Vegan Atheist

[liftingVegan]

Hi to all,

I am a 36 year old, married father of 1 from England.

I was raised Catholic, until I studied hard and realised that what I had been taught simply cannot be true.

I was raised a meat eater, until I fell upon Vegan Gains, the fitness youtuber who opened my eyes to the health benefits of the Vegan diet. I simply decided meat, dairy, eggs and fish are not food for humans who are striving for more than simple survival.

I then found Gary Yourofsky and he appealed and ignited a passion in me to become a Vegan activist - I was simply ignorant to the facts and now feel ashamed.

There is only one downside to the choices I have made. This puts me in to a group of people detached from the mainstream - less than 1% of the population - Apart from my Wife, who has joined me on my journey - All of my friends and family are either meat eating or believers or both!
I don't want to judge them or preach at them, but its difficult because I love them and i want o share my new found knowledge with them for their benefit.

When I come online, it helps keep me sane, there are others like me out there and I am not alone!!!

[brimstoneSalad]

Welcome liftingVegan!

That's really great that you and your Wife are connected enough that she could understand why you're doing this and join you in it. It's really important in relationships, and I'm glad you'll be able to support each other.

What key points in doctrine helped you realize religion was bogus?

[liftingVegan]

Thank you.

I am lucky to have my wife, she is understanding indeed. When I shared what I had learned about nutrition she was more than happy to come on board. Who wants to die early from cancer, diabetes or stroke?

With religion, I was always an A student, I received awards and a trophy for my ability to understand and explain religious dogma of all denominations. Here in lies the problem - the more you know, the more you question. I used to go to church and sit there wondering what the point of all this ritualistic repertoire meant? Did God care if I sat, stood or knelt at the appropriate bell? etc

But leaving religion is a massive social, especially family, divide. My Mother feels bad, which I hate that I have done this to her, but she really believes and worries for my soul. There comes a time though that you have to be true to yourself, this for me was when I became a Father. I could not indoctrinate him into this crazy life, I didn't want him to feel shame or guilt for normal human emotions - so I guess that was the tipping point for me.

What about you?

[brimstoneSalad]

My Mother feels bad, which I hate that I have done this to her, but she really believes and worries for my soul.

I would suggest trying to think of it more of what her religious beliefs are doing to her. It's your life, and you're just being honest; it's not something you're doing to her (although she may frame it that way).

Have you talked to her about religion? If you can inspire a little doubt in her, it may help her feel more comfortable about your fate. Non-existence is a lot better than hell, right?

I could not indoctrinate him into this crazy life, I didn't want him to feel shame or guilt for normal human emotions - so I guess that was the tipping point for me.

That's great!

I wasn't raised in as religious environment, more just the cultural sense that "there's a god and a heaven" etc. so I don't have any very interesting stories. I probably more gradually figured it out around the same time as Santa Clause. It's amazing to hear stories from people who have really dug themselves out from under it.