The most frightening sentence this side of a Stephen King novel

[Stainless]

36. I became an Atheist

specifically because of dogmatic, pious, religious adults in my life who tried to influence me when I was a young person. I was raised in a blue-collar, working class, union household and I went to public school with kids of similar backgrounds. We all got along because we respected each others beliefs even though there were certain families who thought they were superior because of their religion. My mom and dad encouraged me to read almost anything I wanted to read and I absorbed it like a sponge. My reasoning ability enabled me to have a successful engineering career. I learned to use the scientific method to solve problems; religion, with its faith and dogma, quickly turned me off. Religion has its place with certain individuals, but I choose to avoid it whenever possible. Any criticism I express is usually well deserved. I don't however, feel I'm superior to anyone.