me even if I had to give up who I was for that love. Other religious people believe because they too have some sort of vulnerability or weakness that religion sooths. Instead of hating them, why not pity them?
