Michael "Intelligent Design" Behe's son is an Atheist

[theVOID]

I just saw this on pharyngula, very interesting. Michael Behe sounds like an absolute fucking cunt.

The title really says it all. The idea of rejecting or even questioning Catholicism was unheard of in my family. Naturally, there was a LOT of social backlash, which I'll address based on any questions from my fellow Redditors.
One request I'd like to make is to please not let this turn into a "fuck yeah atheism" circlejerk. I'd really enjoy explaining to atheists and theists alike (especially Christians, that being the religion I rejected) why I reached the conclusion that religion was not credible after seventeen years of rather aggressive indoctrination.
EDIT: Holy crap, front page! Thanks so much guys! I originally wrote this and responded to the first few comments on my phone's on-screen keyboard at work, so I was a little slow with it. However, I'm back at home now on my laptop (I work third shift) and I'll spend the next few hours responding to all your questions, after which I gotta get some sleep before I go into work at 10pm tonight. I hope my answers help shed some light on whatever you may be curious about.
EDIT: Well, I've been having a great time talking with all of you, and I hope you're all getting something out of this as well. Unfortunately, as I work the night shift, right about now is when I need to get some sleep. Once I wake up and get to work, I'll jump back on. (My job isn't that busy.) Until then, feel free to keep discussing!

1.How did you come to the realization that your religion was not credible?

2. How is your relationship with your family? From what I remember from his talk, you have many siblings.

3. What kind of backlash did you experience?

At seventeen, I was something of a little thinker, and I liked questioning everything and looking at issues from different sides. I had never applied that to religion, so I eventually decided to dive right in and listen to the opposing side. I had the utmost confidence in my faith, and I was a very devout Catholic. The first book I read against religion was Dawkins' "The God Delusion". While I didn't (and still don't) agree with everything he said, I tried to empty my mind of assumptions and reformed opinions as much as possible. I read through the whole book in two days, and the result was quite shocking to me. It was like taking off rose-colored glasses for the first time. I realized how questionable religion might sound to some who had not grown up around it. And that was the foundation of my change- it took quite a while to accept, I'd say about six months, but the more I read, the more I realized that religion's claims were simply unfounded.
Bad. And I do confidently blame religion for this. I certainly don't think it always turns out this way, but my stubbornness in maintaining and voicing my beliefs conflicted with my parents' policy of keeping the rest of my family shielded from alternate viewpoints. "Indoctrination", unfortunately, is really the word that describes it best, and I do believe that my younger brothers (the members of my family I am closest to) are truly being hurt by this. So my parents and I are in perpetual disagreement. I have, for the most part, stopped talking to my parents, and I am not allowed to speak to my little brothers at all. I don't want to complain, but this has been very painful for both them and I. Hoping to move out soon.
The vast majority of families that I know are devout Christians, often Catholic. I have been cut off from several of my friends, I have been rather demonized by parents of my friends, and in the case of one family, my friend's father threatened her that she would not have a normal life unless she severed contact with me completely. I am either spoken to with curtness and disdain or am not spoken to at all by many families I know.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/dn...confidence

[Anomalocaris]

Either Micheal or his son was not intelligently designed.

[The Omnissiunt One]

How embarassing for Behe Sr. Can't even convince his son. At least this proves one thing: stupidity isn't necessarily inherited. There's still some hope for William Lane Craig Jr.

[theVOID]

The worst part is how he's treading him for his atheism, refusing to let him speak to his brothers, moving him into the basement, not speaking to him etc.

What a prick.

[Minimalist]

Typical of religious fucktards, though.

I'm always amused when an atheist shows up here and asks "how can I tell my family/friends without them getting pissed at me?"

You can't.

[theVOID]

Not if they're already total assholes.

If your family are just going to get upset then who gives a flying fuck, they'll get over it.

[Zen Badger]

To thine own self be true, everyone else can learn to fucking deal with it.

I'm impressed by this young man, despite all the crap shoved down his throat he had the intelligence to look at the issues objectively and then draw his own conclusions and act on them.

Even though he knew what the consequences would be.

[Minimalist]

they'll get over it.

Not always.

[TheDarkestOfAngels]

Dear Michael Behe,



Good on Behe Jr. though.

[solja247]

Atheism, the easy way out.