Erizo
Maverick's Chew Toy
Posts: 4
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Hello
Apr 25, 2004 12:30:24 GMT -5
Post by Erizo on Apr 25, 2004 12:30:24 GMT -5
Hi. I'm 16 years old, and I've always been raised as a christian, but never really beleived any of it. My entire extended family, as well as most of my friends, are christians, and because of it, I always had a voice in the back of my head saying "but you know there's a god because..." well, it usually shut up about there. Anyways, it was only about a year or two ago that I finally got that voice out of my head, but I still haven't admitted it to anyone. I found this website google searching for "closet atheists". Looks like a nice place Just thought I'd introduce myself.
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Hello
Apr 25, 2004 12:45:58 GMT -5
Post by nonny on Apr 25, 2004 12:45:58 GMT -5
Welcome Erizo. VOice in the back of your head? well I htink we have all had that.
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Hello
Apr 26, 2004 15:29:22 GMT -5
Post by AuntieSocial on Apr 26, 2004 15:29:22 GMT -5
Hey Erizo ... welcome.
As for that little voice you keep hearing ... don't worry about it ... it's name is doubt. If you arm yourself with information, one of two things will happen ... the voice will go away (though it may have a temper tantrum or three first), or it will become more insistant.
If it goes away, it means you have decided that you do not believe in the deity you were told about in your youth.
If it becomes more insistant and makes sense to you, you do believe. In the meantime, you have expanded your understanding of your religion (and religions in general).
I went through something similar. I was 8 when I first openly questioned the stories in the Bible. I continued to question the stories and started questioning the church doctrines through my teens. When I was in my mid/late teens (around your age), I did a critical reading of the Bible (imagine my family's joy to see me reading the Bible ...) and I determined through that reading that I have no belief (though I did still think that I once believed, I now know I never had a belief). I also determined that if there actually is a God, the one in the Bible wasn't worthy of my support.
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kronus
Maverick's Chew Toy
A closet atheist. looking for communication with fellow freethinkers.
Posts: 19
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Hello
Apr 27, 2004 18:53:19 GMT -5
Post by kronus on Apr 27, 2004 18:53:19 GMT -5
Welcome Erizo Sounds like me some 30 years ago. But I was not as strong as you and I caved in. It led to some very unhappy years. Never let someone else do your thinking for you.
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Hello
Apr 28, 2004 20:22:40 GMT -5
Post by Yaw on Apr 28, 2004 20:22:40 GMT -5
Should have gotten to this before.
Welcome, Erizo. Hope you enjoy the board. Feel free to participate in whatever forum you want.
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Hello
May 1, 2004 20:51:38 GMT -5
Post by Maverick on May 1, 2004 20:51:38 GMT -5
A late welcome to the board Erizo. You aren't alone in your closet atheism. I'm still somewhat of a closet atheist to some of those close to me. I'd imagine most of us who were raised in Christian homes have had that little voice too. I had it for a while and I used it to justify my belief until I became an atheist.
Enjoy the boards and let me know if you need anything.
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