I grew up in a Christian household. My family was split, but both sides attended church regularly. I have gone to a multitude of Christian camps and even gone on a few mission trips to Mexico (Which were pretty fun, actually). Yes, I participated in the whole shebang, as it were. Sunday mornings, sunday night, wednesday youth groups, everything.
When I was 14, I attended a private school in my area. In one of my classes we were learning about Buddhism. So one day I'm sitting in church listening to the pastor and I realize that the things he's quoting from Jesus are nearly identical to what Buddha said. Being separated by over two hundred years of history and a massive geological divide, I began to ponder. "Truly," I thought to myself, "If I can draw parallels between these two ideologies, there must be more to learn." And thus began my quest toward knowledge. I stopped attending church at 16. I considered myself agnostic until I was 19. Do not call me an atheist, the term is offensively used. I am a philosopher. That I don't believe in a deity is of no consequence in regards to my content or character, I assure you.
In my entire experience in the church, I was never baptized. It never felt right to me. In a sense, I was saved from salvation. It's a personal point of pride these days.
Thanks for reading.
When I was 14, I attended a private school in my area. In one of my classes we were learning about Buddhism. So one day I'm sitting in church listening to the pastor and I realize that the things he's quoting from Jesus are nearly identical to what Buddha said. Being separated by over two hundred years of history and a massive geological divide, I began to ponder. "Truly," I thought to myself, "If I can draw parallels between these two ideologies, there must be more to learn." And thus began my quest toward knowledge. I stopped attending church at 16. I considered myself agnostic until I was 19. Do not call me an atheist, the term is offensively used. I am a philosopher. That I don't believe in a deity is of no consequence in regards to my content or character, I assure you.
In my entire experience in the church, I was never baptized. It never felt right to me. In a sense, I was saved from salvation. It's a personal point of pride these days.
Thanks for reading.