Carlos Scienza

Hello there and Happy Saturday!

First up, I wish to thank ALC for another excellent read last week- very interesting! If you haven't had the chance to check it out yet, please do! Thank you ALC.

This week YMR has a new post. Please welcome Carlos Scienza.
Carlos was raised Jehovah's Witness but is now an Atheist. I know you'll enjoy this next post as well.

Carlos Scienza
www.JehovahsWitnessBlog.com

1) What religion do you practice?
- None, as I am an Atheist

2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
- I was born into a Jehovah's Witness family

3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
- I'm fairly outspoken, therefore, I wouldn't consider myself to be a conservative.

4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
- It's all down to DNA. We are what we are because of it.

5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
- See answer 4.

6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
- A place where everyone can stop believing in a sky god or any other entity. A place where we can put our religious differences aside and concentrate on a better future for all mankind.

7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
- If you're talking about a religious paradise/heaven, then I think anyone that deludes themselves with such a fantasy, should rethink their life and maybe think about seeking help.

8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
- I don't have a religion.

9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
- I don't have any holy days.

10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
- Of course. As long as I am treated with respect, I too will respect others, even if they aren't Atheists.

11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
- I would, but only for academic reasons, or if the family thought it prudent to do so.

12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
- I am not against anyone wearing a burka. Any human can do as they please, as long as it doesn't affect everyone else.

13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
- A very good friend of mine is a priest (Anglican) and she's a woman. As far as I'm concerned, if the Vatican doesn't allow female priests, but covers up child abuse, I think there's something wrong with that picture.

14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
- I don't have a place of worship.

15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
- Well, as a former Jehovah's Witness, I can tell you that messing around with cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc. has really affected my outlook on life. I used to think homosexuals were the devil's spawn and that abortions were murder. Now, I understand that all of my thinking was based upon mind-control. As I am free of that now, it doesn't bother me in the slightest if someone is gay, or chooses to have an abortion.

16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
- If my children wished to marry someone that was deeply religious, I would ask why, since my children are all Atheists.

17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
- No

18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
- See point 4

19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
- Yes. When you decide to leave a cult, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, you normally go through an ex-communication phase called Disfellowshipping. My parents were told to not talk to me, and haven't for 10 years. All my friends that I grew up with, were told that they must hate me, "for Carlos has joined Satan". So you see, I would call that a hate crime. Wouldn't you?

20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
- See point 4

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
- I personally believe in reincarnation, but not to the levels at which some religions preach. We are energy. Energy cannot be lost, but in fact, only transferred. Therefore, when we die, our energy is transferred into something else, and so on and so forth.
My website is www.JehovahsWitnessBlog.com
Read it and see for yourself why I am no longer a believer in a sky god.