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Atheists & Agnostics

GiqueCee

(2,947 posts)

12. I did...

Reply to NNadir (Original post)

Tue Sep 23, 2025, 11:22 AM

Sep 23

... my mother was über-religious, but not in the in-your-face way you see with today's zealots. I even taught Sunday school, and seriously explored other faiths. But when I asked questions, particularly about scientifically impossible claims, I was harshly reprimanded with, "Why do you think they call it faith?" and other blanket assertions that brooked no scrutiny. That's when I said, Okay, a hard NO to this BS.
That was sixty years ago.
The source is disputed, but some wise old sage (H.L. Mencken?) said that religion is the greatest fomenter of hatred and intolerance in the history of humanity. Or words to that effect. I couldn't agree more. I coined my own explanation some years ago: The sleaziest weasel in the cave said to the biggest bully in the cave, "Look, you be government, and I'll be religion, and we'll have 'em by the short curlies 'til the end of time!"

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Question: How many of my fellow atheists had a religious upbringing? If one had one, when did it wash out? [View all] NNadir Sep 22 OP

Raised Jewish by agnostic parents. no_hypocrisy Sep 22 #1

Robert Oppenheimer, as you may know, was in the ethical culture movement as a child. NNadir Sep 22 #2

Religious upbringing trueblueinmo Sep 22 #3

Raised catholic got wise Faux pas Sep 22 #4

Agnostic here.... anciano Sep 22 #5

I decided years ago SCantiGOP Sep 23 #22

I appreciate you taking the time to respond... anciano Sep 23 #23

Fundamental markie Sep 22 #6

attended baptist church as a kid, didnt pay much attention to the religion part tho nt msongs Sep 22 #7

Not religious at all - just moral Nigrum Cattus Sep 22 #8

I was raised Universalist oberle Sep 22 #9

I have 13 years of perfect attendance pins from my small, rural Methodist church. sinkingfeeling Sep 22 #10

Very catholic with guilt a driving force Envirogal Sep 23 #11

I did... GiqueCee Sep 23 #12

My sig line in this post, from Max Born's Nobel Prize speech.. NNadir Sep 23 #13

Ah, yes! GiqueCee Sep 23 #14

It turns out that it's not from his Nobel Prize speech but is found in his autobiography. NNadir Sep 23 #21

Priests and nuns were mean, especially to kids that needed some help. First grade I had my doubts. twodogsbarking Sep 23 #15

My wife experienced that and concurs. NNadir Sep 23 #20

Raised in a very liberal Southern Baptist church wysimdnwyg Sep 23 #16

I never believed any of it mike_c Sep 23 #17

I grew up in the Vancouver area of Canada. pandr32 Sep 23 #18

Raised Catholic; was even an altar boy for a short time. SeattleVet Sep 23 #19

12 years of Catholic schools and parents that purported to be very religious rurallib Sep 24 #24

Southern Baptist GigiLeigh Sep 24 #25

My oldest son nearly went insane from reading that book. NNadir Sep 24 #27

Raised Catholic. Family still is. Went to Catholic school 12 years. Srkdqltr Sep 24 #26

I was raised as an American Baptist (supposedly more liberal than Southern Baptist), we could dance and play cards.. wcmagumba Sep 24 #28

It started with something my Mother said when I was 5 or 6 yo ... we attended a Southern Baptist church ... eppur_se_muova Sep 30 #29