Anyhow, I just wanted to point out that when I think back about my life so far, the part of it that scares me, was when I took my religion and decided that I had to take it seriously and do something.
I'm not sure you'll see this, but bringing this up should be fine now the thread has died.
Why do you feel that way about that time of your life? My experience has been exactly the opposite. When I was in high school I began questioning God. I attended a small church school with poor academics and being average and not knowing how to study in school I spent a good deal of time questioning the moral instruction I was given. (There were better reasons, caused a crisis regarding gods existence at 10. Fun.) The only difference is that I didn't accept that the reading the Bible was necessary. What bothered me most, and still does, was the apparent hypocrisy. Plenty of people in church, but none of them seemed to hold the traditional beliefs my family did. It was the little things, as well as boyfriend/girlfriend sort of things.
But, even now, after rejecting Christianity, I still have the greatest respect for those who really do believe. My grandfather who took his family to Argentina to teach college as a missionary and founded a chain of christian radio stations is probably the finest man I have ever met; my grandmother is similar. My ex-girlfriend spent last year teaching children in India. A sweetheart I wish I was with.
Due to my experiences I don't see why you were scared of the time when you sincerely followed your beliefs. To me this should be lauded, even, if I believe it is a false belief.
I'm not sure you'll see this, but bringing this up should be fine now the thread has died.
Why do you feel that way about that time of your life? My experience has been exactly the opposite. When I was in high school I began questioning God. I attended a small church school with poor academics and being average and not knowing how to study in school I spent a good deal of time questioning the moral instruction I was given. (There were better reasons, caused a crisis regarding gods existence at 10. Fun.) The only difference is that I didn't accept that the reading the Bible was necessary. What bothered me most, and still does, was the apparent hypocrisy. Plenty of people in church, but none of them seemed to hold the traditional beliefs my family did. It was the little things, as well as boyfriend/girlfriend sort of things.
But, even now, after rejecting Christianity, I still have the greatest respect for those who really do believe. My grandfather who took his family to Argentina to teach college as a missionary and founded a chain of christian radio stations is probably the finest man I have ever met; my grandmother is similar. My ex-girlfriend spent last year teaching children in India. A sweetheart I wish I was with.
Due to my experiences I don't see why you were scared of the time when you sincerely followed your beliefs. To me this should be lauded, even, if I believe it is a false belief.
So, why do you feel that way?