Religious grooming?

[CubanB]

How many of you were groomed at a young age and if you were, when did you realize it was complete BS?

I was just talking with my 18 yo daughter about religion and it made me realize how early on in life I was groomed.

I’m a recovering catholic and I saw the light in my early teens.
My parents weren’t super religious, but we went to church most Sundays and I went to CCD. My dad went to a Catholic school his entire childhood and his dad was a very devout man.

I’m glad I was allowed to make my own choice.

I went agnostic at first but eventually realized it was all about fear and control and became atheist after I stopped caring what my family thought.

Any fellow recovering groomed children here?

 

[uihawk82]

How many of you were groomed at a young age and if you were, when did you realize it was complete BS?

I was just talking with my 18 yo daughter about religion and it made me realize how early on in life I was groomed.

I’m a recovering catholic and I saw the light in my early teens.
My parents weren’t super religious, but we went to church most Sundays and I went to CCD. My dad went to a Catholic school his entire childhood and his dad was a very devout man.

I’m glad I was allowed to make my own choice.

I went agnostic at first but eventually realized it was all about fear and control and became atheist after I stopped caring what my family thought.

Any fellow recovering groomed children here?

Well I dont like the word "groomed" but I went through a very similar type of history as you. Born into a catholic family although my mom converted from more protestant type. Baptized, confirmed, CCD. We went to church and my parents were religious but not really outwardly. They didnt really preach to us except to be good people and try to keep the 10 commandments.

I am 73 and I stopped going to church a lot when I was about 18. When we had kids I and my raised catholic wife started taking the kids to church and they attended parochial schools. We did it because we thought it would give them a good base of morals and ethics. When they went off to college and even maybe in high school we didnt go to mass that much.

Our two kids are not church goers but I would say they are well grounded as being nice people.

I will say that with my deep education of sciences and the lack of any kind of evidence of any kind of all powerful, all loving god in the way this world is just so much crap I have not believed in that type of god or creator in decades, again since my 20's.

And the catholic religion of child molestors and hoarders of riches is just not right to me. As I said, I still like the golden rule and other words about living a nice, good life.

 

[CubanB]

Well I dont like the word "groomed" but I went through a very similar type of history as you. Born into a catholic family although my mom converted from more protestant type. Baptized, confirmed, CCD. We went to church and my parents were religious but not really outwardly. They didnt really preach to us except to be good people and try to keep the 10 commandments.

I am 73 and I stopped going to church a lot when I was about 18. When we had kids I and my raised catholic wife started taking the kids to church and they attended parochial schools. We did it because we thought it would give them a good base of morals and ethics. When they went off to college and even maybe in high school we didnt go to mass that much.

Our two kids are not church goers but I would say they are well grounded as being nice people.

I will say that with my deep education of sciences and the lack of any kind of evidence of any kind of all powerful, all loving god in the way this world is just so much crap I have not believed in that type of god or creator in decades, again since my 20's.

And the catholic religion of child molestors and hoarders of riches is just not right to me. As I said, I still like the golden rule and other words about living a nice, good life.

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

I think groomed is better than brainwashed so that’s why I chose it. My wife and I are raising well adjusted and kind humans without any religious affiliation. Like you said, if you just follow the golden rule you’ll be a decent human being.

I know too many religious people who are absolute pieces of shit.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

How many of you were groomed at a young age and if you were, when did you realize it was complete BS?

I was just talking with my 18 yo daughter about religion and it made me realize how early on in life I was groomed.

I’m a recovering catholic and I saw the light in my early teens.
My parents weren’t super religious, but we went to church most Sundays and I went to CCD. My dad went to a Catholic school his entire childhood and his dad was a very devout man.

I’m glad I was allowed to make my own choice.

I went agnostic at first but eventually realized it was all about fear and control and became atheist after I stopped caring what my family thought.

Any fellow recovering groomed children here?

I'm also a recovering Catholic

I went non-denominational a few decades ago. Much better...

 

[Slappy Pappy]

Catholics knowingly turn over their pubescent children to old, unpartnered men, umderstanding they will then take them alone and unsupervised into their secret chambers to help them change clothes and perform sacred rights that they declare will prevent them from eternal damnation in hell.

