Hey, guys! I've been exploring myself and my values lately, notably what defined me and inspired me, and I figured that this would be a good time to start a series of threads to get to know everybody! These threads will be named "Deep Dives" after the secret movie from the original game's Final Mix.
So, my first topic I want to cover is identity. What is important to your identity? Are there any individuals in your life that helped form you? Are there any experiences you've had, good or bad, that have changed your perspective on things and made you more aware of something you treasure?
And remember, don't forget to go deep! My second one is going to be very deep if anyone is shy ^u^
I'll start with a simple one and a complex one: my country home and my atheism.
Anyways, what's an important part of your identity that you'd be willing to share with our community! Make sure to comment below, and thanks for tuning in, KHInsider! TwT
So, my first topic I want to cover is identity. What is important to your identity? Are there any individuals in your life that helped form you? Are there any experiences you've had, good or bad, that have changed your perspective on things and made you more aware of something you treasure?
And remember, don't forget to go deep! My second one is going to be very deep if anyone is shy ^u^
I'll start with a simple one and a complex one: my country home and my atheism.
Spoiler ShowLately, on a trip to NYC I've taken with a group of SU students, I've discovered that, while this city has its quirks and is a very interesting community, it certainly isn't my thing. It exposed me to how rural my life at home really was, and the concrete playgrounds all over have really left me with nostalgia for home so I can have a nice backyard barbecue and maybe play some acoustic guitar out back next to my pine trees.
Spoiler ShowThe second one is more complex, as I can't really explain why it is special to me. I didn't grow up in a particularly religious family, my parents never pressured me to believe in anything, and my church experiences I did have were all great. In fact, my youth group used to be my favorite place to be after school, whenever I was able to make it down. I still consider my pastor Leland to be one of my great friends throughout my life from high school-on, and my original pastor, pastor Levi, is hands down one of the best human beings, and fathers, I have ever met.
So, why am I an atheist? Well, I had always had trouble believing what the text actually said, and I eventually got to the point where I was correcting the text so much with my own views, such as my pacifism and my pro-LGBTQ beliefs, that my actual faith wasn't that strong. I loved the church because of the people and because of their values as human beings, but I did not respect the text they based their beliefs on as - I'll be completely honest here - I didn't see how it matched their personalities whatsoever. It just did not gel with these good people I was spending time with, at least I believed.
One notable break of complete faithfulness was when one member of our youth group came out. Levi said that, even when the bible was against that, that God made all of his children special, and that his sin was forgiven by him and all others. This was no doubt a sweet moment, and it made me tear up initially, but when I pontificated on it later I realized something: you shouldn't need to justify his homosexuality like that. There was no reason why he was sinning other than that's what the text said, and I did not respect the text there.
Nevertheless, I never flirted with the idea of being nonreligious until I was a freshman at SU, where I am a Junior now. I had always been of a scientific mind, and even wanted to go into the astrophysical sciences for a long time, but when I discovered a program on YouTube, a channel called The Bible Reloaded, I learned of a community of other atheists, and realized furthermore that there was just as much love in their community as there was in mine, and I could actually agree with their beliefs to be a part of it! Also, the sense of humor of Christianity always restricted me in ways, and the atheist community lets me be myself more than any other community.
Whoah, I didn't know I had that much to say about my atheism. But, that's pretty much why I became an atheist and why it still fills me with joy to this day.
Anyways, what's an important part of your identity that you'd be willing to share with our community! Make sure to comment below, and thanks for tuning in, KHInsider! TwT