Hi Folks.

Brand new here. 1st post.

A little about me: I was raised in a Christian extremist cult (Jehovah's Witnesses). Never bought any of it or drank the Kool-Aid, so to speak. As soon as I turned 18, I was out of my parents' house and on my own. Turning your back on the JWs means that you are shunned by everyone in that organization that you ever knew until you make the decision to return. (I never did). I completely had to de-program and un-brainwash myself. In the 20 years since my exodus, I feel I've done a pretty good job. (No help from God, by the way).

Now, the closest I come to religion is casting a fly rod to a hungry steelhead in the rivers of the Pac NW.

I am very much opposed to the stupidity and hypocrisy that comes with belief in a bearded sky genie, however, I'm not militant about my disdain for Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or the rest. I feel that folks should have the right to their own beliefs, what upsets me is the forcing of these beliefs on others and attempts to influence laws to coincide with these beliefs. Keep them to yourselves, please.

That's about it in a nutshell. Nice to know that there is a community of like-minded folks out there.

All the best,

-Breck

Hello hello, welcome to the forum

Very nice introduction, I am interested to know exactly what turned you away from religion. Like you, I didn't buy a lot of the stories I was told but it took several years of nonsensical explanations from superiors when I asked "Why does magic only seem to exist in the bible?". That, and an overwhelming interest in science. I would also like to know, after you witnessed your social structure abandon you because of indoctrinated ideals, why not have a more active role in changing minds? Welcome again and I hope to see you around the forums.