Religion

[globalatheism]

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[theyreallthewrongreligion]

Parenting

I took my daughter out of church. She doesn’t understand why. I’ve tried explaining, but at the end of the day she is only 6 years old. My mom tells me she feels like she’s being punished and I’m doing more harm than good. You know when else she thinks she is being punished? When I tell her she can’t have ice cream for breakfast, or to go to bed at a decent hour. This isn’t about my parenting skills, this is about my mom feeling my daughter needs religion.

[theyreallthewrongreligion]

When it all changed

When I was in high school my dad said something to me that changed my life forever. I had already begun to question my faith, but I was still hanging on to Christianity because that is what I had always done.

My dad was off-again on-again Mormon and would even go to the local Baptist church from time to time, but he was never a devout follower of any religion. My mom was raised Southern Baptist and that is how she raised my brother and me.

Since religion was something that was forced onto you by parents, I had a nagging question one day. I asked my dad, “If your Mormon and mom is Baptist, does that make me half Mormon half Baptist?’

This may seem like a silly question to most, but I was brought up believing you had to believe whatever your parents did and here I had two parents who followed two different religions. I also knew that I just never quite fit in with the crowd my mom ran with, so maybe I was more Mormon like my dad?

He then told me something that blew my mind. We were standing in our small galley kitchen making dinner (meatloaf I believe) when I asked him this and he paused for a moment. Then he said, “You’re whatever you want to be. Religion is a choice you make. It’s whatever you identify with the most.”

This was completely eye opening to me. I started questioning my religion like never before and soon realized that I did not in any way identify with Christianity.

Side note: I also did some research on what exactly Mormonism and quickly realized that I didn’t identify with that either. :)

[kattipatang]

URGENT: STRAIGHT MALE ALLIES NEEDED TO SHUT DOWN LEGAL RAPE “INTERNATIONAL MEETING”

This coming Saturday, February 6, at 8pm local time, followers of “Roosh V”- noted sexist, racist, homophobic, and overall horrible monster (not a human being)- will be holding secret meetings to rally for rape to be legalized. You didn’t read this wrong THEY WANT RAPE TO BE LEGALIZED. 

This shit is dangerous af, and as they have barred anyone who isn’t male or straight, so we need all our white male allies to gather and shut this shit down. If you are a straight man of colour, please be careful. Even though the website says the meeting is for straight men of all races, the Roosh V following has also been known to be very racist and xenophobic.

Here is how the meeting will take place, as according to their website (I’m not going to link it because it does not deserve any hits, but all the info here is authentic- you may google and see for yourself):

We will have 165 meetings in 43 countries for our international meetup day on February 6, 2016 at 8PM local time. Hosts have been instructed to wait at the meeting point from 8:00-8:20pm before moving on to the final location. If you arrive at the meeting point at 8:21pm, you will miss the meetup. Arriving on time within the window is absolutely paramount.

To identify your fellow tribesmen, ask the following question to a man you suspect is there for the meetup: “Do you know where I can find a pet shop?” If you are asked this question, answer in the affirmative: “Yes, it’s right here.” You can then introduce yourself and get details about where to proceed at 8:20. If you ask someone for the pet shop and they appear confused or actually try to direct you to a real pet shop, they’re not there for the meetup.

If you are a woman, DO NOT GO, your safety is at risk. Roosh V has made it very apparent that your presence might be met with violence.

I won’t be able to attend a shut down (obvs- brown gay turban guy), but we need to shut this down ASAP. So to all my white brothers who identify as allies, now is your time to stand up and act.

I will be calling the RCMP and reporting this, make sure you report this to your local police as well.

Here is a list of all the locations where these men will come together (Roosh V himself will be at the Washington DC location):

UNITED STATES

Alabama

Birmingham – In front of Ohenry’s coffee shop, downtown Homewood (not the Brookwood Mall Ohenry’s)

Alaska

Anchorage – Elderberry Park, near the Oscar Anderson House, a museum. Meet by the chairs and table. Address: 1297 West Fifth Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.