No grooming at all there. /sarcasm

 

[tumorboy]

Methodist. Think I started to go around 4 or so. Think church was more for networking for the old man’s business. It was odd to be in business in a small Iowa town and not belong to a church. For instance if you went to Kingdom Hall or something similar you might get boycotted by certain residents. Not loudly mine you. But you could still tell how they were treated differently.
As for grooming the Pastor most of my childhood turned out to be gay once he retired. Eventually got arrested for soliciting minors.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

How many of you were groomed at a young age and if you were, when did you realize it was complete BS?

I was just talking with my 18 yo daughter about religion and it made me realize how early on in life I was groomed.

I’m a recovering catholic and I saw the light in my early teens.
My parents weren’t super religious, but we went to church most Sundays and I went to CCD. My dad went to a Catholic school his entire childhood and his dad was a very devout man.

I’m glad I was allowed to make my own choice.

I went agnostic at first but eventually realized it was all about fear and control and became atheist after I stopped caring what my family thought.

Any fellow recovering groomed children here?

My parents weren’t very religious, so I never took to it.

With that said, lying to kids by telling them fairytales and fables are true and that god is going to send them to a place of endless torture and torment if they don’t follow the right religion is emotional abuse.

Religion is bad.

 

[Hawki97]

Pretty similar to your story. I suspected it was all bullshit by maybe 3rd or 4th grade. 100% knew it was all bullshit by high school. Went to church every Sunday until I left the house because my parents are loony about the jesus. Never returned once I left the house and never will. Don’t talk about it with my parents or siblings (who sadly didn’t escape god’s guilt ridden grasp).

 

[tumorboy]

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

I think groomed is better than brainwashed so that’s why I chose it. My wife and I are raising well adjusted and kind humans without any religious affiliation. Like you said, if you just follow the golden rule you’ll be a decent human being.

I know too many religious people who are absolute pieces of shit.

Well there are plenty of good churches. They still give a sense of community. The churches that I have attended over the years vary.
View most religion as a guide not absolute. Leads me to sense of right or wrong.

 

[MichaelKeller99]

Agree with you on religion (the pope is a Jesuit; 'nuff said) but there are far, FAR more people groomed into the cult of government.

Don't believe me? Just look at the threads posted here day after day after day. Obsessive cult.

 

[tumorboy]

My parents weren’t very religious, so I never took to it.

With that said, lying to kids by telling them fairytales and fables are true and that god is going to send them to a place of endless torture and torment if they don’t follow the right religion is emotional abuse.

Religion is bad.

Think if you let religion absorb everything in your life. And you can never stop talking about it. Or use it to justify anything. Then it falls more in lines of a cult.
The prosperity gospel and/or mega churches follow this pattern. Thinking is hard and following is much easier.

 

[Hawki97]

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

I think groomed is better than brainwashed so that’s why I chose it. My wife and I are raising well adjusted and kind humans without any religious affiliation. Like you said, if you just follow the golden rule you’ll be a decent human being.

I know too many religious people who are absolute pieces of shit.

Your last sentence says it all to me. Don’t get me wrong, I know non-religious people who are pieces of shit too. It’s the hypocrisy of the “christians” that pretend to be holier than thou and are just complete trash that grind my gears. You see it on here on the daily with all the fakers and IRL all the time. Just accept you’re all assholes and I wouldn’t despise them as much.

 

[BioHawk]

I disagree with the idea that it is BS. To me, religion answers unanswerable questions. You can believe that the entire universe exists out of randomness with random physical factors that determines how everything else operates or you can believe that there is some entity behind it all that has set up the system to function the way it does. You can even believe that the entity interacts occasionally to manipulate events. Most theoretical physicists will tell that we are living in a simulation after all (although the explanation on exactly what a "simulation" is, is never explained very clearly). That would seem to mean the possibility that we are just a program running on some other-dimensional computer does exist. If so, the latest DLC sucks ass.

I find both of those explanations to be equally mind blowing. However believing that there is some entity determining things does provide me with a bit of comfort. The key is you can't let that belief stand in the way of objective reality and facts. That's when the problems arise with it.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Welcome to the forum @CubanB . Tell us a little about yourself, where you hail from, sports team affiliation and how you stumbled upon our little neck of the woods.

