Was raised christian, protestant I think, however I grew dissillusioned with the church from an early age. We didn't have much money so couldn't wear fancy expensive clothes to church like the others and they looked down their noses at us.

I thought to myself, how can they be christian and act that way? With luck, my mum stopped forcing me to go when I was a kid, I still considered myself christian but I had a dislike for the church and other christians, it became clear to me going to church didn't make you a christian. For a time I was quite devout, my mother instilled in me the idea of treating others how you would want them to treat you, whilst not exclusive to christianity or indeed theism, it was through theism I first learned it and it has stuck with me.

Something that has also stuck with me is a dislike for people who attend church. I know it isn't right or fair to paint all of them with the same brush, but many of the church goers I know do not practice what is preached to them and only go as a way to feel morally superior to others. Some were good though and clearly got the message, which seemed to be so lost on others and at times I did enjoy church but my whole experience was tarnished by the attitudes of the majority.

Now I am an atheist and antitheist, however when I think back I did at times see glimpses of the good that can come of religion. Part of me wants to preach to the church goers in my village and ask them why do they seek so badly to judge others. Why do you lavish yourselves in expensive clothes and pass judgement on those who don't and think highly of yourself for doing so? Whilst I don't believe in any of it anymore, there are so many who want to but seem to have either forgotten the message or never fully understood it.

And at its heart is a simple message of love, understanding and tolerance of others. There were some there who were good to my family, they knew we didn't have much, they always treated us like any other, helped my mum out when she was in troubles and that for me is what the church should be about. A sense of community and common love and respect amongst each other. I want to tell the church goers in my village that they need to remember that, if you say you believe in god, you accept that he can see who you really are and judges on your actions, so dressing in fancy clothes to church shouldn't make you feel superior nor give you reason to judge others.

Whilst I don't hold onto any faith now, I hate it when others claim to hold it and to believe yet act in ways which contradict this. I dislike false faith more than true faith.