Name: Alex Worley
Born: August 21 1987
Location: Utah and Virginia (military spouse)
Organization affiliation: none
Label: Atheist
Former Religious Affiliation: Southern Baptist, Mormon, Agnostic
My Story
I knew from a very early age that there was something morbid and very wrong about Christian faith. I kept this to myself far too long and struggled in my later teen years, but then had a breakthrough when a very self-assured atheist friend made me feel better about my honesty.
I think it’s very important that we all do the same for others–share our viewpoints and backgrounds so that more and more can come forward. Atheism is a beautiful thing, but a lot of people don’t get to appreciate it because they’re so worried about their image, et cetera. No more!!!
Tagged with: 1987 • alex • utah • Virginia
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I appreciate Alex’s honesty – and I find her way of expressing herself hilariously refreshing. There’s an irresistible ring of common sense to what she is saying.
We appreciate you sharing Alex… your story is one that many share and even more need to hear.
Thank you so much!! Happy for the support
Well said
Thank you!! I try to articulate
I really, really enjoyed this! Thank you for sharing
I am an atheist but I hate having to label myself as anything. I am a mother of 3 beautiful girls, I have a loving, amazing husband and have the sweetest dog and fluffiest cat. I am loyal, loving, caring, giving and non-judgmental. I don’t want to be known as just an atheist. I want to be known and a great mother and wife, good person in general.
I was born and raised Mormon and also knew something wasn’t right. I got into trouble for asking questions. I went searching at 19 for another religion and found Wicca. I loved the nature part of that belief but at 25 it stopped being what I wanted. I decided I didn’t need to have a belief in anything but myself and I have not been happier. I have been asked how I plan on raising my children without any moral compass. That really hurts because they are so sweet, kind and loving and have never set foot inside a church. My goal is to get out of America, away from this christian nation. Maybe Sweden is the place to be
Becoming Free
Blame it on my parents. They always told me to “think for yourself”. I doubt they ever considered what would happen if I really did that.
Now, I suspect what they meant was, “Think what we tell you but do it in your own words.” Too late. When I was 13, I began to question everything and soon the total absurdity of religion became apparent.
Because I have been “encouraged” (forced) to read the bible several times, it was easy for me to see the contradictions in the book, what christians professed to believe, and how they really lived.
When I refused to go with them to their church, they said they would “Make me go.”
I asked them, “How are you going to make me? How will forcing me to attend church change my mind?” Already, their attitude was starting to harden me against everything else they would tell me.
Their next idea was to have their minister talk to me. I told them it was a waste of everyone’s time. They persisted and had him come to the house to “Talk some sense into me.” (as if they ever works for anyone) After about 15 minutes of him quoting the bible to me and me pointing out that he was either wrong in his quotes or showing him how it said something else in another place, he became very angry and told me I was going to hell. I suspect it was because I knew the bible better than he did and was, at age 13, able to prove how ridiculous his arguments were.
I told him, “If there is a Hell I’ll see you there. Save me a nice place, OK?” He said I was an impertinent, disrespectful child. By then, I was angry myself and for the first time, I told a christian that he was a hypocrite, a liar, and a fool. My parents insisted that I apologize. I refused and left the room to a lot of yelling and threats.
For the next four years, I heard about this at least once a week. So the night I graduated high school, I left my parent’s home and didn’t see them again for well over a year. By then, with the credits I had accumulated in high school and summer school, I had completed a couple of years of college. Fortunately, I was able to pay for this myself. I was entering the army and wanted to try to make peace with them, but had to listen to the same old recriminations and arguments again.
The next time I saw them was two years later when I was getting married. After several years of an on-again, off-again relationship they finally agreed to just not discuss it any more. I’d like to say that worked, but subtle hints slowly became outright condemnation. Then I took a job transfer from Ohio to Arizona, so family meetings were rare enough to become occasions for something other than contention.
I do have to say that I appreciate the other things they did for me, like encouraging my education and equipping me with the work ethic and attitudes I needed to survive and thrive at that early age. In those areas, they were excellent parents and I am grateful for those things.
What did I learn? Even your family can turn against you if you refuse to share in their illusions. There are times, if you are to become your own person, you must stand firm in what you know to be true.