Raised Christian, converted by internet

[Chad32]

Do I get a cookie for calling it early?

Oh no. I used the A word, didn't I? I apologize. Someone will probably find a guy that actually did the thing I thougth wouldn't happen, and I'll just be an a**.

[Doubting Thomas]

Welcome.

Religion relies on control, and it's really hard to do that in the information age unless you ban the internet or something. Also phones, and any other handheld device like that.

Not that they don't try. Many religious parents attempt to limit what their kids see so that they'll remain religious. Those parents on "19 Kids and Counting" for instance don't allow their kids to watch TV.

[Lemonvariable72]

Welcome.

Religion relies on control, and it's really hard to do that in the information age unless you ban the internet or something. Also phones, and any other handheld device like that.

Not that they don't try. Many religious parents attempt to limit what their kids see so that they'll remain religious. Those parents on "19 Kids and Counting" for instance don't allow their kids to watch TV.

Yes but in all fairness TV time would be a logistical nightmare with about 19 people in the house. Imagine what art would want if all those kids had a TV and computer to them selves. They'd need a 20th child just make a offering to att.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Darn! Another Chad.

[Brian37]

I spent much of my childhood going to a baptist church that my grandmother wanted me to go to. Of course being a child, and loving my grandmother, what possible reason could I have to say no? After all, I was fed all kinds of stories about Jesus' love, and there are some genuinely good life lessons that can be found in the bible. Just ignore the parts about slavery, and treating women as inferior, and killing people for just about anything that bible says is wrong...It's a book about love, peace, and kindness, you see.

My parents were not religious, but didn't hold me back, except for one time when my mother said going to some religious event four days a week was a bit much.

It was really until my adulthood, when my parents decided to bring the internet to our home, that I began to talk to people with divergent views from my own. People from outside my bubble. Now before this, I already knew about some of the nastier parts of the bible, but everyone around me just said I was interpreting it wrong, or those parts were just a "cultural" thing. When I met people online that actually shared my views, it drew me out of my bubble.

There are videos talking about things pertaining to the bible that you will never hear in sunday school. Things that make christianity seem a lot like any other religion. So now I'm an atheist. I also just call the guy Yaweh now. God is not a personal pronoun. My name is not Human. I didn't call my former pets Dog.

I still have a good relationship with my grandmother, though of course she worries about me going to hell. My sister was raised in the same thing too, and she stuck with it. They're teaching the nieces christianity too. The cycle continues.

Hey, do you mind if I copy this so I can take it to some PC atheists elsewhere and show them that taboos don't work. If it were not for your exposure to the outside world you could have easily stayed in your bubble.

[Chad32]

Darn! Another Chad.

Woot!

What's a Swedenborgian?

Go ahead, Brian. Knock yourself out.

[Brian37]

Darn! Another Chad.

Woot!

What's a Swedenborgian?

Sad to say but the only thing I know about Sweden is ABBA. But they do have their own museum so.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Darn! Another Chad.

Woot!

What's a Swedenborgian?

Go ahead, Brian. Knock yourself out.

Its based on the theology of Emmanuel Swedenborg, an 18th century scientist turned mystic.

[Yahweh]

I too was "converted" by the internet. I've always had this thought in the back of my head that this whole god/jesus shit was stupid and couldn't be true. (I was born with the ability to sense bullshit) I find it hard to believe christians love outer space and are aware of distant solar systems and other planets, yet there has been no sign of a heaven, when the bible makes it perfectly clear that there is one. Presumably outside of earth's atmosphere? Who knows. If I were to gather at least 50 pieces of individual evidence, all being different reasons why I don't believe there's a god, I guarantee I could turn a theist into an atheist. This could range from the verified evolution facts, to the verified age of the earth, etc. Anyone unwilling to accept the facts presented to them is a bigot and is ignorant by choice. Sorry to get carried away. It's nice to have you here. I personally hold atheists to a high standard. Hopefully you don't disappoint.

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Religion relies on control, and it's really hard to do that in the information age unless you ban the internet or something. Also phones, and any other handheld device like that.

In my neck of the woods, I don't think people even put catholics in the same category as protestants, despite both groups worshiping the same guy.

Of course it does. Without control they'd lose membership. It's part of the reason so many conservative religions are so opposed to education beyond the basics.

I guess that explains why my teacher said mormons only believed in an education up to the 6th grade. The parents want their kids to remain blind. Figuratively speaking.

[Chad32]

Thanks. I hope I don't disappoint either. I actually believed in evolution while i was a christian. I just didn't think it disproved any deities. My grandmother doesn't believe it, but I think it's obvious that it does happen.

I'm also not homophobic anymore. That's one thing many christians are. They love to ignore so much of the old testament, but being against gays, and abiding the ten commandments are definite keepers. I think that no one should have an abortion unless the mother is dying, though I agree that the child doesn't have conscious thoughts until the neo cortex is functional. I've been told early term abortions make up the vast number of them anyway, but I don't really want to say I'm for abortions and leave it at that.