Welcome to Gaia! ::

Do you ever feel stupid because you used to be a Christian (or any other religion)? Or at least for being one for as long as you were?

I'm extremely ashamed of how long it took me to stop being Christian. It's as bad as believing in Santa Claus. It wasn't until I was 17 or 18 that I finally recovered from the brainwashing. How do you guys cope with that? whee

(I have loved science for literally as long as I can remember and before I had just believed that God created evolution and the big bang and whatever. So I wasn't completely retarded. It's just... I loved my parents, and they told me that God is real. Why would I not believe them? They wouldn't lie to me! It's just, in everything except the matter of God, I literally questioned everything. UGH I feel so stupid!)

Admittedly I do feel stupid sometimes - who doesn't? lol But I don't really feel stupid for once being a Christian. Religion is part of the culture you grew up with. As a child you were told these things were true (indoctrinated with a belief system). People you loved and respected taught you these things. Breaking away from religion isn't only a matter of intelligence. Of course it helps to be educated, exposed to science and other people who have learned to think logically and skeptically. But for a lot of people this also means daring to consider a way of thinking that brings disapproval (or worse) from family, friends, and society at large.

I've never felt stupid for it. It's just what I grew up with, so it was inevitable. As soon as I was old enough to really think about it, and not just blindly accept what I was told, I stopped being christian. Not much else to it.

I was never really a part of a religion, but I don't feel ashamed for having been a theist. At the time I *was* questioning my beliefs, but for whatever reason I had faith. It didn't make me stupid, it didn't make me less of a person, it's just how it was.

yeah! ive always been atheist. but i dont think that being a theist makes you stupid. my girlfriend made a 4.7 gpa through highschool, and she believes in god. i honestly dont understand y being a theist makes you stupid. i mean, quite a few are, but definitely not all!

Not really stupid, I just feel a bit bitter towards my parents that the idea of no god wasn't introduced to me until I was older.
I always just kinda knew of it but it was a bad thing to talk about.

I didn't feel stupid, but I always wondered how people can believe in invisible creatures. I think being skeptic made me become more smart.
Expecially the church has always been a place I hated.
Already when I was a child it was strange for me when the priest said something about drinking the blood of jesus (canibalism?? vampires??)

I've never actually been a christian.. i was taken to church but i had a choice, it was only until Year 6 (yes i'm English.. I think that converts to 4th grade?) that i started to strongly believe in atheism, although i don't think it's idiocy to believe in a higher power, sometimes it's the only thing people can turn to for advice, whatever works for them I guess.