Arizona

Phoenix – Meet in front of main entrance of tallest building of Phoenix Plaza (Qwest Tower).

Tucson – Arizona Historical Society (949 E 2nd St, Tucson, AZ 85719). Meet at statue near corner of N Park Ave and E 2nd St. Image.

Arkansas

Little Rock – First Security Amphitheater , 400 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201. Image.

California

Long Beach – Parking lot of Glory Days Sports Bar, Carson Blvd and Woodruff Ave.

Los Angeles – L.A. Live in front of Starbucks entrance. Address: 800 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Newport Beach – The outdoor fountain directly in front of Macy’s department store at Fashion Island. Image.

Orange County – The fountain in front of the Ferris wheel at the Irvine Spectrum Mall.

Palm Springs – Fountain at Mercado Plaza (Palm Canyon Drive)

Redwood City – Parking lot of IHOP. Address: 491 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94063

Roseville – Royer Park (the large park on Douglas Blvd), next to the gatling gun statue. Image.

San Diego – Corner of 16th & Broadway, in parking lot of the Goodwill

San Diego (North) – The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch. Meet in front of The Baked Bear Shop.

San Francisco – Balboa Park Bart station, by the arched exit. Image.

San Leandro – Northwest corner of the intersection of E. 14th St. and Estudillo Av. Meet at the public fountain.

Santa Barbara – Steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, located on the corner of State Street and Anapamu Street in downtown Santa Barbara

Sherman Oaks – Sherman Oaks Galleria, between the fountain and Cheesecake Factory entrance. Image. Address: 15301 Ventura Blvd.

Colorado

Boulder – North Boulder Park, beside the shelter. Image.

Denver – 19th Ave and Gilpin Street, on the south side of Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center. Image.

Connecticut

New Haven – World War I Memorial, beside flagpole

Stamford – In the little square on the corner of Franklin St and Broad St. Image.

Florida

Orlando – The Red Chinese Tang pavilion at Lake Eola, beside red pagoda.

Tampa – Curtis Hixon Park, between fountains and grass. Image.

West Palm Beach – Clematis Street Fountains, on the side of North Clematis street

Georgia

Athens – The Arch at the University of Georgia

Atlanta – Piedmont Park, corner of 10th street and Charles Allen Dr by the sign. Image.

Hawaii

Honolulu – Pearl Ridge Downtown, underneath globe sign. Image. Address: 98 – 1005 Moanalua Rd, Aiea, HI 96701

Idaho

Boise – Idaho State Capital Building, 700 W Jefferson St, Boise, ID 83702. Met by the statue of Abraham Lincoln.

Illinois

Chicago – Rogers Park, beside the flagpole. Image. Google Map.

Chicago (Homewood) – Parking lot of Balagio’s. Address: 17501 Dixie Hwy, Hazel Crest, IL 60430.

Iowa

Cedar Rapids – In Sokol Park beside the gazebo. 16th Ave SW

Des Moines – Parking lot of the VA Hospital beside pictured tree.Image. Address: 3600 30th St. Des Moines, IA. 50310

Louisiana

New Orleans – Magazine Street and Lawrence Square, besides the big tree, across the street from 4318 Magazine Street. Image.

Maine

Bangor – Bangor Public Library, in front of main entrance below the stairs (145 Harlow St)

Maryland

Annapolis – Downtown/Historic Annapolis Harbor, Main Street, by the Kunte Kinte memorial statue. Image.

Baltimore – In front of Cross Street Market entrance in Federal Hill

Massachusetts

Boston (North End) – Paul Revere Statue in Paul Revere Mall

Michigan

Ann-Arbor – Nickel’s Arcade in downtown Ann Arbor. Meet at the center column near the entrance off State Street.

Lansing – Lansing River Trail, top of the fish ladder steps. Image.

Macomb County/Clinton Township – The Mall at Partridge Creek. Meet in front of the fountain between Brio Tuscan Grille and P.F. Chang’s. Address: 17420 Hall Rd, Charter Twp of Clinton, MI 48038

Rochester Hills – Elizabeth Park, beside center bush. Image.

