Greetings!

[Bex]

I guess my story probably isn't all that different from many, but I'm going to tell it anyway!

Growing up in the 70's with what can be best described as casual Catholics for parents, I was lucky enough to not suffer the indoctrination that many others endure. As much as my parents were far from text book Catholics, as the latest in a long line of Irish Catholics I was very much encouraged to follow suit. It seemed harmless enough to me, going to Church was fun from time to time and, as I remember them, the people that ran the show were first class people. Kind and generous, and very welcoming.

About the same time I started to see through the Santa Claus facade, God started to get the same treatment. I had read the bible as a child and it was now striking me as a pretty fanciful tale. I stopped going to church and no one but my grandmother really noticed. Once or twice here and there I went along at my sister's insistance, but I mostly just sat there incredulous at the whole display. It seemed to me that people were worshipping the priest more than they were god, he was so revered. At this point in my life I would have described myself as agnostic, although the reality, looking back now, was that I was an atheist at age 10. 'Agnostic' just didn't offend my family so much.

As the years went by through my teenage years, 20's and 30's, I scarcely gave religion or god much thought. Working as a nurse I saw lots of things happen in hospitals that were inexplicable. Many would call it 'God's Work', even miracles, but I saw no such evidence to support it or any other theory. I'd just have a chuckle to myself, be grateful (to no-one in particular) that a patient had made an unexpected recovery, and move on.

Leaving nursing to a different career path and starting a family, religion was suddenly thrust upon me once again. The woman I was marrying was from a similar Irish Catholic background but held similar beliefs as I did. That said, anything but a Catholic wedding would be unacceptable for her family. I found myself quite conflicted by this. On one hand I didn't really care and could quite easily perform the charade and keep her family happy... on the other hand, why does no one care that this is not my belief? Why must I make a concession on my wedding day? To make matters worse, the priest performing the ceremony insisted I attend religious training before the ceremony. My mistake was to be upfront and open with him about my convictions. His response was to try and re-train me. But you know what? I did it. I went to his religious class, grit my teeth through it, resisted the urge to stand up and call all those attending closed minded buffoons, answered the questions of me to a standard sifficient to get the ceremony over and done with and carry on. Come the wedding day, it was more of 'our lord' this and 'praise jesus' that before finally it was all over. So how about that for a wedding day? Instead of remembering it for what it should be, I remember it for putting up with a truck load of God.

To make matters worse, with children now sprouting forth, Baptisms a go-go were on the cards. Once again, to tow the line, I went along with it. Feeling entirely like a duck out of water in a church and just wishing it was all over the whole time.

Well you know what? Now I've had enough. I asserted myself to not allow my children to be indoctrinated into this farce but to educate them and use their ability to question and reason. To find their own way. To this end, I enrolled them both at a Catholic school. If they're to make a decision about their theistic future, they need to make it an informed one. They know my beliefs, or lack thereof, but I still encourage them to look at the facts and make their own choices. Predictably, surrounded by such circumstances, they believed what was taught to them. They believed there was a god. I wasn't saddened by this, I was grateful for it, for the awakening from that slumber would be a defining moment in their lives.

At the age of 10 my son caught on. My daughter took a little longer, at the age of 12 she cast it off. But I can't help but wonder, had I taken them to church every Sunday, would that still be the case? I think not.

Today I'm a vocal atheist. At 42 years of age I don't care if I offend anyone anymore. I'm going to call it as I see it and I'm going to ridicule and embarress to the best of my ability any theist who tries to force his faith on to anyone I know or care about. I've come to the realisation that Religion is a disease of mankind and is the most powerful force in the world today holding us back, stopping our progression and advancement. Be it the creationists who deny evolution [Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort, can there be anyone more stupid?] or the religious zealots that predict the rapture over and over, I have no time for any of them and will happily attack them at every turn.

I hope that by becoming a member of this forum I can learn more about religion and all its' flaws but also learn more about being a good atheist. I know that sounds almost theistic, but when you're at war with theists, you need as much conviction in your beliefs as they do in thiers.

[AFA Admin]

Hi, Bex.

This is a message sent to all who find their way to these forums.

We like people, and we like facts too!

We're friendly but we're skeptical, and if somebody calls for proof, it's not an accusation. Only the strong ideas thrive here: we try to respect people. (We do not tolerate personal abuse.)

