Come to the darkside! I'm Fallen Jedii!

[Fallen Jedii]

Hey guys, I'm Fallen Jedii. You can just call me Gary if you'd like. I've come here for many reasons, but before I list those I guess I'll tell a little bit about myself. I'm 15 years old and I go to a catholic school in New Jersey. I'm just a normal kid. I like my sports, play video games, get myself into trouble, etc. I enjoy, or at least try to enjoy every moment of my life.

I suppose in the last two years I've become a "free-thinker". I listen to both sides of the story before coming to a conclusion, I try to see complexity in so called "black and white" issues. I try to live my own life instead of living a life that someone else wants me to live.

I guess this is where all of the problems started because this is where I rejected "the truth". It wasn’t an easy decision, and I still find myself struggling today, but I did it. I had become the thing that I always laughed at in the past. I had actually become an atheist. Of course, I could never tell anyone…yet. I had to pretend I was religious; I had to pretend I believed in god.

So last year I was sent to Catholic school. I like it very much. I have good friends and I’ve been enjoying my time at high school. However, one thing that always irked me was religion class. In my freshman year I had a nun that was hardcore catholic. She believed that everything in the Bible was the truth. If you didn’t believe it, have fun rotting in hell. She preached about god and basically rammed “the truth” down my throat. I guess I should have expected this. It’s a Catholic school after all, right?

This is where I grew to hate religion, the close-mindedness, the ignorance, and everything else that goes along with it. Why do you use fear to brainwash people? Why must you make us feel like shit in order to believe in god? I’m sure “God”, if he actually existed would not believe in this way of teaching.

It annoys me to no end. I have so many questions unanswered. I feel so lost and disconnected from people a lot of the time. I feel like my opinion doesn’t matter anymore. It just drives me so crazy!

I’m having tremendous difficulty writing this statement because frankly I have way too many things to say. So I hope I didn’t confuse you and I apologize if I have. If you need me to explain anything just ask.


I look forward to discussing things here. Perhaps talking about this will make me feel more confident and less bitter.


-Fallen Jedii

[McQ]

Welcome to the forum, Gary. That was a very thoughtful and informational introduction - thank you! It's really helpful to know where new members are coming from and what they are going through. I'm one of the old farts here, as my youngest son is the same age as you are now. But that doesn't mean I don't have some good advice!  

First, it will be tough because you are not 18 years old - the magic number for adulthood in the U.S. (and in Jersey too!). So you basically have to heed your parents' wishes. That's not a bad thing though. It does mean that you will have a difficult time for at least the next three years. I can't tell you what to do or how to deal with it all, but one thing I think is important to remember is that most people in your life do have your best interests in mind, even if they are misguided in the religion area. So don't overlook that, especially with family.

But don't stop being yourself either. Being true to who you are will make people respect you, even if they don't agree with you, and you will be so much better for it.

I don't want this forum to be seen as a place that "leads you further astray", so please continue to respect your folks, teachers, and those who care for you. It's a tough balancing act to do that and to be yourself, but you can do it if you keep your head about you.

Stick around for a while, we look forward to your contributions and questions.

[PipeBox]

Ah, well at least you've seen Star Wars.  I was told by a Witness once that Star Wars was evil, a work of Satan putting out evil ideas to corrupt the youth.  A movie where the rebels win, and the rebel symbol looks vaguely like horns, was their evidence for this, aside from the idea that the force was Zen-like, both the source of the dark and light, and we all know such ideas are heresy.  

Anyway, I can't be sure this forum will help you feel better about your condition.  If you're looking for community, then it's definitely here to be found.  If you're looking for someone to tell you the indoctrination through fear and the screaming nuns aren't so bad, you've come to the wrong place.  But Catholic school on the whole won't be so bad, and on the bright side, you'll have an inside view that might grant you insight later in life.

As McQ says, we don't want your participation here blamed for leading you astray, and I'll add that if you're visiting from a monitored computer, be careful.  Until you're on your own, your folks or your school are not likely to take your participation here in stride.

It's great that you actually examine issues rather than dismissing them without reasoning.  The world needs more free thinkers.

See you around the boards.

[Fallen Jedii]

Ah, well at least you've seen Star Wars.  I was told by a Witness once that Star Wars was evil, a work of Satan putting out evil ideas to corrupt the youth.  A movie where the rebels win, and the rebel symbol looks vaguely like horns, was their evidence for this, aside from the idea that the force was Zen-like, both the source of the dark and light, and we all know such ideas are heresy.  

Maybe I should add that I'm very pleased with the way life is going right now. I have a great family, great friends, and I go to a nice school (even if I may not agree with the religion). Most of the time I'm obedient to my parents and I do listen to what they have to say even if I may not agree with it. The same goes with school.

When I wrote this introduction I was a little angry. I had just come back from school where we had been visited by Christian evangelicals. I'm sure you can understand.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to being here. I hope this answers both of the posts before me.


Cheers!  

(P.S.- Let the force flow through you!)

[karadan]

That was a great introduction. Many thanks.

Reading passages like this always humble me and make me realise exactly how lucky i am to have been raised in a secular environment. I will ALWAYS be thankful for that. Had i been raised somewhere like the bible belt, i really don't know what sort of person i'd have turned into.

It is both refreshing and upsetting to see someone of your age be so articulate. Refreshing for obvious reasons but upsetting because it seemingly takes people of above average intelligence to be resistant to the negative influences of religion. I'm guessing you represent a small percentage of the population who are able to break free of their own will at such a young age, considering your surroundings. So, well done for that. You deserve lots of respect.

Here's hoping you'll stick around (too many people leave great intro's but never really post anything afterwards).

 

[curiosityandthecat]

Welcome.

[SallyMutant]

Welcome. You express your views so well!
Sounds like the students at your school are mostly thoughtful and intelligent.  (Mainstream religious, not nutso religious, that really helps.)
But you can always come here to VENT, or to be the articulate guy that you are.