I was born into a mildly christian (CofE) family. Began sunday school as soon as i was able, unfortunately my inability to read was the brunt of many jokes. But i stuck it out, made some god friends and generally enjoyed learning about Jesus and before.
Age 11, i was formally allowed to attend church. I was so proud to be there with the adults, enthralled by the vicars sermon.
Each Sunday one of the youngsters would be chosen to learn a passage from the bible that they had to read out from the pulpit the following Sunday.
Being dyslexic and a bashful adolescent didn't prevent me being chosen. First i tried, asking my mother to read and reread the passage until i knew it by heart. But the exposure of pulpit made the words fly away leaving be mumbling and lost.
Still they said i must read from the bible and began to ridicule my inability. Over a few years the ridicule turned to open mockery.
Until eventually i got sick of it, walked out of church and never returned for a service since.
And hence began my path to atheism.
Does anyone else have a story of how church has impacted and chsnged their lives, either positively or negatively?
Age 11, i was formally allowed to attend church. I was so proud to be there with the adults, enthralled by the vicars sermon.
Each Sunday one of the youngsters would be chosen to learn a passage from the bible that they had to read out from the pulpit the following Sunday.
Being dyslexic and a bashful adolescent didn't prevent me being chosen. First i tried, asking my mother to read and reread the passage until i knew it by heart. But the exposure of pulpit made the words fly away leaving be mumbling and lost.
Still they said i must read from the bible and began to ridicule my inability. Over a few years the ridicule turned to open mockery.
Until eventually i got sick of it, walked out of church and never returned for a service since.
And hence began my path to atheism.
Does anyone else have a story of how church has impacted and chsnged their lives, either positively or negatively?