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Atheists & Agnostics

GiqueCee

(2,846 posts)

12. I did...

Reply to NNadir (Original post)

Tue Sep 23, 2025, 11:22 AM

Tuesday

... my mother was über-religious, but not in the in-your-face way you see with today's zealots. I even taught Sunday school, and seriously explored other faiths. But when I asked questions, particularly about scientifically impossible claims, I was harshly reprimanded with, "Why do you think they call it faith?" and other blanket assertions that brooked no scrutiny. That's when I said, Okay, a hard NO to this BS.
That was sixty years ago.
The source is disputed, but some wise old sage (H.L. Mencken?) said that religion is the greatest fomenter of hatred and intolerance in the history of humanity. Or words to that effect. I couldn't agree more. I coined my own explanation some years ago: The sleaziest weasel in the cave said to the biggest bully in the cave, "Look, you be government, and I'll be religion, and we'll have 'em by the short curlies 'til the end of time!"

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Highlight:

Question: How many of my fellow atheists had a religious upbringing? If one had one, when did it wash out? [View all] NNadir Monday OP

Raised Jewish by agnostic parents. no_hypocrisy Monday #1

Robert Oppenheimer, as you may know, was in the ethical culture movement as a child. NNadir Monday #2

Religious upbringing trueblueinmo Monday #3

Raised catholic got wise Faux pas Monday #4

Agnostic here.... anciano Monday #5

I decided years ago SCantiGOP Tuesday #22

I appreciate you taking the time to respond... anciano Tuesday #23

Fundamental markie Monday #6

attended baptist church as a kid, didnt pay much attention to the religion part tho nt msongs Monday #7

Not religious at all - just moral Nigrum Cattus Monday #8

I was raised Universalist oberle Monday #9

I have 13 years of perfect attendance pins from my small, rural Methodist church. sinkingfeeling Monday #10

Very catholic with guilt a driving force Envirogal Tuesday #11

I did... GiqueCee Tuesday #12

My sig line in this post, from Max Born's Nobel Prize speech.. NNadir Tuesday #13

Ah, yes! GiqueCee Tuesday #14

It turns out that it's not from his Nobel Prize speech but is found in his autobiography. NNadir Tuesday #21

Priests and nuns were mean, especially to kids that needed some help. First grade I had my doubts. twodogsbarking Tuesday #15

My wife experienced that and concurs. NNadir Tuesday #20

Raised in a very liberal Southern Baptist church wysimdnwyg Tuesday #16

I never believed any of it mike_c Tuesday #17

I grew up in the Vancouver area of Canada. pandr32 Tuesday #18

Raised Catholic; was even an altar boy for a short time. SeattleVet Tuesday #19

12 years of Catholic schools and parents that purported to be very religious rurallib Yesterday #24

Southern Baptist GigiLeigh Yesterday #25

My oldest son nearly went insane from reading that book. NNadir Yesterday #27

Raised Catholic. Family still is. Went to Catholic school 12 years. Srkdqltr Yesterday #26

I was raised as an American Baptist (supposedly more liberal than Southern Baptist), we could dance and play cards.. wcmagumba Yesterday #28