 

[Hawki97]

Welcome to the forum @CubanB . Tell us a little about yourself, where you hail from, sports team affiliation and how you stumbled upon our little neck of the woods.

I'm annoyed he's here because all I think about is eating when he posts. Because I love a good cuban.

 

[MuscoHawk]

They had their hooks in me good when I was younger. Was scared to death I’d be left behind in the rapture.

Started to really question things around 15-16. Then I read the God Delusion and it was all over. Thank you Mr. Dawkins.

 

[abby97]

After reading the leftists on this board disparage religion, it is no wonder the left can't differentiate between good and evil. If you do not believe you need to treat your neighbors like you would like to be treated, then lying, cheating, stealing and killing babies is no big deal. I've never seen the religious evil the left loves to claim exists. Are there evil people that claim to be religious, of course, but there are evil people everywhere, religion is just one place some evil doers like to hide, there is no evil doctrine in the Gospel. Marx was one of the first to make sure he had to eliminate religious thought so no one could hold government responsible for evil deeds. Both Stalin and Hitler were atheists.

 

[Titanhawk2]

How many of you were groomed at a young age and if you were, when did you realize it was complete BS?

I was just talking with my 18 yo daughter about religion and it made me realize how early on in life I was groomed.

I’m a recovering catholic and I saw the light in my early teens.
My parents weren’t super religious, but we went to church most Sundays and I went to CCD. My dad went to a Catholic school his entire childhood and his dad was a very devout man.

I’m glad I was allowed to make my own choice.

I went agnostic at first but eventually realized it was all about fear and control and became atheist after I stopped caring what my family thought.

Any fellow recovering groomed children here?

So you're saying you never found God because men in your life never lead you there. Very valid. May I suggest you try again on your own?

 

[fivecardstud14]

After reading the leftists on this board disparage religion, it is no wonder the left can't differentiate between good and evil. If you do not believe you need to treat your neighbors like you would like to be treated, then lying, cheating, stealing and killing babies is no big deal. I've never seen the religious evil the left loves to claim exists. Are there evil people that claim to be religious, of course, but there are evil people everywhere, religion is just one place some evil doers like to hide, there is no evil doctrine in the Gospel. Marx was one of the first to make sure he had to eliminate religious thought so no one could hold government responsible for evil deeds. Both Stalin and Hitler were atheists.

Shut up & go pray, bitchboy.

 

[runkpanole]

Raised Catholic and I’m raising my kids Catholic. That said, I have my issues with the Church and struggle with my religion. Although we have school choice in Florida and I could easily send my kids to Catholic school, we’ve chosen not to.

 

[tumorboy]

Your last sentence says it all to me. Don’t get me wrong, I know non-religious people who are pieces of shit too. It’s the hypocrisy of the “christians” that pretend to be holier than thou and are just complete trash that grind my gears. You see it on here on the daily with all the fakers and IRL all the time. Just accept you’re all assholes and I wouldn’t despise them as much.

Religion is the why not the how. When it starts moving more towards certainty or how things are it gets dangerous.

 

[hexumhawk]

Pretty similar to your story. I suspected it was all bullshit by maybe 3rd or 4th grade. 100% knew it was all bullshit by high school. Went to church every Sunday until I left the house because my parents are loony about the jesus. Never returned once I left the house and never will. Don’t talk about it with my parents or siblings (who sadly didn’t escape god’s guilt ridden grasp).

How?

 

[tumorboy]

After reading the leftists on this board disparage religion, it is no wonder the left can't differentiate between good and evil. If you do not believe you need to treat your neighbors like you would like to be treated, then lying, cheating, stealing and killing babies is no big deal. I've never seen the religious evil the left loves to claim exists. Are there evil people that claim to be religious, of course, but there are evil people everywhere, religion is just one place some evil doers like to hide, there is no evil doctrine in the Gospel. Marx was one of the first to make sure he had to eliminate religious thought so no one could hold government responsible for evil deeds. Both Stalin and Hitler were atheists.

