Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: March 29, 2024, 6:33 am

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
#1
Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
Hi there, just another newbie putting up their convert backstory. 

My parents sent me to catholic school when I was five. The teachers and priests always stressed to never break the 10 commandments and to never hate another person. Their logic was that those that had wronged you would receive divine punishment in some form and that god would beat up all the bad guys for you. However, their logic and promises never held up. Even in middle school, the other students would cheat on an exam, steal, lie, cussed, push people down stairs, and be disrespectful their teachers and parents. If I ever retaliated to brought up their wrong doing I was shamed for doing so. I was called a liar, an attention seeker, and a sinner. They were praised for getting grades they didn't work for, kept nice things that were not theirs, and manipulated others to getting what they wanted. 

In seventh grade, my mom divorced my dad over her religious beliefs. An old college friend had moved back to town and wanted her to go to a non-denominational mega church. After she went she decided to adopt their hate practices. The day she divorced him she asked him "do you live Jesus Christ?" Even though my dad had said yes, mom had stated she didn't like the tone in which he said it. So she took me and my sister out of school, hid us in a hotel, and asked my dad to pick us up at school. She had basically kidnapped us. My dad never pressed charges. After that, she liquidated all of the college funds my sister and I had and used it to buy a lawyer. The rest of the money she put into seeding of her new mega church. She almost got kicked out of her apartment several times because of this financial habit. Later, she began practicing her views on me. She would say things like I would burn in hell if I didn't follow everything she said, god would punish me in school for things I would say against her, etc. The reports from the divorce counselors were enough for my dad to get full custody. 
 
In college, I saw the same hypocritical religious practices. There is a large religious group on campus informally known as a hate cult. They have made the front page of the university paper over their open preaching about pro-life, gays, Muslims, jews, blacks, and anyone else that isn't a heterosexual white Christian and how they will all burn in hell. At one point there was a petition to remove the organization and ban the hate preacher from campus. It was removed soon after it was made since it went against free speech. The petition was only two hundred signature away from passing. 

My sister is now part of this organization. She only uses it as a medium to meet up with old friends that go to a separate baptist church. She does not attend the organization meetings, church gatherings, or retreats. The organization name is used as a label to give to my parents so she can have a designated time and place to meet her friends for a different bible study. 

After all this, I got fed up with religion and wrote it up as people using an institution to justify hatred. I spoke with a friend about this and they told me about a different organization called the Secular Student Association. I went to their meeting and was blown away. I found a group of like-minded people who had similar experiences. Two years later and a lot of secular literature and podcasts later here I am.
Reply
#2
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
Cool.
Reply
#3
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
Welcome aboard.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Reply
#4
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
Welcome.

Just to warn you, I'm sure one of the resident Christians here will be along soon to tell you how you were doing it all wrong.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
Reply
#5
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
Thanks for sharing Smile

Indeed, people often use it as an excuse for bigotry. As if god needs a bunch of thugs running around in order to have things the way he wants!

The "good" parts of religion are usually common sense; the rest are nonsense/negative. Sadly it seems hatred is taught along with the religion in some cases.
Feel free to send me a private message.
Please visit my website here! It's got lots of information about atheism/theism and support for new atheists.

Index of useful threads and discussions
Index of my best videos
Quickstart guide to the forum
Reply
#6
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
You were doing it all wrong. ;-)
Reply
#7
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
(November 14, 2016 at 5:16 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: You were doing it all wrong. ;-)

There is no right right way.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Reply
#8
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
Hey Amb (I'd use AA but, well, you know). 

Sounds like there was a whole lot of stupid couched in hypocrite.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Reply
#9
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
(November 14, 2016 at 4:24 pm)Faith No More Wrote: Welcome.

Just to warn you, I'm sure one of the resident Christians here will be along soon to tell you how you were doing it all wrong.
You called it  Clap
By some theists perspective you just made a prediction that came true. You must have psychic/holy powers. Have you tried your luck at any scratch offs recently?

(November 14, 2016 at 4:43 pm)robvalue Wrote: Thanks for sharing Smile

Indeed, people often use it as an excuse for bigotry. As if god needs a bunch of thugs running around in order to have things the way he wants!

The "good" parts of religion are usually common sense; the rest are nonsense/negative. Sadly it seems hatred is taught along with the religion in some cases.
True. People can be taught without being educated. This is the best way to cultivate bigotry in my opinion. 
[Image: 2014-04-17-jonesread.jpg]

(November 14, 2016 at 5:26 pm)mh.brewer Wrote:
(November 14, 2016 at 5:16 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: You were doing it all wrong. ;-)

There is no right right way.
Is there an upside down way?
[Image: 980x.gif]

(November 14, 2016 at 5:29 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Hey Amb (I'd use AA but, well, you know). 

Sounds like there was a whole lot of stupid couched in hypocrite.
AA? like American Airlines or Alcoholics Anonymous? 
Hmm... I don't really know.
Reply
#10
RE: Hypocritical Theism Leads to Atheism
(November 14, 2016 at 6:01 pm)Ambiguous Atheist Wrote:
(November 14, 2016 at 4:24 pm)Faith No More Wrote: Welcome.

Just to warn you, I'm sure one of the resident Christians here will be along soon to tell you how you were doing it all wrong.
You called it  Clap
By some theists perspective you just made a prediction that came true. You must have psychic/holy powers. Have you tried your luck at any scratch offs recently?

(November 14, 2016 at 4:43 pm)robvalue Wrote: Thanks for sharing Smile

Indeed, people often use it as an excuse for bigotry. As if god needs a bunch of thugs running around in order to have things the way he wants!

The "good" parts of religion are usually common sense; the rest are nonsense/negative. Sadly it seems hatred is taught along with the religion in some cases.
True. People can be taught without being educated. This is the best way to cultivate bigotry in my opinion. 
[Image: 2014-04-17-jonesread.jpg]

(November 14, 2016 at 5:26 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: There is no right right way.
Is there an upside down way?
[Image: 980x.gif]

(November 14, 2016 at 5:29 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Hey Amb (I'd use AA but, well, you know). 

Sounds like there was a whole lot of stupid couched in hypocrite.
AA? like American Airlines or Alcoholics Anonymous? 
Hmm... I don't really know.

Anodized Aluminum.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Reply



Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Young Adult Seeking Stimulating Theism Debates and Conversation Marshmallow 13 4327 September 28, 2012 at 10:04 am
Last Post: Marshmallow
  converting back unto theism - yes it's true. TruthWorthy 101 33281 March 26, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Last Post: fr0d0



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)