Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Angie Jackson on May 31, 2009 at 10:24am

Hmmm... fear of hell just hasn't been a big one for me. Now that I don't believe it, I can't go back and *make* myself. But this lecture series from the Atheist Community of Austin (they do the Atheist Experience TV show) may be helpful. The odds, even within the Biblical lore, of Baptists being "right" about hell are slim to none.

Guilt? Well, since I'm still so pissed off they brainwashed me, I don't feel much guilt for waking myself up. And I feel immense pride in keeping my own son out of church. Just find the things that feel life-fulfilling to you and embrace them. Guilt is just an emotion - it goes away on its own with time.

Permalink Reply by wisp on June 1, 2009 at 2:28am

Thanks for the link; I'll definitely check it out.

Permalink Reply by Nate on May 31, 2009 at 6:44pm

I think you need to continue your efforts at deprogramming yourself, Maria. Keep reading things that challenge the doctrines you were brainwashed with as a child. Keep honing your critical thinking skills. You've accomplished so much already. You're almost there.

I have no residual fear or guilt. However I suffer from "What do I do now that the sole reason for my existence was shown to be a fantasy?" syndrome. :)

Permalink Reply by wisp on June 1, 2009 at 2:32am

I guess the episodes of worry and guilt are becoming fewer as time goes on. My brain is quite good at re-hashing questions like this one ad nauseum, though, and sometimes in a particularly bad flashback, I don't feel I can trust myself to remain intellectually honest; I worry that I might just throw my hands up and say, "Fine, Christians. You win." Maybe I should work on having faith in myself to replace the faith I used to have in a sky fairy.

Permalink Reply by Kosak Grabovsky on June 1, 2009 at 5:02am

Having always questioned the idea of heaven/hell(though never to anyone), when i finally threw off religion it was never that worrying to me. Though i still do have a slight tremor when I'm at home alone at night thinking "what if its all true". But that has happened less and less as time has gone on.

The only advice i can give is to just think about the reason why these things can't exist. The thought that any being(real or imaginary) could actually sentence anyone to an eternity of "hell" is so laughable that it shouldn't even cross our minds. Just keep telling yourself that, and things should be ok.

Permalink Reply by Brad Feaker on June 4, 2009 at 6:10pm

Carrie,

It's hard for me to understand how my parents could have lied to me and brainwashed me.

It is probably because the were brainwashed and lied to. It seems that indoctrination in the church is a generational thing. I am glad you overcame it.