It seems that some people can just opt out without consequence and others fear losing so much. It is like being gay. Some know that their friends and families are still going to love them and others know that they will be denounced and risk being alienated. I'm lucky that religion was never a big deal in my family so walking away from it was no biggie. I can't imagine what it must be like dealing with a devout and oppressive family. Must be very emotionally tumultuous.

no obvious correlation. i've never been a believer, but i don't think that i'm less resentful than an ex-believer about the damage world religion has done & is still doing to humanity. neither do i perceive more exhilaration in escapees about a life lived free of the mental shackles of religion than in myself.

It seems to me that those who have thrown off the chains of religious oppression are more resentful of it because of the sway it had over them for years. No blanket statement is entirely true, but I seem to sense this pattern. Someone never in the grips doesn't know what it takes to free oneself.

I have never been so free and happy until I was able to drop the religious burden. The values that religion supposed ly taught were so violated daily by religious members that it was just a farce.There has been no pain no trouble just relief.

It is strongly discouraged to get a higher education in my previous religion. As a result, many members do not have the best finantial situations, and many rely on each other for employment. They are taught god will provide for them if they sacrifice their time to serve him rather than spend it persuing a "comfortable lifestyle". They make it a matter of choosing wether you are serving god or satan. Here is a picture they printed in one if their magazines. The caption did not show up under the picture, it reads "Which master will you slave for?"

I joined this site because I am looking to find people who have a perspective of life without religion, I find it so refreshing. There are already so many stresses in this world, it is a major relief to remove the unnessesary stress of religion, at least it was for me.

I don't have the religious struggles, because religion was never rammed down my throat. It was just kind of "in the air", and taken for granted.

My major struggles have been social, and I am inexpressibly grateful for them because they have given me valuable perspective--which I wouldn't trade for anything.

Interesting, I’ve wondered about the same.. Not having had religion inflicted on me in youth left me extremely puzzled when grade school friends began describing ‘it.’ Though religion played no limiting role in my childhood - it’s limits definitely set in as a young adult. Discrimination by religious co-workers, ‘in god we trust’ plastered on my money, a prayer of aledgence, increasing restrictions on abortion, being ‘frowned upon’ for “living in sin” with my eventual wife… The ugly effect of religion eventually gets to us all..

What have I noticed after years of belonging to Atheist organizations…? Those not having been raised religious are generally in better spirits; freer thinking, more trusting, quicker to laugh, seamlessly push the envelope, more in tune with nature. Yes they/ we can become justifiably angry - and do - when religious restrictions are foisted upon us.. We’re often very politically active - because that’s how such overreaching religious oppression gets to us, our children, and our community...

Observations of those having suffered religious oppression in youth: Labeled “Rebellious” by family or church, these youth take on the role - often with self destructive behavior.. Overly analytical, as if every argument must be supported by a ‘passage & verse’ in some text. Angry; assuming they’d learned to ‘shut up’ and keep their thoughts within ...they’ll eventually burst; they’ve a difficult time ‘easing into’ a discussion. Religion specific; they’ve a short lifetime worth of inconsistencies regarding the religion they were afflicted with and can expertly point them out - but have difficulty viewing all religions as basically the same. Scarred; each in a different way.. but with obvious scars remaining deep and painful.. They’ve a lack of family cohesion; where as my 3 siblings & self, along with both parents remain on the same wavelength regarding the BS that’s religion, those having escaped it have very contrasting views with the same.. Lacking that family cohesion, they seem far more on guard, and hesitant to openly state their views around others, as if they ‘might lose another one’...

But, I consider them my siblings Impressed at what they’ve overcome, they are my personal he & sheros. We need more ~

Being previously religious definitely leaves lots of scars and chances of relapsing. All I can say that I envy anyone who has spent the majority of their life without the hassle of religion.

Wow. Those are some serious questions. Personally, I think there aren't single answers to any of them. I suppose if a statistical analysis were done, there might be some generalizations that could be drawn from the results. However, I think there are just so many different responses to be had, it's not possible to determine anything concrete.
I was indoctrinated into catholicism, but I suffered absolutely no angst whatsoever when I turned my back on it. I didn't miss anything about it.
When I realized my atheism, I felt no angst over that either. I don't believe there are any correlations, obvious or otherwise, to be drawn about the lives of those who have left religion, or eschewed it out of hand. Like I said, that's just me. I'm not much of a believer in inter-connectedness regarding such things.