Living in rural Georgia for many years, I have encountered a lot of religion. I wasn't actively seeking any particular religion. My encounters came from working in radio stations all over North West Georgia. There were every thing from snake handlers, to the most bigoted yahoos you could hope to avoid. I had to sit though a lot of preaching, sermons, and gospel music. After about 6 years of that, I cam to several conclusions.
- Their audience consisted of their family, the man in the control room (me), and maybe a few friends and co-workers.
- All Radio Preachers have an ego the size of Nebraska.
- They all believed in literal translations of the bible, even though they didn't really know what it said.
- They are under the perpetual belief that every one of their listeners are deaf. Their shouting could penetrate 4 layers of double thick, double panned glass.
- The majority of their ranting, raving, and foaming at the mouth is emotional. I witnessed one young preacher get so worked up, his hair stood on end.
I wrote to Atheist Republic about my own religious experience. My life improved with the lack of religion, as I no longer felt the threat of hell fire if I didn't obey the preacher. For that kind of freedom, I had to break away from what was pounded into me since I was a child. I felt much the same as Martin Luther, when he said "I regret ever having been born a Catholic."
Thank you for your time. Please feel free to use my name if you choose to publish what I have said.
- Franky
