Is it a long hangover ?

Geomy

When you decided or realized that religion was not for, did you detach from all those burning in hell scenarios easily enough or did it take time to shed all the guilt and rise from the ashes. ....

FouxDaFaFa

I never really believed all that stuff anyway, I was just kind of going along with it because I didn't realise you could not believe in God. I didn't know any atheists so it just didn't occur to me that there was an alternative. (Durr).

Once that clicked, there was no vestigial guilt or struggles leaving religion behind. It was a huge relief.

I imagine for those who were true believers, it would be much more difficult moving on from ingrained behaviours and thoughts.

Delirium

It was as difficult to deal with as realising I wouldn't win the the World Cup for Ireland with an overhead volley :P

Days 298

Geomy wrote: »

When you decided or realized that religion was not for, did you detach from all those burning in hell scenarios easily enough or did it take time to shed all the guilt and rise from the ashes. ....

I found it okay, I lost it while in secondary school. My biggest problem was how the the school I was attending normalised religion and made me feel different. Reinforced it everywhere. When we returned after summer the principal would start with a prayer. Crosses in every class room. Religion class focused on the catholic agenda.

Then I became self confident in my beliefs. Laughed at the bigotry and ignorance that surrounded me.

Now the idea of a God is alien. The very concept of heaven, hell and and a virgin birth among many more ridiculous. I live life on my own terms, decide for myself what is morally right and wrong. It is the greatest thing to happen to me. Don't let strangers and ancient books decide what is right and wrong.

Religion was a prison. And it's not like I opted out of heaven! Theist and atheists are going to the same place. Nowhere!

At first it was scary. But it was more societies bullying and pressure that I received at the age I became an atheist. I'd say the transition would be much easier now as I never have religion shoved in my face by authoritative figures as truth.

Days 298

koth wrote: »

It was as difficult to deal with as realising I wouldn't win the the World Cup for Ireland with an overhead volley :P

The transition to a life of knowing that I would never be a professional soccer player one day was much harder. It's something I grapple with every day, I have an emptiness inside me that it left.:(:D

Just what if..........

Geomy

You're both very lucky, I like spirituality and mindfulness etc

But all that burning in hell **** and the man made moral compsss with sexuality and living in sin ffs is effing nuts...

I know loads of good people that so called religion has them burning in hell and persecuted. ...

Im posting here for a while now and notice im more relaxed and do my best to be non judgemental lol

A lot of my religious friends decided to leave Catholicism and become Buddhists or lead a more pagan new age spirituality lifestyle. ..
Or just got the ****its and just went atheist.

It suit's them more they no longer live a life of thinking God is listening in etc....

I like the spiritual way its easier than Catholicism, I even know quite a few radical priest's who have a girlfriend...

endacl

Ain't nothin' radical about having a girlfriend!



And to answer your question, no. No hangover.

Doctor DooM

I had a little bit of a hangover like you mention, but believe it or not this forum right here helped me over it quickly, as I suspect it's helping you I'd been on a long "spiritual journey" but when I realised I didn't really believe in anything any more outside of the here n' now I kinda paniced.

Reading here day to day really, really helped me through a lot of that.

Ironically enough, t'other forum also escalated it. When I started noticing the mental gymnastics some people go to in order to make their world view work... Honestly sometimes I was aghast. The two had a cumulative effect, I could keep on believing in something I wanted or I could live my life to the fullest and not let a fantasy I wanted to believe in ruin what I actually have.

Kiwi in IE

I'm not meaning to be in any way condescending when I say this, so I hope it dosn't come across that way, but it must be really, really bizarre to be brought up in a religious home.

I can't imagine ever being religious and I can't imagine my parents being religious. And I can't imagine how I would relate to my family if they were devoutly religious.

It seems for some people that it is something that has had to be overcome. You guys who are atheists and were brought up in religious environments are potentially stronger atheists than someone who was never in a religious environment. If my family background was religious, I cannot say for sure that I would not be ranting rosaries and throwing holy water about the place, where you can!

Not that it's a 'who's the most atheist' competition or anything haha. I do admire people who have, against the extreme odds caused by childhood indoctrination, realised that gods are unproven at best.

SmilingLurker

No hangover at all, then again I was a young teenager at the time. My mother was a believer, my father was not, when I asked questions my mother gave me official answers, my dad gave me books. Once I asked a question and was given tthe philosophy of the western world. A brilliant answer, I cannot remember the question.

