Answer172

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Answer172

Question172

If you were one, do you feel that your years as a believer were wasted?

No. I wasted a certain amount of time at mind-numbingly boring religious ceremonies, but I stopped believing in my early teens, just as soon as I was able, and religion was never a big influence on my life whaen I was a believer. I wouldn't have done much differently if I was raised an atheist except have an hour extra free on Sundays. (Niall McAuley #36)

>] It's hard for me to really say. I'm only 18 year olds, so it's hard to say I wasted my younger years away considering that I was only being brainwashed. As soon as I started thinking for myself, it was like a whole new world opened up for me.

I find it very funny, because as a believer.. I was into drugs and drinking like crazy. After I became an atheist, I turned completely straight edge and I haven't touched any stuff like that since. People (theists, I should say) never believe that story though. (Dethstryk #1884)

Its not the worst way to waste years of your time. I could name a few that I've done. Come to think of it, losing your religion isn't the hardest ordeal in the world, either. Knowing how stupid humanity can be first hand can be a benefit when dealing with all the nutcases of everyday life, not just religious. Nowadays, my personal philosophy gets furthered along every day and no doubt it could have been further along if I started sooner. But I don't even think religion was a bad starting point, being about as bad an outlook on life as one could have, because I know just how important the progress I have made actually is. (Hendrix Fan #1692)

Well my years as a beleiver were my childhood years...so it really didn't restrict my movements or ambitions. However the long nights I spent praying that my Mother and Father wouldn't die because of some unnamed sin I must have commited... as I was being told I had...and would be punished for....don't exactly seem the best use of time. However if it hadn't been for the years of ignorance, I wouldn't have broken out so thoroughly and expanded my horizons so broadly.(Clayton Forno #1861)

Yes. I spent much of that time afraid to do many things I wanted to do because it was not "right" or because some priest said I shouldn't do it, and because of that I feel that I wasted all that time doing nothing. I try not to regret it much, I try and do those things now, have fun, and be happy instead of kneeling in front of some statue thinking its listening, and praying for those things!! And even though I can still tell that I have some of those old fears I am more confident in facing my fears instead of asking the statue to get rid of the fear for me. (Ernest Dumenigo #1613)

Not at all. Actually, I think the reverse is true: I'm a better person because I once tried to be a believer.

The experience of trying to force myself to accept something that didn't make very much sense, based solely on the authority of the people I most respected and admired (my parents, teachers, pastor), laid the groundwork for my becoming a person who thinks for himself. (Carl Funk #1229)

Did I waste years as a believer? No, but those who forced religion upon me - parents, family, society - certainly did. I was never given a choice; years of my life and so many others and our curiosity are stomped on by misguided people, some of whom actually believe they are acting in your best interests. (Bob Dog #153)

And now, everyday I try to make up for that wasted 33 years. Instead of wasting my time, on my knees with my eyes closed, asking the mythical war god to help humanity, I try to do at least one good thing for a complete stranger every day. And with the number of homeless people in the city, it's real easy to find someone to do something nice for. (Karl E. Taylor #1143)

Yes and no:

Yes - I spent many years living in a fantasy world, hoping I could "follow the instruction manual," as xians say these days, and have a happy life. I was nearlt ruined by trying to follow those "instructions." Also, I stayed in a marriage that I might not have stayed in... and I think every day that this may be a mistake.

No - I spent many years living with a group of fine people, and I helped many friends face and live through hard times. This was a period of growth personally, one I might have missed out on had I been an atheist living in the South. I learned many social skills I never could have learned otherwise.

It's a mixed bag - just like much of life... (Nemo #1331)

Not at all, but then I'm hardly a typical case.

I was brought up as a "believing but not really practicing christian." My childhood was pretty rough: a very nasty divorce between my parents, an absent mother as she worked two or three jobs trying to keep herself and four children off welfare, a marriage to a physically abusive alcoholic, a second divorce and my coming out as gay... all by the time I was 16.

I found a great deal of emotional support from a Wiccan friend and was eventually initiated to the first degree. My first boyfriend started taking me to the Metropolitan Community Church, where I found not only a family but armor against the invective of Pat Robertson, Jerry Foulwell (excuse me, Falwell) and the growing power of the Christian right. I was baptized and latter served as a deacon. I left MCC and returned to Wicca for a while (moving up to the third degree, the highest level in traditional Wicca) then came back to Christianity in the Episcopal Church, studying for holy orders. I left theism behind maybe four years ago at the age of 29.

In that 13 years, I learned how to protect myself from bigoted fundamentalists by using their own scriptures and precepts. I learned that all things are connected and depend on each other. I learned that we should honor each other and honor the places where we live and the communities we call home. I learned about my own "calling" to community service, as a MCC deacon, a Wiccan elder, an Episcopal lay minister, which I still work, now as a humanist celebrant (hopefully, soon to be legally licensed. Anyone want an atheist marriage ceremony? Baby naming? Coming out celebration? Funeral?) Most importantly, I learned how to survive, despite the intense ill will of The People In Charge. These are lessions that, very sadly, are just not available in society at large.

While I have grown beyond my theist past, it most certainly was not a waste of time. I've grown past elementary, middle and high school, but those weren't a waste of time, either :-) I'm a better person for what I have been. (Gregory Gadow #1897)

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