: : : : A common thing I run into all the time is statements like "you need to go to church", "you need to open a bible." : : The thing many people I encounter don't realize is my upbrining. Chruch was every sunday, every christmas, and every easter. Sunday school was also part of the routine some years, but not all. I find I actually know more about Christianity than many American Christians. : : In my experience, I ran into much of the same things. In sunday school many times I was deciplined (not harshly, but often sternly) for raising questions. I thought they were valid, and when I found them not being addressed is when i really started to doubt things. All through high school I had major doubts, my religion would probably have best been described as "Deist". About my sophmore year in college is when I became a full blown atheist. During my freshman year I knew an Atheist who I graduated with. He went to Duke University, I didn't have the grades or money, but I went to a good school. We would debate like hell, me being on the religious side, but only religious in the sense of believing in a god of some sort. During my later years in college, after I was an atheist, I had many debates with relgious studends. As I got toward the end of college, I stopped debating (I'm 22 now). I do not debate even if I hear the most rediculous comments. Perhaps I'll drink some beer and get in a discussion, but I let this board vent my debating desires.

: : H

: It is kinda funny when I look back, say 10 yrs ago, belived in a God, and knew all my troubles were over. If I had only never started thinking! : Now I am stuck with this dammed perdicament of belief in an inanimate universe. So the only hope I have of anything new is contact, and to just live out my days in reletive happiness with my Wife and children, which is not bad in our country

____ I probably went to the same deal as you guys. Born and raised very Catholic in a very Catholic country, the Philippines, I experienced and wrestled with the "euphoria". I was even in the seminary at one point. At this point in my life, after evolving and raising a family, I had to create some label to my beliefs for the "convience" of others. People just have a hard time grasping non-religion and I am surrounded by zealots and fanatics. I wear the hat of a Taoist, the jacket of a Scientist, the sandals of an Atheist, and the underware of a Christian. They seem to understand that one better :-). Tön

• Funny - Phil.o.Sofir - February 4, 1999 - 14:19 UTC