Growing up, did anyone ever make fun of your religion?

Question

I mean, did kids ever make fun of some of your religious beliefs?

How did it make you feel? How did you defend yourself?

Answer 1

I was raised Jewish. Even in Southern California, where there is a vibrant Jewish community, there was no shortage of opportunities to feel like an outsider. My family wasn't Orthodox, so my heritage wasn't *so* obvious, but I didn't hide it, either.

After I moved from West L.A. to an Hispanic section, I experienced a form of anti-semitism I'd only heard about - regular taunts from the Catholic boys about being a Christ killer, requests to see my horns, and the sing-song "jewie-ooey-gooey." There was a strong gang-element in that neighborhood, and my family's house was a frequent target of vandalism. My sister was shot in the azz (with a BB gun, but it still was a shock, and I'm sure it stung.) Our house was egged, and windows put out with rocks. While I lived there I had a paper route, and was assaulted by other kids - 4 stiches above my eye.

I'm an ectomorphic pacifist, so I defended myself with non-violent resistence. Quite a few of the kids in the neighborhood died due to goofing around with guns, fast-living, and general criminal activity including theft, arson, and - while I have no personal knowledge - killings wouldn't surprise me.

Non-violent resistance worked, as I'm still here.

I've since abandoned my Jewish faith - not as a result of the anti-semitic behavior I experienced, but due to a realization that the history of my ancestors as recounted in the Torah is nothing that makes me very proud, no offense intended to any other Jews.

Despite that, I still consider myself Jewish, maintain a belief in God (though not the Abrahamic God,) and continue to recite various blessings and celebrate holidays with my family. I do this for the comfort they give me - not out of any sense of duty.

Jewishness is something a Jew will not ever lose, so I accept it and even celebrate it - though I don't ritually observe it.

Answer 2

Why is Religion made fun of? The same reason anything else that is not common or fashionable is made fun of. Religion is no longer fashionable in society at this point, thus people feel they may be looked down upon if they are associated with it, and so most people who have a low self-esteem feel the need to bond with the strongest group and either become obsessively religious or obsessively anti-religous and bully the other groups. Meanwhile, the rest of us get on with our lives with a true open mind that accepts that we don't know everything and everyone could be as much right as we may be wrong.

Answer 3

I became a Wiccan when I was 10 years old. Throughout middle school and high school I was teased about "worshiping the devil" and told that I was going to burn in hell. The biggest bully I had was actually the son of a local preacher. One day in math class everyone crowded around my desk chanting "burn the witch". I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. Everyone started screaming and gasping when the lights suddenly went out in the room. After that day everyone kept their distance from me, which was a relief. I did not make the lights go out, I just think it was funny how it happened at the perfect time.. the universe is funny..
As an adult I still come in contact with religious prejudice. Any time I wear a pentacle I can feel the stares and hear the whispers. I wish people would take the time to do some research before stereotyping me.

Answer 4

I was raised as an Episcopal through my mom, my father was raised a very strict Catholic. We lived with my grandfather next to a Catholic church. Every day I would see many of the kids from my school go to Catechism. Between my grandfather and the kids at school I was told that I was going to Hell because I wasn't Catholic. My grandfather would tell me to sneak behind my mother's back and go to church next door. I have visited the church on a couple of occasions. Never felt love like where my mom took me. At the age of 13, after having my confirmation, my mom gave me the greatest gift. She said " I have raised you the best I could with what I believed in , if you find happiness in any other religion feel free to explore. I did . Although Episcopals were more excepting and loving in some ways, I didn't know Christ , Himself, until I went to a born again church , which taught me how to have a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. I finally found peace and true love.

Answer 5

Yes. My family was devoutly Catholic. Some of the local Fundamentalists didn't like that. They'd stuff anti-Catholic literature into our mailbox, leave it on our doorstep when we were gone, or shove it under the wiper blades of my father's car (that really ticked him off). I once got an anti-Catholic pamphlet in my trick-or-treat bag at Halloween...my parents had a fit over that, especially my father, who actually tried to hunt down the person who did it. When I was just a little kid, an adult accosted me and told me that the Pope was going to burn in Hell and I'd burn with him if I didn't accept Jesus as my personal savior. I found it very confusing, especially when people would tell me I'd go to Hell if I didn't accept Jesus. I went to church very frequently to worship Jesus. Why would I do that if I didn't already consider Him my savior? What kind of Jesus did they worship that was so different from the Jesus I learned about at church? Fortunately, I learned as a teenager that I'd been dealing with extremists, and that there are many Protestants who are very loving and gentle. I started attending Protestant services (in high school, after my parents had died) to learn more about the various types of Protestantism, and ended learning a great deal. So, while the taunts and threats made me uncomfortable, they also taught me to examine the sources they came from. In doing so, I found out that most Protestants are nice people, and aren't extremists who are obsessed with telling people they'll burn in Hell.

Answer 6

I was raised in a very strict Catholic family. But......I was also raised to respect others religion as it is a freedom afforded to each and everyone of us here in the USA. I had problems with some Christians who say I will go to hell because I have not been saved. Our belief is that you are baptized at birth, protecting you throughout your life. It is mean and cruel and when you are young it confuses you. Parents should teach more about respecting others religion than teaching that their religion is the only one that is right!!!!!

Answer 7

I grew up in a really small town so I went to church with everyone I went to school with. So, during childhood it didn't happen. It did however happen at a job I had many years ago. I just ignored it. If there is one thing I absolutely don't care about it is what people think about me based on my religion. I'm Christian, I love Jesus, and I know he loves me so I don't care. But I'm an adult and I'm sure it's different for kids.

Answer 8

Growing up Jewish in the south? YEAH!!!!! Daily!!!!!! They thought that we really made matzoh out of Christian babies!!!!! Someone asked me if I had horns!!!!!!! Seriously F'd up people. It made me feel angry and taught me to be outspoken and proud of my faith. I'm not observant anymore but I still wear a Mogen David and celebrate the holidays with my family. I also light Yhorzite candles for my departed family members on the high holy days and the anniversary of their deaths. It's just comforting.

Answer 9

Dude, I was raised Mormon and even in the SW yeah we were made fun of. Tho in Arizona we were made fun of for being goody-goody, smart, good looking and happy so it wasn't so bad.
Now that i live on the east coast, they are a bit more mean spirited. I am sick to death of people asking me how many moms I had... clueless jerks. I always patiently explain that it is an OFFSHOOT of the the Mormon church, but inside... I get so furious that people seem to ENJOY thier ignorence b/c it leads to funnier jokes.

Answer 10

well way back then we didn't have to defend ourselves. There were the catholics, and the jews and pretty much that was it. the JW's walked door to door but no one paid much mind to them and eveyrone respected each others belieths. We didn't intermingle and that was it. Unlike today. I guess this shows my age.