Soaps.com - MESSAGE BOARDS

Just as those who believe in a god(s), or a higher power would not wish us to post our thoughts in their thread(s), we ask the same respect of ours.

This thread is for all non-believers whether Agnostic, Atheist, or questioning.

I would like to give a little background about myself. I was brought up in a catholic home, went to church every Sunday, confession on Saturday, religious instruction every Wednesday, and read the bible at home with my mother. As a child I found much comfort in my religion, when I was 8 years old the most treasured Christmas present I received that year was a bible. In the catholic faith at the age of 13 one is to make what is known as Holy Confirmation. It is a religious ceremony where you confirm the vows of your baptism. One is not considered a catholic unless they make this confirmation.
The year before my confirmation I began to have questions about the things I was taught, and what I read in the bible. Most of my questions could not be answered by instructor, parent, nun, or priest, in fact I was once berated by a preist for having questions; I think it was mostly over his own frustration at not being able to answer my questions. Just prior to my confirmation I came to the decision that I was not sure that I believed in the religion that I had been brought up in, or the bible. So I decided not to make my confirmation, which broke my Irish mother's heart.
During my teenage years I really did not give much thought to religion, it was in my twenties that I began to explore spirituality. I looked into many religions, and for a short time practiced one or two of them. I never found a religious belief system that I myself could believe in. In my thirties I began to look into science, and became fascinated and inspired in ways that I never did from religious thought. Now in my forties, an Atheist, I have found that the study of science, the universe and the planet, exploring where we come from, and the symbiotic relationship of life, nature and the universe has given me a feeling of hope, safety, and redemption that no religion ever could.

I'm right here with you, honey. I am only 18 and there are so many things I want to know. I want to church for a few years, but I always questioned all the teachings(I don't think a man could have made the earth in six days. I am a big bang believer. And many more things like that). At 16 I meet someone who opened my eyes to the Wiccan religion(even though I had heard of it before because my sister practices it; I never asked her about). So I started reading books on it and liked what they were saying. I, to this day, still don't have a solid religion, but I think there might be something out there.

hey ya'll! Everyone on here pretty much knows that I am a non believer. I was raised in a nazerene church. Loved it. Had lots of friends. Went to church camp. All that jazz. One day our pastor broke from the church and went to form his own flock. My mom was one of the people who went. They combined pentacost with nazarene and it was a hot mess. It was all very fire and brimstone. One day a woman came in declaring that she was a prophet from God. Everything started to change. No one could make any decisions without asking this woman to talk to god and get an answer from him. The pastors from the church used to beat her on the golf course at night to save the congregation from their sins. We couldn't sing any hymns....unless they were written by her. No more Onward Christian Soldiers...no more of that Gloria song I loved (In exelcis deo sp)...anyway our pastor died and they didn't take him anywhere except the church. Apparently he knew he was dying and the prophet told him he would rise again in three days so he came to the church (dead) they put him on the pulpit in his chair and called everyone in. We all had to sit there for three days and watch him decompose. (gross and I am sooo not making this up!) Needless to say, he didn't come back alive. My mom finally left that church. But sadly, many didn't.

I tried other churches, other religions. I really don't like the organization that churches have. I think it is corrupt. I don't like how people fight over whose god is better and just assume you are going to hell if you don't believe in their god. God has always been the source of war.

I too, believe in science. Ultimately, IMO what it comes down to is that if you treat someone the way you want to be treated, then you are good. There are so many hypocrits in churchs (just like everywhere else) they slap a fish on their car, go to church and then screw around on their spouse, beat their children, sexually harrass subordinates. I prefer my way. I am much happier. And if I want drama...I come here. LOL!

Plot, Ewww about the pastor guy decomposing,lol!!
The thing that I find most annoying about some religious people is that I am totally fine to let them believe what they want to, but for some when they find out that you are Atheist they look down on that. The very annoying ones start to tell you how you are angry with god, and that is why you do not believe....um no! How can I be angry at something I do not believe exists. Or how you need to be saved or will go to hell. Imagine trying to threaten an Atheist with hell! LOL!!
Also I have no problem if you want to send your child(ren) to a religious school where they can say prayers and learn about creationism, but when they start to say that this must be done in public schools...it burns me!! We are a secular society with the seperation of church and state for a reason, and that is ONE of them.

I was raised christian my whole life and scarred because of it! I have been buddhist for 5yrs. I just figured out how fake people were in my families church its like the ladies would talk about other ladies and gossip and see who can have the holy ghost the longest. It was just embarrassing I had to attend my uncles funeral a couples of yrs ago at the same church I hadn't been to in 10yrs and everything was excatly the same no upgrades or improvements! But the pastor and the pastors wife were both driving matching benz's its like come on. Went to another church recently for like a carnival and there were atm machines in the church!!!! Can you believe that? That's why I converted

I am a believer because GOD is real.

Not sure why you are acting out for. Mostly likely a cry for help. But God loves everybody. He loves you, even understands where you are coming from I guess. As long as you believe and try to do right you'll be alright.

I try everyday to live right by him.