Minnesota

Duluth – Leif Erickson Park by the stage. Address: 12th Ave E & London Road, Duluth, MN 55802

Missouri

Kansas City – North side of the World War 1 Museum, on sidewalk directly above monument. Image.

Nevada

Las Vegas – Beside Vegas Vic neon sign on the old strip.

New Hampshire

Portsmouth – In front of main entrance of The North Church. 2 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH 03801

New Jersey

Atlantic City – On the Boardwalk in front of main Taj Mahal entrance

Hoboken – In front of Mulligans Pub underneath the canopy. Address: 159 1st St.

New Mexico

Albuquerque – East side of University Of New Mexico Bookstore. Address: 2301 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. Image.

New York

New York – St. Catherine’s Park, next to the spiral kids slide. 1245 1st Ave between 67th and 68th st

New York – Washington Square Park under the arch

Rochester – Eastman School of Music, Kilbourn Hall (26 Gibbs St, Rochester, NY 14604), Meet at intersection at Gibbs and Main, where the concert hall entrance is. Image.

Syracuse – Columbus Circle, next to the statue. Address: East Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

North Carolina

Charlotte – Romare Bearden Park. Meet by the benches behind the gazebo-like structure on the corner of W Martin Luther King and Church St. Image.

Wilmington – Riverfront Park, across the river from USS North Carolina, beside map kiosk. Image.

Ohio

Cincinnati – I-75 and Sharon road has a large parking lot with a grass field next to a Speedway Gas Station. Meet on the grass.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City – In front of Harkins Theater at 150 E Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. Image.

Pennsylvania

Harrisburg – Steps of Capitol on the west side. Image.

Philadelphia – Washington Square Park, between 5th and 6th St right off Walnut Street (it is the size of a city block). Meet specifically by the memorial to the Revolutionary War Soldiers eternal flame.

South Carolina

Anderson – The Carolina Wren Park located downtown at 111 E. Whitner St. 29621 in the Pavilion. Meet beside the fountain.

Camden – King Haigler Tower, main entrance. Image. Address: 950 Broad Street, Camden SC 29020

Tennessee

Chattanooga – In front of Dollar General. Image. Address: 5952 E. Brainerd Road

Mount Juliet – Parking lot in front of entrance to Big Star Cigar Lounge. Address: 3384 N Mt. Juliet Road, Suite 1100, Mount Juliet, TN 37122

Nashsville (North) – In front of Baileys in Rivergate Plaza Shopping Mall

Texas

Austin – Palm Park by the stone structure. Image. Address: 711 East 3rd Street, Austin, TX 78701

Dallas – Meet at the old school phone booth In front of British Beverage Company (BBC). Address: 2800 Routh St, Dallas, TX 75201″

Denton – Denton Square, beside the little arch. Image. Address: 110 W Hickory St, Denton, TX 76201.

El Paso – 301 W Missouri Ave, El Paso, TX 79901. Meet on corner next to statue of man. Image.

Houston – Near the arch of the Sam Houston Monument, adjacent to Houston Museum of Natural Science (5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030)

Nederland – By the gazebo in Doornbos Park AKA “Duck Park”. Address: S 24th ½ St, Nederland, TX 77627

San Antonio – In front of main door of the Alamo

Utah

Provo – Provo City Center Temple on the corner of University Avenue and Center Street. Meet at circle pathway in front of main entrance.

Salt Lake City – Salt Lake City Library, at the top of the amphitheater. Address: 210 E 400 S. Image.

Virginia

Charlottesville – Lee Park, beside the statue of Lee

Virginia Beach – Mt. Trashmore, at bottom of stairs. Image. Address: 310 Edwin Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Washington

Everett – Clark Park, next to the gazebo. Address: 2400 Lombard Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.

Seattle – In front of main entrance of Seattle Public Library. 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.

Seattle (North) – Statue of Lenin. Address: Corner of Fremont PI N and N 36th St. Image.

Washington DC

Dupont Circle, on the north side by the Starbucks. Image.

