When I realized I was on my own...

[Old Enough 2]

4. God a Creation of Men

I was shamed by kids as a child for not going to church. My reason due to family conflict over religion coupled with fear of nuns, priests statues of suffering Jesus , creepy rituals, smoke, bells, genuflecting parishioners in an environment of subservience

The entire experience was surreal and unbelievable, a dramatic performance designed to intimidate and stoke fear into the believers.

As I grew older I realized the religious experience was set up to control rational and critical thinking through conditioning (think Pavlov and his salivating dogs) and lastly debilitating guilt.

At the age of 80 I take joy in not being a believer.