the_tambourine_man
7th August 2009, 02:00 PM
Hello to all you rationalists out there,
My name is Anthony and I was raised as a Catholic and attended Catholic school, however at around the age of fourteen I was seriously questioning my faith.
This was quite a stressful thing for a fourteen year old with Catholic parents, friends and schools as there was no-one I could turn to to discuss this issue and alternatives to faith.
Being the arrogant, self-righteous extrovert I am, I disregarded what those around me were trying to push upon my young mind and rather began to fight back, feeling that I was alone in my quest for rationalism. I fought with my parents, teachers and some friends over the issue of religion, which resulted in me being sent to counselling at my high school.
It was in these sessions that I became close friends with the first person I'd ever encountered that called themself an atheist. He was raised this way by his parents, a teacher and a psychologist, who were both also active atheists. We discussed many issues beyond the usual realms of a Catholic social issues class, and soon I proclaimed myself an atheist.
I left my beliefs alone for while, content with the fact that as I grew older I met many more people who shared our views.
Now, however, I have been looking for more. I am researching humanism heavily, and have decided to become a member of the Australian branch.
Humanism, as you may know, puts the wellbeing of every person at the forefront of it's agenda. I was drawn to this philosophy particularily because of the ideas of equity, which mirrored my own without a degree of conflict. There are many ways to acheive a happier and healthier world, but there are also obstacles.
I believe that religion is the greatest of these obstacles. Encouraging conservatism (I say that term with a large degree of contempt), discrimination, violence, hatred and brainwashing, all under the guise of 'righteousness', these backward cults and beliefs are an enemy to true freedom.
Part of humanism is respecting the right to bear and proclaim religious faith. However, the issue that gets me is the education of children. Having been to a Catholic primary school myself, I am all too aware of the way that un-developed minds are taught things that by all rights should be considered barbaric, the idea of going to heaven or hell upon death being one of the most traumatic.
I agree that everyone has a right to faith... but shouldn't everyone have the right to reach a point where they can make a considered and thoughtful decisionon the matter, rather than being thrown into the abyss of religious dogma and being forced to crawl out if they choose a different path later in life?
Now identifying myself as a humanist, it is my belief that all schooling should be completely secular and science-based. Parents are obviously going to continue to teach their kids whatever traditions or faiths they want to pass on, but with properly structured schooling, kids are going to be better prepared for making a more conscious choice in their own beliefs. Surely we owe them this.
That's my rant for the day, otherwise looking forward to participating on these forums and attending meetings soon!
Peace.
My name is Anthony and I was raised as a Catholic and attended Catholic school, however at around the age of fourteen I was seriously questioning my faith.
This was quite a stressful thing for a fourteen year old with Catholic parents, friends and schools as there was no-one I could turn to to discuss this issue and alternatives to faith.
Being the arrogant, self-righteous extrovert I am, I disregarded what those around me were trying to push upon my young mind and rather began to fight back, feeling that I was alone in my quest for rationalism. I fought with my parents, teachers and some friends over the issue of religion, which resulted in me being sent to counselling at my high school.
It was in these sessions that I became close friends with the first person I'd ever encountered that called themself an atheist. He was raised this way by his parents, a teacher and a psychologist, who were both also active atheists. We discussed many issues beyond the usual realms of a Catholic social issues class, and soon I proclaimed myself an atheist.
I left my beliefs alone for while, content with the fact that as I grew older I met many more people who shared our views.
Now, however, I have been looking for more. I am researching humanism heavily, and have decided to become a member of the Australian branch.
Humanism, as you may know, puts the wellbeing of every person at the forefront of it's agenda. I was drawn to this philosophy particularily because of the ideas of equity, which mirrored my own without a degree of conflict. There are many ways to acheive a happier and healthier world, but there are also obstacles.
I believe that religion is the greatest of these obstacles. Encouraging conservatism (I say that term with a large degree of contempt), discrimination, violence, hatred and brainwashing, all under the guise of 'righteousness', these backward cults and beliefs are an enemy to true freedom.
Part of humanism is respecting the right to bear and proclaim religious faith. However, the issue that gets me is the education of children. Having been to a Catholic primary school myself, I am all too aware of the way that un-developed minds are taught things that by all rights should be considered barbaric, the idea of going to heaven or hell upon death being one of the most traumatic.
I agree that everyone has a right to faith... but shouldn't everyone have the right to reach a point where they can make a considered and thoughtful decisionon the matter, rather than being thrown into the abyss of religious dogma and being forced to crawl out if they choose a different path later in life?
Now identifying myself as a humanist, it is my belief that all schooling should be completely secular and science-based. Parents are obviously going to continue to teach their kids whatever traditions or faiths they want to pass on, but with properly structured schooling, kids are going to be better prepared for making a more conscious choice in their own beliefs. Surely we owe them this.
That's my rant for the day, otherwise looking forward to participating on these forums and attending meetings soon!
Peace.