General Discussion

I went through hell (no pun intended) for turning my back on the Catholic Church when I was in 7th grade in Catholic school after the lay teacher screamed at me in front of the class to never think for myself. My transgression that caused his outburst? I asked this in science class: if glass is transparent, why can we still see it? I wasn’t trying to be a smart alec or trip him up, it was a genuine question. He could have answered we can see glass because of impurities in the manufacturing process or because of light conditions, but instead chose to berate me in front of everyone, making an example of me so that other kids would not question anything. I was screamed at to never think for myself and to just believe in what I was told. From that moment on I was done with the Catholic Church. But I was a kid and still had to go to church on Sundays and that wretched school, where I was mostly shunned by the other kids and that same teacher was openly hostile to me and continued to berate me from that day forward throughout the year. The last day of the school year I went home and burned my school uniform. I think I was grounded the entire summer vacation for that stunt but maintained my refusal to go back. Eventually my mom relented and enrolled me in public school for 8th grade. I think that decision became mostly a financial one for her since our family had fallen on hard times and she wouldn’t have to pay tuition any more. Anyway, it’s not easy going against the grain at that age. Kids are brainwashed from 1st grade on to unquestionably believe all the dogma. And they make an example of one kid like me to reinforce obedience in the other kids. They lost me, but the 30 other kids in my class toed the line after that.