Wisconsin

Kenosha – In front of Brat Stop. Address: 12304 75th St. Kenosha, WI 53142.

La Crosse – The large water fountain at Riverside Park.

GLOBAL (Alphabetically)

Australia

Brisbane – In the middle of King George Square in front of City Hall.Image.

Melbourne – In the middle of Federation Square. Image.

Perth – Ocean Beach Hotel on sidewalk. Image.

Sydney – Picnic benches in front of Coogee Pavilion on Coogee Beach

Sydney – Fountain in Hyde Park

Sydney (South) – Brighton Le Sands beach, close to the stairs leading to the local shops. Image.

Austria

Graz – In the dead center of Tummelplatz square

Wien – Museumsquartier, Treppe von Mumok (Stairs of Mumok). Museumsplatz 1, Wien 1010. Meet at bottom of steps.

Bahamas

Nassau – In front of main entrance to Fort Montagu

Belgium

Brussels – Place Royale, 1000 Brussels. Meet beside the statue. Image.

Bulgaria

Sofia – Statue of Saint Sofia. Map

Cambodia

Phnom Penh – The royal palace in front of main entrance. Meet at the bottom of the steps.

Canada

Calgary – The CORE Shopping Center, in front of Starbucks

Edmonton – Churchill Square, to the left of “Tix On The Square”.Image.

Montreal – Palais des Congrès, 1001 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, in between the pink trees (indoors). Image.

Ottawa – Right inside the front doors of the Arts Court Building (a former county courthouse). Address: Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave.Streetview

Surrey – City Central Mall, north entrance, in front of Blenz Coffee.Image.

Toronto – Edward VII Statue in the center of Queens Park

Vancouver – Vancouver Central Library, south side on Robson Street at library steps. Image. Address: 350 W. Georgia St.

Victoria – BC Legislature War Memorial. Image.

Windsor – The Burt Weeks Memorial Gardens, on mini-pier. Image.Homepage.

Winnipeg – St. Vital Mall right outside the entrance to Chapters.Image.

Chile

Santiago – Plaza Italia, next to the statue

China

Shanghai – People’s Square Exit 1, street-side, left corner. Image.

Colombia

Bogota – In the center of Parque de Usaquen

Czech Republic

Prague – Republic Square.

Finland

Helsinki – Kolmen sepän patsas (Three Smiths statue) in Helsinki next to Stockmann department store. Google Map.

France

Nantes – Crossing of Rue du Chateau and Rue Mathelin Rodier. In front of the main entrance of the castle is a little square with a statue of Anne de Bretagne. Meet beside the statue. Image.

Paris – Place de la République, beside the lion statue. Image.

Germany

Aachen – In the center point of Katschhof

Berlin – In front of main entrance to Cafe Lichtburg. Behmstrasse, 13357 Berlin. Map.

Frankfurt am Main – Bank entrance of Frankfurt Dome / Frankfurter Dom, in front of the souvenir shop with the red sign. Image

Hamburg – Hamburg Rathaus, in front of the main entrance

Munchen – München Olympiazentrum, BMW Welt, main entrance.Image 1. Image 2.

Nurnberg – Willy-Brandt-Denkmal (monument) at the Willy-Brandt-Platz, next to statue. Image.

Würzburg – Warriors Memorial near the Wurzburg Residence. Image.

Hong Kong

In front of Joe Banana’s Bar in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island (Jaffe Road and Laurd Road).

Iceland

Reykjavik – Leif Ericsson statue in Hallgrímstorg Church

India

Mumbai – D-mart in Powai, beside the tree by the main entrance.Image. Google Map.

Iran

Tehran – Niavaran Park, Tehran. Meet at the eastern side of the main fountain in front of the ice cream shop.

Ireland

Naas – In front of main entrance of Naas Courthouse

Israel

Tel Aviv – In front of the main entrance to Sarona Market

Italy

Bari – Parco 2 Giugno, in front of main entrance on Viale Einaudi.Image.

Reggio calabria – Museo Nazionale, in front of main entrance. Image.

