Now that you're an atheist, does it ever make you mad that you were influenced as a child to believe?

Question

If you were, that is.

Answer 1

my parents are both religious, but they were good enough to offer the choices, and let me pick...

Mom's catholic, Dad's more of a free thinking Xian (no church connections)....

although it did always seem like they were trying to convince me, they never really pressured...

Answer 2

I'm not an atheist, but I don't believe what I was taught as a child, so I'll answer.

I don't get mad, because I think my parents meant the best for me. And because I do have a mind of my own, and when I developed critical thinking skills, I used them. It's my responsibility, and I won't pass that off on anyone else.

I think that focusing on the past and getting worked up about it would just cause conflict within the family...and if you have different religious views than they do, odds are there's probably already some degree of conflict. No need to magnify it.

Answer 3

The way I was influenced showed a lack of knowledge in the religion itself and was based on "keeping up with the Joneses". My mom took us to church because its "what everyone does" and not because she was an avid believer (agnostic- leaning toward theist). After hearing her long winded speeches about my "satanic atheist crap" I think I knew to instantly discredit her when she was talking about anything at all religious. I learned about church in church- and believe me I HAD to go.

Am I mad- yes. My parents forced me to believe in and follow a cult they didn't even fully believe in nor know anything about. It was pretty ridiculous. Am I over it? Yes. Because of their refusal to actually research their convictions- I chose to do so myself. In doing so, I learned to come to an entirely different conclusion... a more educated one at that.

Answer 4

i guess it's like a let down, like santa claus or the easter bunnie. finding out that it's your parents or the freaky skinny guy that stairs at you from the next row over in church. i wonder if there really is anything out there that wouldn't be a let down, i mean God has infinite power and wouldn't raise a finger to stop the madness in the lives of "his children", if i really had a dad like that, i'd call HRS for child neglect.

Answer 5

I was a pretty strong willed child and so never was influenced by religion. I stayed an Atheist and never wobbled even for a moment.

Answer 6

Not too much. I wanted to go to church on my own. Guess I wanted to b/c I didn't have any other imaginary friends.
I get irritated now that it seems to be everywhere (even tries to get in our laws when it's full of lies!) and tries to diminish the self-confidence I want my son to have by trying to preach to him that we're all born sinners. And, to put 'faith' over logic. Sometimes, that religion really gets to me!

Answer 7

It bothers me more that my parents still believe it.
I feel like I learned everything they had to offer and kept learning past that point to finally realize it was all bogus.
But there they are still in the 6th grade repeating year after year.

Answer 8

Not at all, my parents brought me up how they thought best, so I am not going to criticise them for that. The fact that I grew up and made my own choices in life when I became an adult is all that matters to me.

Answer 9

Yes at times I do because growing up and having to attend a catholic school has me at times thinking about this god person. but I bring myself back to reality by reminding myself that if he was real he would have answered everyones prayer along with actually showing himself.

Answer 10

Mad, no. My parents were doing what they felt to be best. I'd be more angry if they didn't respect my own decisions to know what is best for myself now that I'm an adult.