Did you ever believe in a god?

[SGOS]

Yeah I was raised as a protestant, then I thought about it ............................................................................. that and girls pretty much kicked what thin vestige of faith I'd managed to drag with me into my teens right out the back door.

I see all types of faith more and more as something which people just kind of grow out of.

Most people don't seem to grow out of it.  I don't know that given enough time they would.  They seem to clutch onto it until they die.

[RCnal]

I thought it was possible as a child, then I read the bible. Figured it out after that!

[Flanker1Six]

My  mother was quite religious; as is most of her surviving family.  When I was 7 or 8, I was invited to Sunday School by one of my peers.  My Mom leapt on that opportunity like a cat on a mouse.  Resulting in my brother and myself being coerced into Churchy/Schooly "attendance" for the next 10 years or so.  A couple of years after being roped into involuntary Church/Sunday School Servitude (however well intentioned) I was further conned (frequently the result of a particularly ugly brew of  minimal life experience, combined with an ill formed id, and will) into the idea that attending Church Summer Camp was a positive life experience. 

It was a good learning experience for me though.   As one day..............................out of the blue.............................when no one else was about.  My camp cabin counselor/mentor spoke with me privately about "accepting Jesus as my personal savior", (if I hadn't been smart enough to already), or the very attractive alternative of BURNING IN HELL FOREVER! I admit it........................I bit on door #1, as there didn't seem to be much of a career path in door #2!   

My take away these many years later?   People who lean on 10 year olds about eternity, burning in hell, and that sort of **** are really just manipulative, opportunistic PsOS!

That didn't come off as cynical did it?  Because if it didn't.............................I could ramp it up!   :)     

[Baruch]

Someday we can get beyond our childhood traumas ... if we work at it ;-)

[Mike Cl]

My  mother was quite religious; as is most of her surviving family.  When I was 7 or 8, I was invited to Sunday School by one of my peers.  My Mom leapt on that opportunity like a cat on a mouse.  Resulting in my brother and myself being coerced into Churchy/Schooly "attendance" for the next 10 years or so.  A couple of years after being roped into involuntary Church/Sunday School Servitude (however well intentioned) I was further conned (frequently the result of a particularly ugly brew of  minimal life experience, combined with an ill formed id, and will) into the idea that attending Church Summer Camp was a positive life experience. 

It was a good learning experience for me though.   As one day..............................out of the blue.............................when no one else was about.  My camp cabin counselor/mentor spoke with me privately about "accepting Jesus as my personal savior", (if I hadn't been smart enough to already), or the very attractive alternative of BURNING IN HELL FOREVER! I admit it........................I bit on door #1, as there didn't seem to be much of a career path in door #2!   

My take away these many years later?   People who lean on 10 year olds about eternity, burning in hell, and that sort of **** are really just manipulative, opportunistic PsOS!

That didn't come off as cynical did it?  Because if it didn't.............................I could ramp it up!   :)   

Cynical????  Ramp up to your heart's content!

[marom1963]

Just curious how many people here once believed in god(s) and now don't believe compared to those who never believed. These experiences seem to be very different. I never believed.

I did - until I realized that God and Santa Claus were similar: magical being, living in an exotic place, keeping track of who's naughty and who's nice, rewarding the nice and punishing the naughty (presents v no presents/Heaven v Hell). Both, it seemed, were old, white men w/a beard, except that one liked to eat too much - but at least that one had a wife and a sense of humor and didn't require all sorts of groveling and begging. Santa seemed like a nicer guy.

[Shukhov]

I was raised catholic but parents aren't very religious so I managed to shake off indoctrination when I was 14 I believe.

[Flanker1Six]

I did - until I realized that God and Santa Claus were similar: magical being, living in an exotic place, keeping track of who's naughty and who's nice, rewarding the nice and punishing the naughty (presents v no presents/Heaven v Hell). Both, it seemed, were old, white men w/a beard, except that one liked to eat too much - but at least that one had a wife and a sense of humor and didn't require all sorts of groveling and begging. Santa seemed like a nicer guy.

Funny you should mention that.   I actually worked with Santa on my last project in Iraq!   After noticing his name on the work site personnel list; I was pretty stoked to meet him in person; though you can imagine my shock to discover he was young, thin, very black, clean shaven, and Kenyan.  Guess  that explains why I never got that drum set I wanted so badly when I was five!   As they say...........WTF??!! 

[marom1963]

Maybe that was whom my father was taking the pot-shots at w/the shotgun - he said some skinny black guy, dressed up as Santa, was trying to steal the Christmas tree! And he flew right up the chimney, too!

[Blackleaf]

I did - until I realized that God and Santa Claus were similar: magical being, living in an exotic place, keeping track of who's naughty and who's nice, rewarding the nice and punishing the naughty (presents v no presents/Heaven v Hell). Both, it seemed, were old, white men w/a beard, except that one liked to eat too much - but at least that one had a wife and a sense of humor and didn't require all sorts of groveling and begging. Santa seemed like a nicer guy.

Unlike the Christian God, Santa doesn't require you to believe that he exists to shower you with presents. Good behavior was enough reason to reward you. If Santa were like God, we'd all be on the Naughty List by default.

[SGOS]

I was remembering the other day when I was maybe 4 or 5.  I had the flu, and was horribly sick.  I had just thrown up and I remember breaking out in a profuse sweat.  I asked my mother why God lets us get sick, and she said, "It's so you will be grateful when you are feeling well."  I thought, "Well OK, if that's what God wants, I'll believe that," but at the same time, I still thought that was a shitty way to make me feel grateful when I'm well.  I remember thinking there was something terribly wrong with God's plan on that one.

[Blackleaf]

I was remembering the other day when I was maybe 4 or 5.  I had the flu, and was horribly sick.  I had just thrown up and I remember breaking out in a profuse sweat.  I asked my mother why God lets us get sick, and she said, "It's so you will be grateful when you are feeling well."  I thought, "Well OK, if that's what God wants, I'll believe that," but at the same time, I still thought that was a shitty way to make me feel grateful when I'm well.  I remember thinking there was something terribly wrong with God's plan on that one.

Especially when you consider that we'll have an eternity to forget that lesson. Or is God going to make people get sick in Heaven every once and a while to remind them?

[marom1963]

Unlike the Christian God, Santa doesn't require you to believe that he exists to shower you with presents. Good behavior was enough reason to reward you. If Santa were like God, we'd all be on the Naughty List by default.

Good points. But I was a child. When I was told about God, my reaction was, "Wait - I've heard this before. Isn't he Santa?" But, then, no, Santa didn't allow his one of the elves to be nailed to a cross, either.

[Mr.Obvious]

Especially when you consider that we'll have an eternity to forget that lesson. Or is God going to make people get sick in Heaven every once and a while to remind them?

In heaven they can look down on us sinners struck by fire, pointy things and illness and so remember that lesson all the time.

[marom1963]

I stopped believing in the gawd at age 15 and  The Catholic dogmas are very silly.

I think that people are silly - so, maybe the silliness of Catholic dogmas is what makes them so effective?