Jump to content
Goodbye Jesus

Ex-fundy, Now Liberated


Guest Bellatrix

Recommended Posts

Guest Bellatrix

Hello all,

 

I've been lurking at this forum for a couple of months now, and decided to join. Should be fun!

 

I was raised in a fundy denomination called the Church of Christ (not the creepy cult, though) and always thought myself so lucky to be raised by CoC parents, because, of course, we were the only ones going to heaven!

 

Just for a little background, the CoC believes that it is the closest thing to the first century church that jesus founded, and therefore is the only one that is following his instruction (read: going to heaven). They interpret the bible to the letter and if it is silent about something (decorations, instrumental music during worship, choirs), they just don't do it, to "be safe." They're famous for not allowing choirs, instruments, or women to contaminate the holy services. Women aren't allowed to do anything except babysit the infants.

 

I first became a little skeptical of the whole thing when I was 9 and I asked my mother why women weren't allowed to do anything during worship services. She replied that god expressly orders women to keep silent and be submissive to men because Eve sinned first. That did not sit well with me, a budding feminist, but I kept quiet about it. I absolutely hated church, ever since I was young. It was stuffy, boring, and if I even made the slightest noise, my mother would drag me out to the lobby and spank the stuffing out of me (my parents were big proponents of "spare the rod" mentality). And my parents just couldn't understand why I hated church.

 

One of the tragedies of this religion was how I viewed other people. I thought it was so sad that all my friends were hell-bound, because they didn't belong to my church. I had little empathy and feelings towards others bordering on sociopathy because I didn't see why I should care about non-Church of Christ people. What a disgusting religion I belonged to!

 

As I got older, and more educated, I began to see that some of the bible stories couldn't possibly have happened the way it said. After some high school geology and biology, my first big step on the path to atheism was when I thoroughly debunked the Noah's Ark story using logic and scientific facts. I then went exploring on the Net for more stuff about atheism and evolution, and I never looked back.

 

I am now a biology student in college, and have come a long way from the brainwashed, Darwin-hating (yes, I hated Darwin, even before I could understand evolution), fearful girl I was. Throwing off the chains of religious thought is so liberating. I know that my destiny is under my control, and I'm not just some puppet on a diety's string. I no longer fear a fiery eternal pit after death. I'm free!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome, Bellatrix! Love your user name. I think it's wonderful that you're studying biology.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Bellatrix. I love your avatar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome, Bellatrix! :wave:

 

Heh - that's the similarity between the CoC and my old church, the Catholic Church™ - they both thought they were the closest thing to what Jebus supposedly set up.

 

Then again, every Xian church thinks that.

 

BTW, I love your user name. Is is inspired by Bellatrix Lestrange by any chance? :wicked:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Bellatrix
BTW, I love your user name. Is is inspired by Bellatrix Lestrange by any chance?

 

Who? No, I'm an astronomy nerd, and it's the name of a star in the constellation Orion.

 

Thanks for all the welcomes. :grin:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's wonderful to have eyes open, to use logic and reason, to think. Welcome!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Daniel1982

Hi and welcome Bellatrix! I also hated Darwin without knowing anything but lies about evolution. I also looked at my friends and other people and thought it was so tragic that they where heading for hell. I'm glad that you found your way out. I think it's wonderful that you are studying biology. Science was evil in the enviorment that I grew up, and now that I'm an atheist I'm free to learn the truth. Life is great, isn't it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just for a little background, the CoC believes that it is the closest thing to the first century church that jesus founded

 

The other year a young man was in my class from the Greek Orthodox Church. Not many of us knew much about his church so we asked questions. He said in all earnestness in a matter of fact way (totally without malice or animosity) that his church was the one the apostles set up in the New Testament. He was sitting behind me. Beside me sat a young man from the Roman Catholic Church. I grew up Mennonite. Many students were Lutheran. Nobody responded for a minute. Then the prof gentley informed him that in fact many churches think they are the original New Testament Church. People absorbed that and class went on. This was in a Lutherna seminary.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Bellatrix! :D

 

I used to have neighbors in that church and the one teenage kid of the family drove me nuts! Though I was nineteen and he was only fourteen he sexually harassed me to no end as his family's beliefs were so sexually repressed. This kid gave me hell for almost two years as when I and my mother confronted his mother about his behavior she would say "Him? It must be he's watching the wrong TV shows at his dad's house again!" This young brat and his younger brother's dad left the family as he felt like the CoC was too strict for him. Thier mother would always blame thier dad on thier behavior as she said they were exposed to too much "tempting stuff" (any movies above rated G, fast food, pork, and secular music) at thier dad's house.

 

It wasn't until my neighbors from India called the cops on the fourteen year old after he touched thier seven year old daughter "in a dirty way" ( as the little girl's mom said it to the cops) and he was caught selling pornography at school his mother came down on him for his behavior. Also the manager of the apartments we lived in evicted the family as he told them he respected thier beliefs, but he couldn't have a novice child molester living in a place where there were many young children.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was raised in a fundy denomination called the Church of Christ (not the creepy cult, though)
I actually did a month long stint in the creepy cult version of CoC, LOL! Freaks!!

Just out of curiosity (since I don't know much about CoC), what is the creepy cult version, and what are the differences? (Even the NON-creepy cult version seems creepy enough to me! :ugh: )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Bellatrix
Just out of curiosity (since I don't know much about CoC), what is the creepy cult version, and what are the differences? (Even the NON-creepy cult version seems creepy enough to me!

 

The cult version is also known as the International, or Boston, Church of Christ, and it's followers call themselves "apostles" or some such and harass each other. It is a true cult with control tactics rivalling those of Scientology.

 

The "regular" CoC is more like a "typical church," a lot like stricter Baptist churches if you need a comparison.

 

Then the prof gentley informed him that in fact many churches think they are the original New Testament Church.

 

Yeah, isn't it hilarious? Everyone thinks their church is the One True Church. The CoC is particularly insufferable about this, because "their church is patterned exactly after the one jeebus set up in the bible." My church wouldn't even decorate the building for christmas, because the older members would pitch a hissy fit about pagan symbols in the house of god. Cause I'm sure jeebus would send you to hell for putting up a wreath in the church kitchen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My church wouldn't even decorate the building for christmas, because the older members would pitch a hissy fit about pagan symbols in the house of god. Cause I'm sure jeebus would send you to hell for putting up a wreath in the church kitchen.

 

I remember how those CoC kids would tell me that Christmas trees actually represented the dick of some pagan god, and Easter was a time where pagans such as the Greeks and Romans would have wild homosexual orgies. I got a big laugh whenever the two young guys would tell me this as I couldn't believe a Christian church would have such "unclean" thoughts about such innocent celebrations. Still not celebrating holidays wouldn't stop these two fundy brats from sneaking off on Halloween on thier bikes and buying candy at the store. Another time while thier mother was working on Easter morning they went around stealing Easter eggs I had put out around the neighborhood for the younger kids.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello all,

 

I fearful girl I was. Throwing off the chains of religious thought is so liberating. I know that my destiny is under my control, and I'm not just some puppet on a diety's string. I no longer fear a fiery eternal pit after death. I'm free!

 

Welcome and congradulations on your Liberation!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Bellatrix!

 

I am so happy to see yet another lover of biology come on board. Congratulations on outgrowing your Christian childhood and good luck with your studies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Guidelines.