Basically I never had a reason to believe. The moment I realized that not believing was even an option, I took it. Looking back, I realize that a lot of the things I did as a believer made no sense. I too disregarded uncomfortable bible passages. We were told that if we commited a 'mortal sin' we would go to hell, and missing church on purpose was supposedly a mortal sin. I didn't believe them for a second, not considering the implications of my so easily disregarding them on something that made me uncomfortable, but accepting everything else.
One day my grandmother on my mother's side (there is a big difference between my two sets of grandparents) asked me how the universe was created. (I was probably ten at the time). I explained the big bang and the formation of the earth as best I could, and her respone was "Oh, so you have the scientific explanation?" not angry but maybe happy that I was interested in science. It suddenly occured to me that it was the scientific view as opposed to the creationistic one. However, I soon forgot about this contradiction too...
One day my grandmother on my mother's side (there is a big difference between my two sets of grandparents) asked me how the universe was created. (I was probably ten at the time). I explained the big bang and the formation of the earth as best I could, and her respone was "Oh, so you have the scientific explanation?" not angry but maybe happy that I was interested in science. It suddenly occured to me that it was the scientific view as opposed to the creationistic one. However, I soon forgot about this contradiction too...
John Adams Wrote:The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.