Religion

mwb970

(11,884 posts)

36. I never believed a word of it myself.

Tue Jun 24, 2025, 08:49 AM

Jun 24

I must be one of those who are missing the religion gene. Right from the beginning the Bible stories at Sunday School were patently impossible and contradicted all my science books. The only thing more obviously false was the Santa Claus story. (Reindeer being able to fly would have been mentioned in my nature books. Chimeys don't go straight down. Toys are made in factories, not elves' workshops. And so on.) I struggled to understand why the adults in my life appeared to believe these things.

I have listened to religious people spout the most extraordinary blather for all of my life. It still baffles me.

I am not saying we have all the answers to the mysteries of life. I am saying that the answer does not involve an invisible, undetectable male "god" and (good grief) his human child (also a male) delivered by a virgin. At best it is all an awkward allegory.

I will add that when I was in high school I had one Sunday School teacher (a sports coach at the high school) who gave us life lessons and new ways of looking at things that I have never forgotten. I had him for a full year and he never once so much as mentioned God or Jesus or the Bible or any of that. (Some Sunday School teacher right?) I never missed a class.

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Highlight:

A question if you want to answer. What caused you to deconstruct from your religion. [View all] Duncanpup Jun 24 OP

1984. I was sitting with my family in synagogue on Yom Kippur, no_hypocrisy Jun 24 #1

I was raised Southern Baptist, which is enough in itself. Haggard Celine Jun 24 #2

I was raised Southern Baptist, too! ShazzieB Jun 24 #75

I was born without a religion gene. Girard442 Jun 24 #3

Or perhaps within your genes, there is an inate immunity to religion? 70sEraVet Jun 24 #11

Raised Jewish moonshinegnomie Jun 24 #4

The absolute hypocrisy. OldBaldy1701E Jun 24 #5

I suspect he wanted the tithes. Joinfortmill Jun 24 #15

He just thought that gawd made him lord over men. OldBaldy1701E Jun 24 #53

In High School Fiber Lady Jun 24 #6

Lunch time at Catholic school dlilafae Jun 24 #7

I too have struggled with religion since I was a teenager. Lonestarblue Jun 24 #8

I was nine and my catechism teacher told me that dogs don't go to heaven. Javaman Jun 24 #9

I was about to make my Confirmation mgardener Jun 24 #41

Eight years of Catholic school. The second grade teacher LuckyLib Jun 24 #80

Will Rogers said.. Permanut Jun 24 #77

You could say my parents believed in freedom of thought EverHopeful Jun 24 #10

By their preachers shall you know them RVN VET71 Jun 25 #82

Plain and simple indigoth Jun 24 #12

Locus of Control. multigraincracker Jun 24 #13

Catholic girl. I was divorced in my 20s. Joinfortmill Jun 24 #14

The Rev. James Cheek was the beginning for me. He was my Western Civ. instructor at Union Junior College. 3Hotdogs Jun 24 #16

Once I was old enough to study human biology, any belief in a virgin birth disappeared. Lonestarblue Jun 24 #18

Alcoholism OC375 Jun 24 #17

Going to seminary :-) markie Jun 24 #19

I grew up in a convent SLClarke Jun 24 #20

Was raised Catholic Woodwizard Jun 24 #21

Do unto others as you would have it done unto you. BattleRow Jun 24 #22

Many of us have a very strong faith. beemerphill Jun 24 #23

Hoping to impress a girl in college, I went to her fundamentalist church... lastlib Jun 24 #24

I tried for many years to be a Christian. Trueblue Texan Jun 24 #25

"...I could see no convincing evidence." rubbersole Jun 24 #37

I respect all belief systems. Trueblue Texan Jun 24 #43

When it gets used as a political WEAPON. Which seems to be always. usaf-vet Jun 24 #26

Raised Catholic purple_haze Jun 24 #27

Reason orangecrush Jun 24 #28

Nuns and priests were mean, physical and mental. Picked on "slow" kids. twodogsbarking Jun 24 #29

Eight years of Catholic school. 2MuchNoise Jun 24 #66

Rest easy my friend, they are all dead by now. We survived, but there are scars. twodogsbarking Jun 24 #69

Recovering Catholic: Chasstev365 Jun 24 #30

I didn't know about the passports!!! cpamomfromtexas Jun 24 #45

No able to post links Chasstev365 Jun 24 #49

The hypocrisy of organized religion Bluestocking Jun 24 #31

Never really belived. Went to Catholic school for 12 years, did all the stuff with respect but no real faith. Srkdqltr Jun 24 #32

Born and raised a Roman Catholic... BobsYourUncle Jun 24 #33

I formally left the Catholic church almost 15 years ago. mgardener Jun 24 #34

I grew up. Became an adult... Layzeebeaver Jun 24 #35

I never believed a word of it myself. mwb970 Jun 24 #36

Now there is a strategy! Trueblue Texan Jun 24 #55

I went to Catholic school. As I grew up I'm thinking if God is all love why is there so much hate. TommieMommy Jun 24 #38

As soon as I went away to college I stopped attending Mass Ritabert Jun 24 #39

I haven't: I practice Christ's teachings on my own LSparkle Jun 24 #40

"I've cut out the middle man and am a DIY Christian." Love it! 2MuchNoise Jun 24 #72

I was a teenager going to confirmation classes Qanisqineq Jun 24 #42

The people I was sitting next to in church were not good people outside of church. NoMoreRepugs Jun 24 #44

Raised Catholic LoCo Cat Lady Jun 24 #46

i was lucky I think. barbtries Jun 24 #47

Old School Methodist here SARose Jun 24 #48

I had those experiences at Methodist Summer Camp yellowdogintexas Jun 25 #81

Awesome! SARose Jun 25 #83

Not mocking religion. However, Chasstev365 Jun 24 #50

That is FABULOUS!!! Trueblue Texan Jun 24 #59

Good Question Aaeia Jun 24 #51

I read all the responses Aaeia Jun 24 #57

First week of school Conjuay Jun 24 #52

She told me in a dream bfoxmatt Jun 24 #54

Being excommunicated at 18 was but one step in a process that had niyad Jun 24 #56

How does one reconcile a 'sky god-trnity' with vast endlessness of the universe? brush Jun 24 #58

Too many traumas to remember from mountain grammy Jun 24 #60

It happened in my single digits. Jirel Jun 24 #61

Nasty malicious gossiping church "ladies" and their equally nasty daughters. Clouds Passing Jun 24 #62

I once read that most people leave their church because they feel misunderstood and rejected. Tbear Jun 24 #63

I was raised to be a believer, but it never really took. Americanme Jun 24 #64

Nothing Delarage Jun 24 #65

Eight years in Catholic school. Enough said. 2MuchNoise Jun 24 #67

I gave up being my rural church secretary at age 14 and have only returned for weddings and funerals. It just got sinkingfeeling Jun 24 #68

Lifelong atheist angrychair Jun 24 #70

It began when I was 8 years old sitting in church, cksmithy Jun 24 #71

Reason, snot Jun 24 #73

about 12 yrs old: this shit don't make sense. ret5hd Jun 24 #74

Common sense. Polly Hennessey Jun 24 #76

I was eight CloudWatcher Jun 24 #78

For me, I am 71 JPK Jun 24 #79