(The author of this item has asked to remain anonymous)

My story.

Ever since I was a young kid, I always had a deep interest in science. My father encouraged it a lot in terms of buying me books, a microscope, junior chemistry set and so on. His intention, I suppose, was just to give me a head start in education. I got a head start in education alright, but because of experiencing science and rationality at such a young age, I became an atheist by around the age of 10. But I came to this conclusion, not because of my parents expressing their views to me - it was an entirely self-determined decision by myself , based on my readings and practise of science at a very young age.

I grew up in Ireland in the 1970s - a predominantly Roman Catholic country, where so called "state" schools were actually all run by various Roman Catholic religious orders , such as the Christian Brothers, Jesuits etc etc. The grip of the Roman Catholic church on Irish affairs was so strong that Ireland was a theocracy in practise. This state of affairs affected me profoundly in my early years.

I remember, as a six year old, going to my First Communion (a rite of passage in Catholicism), along with my entire class. Of course not going was simply unthinkable in those days - you really had to "fit in" with the crowd. However, because I was reading science books at the time (I was, I must admit, somewhat ahead of my peers in the reading stakes!), I remember thinking that day, in the church, "What if all this religious stuff is simply wrong? Why do people believe in it blindly? Why aren't they questioning all this?"

After that experience, I read more and more science, until , in 1979, my parents bought me "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan. I read that book from cover to cover and what I read really confirmed what my innermost beliefs really were - there really isn't a God,because, there simply isn't a rational explanation for it!

That was when I was ten, and it was a profound life changing experience. I suppose it's the complete opposite to what some people get before they become Christian priests (I think its called "the calling" or something like it). Only in my case, it wasn't a calling from God or anything - it was a calling from my own mind - "hey dude, this God thing really doesnt exist. Much like Santa Claus and tooth fairy dont exist!"

Come the age of 12, there was the second rite of Catholic passage - the Confirmation. It's similar, in concept, to the Jewish, Bar Mitzva. Once again, my entire class HAD to go to it - there simply wasn't any other option. I told my parents that I simply didn't believe in God - why should I be such a hypocrite in participating in this religious ceremony. Unfortunately for me, as I said above, Ireland was a theocracy in those days, so my parents kindly explained to me that it would be somewhat unwise to be seen as "different" to your classmates. So , I went along with it anyway.

The Confirmation ceremony droned on (I remember being extremely bored with the whole thing), and on and on , until it came to the time where you "confirm" your faith. You basically walk up to the altar , kneel down in front of the local bishop, and he asks you questions along the lines of "Do you believe in the whole , holy, and true Jesus Christ" or something along those lines, to which you must answer "yes". So, in order to fit in with everyone, I said "yes" to all these questions, but with one important difference - i had my fingers crossed behind my back!

I walked out of the church that day, vowing one thing though - I am an atheist. Nothing more, nothing less.

That was around 20 years ago, and I'm glad to say that my atheism has gotten even stronger with age. Quite the opposite to what most people have said to me during my life. ("oh, he'll grow out of it", "when you're older you'll believe in God again" etc etc).

On a final note, I would like to thank Mr.Sagan, Mr. Asimov and other great popularisers of science in helping me come to a rational outlook on life at a very young age. It's a pity that scientific "evangelists" don't have as much influence on our young school-children as religious people/priests etc.

So, if you want your kid to see the world in a rational, atheistic way - get him/her a copy of "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan, along with a chemistry set, a microscope and most importantly - a telescope!