From: dapples
To: adrian
As a little kid I didn't have the skill to rationalize unlike the adults in my life. My mom is spanish and was raised a loose catholic, but she did the whole catholic, confession bit.She never really spoke of God unless she hurt herself :-) My pop was a methodist but he too never mentioned God that much. Though he often quote a Bible story whenever a similar situation happened. My parents were problay the best influences for me becoming an atheist. They never pressured me in to it. I remeber though when I was around 8 or 9 my dad started taking my sister and I to Sunday school. We often arrived late so I never felt comfortable at the meetings. I recall my instructor making the group take turns reading passages. I was awful with the Bible 'cause I couldn't find the texts! My group and I had to do several worksheets on Joseph and Mary, Noah's Ark and such. I remember the time when we completely abandoned the plain Bible for a smaller one with colour pictures and videos! To a 9 year old child I thought, " Well if there's a video it must be true."
As a a result I spent 2 years reading the Bible and praying, just like a good christian, 'til I was 12. Not to be a bragger but for a 12 year old gal I was way more mature than many of my peers at the time. I lost my Christian drive because again as I said my parents never really encouraged, I still believed in a God. Fortunately I met my current best mate, Cloudburst (online name). She was a skeptic and had family problems because of it. She was from a heavily religious southern family, so speaking her mind about her disbelief was held in til she met me. We would walk around our community discussing religion. Cloudburst shared all of her private beliefs in the universe and she would often say to me, " ...it's stupid to believe in some magical guy upstairs that looking at us. I don't want anyone looking at me! People might as well tell their kids that monsters live under the bed. Or the "Magic Donut Religion." Yes, if you believe in the magic donut you shall be rewarded in Duncun world. There streams of chocolate flows with itty-bitty sprinkles inside for the believers to eat!"
So shortly after our chat's I left religion completely. For awhile I didn't get into atheist 'cause I did't know I was an atheist. Nor did I think ther was anything else to it but disbelief. That all changed when I got my computer at 14. I didn't run into any other atheist except Cloudburst and I wonder if there were any on the net. Boy was I amazed. I first went to many indroducing atheism sites and read it. Then to yours. I was baffled at the many reasons for atheism. I stocked up at a evolution site, Why Christians Suck ETC. It was all things I believed but couldn't put words. Since I didn't remember all of the Bible it helped review what I was taught. I noticed the evils of religion and how very terrible things have happened 'cause of religious dogma. You know the texts that aren't read in most Churches. The hate, murder, ewww incest!!!
Epilogue
I'm now more aware of religious/atheist/ethic happenings wether the church and seperation argy-bargy or that situation of Norweigan schools teaching Christianity. I'm basically an open atheist but I don't get around with a sign on my back( well a Darwin Fish t-shirt occasionally) tha's screams, " I'm an atheist!!!!" I mean why should I most Christians don't mention it directly. I have mainly theist friends including a Mormon.( I have never met one til this year.) Were always on and off about it, but it's not serious. I know I can't sell everyone a slice of reason. Though I was a bit pleased to hear two mates of mine that claimed they were considering atheism. ( I'll snag them!:-) My parent's I think don't really acknowledge my atheim even though I have a " Proud to be an Atheist" framed poster on my wall, but my nonreligious views have never come up. I'd tell them if they asked but I don't feel the need 'til they ask or if some silly anti-atheist comments come-up. My uncle knows of it but thinks " so". Though there are rare occastions I must fake my beliefs. At my Grandfather funeral my uncle took me aside and explained that this was a dreadful event and that there was going to be alot of spiritality going and that it wasn't time to start a ripple in people thought's. So as much I hated I was a " Methodist for a day." Next time they can pray without me.( during prayer I thought of "Strawberry Fields Forever" strange!) Not anyother situation had pretened. Not for a "Bless You" or grace at my friends house, nope.
All you need is love ( and atheism:-)
Fab-4Fanatic