It's hard to introduce myself without rambling, so my apologies, but this is the shortest I've been able to condense this to....
I was raised in Michigan by parents who were pretty liberal and vaguely Christian. We went to a Catholic church until I was in 5th grade, then started going to a Lutheran church because my parents didn't like the other one. I liked the "hip", "laid back" Lutheran church better because, naturally, I was a child and liked to be entertained -- I suspect my parents felt the same.
Religion was never something that made an impact on how I led my life and my parents never reflected any of their religion onto me, except to make me go to church on Sunday. Seriously, I think the only reason they made me was because they didn't want to pay for a babysitter.
It was as easy to denounce my faith in God as it was for me to obtain that faith in the first place without having/needing proof. I have been an atheist for years, but did not want to use the label fearing that would mean I was as closed-minded as those with religion. But I resolved that dissonance when I realized I don't have to acknowledge figments of imagination as legitimate possibilities.
To accept God is to avoid having to find an explanation for anything. Now, I refuse to censor myself for the sake those who hide behind a God that allows them to commit such terrible acts against their fellow man based on arbitrary justifications.
In conclusion, I am an atheist. Nice to meet you.
Hello absurdsolidarity
Nice to see another mind find its way out from under the comfort blanket of institutionalised superstition (aka religion).
Welcome to HAF :)
Regards
Chris
Welcome!
That was all very concise and nice, welcome.
Hi. And I thought you put it out there with no rambling at all.
Owning it took me some time also.
Nice to meet you as well. Love the quote!