Atheists & Agnostics

walkingman

(7,717 posts)

34. I think it was probably about 13 or 14...I grew up in the First Baptist Church

Thu May 2, 2024, 06:42 PM

May 2

in the South, went to Sunday School and Church every Sunday. The tradition in our church was our class would sit together after SS for the Church service and at around that age the preacher would ask for those who accepted JC as their savior to come to the front and profess that to the preacher and would then be scheduled for baptism. My brother and sister did so and I did not. It did not please my parents or grandmother. I just did not believe it.

During college, I did attend church with my girlfriend several times and did not mention my disbelief. I was ashamed to admit it. For years after, even after getting married, neither my DW nor I said anything to our families - both who were churchgoers.

To be totally honest, we only admitted our disbelief in the last few years. After seeing and hearing the white evangelical community support and embrace the Trump campaign and presidency did we decide to stop the charade.

My opinion about religion is that it is a personal choice. I don't really what someone believes as long as they don't push it on me. We live in a rural part of Texas, and it is not conducive to establish friendship with most of our neighbors.

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At what age did you become an atheist/agnostic? And what brought that about? [View all] Bundbuster May 1 OP

I went to Sunday School as a Presbyterian. I loved applegrove May 1 #1

My parents sent me to a different Christian Bible School every summer. LakeArenal May 1 #2

About 25 years of age. I got tired of it being crammed down my throat AND Ferrets are Cool May 1 #3

A few years after realizing there is no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny. Silent Type May 1 #4

Not sure the age but young. My Dad tried to shove religion down our throats. CousinIT May 1 #5

God has become a tool for the oligarchs Farmer-Rick Friday #63

When God said to me that he didn't exist. Doodley May 1 #6

Due to family, church people, and friends' pressure, I joined the church and was baptized when I was thirteen years old. spike jones May 1 #7

By 18 after 9 years of Catholic school. MOMFUDSKI May 1 #8

George Carlin said SCantiGOP May 2 #49

Teenager, 15 or 16 I guess vanamonde May 1 #9

As George Carlin said, "I was a Catholic, until I hit the age of reason." (paraphrasing) alwaysinasnit May 1 #10

0. Just like everyone. Voltaire2 May 1 #11

Unfortunately almost everyone on the planet is indoctrinated Bundbuster May 1 #12

Your Unitarians had doctrine!? CCExile May 2 #25

Back in the 1950's most Unitarians in that church Bundbuster May 2 #47

I've heard Unitarians described as SCantiGOP May 2 #50

Yep. Cultural Christian. We know all the bible stories, but CCExile May 2 #52

Pretty late in life--50ish. Timeflyer May 1 #13

Probably about the time I found out Santa doc03 May 1 #14

I never believed the Bible stories from the children's lessons in Church. pandr32 May 1 #15

Age: 21. Occasion: The night my 19 year old brother died in a car wreck. watrwefitinfor May 1 #16

Thanks for sharing, very thoughtful and forthright Bundbuster May 1 #17

Around seven. Susan Calvin May 1 #18

At about the same age as you. BigmanPigman May 1 #19

LOL - my atheist father would throw me a smirk as he read the Sunday paper on the couch Bundbuster May 1 #21

It solidified in my early teens. canuckledragger May 1 #20

Started questioning around 12 Faux pas May 2 #22

About 8. When professional wrestling would come on TV after the church programs Sunday mornings. sybylla May 2 #23

I went to Catholic School. If you weren't Catholic you couldn't go to heaven. twodogsbarking May 2 #24

Thought you were going to go the Billy Joel route unblock May 2 #28

I was 12. When my dad died. I hadn't been brainwashed, indoctrinated or groomed in anyway before that and ever brewens May 2 #26

Always. First time I had the concept of god explained to me I said "what the f*ck is this sh*t?" unblock May 2 #27

Uvalde maptap22 May 2 #29

(( )) Deuxcents May 2 #45

about age 15. just decided this God stuff made no sense. NoRethugFriends May 2 #30

I went to Catholic school 12 years. I dont ever remember believing really. Srkdqltr May 2 #31

As an alter boy I learned mass in Latin. Arne May 2 #32

I was christened in the Church of England Skittles May 2 #33

...made up this religion so he could divorce his wife to marry his pregnant girlfriend, who he later had beheaded. Bundbuster May 2 #44

*SNORT* Skittles May 3 #61

I think it was probably about 13 or 14...I grew up in the First Baptist Church walkingman May 2 #34

During high school Cartoonist May 2 #35

In my 30s AmBlue May 2 #36

Over a period of years. R. P. McMurphy May 2 #37

In stages. no_hypocrisy May 2 #38

About 18 gibraltar72 May 2 #39

HA!!! gay texan May 2 #57

I was raised Mormon YodaMom2 May 2 #40

Welcome to DU, YodaMom2, and especially to this Forum Bundbuster May 2 #43

Thanks! YodaMom2 May 2 #46

Watching my grandfather watch Oral Roberts beveeheart May 2 #41

Assume I was born that way. Freethinker65 May 2 #42

Catholic - mindlessly ate meat on a Friday - caught by my neighbor rurallib May 2 #48

I was a skeptic before I was a teenager, and a card-carrying atheist by around 15. Chainfire May 2 #51

2022 CountAllVotes May 2 #53

Around 30, flakey_foont May 2 #54

Seeing the control of repukes in the White House since 2000 I have become more agnostic! kimbutgar May 2 #55

16 or 17, via rock n roll gay texan May 2 #56

I've never been a believer. chowder66 May 2 #58

11 years old if..fish..had..wings May 2 #59

Some time later in grade school, but a seed of doubt was planted early on. dgauss May 2 #60

Was around ten or twelve for me too Woodwizard May 6 #62