Rome – At the Spanish Steps, in front of the Montcler store, at the corner of Via Condotti. Image.

Japan

Osaka – Next to the KFC beside HEP 5 shopping mall. Address: 6-15 Kakudacho, Kita Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 530-0017, Japan.Image.

Tokyo – Ebisu Garden Place Glass Square, beside glass structure

Mexico

Mexico City – Beside Kiosko de Coyoacan. Image.

Morocco

Settat – Horse Fountain. Image. Google Map.

Nepal

Kathmandu – Patan Durbar Square, between the two tall columns.Image.

Netherlands

Amsterdam – The center of ”Spui”, a square, meeting in front of the ”Maagdenhuis”. Image.

Utrecht – Center of Neude Square

New Zealand

Auckland – Aotea Square on Queen Street, next to the industrial statue

Dunedin – In front of of Dunedin Town Hall at archway below the steps. Image.

Wellington – Glover Park, in front of “The Rogue & The Vagabond” under the minarets art sculpture.

Philippines

Manila – Greenbelt mall beside the R-letter pedestal at the entrance near the Hermes store. Image 1, Image 2.

Poland

Gdansk – At Fontanna Neptuna

Katowice – Spodek (Saucer) in Katowice. Address: ul. Korfantego 35

Warsaw – In front of Starbucks across from the Mariott Hotel. Image.

Wroclaw – In the middle of Plac Solny (“Salt Square”/Flower Market), beside the Iglica (needle) statue. Stare Miasto 50-061/50-062, Wroclaw.

Portugal

Lisbon – Restauradores – Monument to the Restorers, in front of the obelisk, near Hard Rock Cafe Lisboa. Image.

Romania

Bucharest – Piata Universitatii – Fantana. Image.

Russia

Novosibirsk – Next to the statue of Vladimir Lenin on Lenin Square

Serbia

Belgrade – Trg Republike, in front of horse statue

Singapore

Singapore – Fort Canning Park, Dhoby Ghaut, underneath big arch.Image.

Slovenia

Ljubljana – “The Illyrian Provinces Monument” (Ilirski steber) at the “French Revolution Square” (Trg Francoske revolucije)

South Korea

Seoul – In front of Bosingak Belfry. Jonggak station, subway line 1, exit 4.

Spain

Barcelona – Underneath Arc de Triomf monument

Granada – In front of Granada Cathedral

Sweden

Stockholm – Medborgarplatsen, in front of first glass structure. Image.

Switzerland

Basel – Baarfuesserplatz Tram Stop, by the tall pole. Image.

Taiwan

Taipei – On Tap Pub, in front of main entrance. Address: No. 21, Alley 11, Lane 216, Section 4, Zhongxiao E Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106

Thailand

Bangkok – In front of Starbucks Terminal 21

United Arab Emirates

Dubai – Dubai Mall, in front of Tim Horton. Image.

United Kingdom

Cardiff – Beside female statue in front of Hilton Cardiff on Friary Road. Image.

Edinburgh – Covenanter’s Memorial in Grassmarket

Glasgow – George Square. Meet by the tall obelisk statue.

Leeds – The center of Millenium Square

London – Royal Airforce Bomber Command Memorial, Green Park (Hyde Park Corner side)

London – In front of Royal Exchange beside horseman statue (outside “Bank” tube station)

Manchester – In front of the main entrance to Sinclair’s Oyster Pub

Newcastle – Beside Grey’s monument

Shrewsbury – Frankwell car park, bottom of the pedestrian walkway.Image.

Please please pleeeease do not ignore this or simply “like” it. Reblog, share a permalink with your friends who are not on tumblr, and get this out.

This bullshit MUST be shut down.

[i-was-a-naive--prolifer]

Here is some more info about how to identify these creeps.

Here is the archived link to the list of locations for their meetups (your traffic won’t go toward their website)

Here is more information about the loathsome manchild and rape legalization proponent Roosh V: [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] [x]

In short, here are the dirty deets:

He has advocated for rape to be legal on private property in order to teach women to “take responsibility for the things that happen to them.”

