Atheist Youth in Revolt

[Jonah]

As the title of this post suggests, I’ve decided to be a little bit rebellious. Normally, I’m a bit of a goodie-two-shoes, but it’s high time that I start living a little!

Now, I’m not going to do anything dangerous; I’m thinking more along the lines of civil disobedience. Here’s what I’m thinking...

Like every other good “Christian” boy in the Deep South, I’m expected to go to church, Sunday school, and Wednesday night Christian youth group meetings. My parents want me to be, as they have said, “In a group of Christian kids my age with whom I can fellowship with in a positive, Christian environment.” Well, I’m surrounded by Christian kids my age all day long, and it hasn’t been a positive experience. I’m not being bullied or anything; I’m just bored as hell!

Then, it hit me: why do I go to these stupid meetings if I don’t have any inclination to go to them in the first place? I know I’m not going to get any sort of college recommendation from the youth director [I asked my parents about it, and I got in trouble for being “sacrilegious” because I “wasn’t going to church for the right reasons.”] I haven’t been going to this church my entire life, so it’s not like the people in my youth group nor the youth director will miss me anyway. Honestly, I’d rather have my boss write a recommendation letter for me; I’ve volunteered over 500 hours at the law office my boss runs translating for immigrants trying to become U.S. citizens. I think my volunteering is a better use of my time than talking to some mythical sky-daddy.

So, where am I going with this long rant? I’ve decided to skip out on my Sunday night youth group meetings. Unfortunately, I can’t skip out on every meeting because I still have to play the part of good-ole Christian boy. I would skip out on Wednesday nights, but my parents also have church classes and they would be driving the car [I don’t own a car...yet! ] Instead of wasting two hours of my life every week listening to the creepy youth director lecture about what a horrible person I am, I’m going to do something positive for myself!

I’m thinking about paying a weekly visit to either the bookstore or the computer store. Yes, I realize how nerdy that sounds! I would go out with my friends, but they are dragged to a different church by their parents on the nights I would be skipping out on my youth group meetings.

Now, a question to you wiser atheists and agnostics: did you do anything like what I’m describing when you were younger? If so, do you have any ideas for fun stuff I could do on my “church breaks?” I’d love to know what’s on your mind!

Cheers!

[Minimalist]

I suppose you could burn a cross but where you live the symbolism would probably be lost on them.

[Darwinian]

Well, I suppose by the standards of where you live I'm pretty lucky. I live in an environment where, if I where to go to Sunday school and regular Christian group meetings I would be viewed by the general population as mentally unstable and most people would probably give me a pretty wide berth as if somehow I had a contagious decease.

I can't imagine living in a place where what you describe is the norm, it sounds horrible. I mean, talk about indoctrination.

I say, good for you. The more people who 'come out' as atheist and just get on with their lives in a friendly and non religious way the more it will seem normal and the more other like minded people will follow suit.

Go for it

[yuriythebest]

we are all gonna die, not sure how old you are, but be it 10 or 20 if you think about it how long was your life **snaps fingers** - that long - a few more snaps and you'll not exist. wasting those moments conforming to christian ideals is worse than non existing in my opinion.

[Ace Otana]

It's always sad to hear about how much you lot have to put up with. Over here in the U.K, religion isn't a problem. In fact, calling yourself religious over here would have people giggle and possibly laugh at you.
It's quite secular over here. England is a great place to go to get away from religious madness, and Sweden is even better.

Now, a question to you wiser atheists and agnostics: did you do anything like what I’m describing when you were younger?

Nope, never needed to. Parents are atheists and so is a good percentage of the town. Don't have that many theists here.


I wish you luck old chap.

[Jonah]

Well, I suppose by the standards of where you live I'm pretty lucky. I live in an environment where, if I where to go to Sunday school and regular Christian group meetings I would be viewed by the general population as mentally unstable and most people would probably give me a pretty wide berth as if somehow I had a contagious decease.

You lucky duck! I'm horribly jealous!

I can't imagine living in a place where what you describe is the norm, it sounds horrible. I mean, talk about indoctrination.

Where I live, it's not indoctrination, it's downright oppression. My town is ruled by South Baptists with iron fists, and they don't let any moral discrepancy slide. Alcohol is a big no-no in their eyes. That's why alcohol sales are illegal in my town.

What I find to be so disturbing is that they can't understand how tax dollars from alcohol could benefit the school system. My school is incredibly lacking; the football team just received $1.1 million dollars to build a new field house, yet the overwhelming majority of the library books are from 1945-1960. So, instead of doing the sensible thing and taxing alcohol, the sales tax where I live was increased from 7% to 9%. Although this money is supposed to fund the purchase of new textbooks, more likely than not it will go to the purchase of new jockstraps for the footballers. The way that athletics has consumed my town is absolutely disgusting. That's why I'm going out of state for college and (hopefully) live overseas for the remainder of my life.

I say, good for you. The more people who 'come out' as atheist and just get on with their lives in a friendly and non religious way the more it will seem normal and the more other like minded people will follow suit.

Go for it

Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to my 2 and one half hour trips to the book store!

[Darwinian]

That's why I'm going out of state for college and (hopefully) live overseas for the remainder of my life.

Come and live in England where religion is just a hobby dabbled in by the few

[Jonah]

It's always sad to hear about how much you lot have to put up with. Over here in the U.K, religion isn't a problem. In fact, calling yourself religious over here would have people giggle and possibly laugh at you.
It's quite secular over here. England is a great place to go to get away from religious madness, and Sweden is even better.

That's why I'm going out of state for college and (hopefully) live overseas for the remainder of my life.

Come and live in England where religion is just a hobby dabbled in by the few

I believe England has now become my most favourite country!

[Ace Otana]

I believe England has now become my most favourite country!

You'd probably like Sweden more. 85% of their population is non-religious. I'd like to move to Sweden someday.

But England's good too. I'll prepare you a spot of tea on your arrival.

[Jonah]

I believe England has now become my most favourite country!

You'd probably like Sweden more. 85% of their population is non-religious. I'd like to move to Sweden someday.

But England's good too. I'll prepare you a spot of tea on your arrival.

Unfortunately, I don't know Swedish, so England will have to do for the time being.

Hmm...maybe I should learn Swedish instead of Portuguese?