Your stories, escape from clutches of religion

Originally posted by ivanhoe
Better than yours, Darv. 😉

LOL.

Originally posted by sonhouse
Heck, if that was the only fault I found with religion, I would
be on a pulpit fighting for it. That wasn't the straw that broke the
camel's back by any means. That incident just showed me you can't
take people at face value and have since found so much wrong with
religion/s I would give anything for the human race to mature
itself out of the need for such crutches.

look at northern ireland then tell me about your religion

Originally posted by sonhouse
Heck, if that was the only fault I found with religion, I would
be on a pulpit fighting for it. That wasn't the straw that broke the
camel's back by any means. That incident just showed me you can't
take people at face value and have since found so much wrong with
religion/s I would give anything for the human race to mature
itself out of the need for such crutches.

I came from a poor, ethnic area.
The adults tolerated each other but there was always some snide comments about the other's background/religion, whatever, made in private.
We kids would just roll our eyes, because we knew we were all the same.

Originally posted by KneverKnight
I came from a poor, ethnic area.
The adults tolerated each other but there was always some snide comments about the other's background/religion, whatever, made in private.
We kids would just roll our eyes, because we knew we were all the same.

Amen to that! I was a student in the Lutheran school and all the
kids there saw through the hype of it all. Kids are pretty good
judges of BS.

Originally posted by trevor33
look at northern ireland then tell me about your religion

Not sure what context you made that statement. On the surface,
it looks like you are referencing my post but the words seem to
suggest I am touting one religion over another. My position is
they are all full of shite. Northern Ireland is a prime example of it.
My ancestors are Irish, I played in an Irish band, in Los Angeles,
but we had dubiners in it so I have followed all of that. We were even
asked to play gigs supporting the IRA, we politely refused that one.

For me, it is far too complex a story to post more than hints and allusions; it cannot be pinned down to one thing. Besides, that's all I choose to post, hints and allusions…

I grew up Christian (Lutheran), and remained so—diligently, studiously and sincerely—throughout most of my life.

When I was about 40 years old, my life began to go through what I now call a “slow catastrophe.” Everything fell apart, as if in slow motion, over a few years; all my unquestioned beliefs seemed to unravel, and I realized that part of the problem was that I had never questioned them, simply clung to them—Oh, I’d interrogate the surface a bit, but never the core. Slowly the whole complex came tumbling down, and I started to question everything.

I have not left “religion” (broadly defined), but I bear no religious labels. I am pretty much in the monist (as opposed to “extra-natural” theistic) camp: Zen, Advaita Vedanta, Taoism—as well as its expressions within the more generally theistic religions. Some days, I’m more Zen, some days more Hasidic-kabbalistic, some days more… I try to follow Nietzsche’s dictum about not only having the courage of one’s convictions, but the courage to challenge one’s own convictions. (I get a lot of help with that on here!) I am a wanderer, a spiritual nomad, and that sometimes brings charges of inconsistency: “I thought you were over here, now you’re over there!” That’s all right: they’re legitimate charges. To keep with the metaphor, I find spiritual depth in the wilderness.

I like the following lines from a poem by W.S. Merwin*—they can be read as a kind of Zen koan:

Naturally it is night.
Under the overturned lute with its
One string I am going my way
Which has a strange sound…

This must be what I wanted to be doing,
Walking at night between the two deserts,
Singing.

* “Air,” from The Moving Target

Originally posted by sonhouse
Not sure what context you made that statement. On the surface,
it looks like you are referencing my post but the words seem to
suggest I am touting one religion over another. My position is
they are all full of shite. Northern Ireland is a prime example of it.
My ancestors are Irish, I played in an Irish band, in Los Angeles,
but we had dubiners in it ...[text shortened]... all of that. We were even
asked to play gigs supporting the IRA, we politely refused that one.

I was using your quote to show that all the people who are pro-religion are idiots

Originally posted by trevor33
I was using your quote to show that all the people who are pro-religion are idiots

And simultaneously that there are idiots everywhere.

I was walking down a dark alley one stormy night with a head full of acid. Sinister shadows played at the corners of my mind as I headed toward the pale orange street lights and relative safety. Suddenly, a white-robed, long haired fellow with a beard appeared out of nowhere and my heart nearly lept from my chest. "Spare some change, buddy?" he inquired pleadingly. "Sorry, I don't have any money", I replied. His eyes started glowing red with the very fires of hell, and I could see sweat begin to form on his brow. "Sinner! 1 Cor 16:14!" he fumed. I could tell the situation was going to deteriorate. He leaped at me and managed to get me in his nefarious clutches. I threw a short right uppercut at his chin, and it connected with a satisfying crunch. I took off running, and made it back to my homies in the park.

That was my story. I'm pretty sure the guy was Jesus, so it qualifies as on topic.

I was a christian for 20 years because I was raised that way. Once I began to think for myself, I discovered that religion was not for me.

I was touched inappropriately by a Buhhdist and slipped from the clutches of religion.

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
I was a christian for 20 years because I was raised that way. Once I began to think for myself, I discovered that religion was not for me.

Same here....but my thinking for myself started at about 16.

Originally posted by sonhouse
Just wanted to hear other people's stories of how they escaped
from the clutches of religion, any religion they escaped from.
I myself was fortunate to have grandmother, pentacostal, telling me
when I was 8 when I was in a Lutheran school, if I wasn't baptized
in the pentacostal way (whole body dunking), I would be damned to
hell because I was only ...[text shortened]... me the whole system was crazy and
I sincerely thanked my grandmother for showing me the light.

Examples of out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Originally posted by Coletti
Examples of out of the frying pan and into the fire.

A fire I am willing to deal with. I am immune to your not so subtle
pressure. Sorry, I am one of the grateful de-converted.

Giving my life to Christ help me escape from religions that had rules to earn salvation. When you can have a relationship with the Lord. Rev. 3:20 and know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13.