I find myself lucky to have been born an atheist. We all are I hear you cry! Not quite your parents have labelled you, you are marked for a religion dependant on where you are and what religion your ancestors happened to have. I however was born an atheist from atheist parents and I have to say.. this is the best of results ….
Religion didn’t make an intrusive arrival until I started school at the age of 7. Suddenly I was surrounded by people with crucifixes and talk of Sunday School. This was an anathema to me… you spent all week at school why would you want to go to one on a weekend? Of course, later I realised this was the beginning of my school friends indoctrination into a religion that would take them years to escape from ……..
I grew up within a strong matriarchal family.. the women ruled, especially my grandmother who was the head of the family. Interesting now, I found it perfectly normal, despite the fact my grandfather was around! My grandmother was an amazing role model and could read and write before she was 5, which is to say before she started school. From a very young age she was reading the local newspaper from cover to cover to a blind neighbour. I guess you could say I was surrounded by a family of bookworms, a family who let us all explore as children our interests in books. We were encouraged to read religious texts and I have fond memories of a children’s bible with wonderful pictures and stories. Of course this is how we saw them…. as stories. My family were confident to let us explore and to find out the truth for ourselves. We were given a thirst for books and the power to find knowledge which made it a remote chance we would choose to believe religion was real.
Within my family we had one member an Aunt who typically chose to believe in God but who never went to church or practiced any faith. She was rather a nervous woman
and I cut my teeth on my debating skills with her from around the age of 9. Her only reason for belief was the fear of death… which I guess is why most people believe! My aunt and I would spend rainy afternoons arguing about the existence of God, and the universe. One memorable afternoon we had such a long debate on this issue… I could see the fear in her eyes of maybe she had the realisation of the truth… she almost physically stepped back and stayed in ignorance… I cannot imagine that kind of fear to step back from the truth. I never debated with her again….
From the age of 11 school took on a whole other meaning, as I was surrounded by theists or should I say sheep who followed the masses. I was excused from all school assemblies and religious observances at school… and spent those times in the library. I had a world to explore and I sought proof for everything! I chose to study Religious Education to A-Level and I loved the subject and debating with my lecturer at the end of each lecture.
The library is truly the church of the atheist and I only hope more theists find it too!!!! There is more than one book in the library….. Our thirst for knowledge should never be taken away from us by religious indoctrination. I truly believe children should be able to search and find their way and in their own time.
The world and our place in it is more wondrous and magical than any man-made God could ever achieve or imagine.
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mubarakbala said:
Awesome piece. Deana, I envy you, a childhood free from superstition and myths. My children must be this lucky. On the other hand, the essay is simple, well versed and amazingly fair, even away from your cunning nature, lol. Keep it up. Look forward to see more…
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secularscarlet said:
Thank you so much… Means a lot too have your feedback my friend 🙂
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mubarakbala said:
Awesome piece Deana. I envy your childhood, I can imagine growing in a free world with a free mind, this is the kind of life I wish to see in the next generation, and for my children. On the other hand, the essay is simply expressive, narrative and well chronolized. It is an elaborate piece, as if this wasn’t your first. We hope to see more of it, soon… M.
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Anil Kumar said:
A good piece of article and a very good one to start with.
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secularscarlet said:
Thank you so much… Was nervous of my first post!!!!
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Mansur Abdulrahman said:
Lost !
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frankiebird said:
Deana, (2nd attempt)…. I will pay you the biggest compliment as a practising Catholic and say that I know exactly where you’re coming from!! I think you nailed it… we are what and who we are by virtue, or not, of our birthplace!! I could just have easily been you! Thank you for allowing us to share your story! All will find it a pleasure to read! Fx
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secularscarlet said:
Awww thank you for your generous comments. Hopefully this space will be for informed articles rather than criticism and biassed comments on beliefs. I hope to have theists of various religions and atheists too telling their stories and thoughts. So watch this space 🙂
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abba al razi said:
Thanks a lot for sharing your wonderful life experiences with us. I wish I had it like you and I also wish I could give my kids such a wonderful life.
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secularscarlet said:
Thank you and im glad you enjoyed my experience. We can all make the change for our children… Always my friend.
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virtuarat said:
blogtastic post. welcome to a pastime that can take over your life 🙂
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secularscarlet said:
I thought twitter did that already, i’m in trouble 😳 . Thanks though for a first attempt i muddled throug, nothing like your writings and wouldn’t have got this far without your help with the blog site!!!!
Read and and enjoy ?…
@virtuarat: Virtuarat’s Vault
Deconstructing a #christian attempt to answer #Hitchens’ Challenge.
http://t.co/wmBWQi4xos
#atheist #atheism #religion
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virtuarat said:
T’was nothing, but I thank you.
And your writing is every bit as (if not better than) mine 🙂
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Simon Paige (@Mogleeone) said:
A wonderful first blog and the perfect introduction to you, I am particularly looking forward to your review of Avatar.
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secularscarlet said:
Thank you… your too kind. Avatar review will have to wait till my eyes clear of all that blue hahahhaha
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nancydrewpi87 said:
Wow Scarlet awesome first post! I’m glad you were able to choose for yourself. That’s how it should be! Lol @ Sunday school… And the story of your aunt’s fear was chilling. For some people, the life outside their comfortable bubble is too much to bear.
Looking forward to more of your writing ☺
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Nancy said:
Wow Scarlet awesome post! I’m glad you were given the choice. That’s how it should be. Lol @ Sunday school and the story of your aunt’s fear was very chilling. For some, life outside their comfortable bubble is too much to bear.
I look forward to more of your writing ☺
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secularscarlet said:
thanks Nancy… 😳 now the pressure is on to keep it entertaining… No pressure then 😁😁😁😁😁
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Godless Mom said:
Deana, I loved this. I totally relate having never been religious either. My home is my atheist temple, the walls lined with books, too. I totally agree about libraries. Looking very, very forward to your next post!
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secularscarlet said:
Wow…. Thank you so much…really means a lot you liked it…. Thats it im on my way on the blogger highway 😁😁😁😁
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Bad Girl Bex said:
Love this post! I also love how so many of the wonderful atheist/skeptic people I’ve gotten to know, via Twitter and blogs etc, all seem to have a real passion for reading, knowledge and learning. Whilst it isn’t a prerequisite for anyone self-identifying as an atheist to think/feel this way (all we have to do is not have any beliefs in any deities) I guess for most of us, it really just goes with the territory: the rejection of beliefs seems to lead to a natural inclination to want to learn more about the world around us and beyond.
I think is probably easier for someone who has always had an interest or passion in reading and learning to be, deconvert to, or remain atheist, because that thirst for knowledge propels us on to look for more than simplistic ideological ‘explanations’ or the vague appeasements given to us by religion. We’re naturally more inclined to seek out information. We’re never going to be happy with just the one book. Especially one that makes very little sense, is full of offensive rhetoric and when you start adding up all the contradictions and inconsistencies, proves that no one bothered to spend a bit of money on a decent editor and proofreading service.
Happy reading y’all!
Bex
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