Comment by Jason on April 22, 2011 at 6:44am

Well, I think that reason of being cheated is why so many religious…stay religious. They don’t want to experience that feeling of having wasted their life…. Instead they put their hands over their ears……close their eyes…. And block out anything that slightly resembles the truth. I believe this is one of the primary reasons why so many cling to religion. I was lucky to come to the realization at an early age that dogma is for the birds. Unfortunately… my entire family has their hands over their ears and eyes - Wasting their lives.   Good post

Comment by Scott D. on April 22, 2011 at 8:22am

I've known I was an atheist from a fairly young age, so I don't feel too cheated. I do feel bad for my sister though. She is caught up in the whole youth group scene. I don't think she's really into the whole religion deal, she just likes the people. I was a dickhead when I was younger though... I locked myself in my room on many occasions and took punishment instead of going to church.

Comment by Discern on April 22, 2011 at 11:29am

I basically wasted my entire youth in a pentecostal group. I was indoctrinated that I needed to "do something for God" and that higher education and worldly pursuits were wasted time. After all, the rapture could come at any minute and people need to hear the gospel, right? It took me years to start taking my career seriously, and by that time I ruined the chances I had at further education.
I look at others my age who had gotten out of christianity before I did, and now they're ahead of me in their career. That really grates me.
Oh well....it could've been worse. I know some who didn't get out until they were in their 50's.....

Comment by Sarah Emmaly Burgett on April 22, 2011 at 12:39pm

I feel very cheated... but mostly I regret all the time I spent feeling guilty. Anytime I missed church or didn't give any offering or kissed a boy or cussed etc. I spent 86% of my childhood feeling like I was really fucking up "God's plan" for me.. when reality, I was just denying a real plan for myself. It's sad but I'm happy that I'm free from that now but I still feel bad for people that aren't...what a waste of life.

Comment by Brandon Cure on April 22, 2011 at 2:06pm

Thanks for responding everyone! It's nice to know that people feel the same way that I do. All that wasted time doing something that didn't really amount to anything.

Comment by idcollapse Ra on April 22, 2011 at 6:27pm

yeah , I do feel the same !!

Comment by Discern on April 22, 2011 at 7:03pm

Sarah: Tell me about it! The whole thing was a constant guilt-trip. Growing up, I felt like my maturity was stunted because I'd always have to repress my feelings or actions to make them inline with the church and my parents' beliefs.

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