He has written a series of books about how to get women to have sex with you, including advice such as: “No” means “wait for a moment and then continue doing whatever she said no to.”

His strategy, as described by himself, “isn’t about making young men feel as though they have value. This is about making young women feel as though they have none.”

He has admitted to raping two incapacitated women in Iceland in his Bang Iceland book.

He has admitted to raping other women in two of his other books, 30 Bangs and Bang Ukraine.

He is a raging misogynist who believes women are perpetual children who must have their actions controlled by men.

He is also a raging homophobe, anti-semite, and sympathizer of men who commit mass shootings because they can’t have sex with enough women.

If you’d like to help get these jerks shut down, go and counterprotest and report them to the police! They are a hate group and should be stopped!

[princessvalizzle]

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT

[multifanatic]

!!!

[exploring-atheism]

It is hard to over-estimate the influence of early training in the direction of superstition. You first teach your children that a certain book is true, that it was written by God himself, that to question its truth is a sin, that to deny it is a crime, and that should they die without believing that book they will be forever damned without benefit of clergy. The consequence is, that long before they read that book, they believe it to be true. When they do read it, their minds are wholly unfitted to investigate its claims.

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833 - 1899)

[proud-atheist]

Religion may become extinct in these nine nations http://proud-atheist.tumblr.com

[exploring-atheism]

I absolutely love the idea, but is this realistic? I see the Netherlands is one of the countries involved… how are they going to “unreligionize” all those Muslims who only seem to be growing in number? Same for Australia and Canada. I don’t see it happening any time soon. :-/

[leatherchair-blog1-deactivated2]

If only everything was orange…

[exploring-atheism]

I agree…

[theyreallthewrongreligion]

I think I’ll be moving soon. :) I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand.

[strongagnostic]

Hundreds of Reasons not to be Religious #162

The imaginary God of religion is powerless to eradicate any disease from the earth. While religious people will claim an occasional cure (not true), none of them can find or hope for an eradication of any killer disease by prayer alone. Science has eradicated disease in the past (Smallpox), and is getting close to others in the near future (Polio) without the help of prayers.

For thousands of years people prayed for an end to Smallpox, with no response. When science entered, the disease was destroyed worldwide.

Science has Polio almost destroyed. It will happen soon. But the religious fanatics who oppose vaccination are slowing the effort. The article above tells of the temporary end of the vaccination program in Pakistan because medical teams are being killed by religious extremists. It’s bad enough that religion can not help sick people, but the wackos actively oppose these health measures. Choose humanity, and avoid prayer and religion.

[theyreallthewrongreligion]

Separate!

If you believe in Freedom of Religion then your particular religion has no place in politics.

Imposing your beliefs on others is not you exercising your freedom. You are now practicing oppression by forcing your beliefs on others.

[theyreallthewrongreligion]

Mom (after reading “My 6 year old thinks I’m going to Hell”): You’re views are slanted.

Me: Of course they are. They don’t line up with yours.

[theyreallthewrongreligion]

What I love about science:

Science allows and encourages you to question. Then science provides answers. If it doesn’t, then it tries to find out.

Religion doesn’t allow questions and even if it did you wouldn’t get an answer.

[formerlyangry-atpeacenow]

[theyreallthewrongreligion]

This isn’t something kids should have to deal with. All this does is show them how to hate.

[theyreallthewrongreligion]

My 6 year old thinks I’m going to Hell.

