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clyrc

(2,299 posts) Fri Dec 30, 2011, 03:39 AM Dec 2011

Question for DUers who grew up religious, and rejected that relgion [View all]

How long did it take you to be free of all the ideas crammed into your head at such an early age? I ask because I am almost 42, and it's been 24 years since I rejected my parent's religion, but parts of it are still with me. It took me about 20 years to stop waking up at night terrified of eternal hellfire. Now, deep down I feel like I deserve the bad times coming at me because I dared too much, and had too much fun. A part of me is meekly thinking, well, I deserve it. One of my mom's favorite sayings ( second only to "no sex outside of marriage" ) was "take what you want- and then pay for it." I have tried and tried to get out of the mindset I grew up with, because it doesn't make much rational sense to me, but it is much harder than it should be.

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Question for DUers who grew up religious, and rejected that relgion [View all] clyrc Dec 2011 OP

I left my parents' religion when I was 20, and never looked back. CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2011 #1

Finding a competent, caring professional is one problem clyrc Dec 2011 #2

She should be reported. CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2011 #3

She retired this year clyrc Dec 2011 #4

I understand your loneliness... CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2011 #5

Didn't grow up in religion, so can't really help you there Duer 157099 Dec 2011 #6

I won't give up, but clyrc Dec 2011 #29

This is my way of bookmarking, clyrc. Suich Dec 2011 #7

18 y/o RainDog Dec 2011 #8

I have gotten good at talking myself out of thinking certain ways clyrc Dec 2011 #9

Do you have a "what if" thing going on? Tobin S. Dec 2011 #10

Sometimes, when I'm asleep clyrc Dec 2011 #30

patriarchal religion is, imo, harmful for females RainDog Dec 2011 #18

Grew up VERY Catholic. blueamy66 Dec 2011 #11

It was a gradual process for me wysimdnwyg Dec 2011 #12

Grew up Catholic, pretty much left the church 40 years ago rurallib Dec 2011 #13

Was a Southern Baptist as a child. RebelOne Dec 2011 #14

I was too. Neoma Dec 2011 #16

Well, probably since I was 13. Neoma Dec 2011 #15

Are you still religious or a believer in God? riderinthestorm Dec 2011 #17

I'm now an agnostic Unitarian Universalist clyrc Dec 2011 #31

It took me a few years Broken_Hero Dec 2011 #19

My mom rarely brings it up anymore clyrc Dec 2011 #32

Thats good, Broken_Hero Dec 2011 #42

I try to remember that my mom really is afraid I'm going to hell clyrc Dec 2011 #43

Well, I'm 57 and still struggle susanr516 Dec 2011 #20

Southern Baptist for me, too clyrc Dec 2011 #33

Religion = Pantload Arugula Latte Dec 2011 #21

That deserves an Amen! RueVoltaire Dec 2011 #22

I was brought up presbyterian. I liked the golden rule and the bible stories about applegrove Dec 2011 #23

I like the golden rule, too clyrc Dec 2011 #34

I don't remember much about Sunday School. So I read the harrowing old testament as an adult. applegrove Dec 2011 #48

It isn't all negative clyrc Dec 2011 #51

We were presbyterians. We didn't get the hellfire sermons. I could well imagine those would be applegrove Dec 2011 #53

Be glad you missed out on those clyrc Dec 2011 #55

What got me on the path out was actually doing one of my high school resolutions eridani Dec 2011 #24

I try to keep the good things, too clyrc Dec 2011 #36

Maybe you don't have to totally reject it Generic Brad Dec 2011 #25

I do that, but I hate the way the stuff I rejected lingers clyrc Dec 2011 #37

Raised and confirmed Catholic, I left gradually. I don't think closeupready Dec 2011 #26

True enough clyrc Dec 2011 #38

You think too much about it. Curmudgeoness Dec 2011 #27

If you think about "take what you want, and then pay for it" clyrc Dec 2011 #39

Try thinking about it this way: PassingFair Dec 2011 #28

That made sense to me 24 years ago clyrc Dec 2011 #40

Honestly? It took one moment. One action. One death that will never make sense... ScreamingMeemie Dec 2011 #35

I can see how that would wipe it all out clyrc Dec 2011 #41

Independent, Fundamental, Bible-Believing Baptist OriginalGeek Dec 2011 #44

I stopped going to church at around 20, never considered myself an athiest until about 40. deucemagnet Dec 2011 #45

I can't make the leap to athiest, and I'm not church free clyrc Dec 2011 #46

Have you tried the Quakers? PassingFair Dec 2011 #47

I have a friend who is a Quaker, but no meeting house here clyrc Dec 2011 #49

Well, that certainly narrows your options! PassingFair Dec 2011 #50

There are some of us who just don't care enough to label ourselves. ScreamingMeemie Dec 2011 #52

I've tried being a realist clyrc Dec 2011 #54