Assignment 4 - Thomas Noll

   My family is historically Catholic, and so naturally I was raised with all the traditions and details of the faith. In a place like the United States, especially Kentucky where Christianity is the majority, the details I learned in Sunday school were simply and unequivocally a fact of life. I have absolutely nothing wrong with the holding of faith itself, people have the right to believe and say whatever they feel is best. However personally, I found myself from a very early age questioning the legitimacy of what I was supposed to believe. What made my religion more important than all those other ones throughout human history? On what basis am I rightful to some eternal happiness by following these rules? I recognize my experience in no way applies to all Christians, but I learned from my church, from my family, that questioning the legitimacy of the religion was a major offense. My parents still doubt my capacity to have basic human morals when I define myself an Atheist. At family reunions I resign myself to smile polity when my grandmother lectures me about the dangers of non-believers. I don't mean to accuse the whole society of extremism, far from it, but the association with faith and morals remains persistent in daily life, the people we surround ourselves with, and who we elect for public office. I feel like everyone would benefit if perhaps religious conviction was less of a taboo topic, and if personal faith was more personal. As long as it doesn't harm other people, what are we to care what individuals think?