Cabaal

Never believed in it so never had a realization,

As my mother says, when I was five I said to her "I hate reeligion",

Since then I've always seen it as a bunch of stories, went along with it for communion partly for the money and did confirmation purely for the money

smacl

Geomy wrote: »

You're both very lucky, I like spirituality and mindfulness etc

Raised atheist so not really an issue for me. As for spirituality and mindfulness, not sure about the former, but regularly engaged in the latter through the likes of meditation, tai chi practice, and various other forms of naval gazing. While I don't for a moment believe that a reductionist scientific approach is the best way to answer every and any question, neither do I believe in anything supernatural.

gaynorvader

I was quite religious as a little boy, but I was also very inquisitive and deductive reasoning and logic was something my Dad fairly hammered into me from the word go. So in Sunday school, I remember asking several awkward questions of my teachers until they told my mother I was no longer welcome at Sunday school, at which point I had to sit through the church service instead (I was about 7 or 8 at the time). I didn't know I was ousted, my Mum played it very well telling me I was old enough to understand the sermons now, so didn't need Sunday school after all. I then started putting my questions to the priest after the service and he never really answered them satisfactorily. A lot of questions came from reading the Bible, and he always kinda fobbed me off. By the time I was 13, by belief had more or less entirely eroded and I resented going to church, my Mum still made me go until I was 16, and is still quite devout. I still went on Christmas Eve with her to keep her company, but I think she's given up on trying to get me to believe.

Sorry for the wall! I guess the 'hangover' did happen for me, but it happened as a more gradual effect rather than guilt or anything.

Hotblack Desiato

Geomy wrote: »

When you decided or realized that religion was not for, did you detach from all those burning in hell scenarios easily enough or did it take time to shed all the guilt and rise from the ashes. ....

Yes I did detach - if I was attached at all - I don't think I ever really believed. I don't recall any guilt, just resentment in my childhood / adolescence at being made go through these rituals in school and on Sundays.

One of my first memories of school is being leathered by a big scary ancient nun so perhaps not all that surprising, although I came from quite a religious home.

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

I'm not meaning to be in any way condescending when I say this, so I hope it dosn't come across that way, but it must be really, really bizarre to be brought up in a religious home.

It was bizarre. I've no real idea of how much my father was into it (although I did find a prayer book belonging to him in a drawer after he died) but he did outwardly conform and often went to mass with us on a Sunday - sometimes he claimed to go on his own but he probably went straight to his real place of worship - the pub!

Sunday lunches could be quite tense depending on lateness back in, amount consumed etc. so between that and having to go to mass it was easily my least favourite day of the week.

My mam was a pretty devout catholic though, had us in the front row at mass every week, went to Legion of Mary meetings sometimes (although even she thought that some of that crowd were a bit extreme), would make us bless ourselves from the holy water font in the hall before going out the door, that sort of thing. I don't think I was ever very enthusiastic about it either at home or in school, I learned not to ask questions but didn't absorb it either. It was just something we were made do (and school was actually more rigid than home.) I can remember being deeply unenthusiastic about doing my confirmation but just had to go along with it, there was no point complaining, it was expected of everyone never mind just the kids of the more 'holy' parents. This was early 80s.

I actually stuck with weekly mass (although when going on my own it was arrive late, leave early, stand at the back, no communion) until I turned 18 and just said I wasn't going any more and that was that. Never looked back.

It seems for some people that it is something that has had to be overcome. You guys who are atheists and were brought up in religious environments are potentially stronger atheists than someone who was never in a religious environment.

If by stronger you mean hostile and angry, yes we resent the deep influence that religion had on many of our childhoods (even if the worst thing that happened was to waste a great deal of time and be made sing some truly terrible songs.) and the strong influence it has had, and continues to have, on civil society here.

Not that it's a 'who's the most atheist' competition or anything haha. I do admire people who have, against the extreme odds caused by childhood indoctrination, realised that gods are unproven at best.

TBH I think they were dead right when they said that Elvis Presley and TV were the start of the rot :pac: even holy catholic censored Ireland couldn't stay in its 50s isolationist bubble forever. The English language was the means for delivering Anglo-American modernity (yes) and liberalism (to a limited extent) here. Which is just another stick for the Irish language lobby to beat us 'west Brits' :rolleyes: with!

J C

I don't have a religious hangover ... and I don't have any irreligious hangups either!!

I'd say I was almost perfect ... but that would be the sin of pride coming through!!!:D

Hotblack Desiato

J C wrote: »

I don't have a religious hangover ... and I don't have any irreligious hangups either!!

Well that's grand -but unfortunately not everyone brought up in a religion can, or wishes to, stick with it and for some this leaves them with feelings of guilt and inadequacy which can persist for decades. I do feel sorry for these people, who get neither the comfort that devout followers claim, nor the relief that the truly irreligious claim either.

J C

ninja900 wrote: »

Well that's grand -but unfortunately not everyone brought up in a religion can, or wishes to, stick with it and for some this leaves them with feelings of guilt and inadequacy which can persist for decades. I do feel sorry for these people, who get neither the comfort that devout followers claim, nor the relief that the truly irreligious claim either.

I see your point.
... I guess both religion and irreligion can have their downsides ... and hangovers.:)

J C

Days 298 wrote: »

You are very humble JC. Sure we all know that you are perfect :P.

