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riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)

17. Are you still religious or a believer in God?

Fri Dec 30, 2011, 04:20 PM

Dec 2011

(Obviously not your parents' religion anymore) but if you are still involved in any religion, you are going to be guilted into feeling like crap and fearful and anxious imho.

I stopped going to church as soon as I got to college. By the time I graduated I knew I was an unbeliever but didn't have enough courage in my fundie town to articulate my lack of faith out loud. By the time I was 25 I was an "out" atheist. I too had trouble leaving some parts behind but it was the religious conditioning parts like saying "thank god!" or bowing my head in prayer, even when I knew I wasn't going to pray. Or the bargaining with God - "please god if you just let this thing happen, I'll be a better believer...." Those parts of conditioned behavior took the longest to go away for me.

But the fear of eternal damnation or kharmic justice or god's punishment? As soon as I stopped trying so hard to have a relationship with God, all of that fear and anxiety stuff shedded off almost instantly. I honestly felt "free" the moment I stopped trying so damn hard to believe.

Sounds as though your fear and anxiety issues haven't resolved themselves but I'd guess that if you are still a believer, you are going to have issues with fear and anxiety. It's part of faith if you ask me. That whole "peace inside" crap that religions try to sell - its just a marketing ploy however with that said, if you are still a believer you should speak to your pastor/religious leader for some answers. If you are truly an atheist and are still wrestling with those demons, you need a counselor.

Good luck. ((((hug)))

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

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She should be reported. CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2011 #3

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

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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

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

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It isn't all negative clyrc Dec 2011 #51

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

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

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

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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

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

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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