After seeing some folks posting from their algorithm feeds left or right it’s easy to see how some folks are having difficulty processing the amount of information they’re getting. More information hasn’t made us better. It’s only increased the amount of shit to process. Let’s face it most of the information we’re getting is absolute dog shit pretending it’s legit for financial gain.
As for the lying, cheating, stealing, and killing babies it’s not only atheist that are ok with it.
We’ve come to accept a certain portion of it is ok. As long as it is towards a goal we agree with.
Invading Iraq plenty of baby killing. Meme coins, cypto scams, charity scams, using child and slave labor for our IPads.
Napoleon was a Christian and so were all of the popes that blessed the crusades. Dubya, LBJ, and Nixon were Christian’s as well. So is Putin.

 

[runkpanole]

How?

Because most religions and religious people only profess what they believe and then actually practice what they believe?

 

[hexumhawk]

Because most religions and religious people only profess what they believe and then actually practice what they believe?

Isn't that because we are all imperfect sinners that never reach perfection?

 

[runkpanole]

Isn't that because we are all imperfect sinners that never reach perfection?

We all are imperfect, yes, but many don’t even try.

 

[BioHawk]

After reading the leftists on this board disparage religion, it is no wonder the left can't differentiate between good and evil. If you do not believe you need to treat your neighbors like you would like to be treated, then lying, cheating, stealing and killing babies is no big deal. I've never seen the religious evil the left loves to claim exists. Are there evil people that claim to be religious, of course, but there are evil people everywhere, religion is just one place some evil doers like to hide, there is no evil doctrine in the Gospel. Marx was one of the first to make sure he had to eliminate religious thought so no one could hold government responsible for evil deeds. Both Stalin and Hitler were atheists.

The amount of projection you are able to convince yourself of is astounding. The head of the Republican party is a 34 time felon (and here's where you can add your next lie that you've told yourself that he isn't actually a felon just so you can stay in your fantasy land)

 

[tumorboy]

Isn't that because we are all imperfect sinners that never reach perfection?

The only issue I have with this. Is folks that commit the same sin over and over. Such as scamming people or not living up to their business contracts. Then still claim the good Christian model and hide behind it.
Those aren’t lapses in judgement or straying from the path. It’s someone that has no intention of following Christianity.

 

[abby97]

After seeing some folks posting from their algorithm feeds left or right it’s easy to see how some folks are having difficulty processing the amount of information they’re getting. More information hasn’t made us better. It’s only increased the amount of shit to process. Let’s face it most of the information we’re getting is absolute dog shit pretending it’s legit for financial gain.
As for the lying, cheating, stealing, and killing babies it’s not only atheist that are ok with it.
We’ve come to accept a certain portion of it is ok. As long as it is towards a goal we agree with.
Invading Iraq plenty of baby killing. Meme coins, cypto scams, charity scams, using child and slave labor for our IPads.
Napoleon was a Christian and so were all of the popes that blessed the crusades. Dubya, LBJ, and Nixon were Christian’s as well. So is Putin.

Claiming to be a Christian doesn't make one perfect, but blaming religion for evil is just a way to try and justify bad behavior and blame someone else for it. Again, the Gospel doesn't endorse evil behavior of any form, whether one chooses to follow the Gospel or not is a personal choice.

 

[runkpanole]

Claiming to be a Christian doesn't make one perfect, but blaming religion for evil is just a way to try and justify bad behavior and blame someone else for it. Again, the Gospel doesn't endorse evil behavior of any form, whether one chooses to follow the Gospel or not is a personal choice.

You’re right, yet we do so many things in the name of religion that is very evil.

 

[NoleATL]

They had their hooks in me good when I was younger. Was scared to death I’d be left behind in the rapture.

Started to really question things around 15-16. Then I read the God Delusion and it was all over. Thank you Mr. Dawkins.

Hate to break it to you but the rapture has already happened. Everyone here gets to enjoy an eternity of hell and wonder what we did to not join the cool kids.

 

[Hawki97]

How?

Cuz I lack the faith brother!

