Intro

[Hope]

(24-10-2012 11:45 PM)Logisch Wrote:  Welcome! I can tell you as someone who has been a recovering religion addict from some years ago, one of the best things I've done is find some like minded people local to me.

I struggled with a LOT of things as I made the change over.

- Depression
- Conflicting feelings
- Loss of friends and family

I felt betrayed by people, they treated me very differently when they found out. I've lost some very good friends over them simply knowing I'm an atheist, when we were friends since kids. I learned very quickly who my real friends were.

On top of that, I was really depressed on and off, mostly about coming to terms with reality and dropping my beliefs. I even felt like I was perhaps betraying my own beliefs as I left Christianity for a while. People tried to guilt trip me, tried to make emotional appeals and it was SO tempting to just go back into my comfort zone.

Now looking back... I don't think I could ever go back to religion. I don't see it the same. I can't possibly look at it the same, think about it the same or rationalize it the same. I feel so much better thinking for myself and realizing I'm in control of my life and not some sky daddy watching me masturbate and watch me eat, take a shit and everything else I do.

Coming to terms with death was also a bit of a struggle. But when my view of life changed, my view on it changed to, no longer afraid of it, or concerned about it.

Every time I talk to my family, I sort of feel like Rod Taylor when he gets off the time machine and people are just blindly following along. Or when he asks people about where they find their books, and the books start falling apart. He just sort of looks around and goes, "What's WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?"

Don't worry, Hope. You are not alone, you're NOT the only one and it's fine It is OKAY to be an atheist.

Welcome!

I believe you understand me perfectly.

Reading this really helped what was looking to be a pretty depressing day and really helped me build some perspective on what is to come, sometimes it is difficult to see outside of today.

I am feeling like an ass- I have wanted to bash my head against the wall repeatedly!

It's one thing to be raised in the mormon church and not know anything different and slowly climbing your way out, but for me to turn around dragging my children and husband with me into just another mess!

I am overwhelmed to say the least with guilt and outrage at the stupidity of excepting another "faith".

I have yet to tell my children....I just can't imagine how they will ever look at me and see anything but a confused mess of a mother!

I can see clearly why I ran to another "faith"....my husband of 20 years wasn't joining me and had lied to me for years, how could I trust him.

I had all family members eating me down to nothing as well as so called friends in the mormon church....

I ran to a christian church hoping to find the so called truth!
I was loved and sympathized with and an emotional mess to say the least I wished for death daily!

But still I made a choice and it was wrong!

The most rewarding part about excepting Atheism is realizing I want to live and I want to live more than ever- I see the faces of my children and who they are and not what they need to be.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me- It will always been remembered.