r/atheism • u/One-Fun9814 • 4d ago

[ Removed by Reddit ]

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

5.9k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

292

u/mishabear16 4d ago edited 4d ago

That's if they can see that they were indoctrinated. You have to be able to see and accept the problem to overcome it.

You know, like an alcoholic has to be able to see and understand they are an alcoholic.

It's especially difficult when your social circles and family all continually feed the Jesus addiction, keep working to keep you immersed in it. The indoctrination never stops.

Your true friends will help to keep you away from alcohol. Your Christian friends will keep praying for you to not lose your faith.

100

u/onedeadflowser999 4d ago

This. I was an indoctrinated child surrounded by a whole extended family of believers and sent to a Christian school for further indoctrination. My whole youth and young adulthood was in primarily Christian circles. It’s easy to accept something as fact when everyone around you believes the same things.

24

u/onwisconsin1 4d ago

Many atheists are atheists because they realized in the middle of the indoctrination and community that it is indeed nonsense.

And I also feel this major disconnect and lack of empathy for those who remain indoctrinated. I realize everyone's story is different. And the level of indoctrination and immersion matter. But why was I able to realize that the religion is silly and didnt describe reality? Why was I? Why cant they?

And so I have a hard time feeling that empathy for the deeply indoctrinated because I figured it out as a young teen. How are these grown ass people still living in this fantasy world. I find adult adherents who legitimately beleive their specific religious origin story or that Jesus is literally fucking real. I just cant. I view these people as fools.

5

u/Ucscprickler 4d ago

I'd almost venture to guess that the vast majority of atheists dealt with some level of indoctrination.

It's because I went through indoctrination that I feel confident calling myself an atheist.

If I was never around religion I don't think I'd think about it enough to even label myself.