Today is my daughter’s last day at church. Last Sunday I dropped her off at my mom’s house to go to church like she has done every Sunday since she was a baby. She mentioned that someone at church told my mom that she should get my brother and myself to come back. I then told my daughter that her uncle and I used to go, but we don’t believe in that any more. Her eyes widened while trying to process this and then with tears in her eyes said, “But it’s true.” I told her the Bible is full of stories, like her fairytales, and have morals and lessons on how we should act and how to be a good person, but they were not necessarily true. The tears were now streaming down her face and she just repeated that it was all true over and over. I could see now that she was also upset by the fact that mommy, daddy, and Uncle Tyler were going to Hell. My heart was broken that such a heavy subject was even weighing on a 6 year olds mind. What’s worse is that she is already so indoctrinated that these stories were true. This was something she had to think about every day. She should be thinking about friends, her favorite shows, what tutu to wear today, princess or superhero? What happens to her when she dies is not something she should be or have to be thinking about. She is not a sinner she is a 6 year old. For her to think that if she is bad she is going to Hell, is a Pavlovian bell ringing in her ear to make her be a good girl. I teach my kid to be a good person because that’s what you are supposed to be not what you have to be to avoid punishment. Religion and death is such an abstract notion for a child to even comprehend. They can’t process what all of this really means especially when you give them a few stories out of very big book and tell them this is what they have to believe or eternal damnation is waiting for them. She started going to church as a baby when she didn’t go to daycare and had no interaction with other people and kids. It was a way for her to get social interaction and make Grandma happy by showing her off. She is now in school and gets ample social exposure and excels at it. I have the notes from the teacher that say she was talking during a lecture to prove it. It’s time for her to stop going to church. It was time a couple of years ago, but Sunday mornings with no kids and time to get school work, house work, or me time without interruption was such nice thing to have and I am a terrible parent for choosing that over my daughter’s mental well-being. My mom’s question to me is always, “What if she grows up and decides to be a Christian?” I tell her that’s fine. As long as she has learned all she can about other religions, science, and life before deciding that this is what works for her. My question to her will always be, “Does this make you a better person?” If so, then I’m happy for her. I don’t want to say that I will allow it because it’s her life and not up to me to make her believe something that she doesn’t or tell her not to believe something that she does. I can only present her evidence and educated arguments if I don’t agree with something and let her draw her own conclusions from there. Right now is the time to teach my daughter everything I can so that when she is old enough she can make the most educated decision about her own life.

[theyreallthewrongreligion]

Religious Dysphoria?

I’ve heard of Gender Dysphoria, but I wonder if there is something akin to Religious Dysphoria. I was raised Southern Baptist. Yep. It sucked as much as you think it would. When I was young (birth through elementary) it all seemed perfectly normal. That’s all I had ever known. My mother was religious as well as her entire side of the family. My dad was religious, but didn’t attend church as was the case for most of his side of the family. Everywhere I went there was some element of God in my life. However, I was never close with anyone. The people I went to church with were never my best friends. I was always “acting” and the other kids could tell. The Christian ones were some of the meanest people I have ever had the displeasure of being around. I was never close with the kids at school because I was always acting like a Christian and that wasn’t something they were into. I was more like them, but I wasn’t allowed to be. This led to a disconnect with myself and others which led to a very deep depression. On a few occasions I even tried to take my own life. The one time I found a friend who was like a soul mate was through church, though outside of church we never talked about anything church-related. We were just us and since we went to church together everyone thought it was so awesome that we were close. Medically, Dysphoria is defined as being, “An emotional state marked by anxiety, depression, and restlessness.” According to The American Heritage Steadman’s Dictionary. Could it then be said that there is such a thing as Religious Dysphoria? A friend pointed out that Gender Dysphoria has to do with a biology and the way you were born. You aren’t born believing a certain religion, it is something you are taught. So I would like to counter with the fact that gender is also something that we are taught. We could just be born people with our very own likes and dislikes. Some people like to wear dresses and others don’t. When you take out male/female, we are all just people. Why is one body part confined to a certain way of life and the other a different way? Religion isn’t confined to a gender rather it is for people, regardless of sex. In both situations a way of life is being forced on a person that doesn’t live and/or believe the same way. It’s not okay and I would like to see more research done on the subject. I would like to see kids get help that are stuck in a way of life that isn’t their own. I’m calling it “Religious Dysphoria”.

[pjlowry]

Checkmate, bitches.

[dope-calyps0-deactivated2022052]

[exploring-atheism]

I love this guy 

[didnt-learn-the-first-time-deac]

This is fucking awesome!