 

[tumorboy]

Claiming to be a Christian doesn't make one perfect, but blaming religion for evil is just a way to try and justify bad behavior and blame someone else for it. Again, the Gospel doesn't endorse evil behavior of any form, whether one chooses to follow the Gospel or not is a personal choice.

We’re all flawed. Some of us more than others. My worries are when we try to force it into everything in our lives. When we do that will end up like the Arabs. They lead the world in technological achievements in the Middle Ages. Then they went hard towards religion. Abandoned there math, science, etc.
If we abandon our religious values we end up like the Romans. Disconnected from one another. And more focused on the self.

 

[Hawki97]

Religion is the why not the how. When it starts moving more towards certainty or how things are it gets dangerous.

Religion is whatever you (meaning the collective you) want to make of it. That's why it's so dangerous. A whole lotta shit can get justified in the name of god. Plus, people are inherently "all about me" and not even god or jeebus can overcome that.

 

[tumorboy]

Religion is whatever you (meaning the collective you) want to make of it. That's why it's so dangerous. A whole lotta shit can get justified "in the name of god." Plus, people are inherently "all about me" and not even god or jeebus can overcome that.

Whole lot of shit can be justified in the name of your family too or your lifestyle.

 

[Hawki97]

Whole lot of shit can be justified in the name of your family too or your lifestyle.

Sure, I don't disagree with that. We're all assholes. It's the righteous indignation that I find disgusting. Look at all our "good conservative christians" on here. They don't really give a phuck and are 180 from that book they supposedly care so much about. If people would just admit that they're me first assholes instead of hiding behind jeebus, I'd respect them all so much more.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

Agree with you on religion (the pope is a Jesuit; 'nuff said) but there are far, FAR more people groomed into the cult of government.

Don't believe me? Just look at the threads posted here day after day after day. Obsessive cult.

Speaking of obsessive.

 

[bcherod]

After reading the leftists on this board disparage religion, it is no wonder the left can't differentiate between good and evil. If you do not believe you need to treat your neighbors like you would like to be treated, then lying, cheating, stealing and killing babies is no big deal. I've never seen the religious evil the left loves to claim exists. Are there evil people that claim to be religious, of course, but there are evil people everywhere, religion is just one place some evil doers like to hide, there is no evil doctrine in the Gospel. Marx was one of the first to make sure he had to eliminate religious thought so no one could hold government responsible for evil deeds. Both Stalin and Hitler were atheists.

Well, you certainly wouldn’t like my church’s philosophy. Im Episcopalian, raised a Methodist. We accept all people.

 

[BrianNole777]

I think most Americans are atheists now because we live in an atheist country and Americans are groomed into it.

Materialism is the religion of America...not Christianity. The "American Dream" is to get rich and buy stuff.

I was unchurched for 15 years and believed what our atheist culture teaches...that Jesus was a myth and the Catholic Church is a pedophile organization.

I started to question our culture and did my own study and discovered I was lied to.

Jesus isn't a myth, He is a real historical person and Catholic priests have a lower abuse rate than public school teachers.

So, I pray, try to live well, help others and hope for an eternity of bliss after my death in a few decades.

Separating Facts About Clergy Abuse From Fiction

Quality research and reason need to take precedence over emotion if we truly want to keep children and families safe from sexual abuse in the the Church or anywhere.

www.psychologytoday.com

 

[BrianNole777]

After seeing some folks posting from their algorithm feeds left or right it’s easy to see how some folks are having difficulty processing the amount of information they’re getting. More information hasn’t made us better. It’s only increased the amount of shit to process. Let’s face it most of the information we’re getting is absolute dog shit pretending it’s legit for financial gain.
As for the lying, cheating, stealing, and killing babies it’s not only atheist that are ok with it.
We’ve come to accept a certain portion of it is ok. As long as it is towards a goal we agree with.
Invading Iraq plenty of baby killing. Meme coins, cypto scams, charity scams, using child and slave labor for our IPads.
Napoleon was a Christian and so were all of the popes that blessed the crusades. Dubya, LBJ, and Nixon were Christian’s as well. So is Putin.

Napoleon was agnostic at best. Nixon was a lapsed Quaker. Putin is demonic.

Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Mossolini and Trump are all atheists.

Just saying.