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Goodbye Jesus

Humanist Groups


Autumn2909

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For about a year I've toyed with the idea of joining a humanist meet up group. But something has been holding me back.

And I think Its mainly because I'm so scared if becoming immersed and indoctrinated again, just by a different group of people.

 

I feel like, as a former evangelical, maybe I'm more vulnerable to being "swept up" in a group or organised belief system. So I'm just really wary and cagey of forming friendships and such like. I'm even still shy at Yoga, don't want to get too "plugged in" in case someone tries to take advantage in some way (I know that's an illogical fear, and everyone is lovely and non-pushy at my yoga class). I'm also still too shy to go to a local feminist friendship group, something else which I'm interested in. 

 

But I also need to move past all this and form new relationships and friendships with people with similar beliefs and interests I feel.

 

Has anyone else struggled with this? Any tips? 

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Yes I have felt very similar. I looked into humanism and contemplated going along. I also tried out a skeptical freethinkers online forum and thought about going to one of their meet ups but in the end I chickened out. I just couldn't bring myself to be part of a group that was based on any form of "beliefs".

 

I still have fear about it. I wish I could say I've grown and moved on from that but I haven't. I expect I will do eventually.

 

I have made friends with a fair few atheists though, just through normal life. I've found that for whatever reason, since leaving Christianity finding good, interesting friends with similar views to mine has been significantly easier.

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It sounds like you want some social contact but are concerned about getting involved with those who would 'take advantage." What about starting with a non-threatening group? Find a group of folks whose common interest has nothing to do with spirituality, philosophy, politics, or any other related area. There are many hobby groups who get together and have loads of fun without discussing religion or politics. What else are you interested in? For example, you've got historical preservation groups all over the UK.  I'd think that would be loads of fun.

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Thanks for responses so far.

 

Any more experiences people would like to share?

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Humanist groups are like any group of people. There are some who are quite tolerant of the differing beliefs that exist within humanists, and others who aren't. The group I was part of before moving away from there had many different types of activities in a given month, and I learned which ones I fit with and stayed away from those I didn't. But yes, it's a breath of fresh air to be around people who you fit with, and to me, it's worth the little bit of discomfort that can and probably will happen from time to time.

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Daisyfields, I think the biggest thing for me is to watch out for anyone who tries to sway me into their line of thinking when I think something else. It's not that I am not open-minded but I now have the ability to follow my gut instincts and they generally lead me to my own truth. It may not be anyone else's truth, but it's mine and I don't allow anyone to take that away from me anymore. I used to be very naive but not anymore. I have to admit that I am probably overly cautious of this now because I NEVER want ANYONE to ever have control or power over me again in anyway, shape or form. 

 

(hug)

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