I was a bit vague about my question in the original post. A better question would have been; If and after you were brainwashed by a church, do you recall the first moment that began to undo your post-birth brainwashing?
And to reply to Rythm, I see most religious people simply as people. A bit brainwashed, sometimes ignorant to important issues, but people worthy of the same rights I enjoy. I see small town churches as more of a friendly community gathering place, disconnected very often from the larger spiritual conflicts of large societies.
There are, of course, exceptions. Not every small church is harmless- just look at the Westboro Baptist Church. On top of that, most large churches actively damage human society with lies, corruption, and a tendency to advocate humankind's worst qualities and hold them up as positive traits. And not every religious person is content with being simply ignorant. Many try to spread their ignorance and bigotry like a virus. Those people deserve no respect or sympathy.
And to reply to Rythm, I see most religious people simply as people. A bit brainwashed, sometimes ignorant to important issues, but people worthy of the same rights I enjoy. I see small town churches as more of a friendly community gathering place, disconnected very often from the larger spiritual conflicts of large societies.
There are, of course, exceptions. Not every small church is harmless- just look at the Westboro Baptist Church. On top of that, most large churches actively damage human society with lies, corruption, and a tendency to advocate humankind's worst qualities and hold them up as positive traits. And not every religious person is content with being simply ignorant. Many try to spread their ignorance and bigotry like a virus. Those people deserve no respect or sympathy.
What falls away is always, and is near.
Also, I am not pretending to be female, this profile picture is my wonderful girlfriend. XD