So this is my obligatory, introductory, first post here. Thought I'd better say hi.
Despite being given a Christian christian name as a child born into a Catholic household, I've been classifying myself as an atheist for years, but I can pinpoint my lack of belief right down to a moment in primary/elementary school; I went to a catholic faith school and it was obligatory to participate in church readings and public assemblies in front of parents.
At roughly the age of 7 or 8 I distinctly remember giving question to the validity and factual content of the two sentence flash card I had to learn for one of these events. Something about the last supper I think, and my infant brain refused to comprehend the cannibalistic nature of such a literal magic act of turning one's physical mass into a Jesus sandwich to wash down with a fruity red. Rather than just learn the words and repeat them from memory I must have actually taken note of what it was supposed to mean and it was at this point I can remember almost flat-out refusing to read the card. I think I got detention.
Such a rebel.
I'm much more laid back these days now that I have the freedom to choose my own belief system, which if you read my profile here states that I'm more philosophical about it. I don't get wound up by people believing in one god or another, or horoscopes, or homeopathy or magic power bracelets; it's only when such a belief crosses the border into harm (see also: homeopathy) that it becomes an issue for me that I feel I ought to challenge.
Despite being given a Christian christian name as a child born into a Catholic household, I've been classifying myself as an atheist for years, but I can pinpoint my lack of belief right down to a moment in primary/elementary school; I went to a catholic faith school and it was obligatory to participate in church readings and public assemblies in front of parents.
At roughly the age of 7 or 8 I distinctly remember giving question to the validity and factual content of the two sentence flash card I had to learn for one of these events. Something about the last supper I think, and my infant brain refused to comprehend the cannibalistic nature of such a literal magic act of turning one's physical mass into a Jesus sandwich to wash down with a fruity red. Rather than just learn the words and repeat them from memory I must have actually taken note of what it was supposed to mean and it was at this point I can remember almost flat-out refusing to read the card. I think I got detention.
Such a rebel.
I'm much more laid back these days now that I have the freedom to choose my own belief system, which if you read my profile here states that I'm more philosophical about it. I don't get wound up by people believing in one god or another, or horoscopes, or homeopathy or magic power bracelets; it's only when such a belief crosses the border into harm (see also: homeopathy) that it becomes an issue for me that I feel I ought to challenge.