Introduction

[scera76]

Hello everyone. I just stumbled onto this site. It seems awesome. I was raised as a Christian. I was taken to church every Sunday by my grandmother. I attended bible studies, camps, and a youth group throughout my childhood and teen years. I believed there was a god faithfully, of course, I didn't know any different way of thinking.
I left an abusive husband about 3 years ago. A friend of mine helped me get out, she took me to a shelter. The shelter was actually a religious organization where I signed up for a year long stay. It was either that or I would've been forced to leave. I had never been on my own and I didn't see the harm.
The women there in that program give up all control to these people
We were always referred to as "their girls". We never went anywhere, we weren't permitted to. We woke up at 6am, homeless shelter stuff until 8am when we attended bible classes. In the afternoons we were sent to their thrift store to work. It wasn't hard work at all. I realize now though that they use those women as slave labor. Hard work or not it is what it is. This place prays on women with nowhere to go. They scout women's prisons for new "girls" regularly.
The best part of my going there was that I read and studied the bible. And I spent plenty of time contemplating everything. I realized rather quickly that I am an atheist.
The world is a beautiful place. The universe is so big and amazing. It's hard to hang onto the idea of a god with this understanding.

[jonb]

That is some ordeal, welcome, I hope your life is on the up and up now.

[TomFoolery]

I'm sorry for what you went through and I hope you're in a better place now. You would think that if someone really wanted to show you what God's love was about that it wouldn't come with a clause requiring the choice between homelessness and faith.

[scera76]

I actually left that program after 6 months. They gave me 30 days to get out. It is hard starting over with nothing and no one. But it is also liberating for me. Before the 30 days I had a job, enrolled in a college, and found a place to live. I have since earned an Associates degree in Business Administrations and have decided to continue. My plan is to earn a Bachelors in something (haven't decided what). And maybe even a Masters.
It took me a while to completely let go of the idea of a god. I had realized rather quickly that the bible wasn't the "truth". Quite the opposite. It is a horrible book(s) full of horrible stories about people doing terrible things to other people.
I spent some time looking around. I read enough of the Qur'an to know that it was just as bad.
I've gotten into some athiests YouTube channels which helped me to let go of a belief that I was clinging to for no logical reason. I like the friendly athiest, the bible reloaded(even though their language is horrible), and the armored skeptic (that guy always makes me laugh).
I've never felt so free and relieved, from the oppression that is religion.

[Mike Cl]

I actually left that program after 6 months. They gave me 30 days to get out. It is hard starting over with nothing and no one. But it is also liberating for me. Before the 30 days I had a job, enrolled in a college, and found a place to live. I have since earned an Associates degree in Business Administrations and have decided to continue. My plan is to earn a Bachelors in something (haven't decided what). And maybe even a Masters.
It took me a while to completely let go of the idea of a god. I had realized rather quickly that the bible wasn't the "truth". Quite the opposite. It is a horrible book(s) full of horrible stories about people doing terrible things to other people.
I spent some time looking around. I read enough of the Qur'an to know that it was just as bad.
I've gotten into some athiests YouTube channels which helped me to let go of a belief that I was clinging to for no logical reason. I like the friendly athiest, the bible reloaded(even though their language is horrible), and the armored skeptic (that guy always makes me laugh).
I've never felt so free and relieved, from the oppression that is religion.

You are one strong person!  You have endured much--but it appears it gives you a base to spring from.  I can only wish you a life filled with joy and happiness.

[hrdlr110]

Great that you arrived at the right conclusions after all that....many don't. Welcome! And you're not alone in not believing, and you're not alone on here in having previously believed - there are many.

[stromboli]

Welcome. My daughter married a duplicitous loser who ended up cheating her out of a lot of money, but on her own pursued a degree in criminal justice. She is now married to a great guy, I have 2 great grand kids and she works for the justice system in Colorado. As long as you work to empower yourself, you'll succeed.

[Baruch]

Welcome also.  So sorry you were exploited.  Back in the day, and maybe today as well, there is abuse of foster children.  One hundred years ago, urban orphans where shipped out to farm country ... and often just used for farm or house labor, not actually adopted as family members.  They were there on a trial basis, but the trial period might be ... extended ;-(  On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with hard work.  It is a matter of what situation it is done in.  It is a matter of try try again.

[TomFoolery]

Back in the day, and maybe today as well, there is abuse of foster children.  One hundred years ago, urban orphans where shipped out to farm country ... and often just used for farm or house labor, not actually adopted as family members. 

They were there on a trial basis, but the trial period might be ... extended ;-(  On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with hard work.

Don't mind him, he means well.

But seriously Baruch, that's probably not what someone in her position wants to hear.

[aitm]

welcome to the forum, and yes, I am indeed as handsome as my picture.

[Solomon Zorn]

Welcome!

Interesting story about the women's shelter. Makes me wonder if it was subsidized or not. If not, then they can indoctrinate however they see fit. No faith: no food. Despicable as it may be.

[SGOS]

At least for you, there was a silver lining from your examination of the Bible nonsense.  I remember way back as a young adult reading the Bible and thinking, "This doesn't sound possible to me."  Duh?!!  Ya think?  But of course back then, I shrugged it off because everyone else said they believed it.

[Draconic Aiur]

welcome

[Green Bottle]

Afternoon scera76 and 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

And now you must answer the most important question you'll see here: Tesla or Edison