Hi, I am so glad I found this site! I am very much looking forward to discussions as I sort out dealing with my family's reaction to my atheism.
I was baptized catholic and was even an altar boy. I always felt that I was going through the motions, and didn't really push back. If I did, it was passive, in the sense that I didn't go to church. During college, there was a "chapel" that my parents encouraged me to attend on Sundays, but I never went. I was married in a methodist church, and even joined the choir. I'll be honest, I love singing (the challenges, the reward of good harmony) and still feel that some of the best choral music was inspired by churches. But even during service, I never felt god was real, and I felt foolish making "belief statements" that were not true.
Deep down, I have always believed that religion was invented, and the ceremonies and rites and vestments were all just figments of belief systems that were dreamed up years ago and nobody had the balls to challenge without stigma. The worst followers are those who base their vile actions on religion.
Don't get me wrong: I have seen good deeds dealt out by religious institutions, so it could be said that the existence of religions do produce good. However, overall, I believe they do more harm than good because they numb people into accepting without challenging. I think overall this is harmful to mankind.
Some people counter challenges against religion by saying, "Well it weren't for religion, what would be the motivation to do good?" My response is that if you need a religion and its penalties to prompt ethical behavior, there is something wrong with you! I go back to the quote from Wayne's World: "Be excellent to each other." You really don't need a religion for that; it should be as simple as internalizing the belief that we should help each other and be nice to each other.
So I have decided to not attend church any more. We will continue to donate money and clothing to causes we want to support.
Well, that's about it for my introduction!
I was baptized catholic and was even an altar boy. I always felt that I was going through the motions, and didn't really push back. If I did, it was passive, in the sense that I didn't go to church. During college, there was a "chapel" that my parents encouraged me to attend on Sundays, but I never went. I was married in a methodist church, and even joined the choir. I'll be honest, I love singing (the challenges, the reward of good harmony) and still feel that some of the best choral music was inspired by churches. But even during service, I never felt god was real, and I felt foolish making "belief statements" that were not true.
Deep down, I have always believed that religion was invented, and the ceremonies and rites and vestments were all just figments of belief systems that were dreamed up years ago and nobody had the balls to challenge without stigma. The worst followers are those who base their vile actions on religion.
Don't get me wrong: I have seen good deeds dealt out by religious institutions, so it could be said that the existence of religions do produce good. However, overall, I believe they do more harm than good because they numb people into accepting without challenging. I think overall this is harmful to mankind.
Some people counter challenges against religion by saying, "Well it weren't for religion, what would be the motivation to do good?" My response is that if you need a religion and its penalties to prompt ethical behavior, there is something wrong with you! I go back to the quote from Wayne's World: "Be excellent to each other." You really don't need a religion for that; it should be as simple as internalizing the belief that we should help each other and be nice to each other.
So I have decided to not attend church any more. We will continue to donate money and clothing to causes we want to support.
Well, that's about it for my introduction!
I totally agree with the points you made.