If you're an AFA member and need your membership status recognised in forum access, please send a Private Message to Admin, including the name on your AFA membership.

You may already have visited these other handy places:
* New Member Information
* Welcome from AFA president
* For those interested in learning, I recommend the Atheism Resource Thread maintained by Fearless.
* And a quick look at our reserved spot for belief-based discussion, Fantasy Island, includes The Great Big List, a sort-of "things we've seen before" for those of faith, and general rules of argument for the forum.

If you've got questions, please ask. Moderators have red name tags, but many of our friendly people may have the answers you need.

Enjoy the forums. We hope to see plenty from you in discussions.

Have fun.

[Logic please]

Welcome to the forum Bex, hope you enjoy the community.

Originally Posted by Bex

At this point in my life I would have described myself as agnostic, although the reality, looking back now, was that I was an atheist at age 10. 'Agnostic' just didn't offend my family so much.

Yep, it's funny how agnosticism is viewed as "better" than atheism, as if there's still some hope of converting agnostics to religion, but atheists, well...

Originally Posted by Bex

I hope that by becoming a member of this forum I can learn more about religion and all its' flaws but also learn more about being a good atheist. I know that sounds almost theistic, but when you're at war with theists, you need as much conviction in your beliefs as they do in thiers.

Not sure about learning to be a "good atheist", I'm not convinced there's any such thing. IMO, there's just people (good and bad) who happen to be atheists.

I always look to become a better-informed atheist, though.

You will also find here, that atheism is not considered a "belief" - LINK:

Originally Posted by AFA definition of atheism

Atheism is the acceptance that there is no credible scientific or factually reliable evidence for the existence of a god, gods or the supernatural.

[StrangeControl]

G'day Bex, welcome.

Originally Posted by Bex

Be it the creationists who deny evolution [Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort, can there be anyone more stupid? or the religious zealots that predict the rapture over and over, I have no time for any of them and will happily attack them at every turn.

I can only think of the people who follow them to be more stupid. But then there is that Australian guy who built a creation 'museum' for $27 million, most of the attendees are not there to take the piss. Or those that attend faith healers.... even after the 'healer' has been exposed as a fraud and now sells magic water. He is a certified fraud for fuck sake and yet he is raking in $$$ again.

Pfft all those years you have wasted 'studying' to cure the sick and all you had to do was administer magic water.

Oh yeah, there is that Jeebus fellow in Kingaroy, the one that has 'cured' the blind, but funny enough as it's been pointed out here, still wears glasses himself. He has followers, gotta be pretty stupid to follow that crappy excuse for a messiah.

Who has the stupidest followers?

[Loki]

Hi Bex, welcome.

[Centauri]

Hey there Bex

[wolty]

Hi bex, welcome to the forum. That was quite a first post. I enjoyed reading it very much. I hope you enjoy yourself here.

[Annie]

Originally Posted by Bex

I hope that by becoming a member of this forum I can learn more about religion and all its' flaws but also learn more about being a good atheist. I know that sounds almost theistic, but when you're at war with theists, you need as much conviction in your beliefs as they do in thiers.

Hiya Bex. There are many many good people here and if you stick around you can't help but learn lots. I'm from an Irish catholic background too. Church on Sundays catholic schooling, oh and let's not forget the joy of confession! They are quite unique in some ways.
I look forward to reading your posts.

Tapatalking

[Bex]

Originally Posted by Logic please

Not sure about learning to be a "good atheist", I'm not convinced there's any such thing. IMO, there's just people (good and bad) who happen to be atheists.

I always look to become a better-informed atheist, though.

You will also find here, that atheism is not considered a "belief" - LINK:

Yeah, that was the meaning in my words. I don't consider it a belief system per se; but atheists need to be united, nonetheless. I base my convictions entirely on what can be known and being comfortable with not knowing the unknowable.

Thank you for the kind words, everyone. I only hope I can contribute in some way.

[Praxis]

Hi Bex and welcome. That's some intro post, I was practically cheering you on by the end - well done!

You're only a few years younger than me (and of the opposite gender) and your first few paragraphs describe my own story almost word for word. Amazing.

I do hope you stick around and that you enjoy the forums. Lots of great people here