I wouldn't want to be too humble either ... because that could also be sinful,:):p

... but I thank you for your kind words.;)

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYKWch_MNY0

Skip on to 0:45 in... :pac:

This is one of the small number of songs RTE had on constant rotation on the radio in the late 70s. Along with 'Bad Bad Leroy Brown' and 'Flowers Are Red'... ugh painful memories.

J C

ninja900 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYKWch_MNY0

Skip on to 0:45 in... :pac:

This is one of the small number of songs RTE had on constant rotation on the radio in the late 70s. Along with 'Bad Bad Leroy Brown' and 'Flowers Are Red'... ugh painful memories.

... please don't remind me!!!

... those were the days!!!:pac:

SureYWouldntYa

No hangover at all.

But still get guilted by granny into going to christmas mass

[-0-]

This isn't a thread for you JC.

Sarky

Ah, now, maybe J C is actually being honest on this one.





Bahahahahahahahahahahahahaa.

J C

[-0-] wrote: »

This isn't a thread for you JC.

You'd be surprised!!!;)

J C

Sarky wrote: »

Ah, now, maybe J C is actually being honest on this one.





Bahahahahahahahahahahahahaa.

I'm always honest!!!

J C

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

No hangover at all.

But still get guilted by granny into going to christmas mass

eh ... em!!!;)

BTW ... I agree with you that discretion is often the better part of valour ... and little would be achieved by needlessly annoying your granny.

Doctor DooM

Er, I would say virtually all the hang ups I have had could be tied back in some way to the religion I was raised in.

I try to go beyond them now and just, you know, enjoy life.

Or I could be concerned that God created the entire universe, set up the incredible delicate and intricate physics required for it to continue, ensured that one little planet could support sapient life orbiting around the sun in this particular solar system in this particular galaxy out of millions, and out of all the entities here he makes sure that I should be watched and that I don't masturbate. Despite giving me the sexual urges that lead to that act. Does having a ham shank make the world worse for anyone? No, but god decided it offends him, despite making it incredibly likely people will do it.

While he was at it, he also decided to gay the hell (pun!) out of some people just to see if they'd try and cheat his system, too. He created the ghey and then decided he hates the ghey, even though he is supposed to be perfect.

When something moves in mysterious ways, veering like a car across the motorway of life a drunken madman, sometimes it is because there's no one actually driving it.

J C

Doctor DooM wrote: »

Er, I would say virtually all the hang ups I have had could be tied back in some way to the religion I was raised in.

I try to go beyond them now and just, you know, enjoy life.

Yes indeed, religion (in all of its theistic and atheistic manifestations) has a lot to answer for ... including many hangups and hangovers!!!

I have gone beyond all that, thanks be to God ... and I'm glad that you are trying to do so as well. God likes a trier.

Doctor DooM wrote: »

Or I could be concerned that God created the entire universe, set up the incredible delicate and intricate physics required for it to continue, ensured that one little planet could support sapient life orbiting around the sun in this particular solar system in this particular galaxy out of millions, and out of all the entities here he makes sure that I should be watched and that I don't masturbate. Despite giving me the sexual urges that lead to that act. Does having a ham shank make the world worse for anyone? No, but god decided it offends him, despite making it incredibly likely people will do it.

The Creator God of the Universe doesn't get offended by masturbation or any other activity that you or anybody else may get up to.
... but, as a sinner, we all need to be Saved ... and He will Save us... but only if we want him to.

Doctor DooM wrote: »

While he was at it, he also decided to gay the hell (pun!) out of some people just to see if they'd try and cheat his system, too. He created the ghey and then decided he hates the ghey, even though he is supposed to be perfect.

... like I have said ... you're responsible for your freely exercised actions ... and the results of those actions ... including the action of believing on Jesus Christ to Save you ... or not, as the case may be.
... and God loves everyone ... including 'gheys' ... as you describe them.

Doctor DooM wrote: »

When something moves in mysterious ways, veering like a car across the motorway of life a drunken madman, sometimes it is because there's no one actually driving it.

... the use of free will by Humans to behave irresponsibly or inappropriately can look like this allright.
... and many hangovers can result.

Doctor DooM

Yeah sorry JC not falling for it.

J C

Doctor DooM wrote: »

Yeah sorry JC not falling for it.

Good ... it also too me a long time to to stop falling for it too.

... and I have found that all my religious hangovers disappeared, when I was Saved ... it's the best (religion) hangover cure that I have come across!!!:)

Hope you're having a nice day with your friends/family.

Have a good one!!:pac:

smacl

Ok, got the hangover. What was the question again?

Pherekydes

smacl wrote: »

Ok, got the hangover. What was the question again?

What is Alka Selzer used for?

Gordon

Having never been drunk on religion I haven't had a hangover. I am already saved.

J C

Gordon wrote: »

Having never been drunk on religion I haven't had a hangover. I am already saved.

Good ... good ... and even better!!

rainbow kirby

Stopped believing at age 10, not a huge amount of time after I stopped believing in Santa. Was more of an "oh right, so that's how it is?" than any great hangover or guilt trip.

PopePalpatine

Does being afraid of death count as a hangover?