Answer 79

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Question 79

As an atheist, if you come from a theist background, do you still cling to any of your former religion's superstitions? If so, why is it hard to let go?

I guess to be totally truthful on this one I must admit that it does seem impossible to totally rid myself of my familiy's christian values. I guess conditioning is one hard monkey to get off your back. I feel that if I had totally lost all my christian values then I would not see the need to debate the bible and christianity with those damn theists. Of particular interest me is that Paul was the main reason for my loss of faith. I simply could not accept that such a miserable tightassed, mysogynist shirtlifter could be the messenger of God. Yet what brings out the flame in old Townes ? None other than Paulian doctrine - I just cain't resist it. Ho Hum !! (Townes da Wombat #1522)

When I was younger and I first began to look for facts to back up what I'd been taught about my religion, I was scared because I was afraid I might be wrong and that by moving away from god I was risking going to hell.

But as soon as the sheer lack of any reasonable evidence made it clear to me my religion was a farce, I lost that fear. I've been a healthy stable happy athiest for many years now. As has been said in this group a few times, "the truth shall set you free."

We all search for stability in our lives and explanations behind how things work. Some people choose faith without supporting evidence (theists).

Others of us take the scarier path (at first) and question all our beliefs. Its a hard road at first but with each truth you uncover you can feel great comfort knowing that the accuracy of your beliefs is far higher because of the sound scientific process behind their development.

I love science because its nature is that everyone attacks it to find its flaws and then we all work together to improve it. Creativity is welcomed, but quickly rejected if it doesn't prove itself. (Michael Stanley)

Not a one.... :))) "Liberated!!!" :)))) (Stoney #9)

None that I'm aware of. However, when you grow up in a religious environment, when you are taught there are no acceptable alternatives to the worldview presented in that environment, when most of your family, your friends and the people you care about echo those sentiments and they are constantly reinforced by the dominant cultural institutions that surround you, it can be very difficult to separate yourself from that environment.

In my own case it was a process that was painful and took years - not because of any profound truths I found in religion, once I began thinking clearly those were relatively easy to discard - but because of all of the other hooks that had been set so deeply. I had a great deal of emotional capital invested in the church I attended. It was very difficult to admit to myself that the investment was based on a sham. I wrote in an essay (for another venue) recently that I spent the better part of the first three decades of my life unable to imagine how I could live without a belief in a deity and have spent the better part of the last three decades wondering how I was ever able to live with it. I know that I've been a much happier and productive person since I discarded that belief - and all the rubbish that accompanied it. I also know that - for me - it was a difficult thing to do. (George Ricker #146)

I came from a non-religious home. My mother called herself an agnostic, but always said that if there was a god, a good one would never allow the crap that goes on in this world.

Strangely, as a child, all of my friends were religious and that left me wondering what I was missing. My parents always said I could choose for myself and supported me as I looked at religions. In the end, I found that none of them made sense.

Ironically enough, as soon as I decided that there was no god and all of the stories were to far fetched for even a child to believe, my mother found religion. She is now convinced that there is a god.

The really funny part is that she no longer considers it to be my choice. She is endlessly trying to make me believe in god now. (ClayeSkye #4)

If these qualify, then I can only say that I have problems letting go because they are so ingrained in language that I have trouble thinking of alternate terms. It seems unnatural for some and for others, Gezundheit is probably the German word for God less You, so I'm not sure I gain anything by changing languages. (Shyone #1059)

I don't cling to any superstitions personally, but there are times such as during the holidays that I will participate in my family's superstitious rituals, such as gathering hands and praying around the holiday meal. I feel uncomfortable doing so, but it's just once or twice a year, so I just go along with it. (Elroy Willis)

Language. I still tend to curse with christian terms (goddammit, hell, jesus christ, etc). Probably because that was the cursing that *meant* something in my formative years. (dotcom #1469)

We still light candles at Hanukah, but for cultural, not religious reasons. I have the Menorah from my family, so it is a link to my childhood. (Scott Davidson #1045)

If, by cling to, you mean to hold as true, then no. On the other hand, the myths still haunt my life. I'm constantly exposed to xtians and whenever they bring up religion for any reason, even a benign one, I grow displeased. Being in a religious ceremony makes me quite unapproachable, though I do my absolute best to avoid such a situation. (Chaos Theory #1354)

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