Mustainez

What's up, I am glad to see a forum that does so much good. I am in the middle of the transition from Christianity, after reading Losing faith in faith by Dan Barker. I realized that Christianity is just another false religion that controls people through fear. At 13 going to a Christian school and church, how does an agnostic survive in a Christian environment? Thanks alot!

Skepticologist

Barker's book is an excellent source of biblical contradictions and inconsistencies that anyone who can read would easily understand. I thought that, after grappling with my christianity for many years before finally rejecting it, I'd pretty much discovered them all, but I wasn't even close.

Since then, I've gravitated more and more to his viewpoint, i.e. that religion does more hard than good, so I've joined the Freedom from Religion Foundation (http://ffrf.org/) and become much more vocal about my beliefs, or unbeliefs, in conversations with friends and colleagues.

I'd encourage you to do the same, although it'll likely be a bit more difficult for someone so young than it was for me at about age 40. Still, I gave up quite a lot, including my first marriage, when I parted ways with origanized religion all those years ago.

Whatever you have to sacrifice for holding your head up and giving voice to your beliefs is well worth it.

__________________
"I am an agnostic; I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of."

Clarence Darrow

GX

It sounds like your at the head of your class (spiritually speaking) Mustainez. Congratulations on unburdening and enlightening yourself at such a young age. As far as how to survive in a christian environment? The most important thing is to learn to listen to and trust your inner self instead of those around you. Christianity teaches that you should fear yourself because of "original sin". Now that you have unburdened yourself, you are free to explore and be yourself. Above all relax and have fun because thats what its all about.

Mustainez

Thanks for your post's! IT is good to have other people in support of you!

Vinterland

Wow! That is definite hardcore atheism to me! Being that the vast majority of "agnostics" are strong atheists themselves, this isn't so surprising, and I may be just humouring you, but you cannot prove that Christianity is a false religion. To claim that the Christian God does not exist is irrational and therefore strong atheism.

Imo, to survive you need to fit in. You can fit in and still be an atheist (weak) by handling situations regarding theolgy rationally. Don't impose your beliefs on others and politely decline to participate or have their beliefs imposed on you.
Welcome to the board.

__________________
And on we walked. Suddenly we heard a voice crying, "This is the sea. This is the deep sea. This is the vast and mighty sea." And when we reached the voice it was a man whose back was turned to the sea, and at his ear he held a shell, listening to its murmur.
And my soul said, "Let us pass on. He is the realist, who turns his back on the whole he cannot grasp, and busies himself with a fragment."
—Gibran Khalil Gibran, “The Greater Sea.”

Jodou1

Hey there welcome to the boards.

Though I am sure many may not agree, I would encourage you to educate yourself on your own beliefs and take your own path, but not necessarily be overly vocal about that in school.

At an age so young many many people haven't the slightest clue who they really are, not many of us can say we are the same people we were when we were 13, 16, hell even 18.

In many conversations with my mother over religion, my younger sister would hear me speak on my views and decided that she too was agnostic. She is only fifteen and isn't able to voice her beliefs as well as I know she'd like(which doesn't discount them, only the way people percieve them). A reprecussion of this has been her fellow classmates having something to target.

No matter how mature you are when you're in school, there are droves of immature children. In a catholic school that will be compounded with the teaching staff. While I encourage your journey to find your own beliefs and applaud having such awareness at such a young age, I emplore you to be very cautious of the setting you are taking that journey in and the negative impact it could have on the next four or five years of your life.

I'm not saying you should go through life keeping your beliefs to yourself, I in fact do quite the opposite. I am simply saying the situation should be handled with care when thirteen and in high school, especially a catholic one.

Hope this helps, or made sense :X

nakamichi680zx

Welcome Mustainez. I too just posted today for the first time. You are starting your exporations much earlier than me. Good. Keep your mind open and try everything on first before weighing in. There will be life experiences you have yet to go through before the decision will fit you.

Looking forward to your voice.