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I will not be meeting you in heaven grandmother.

Can you imagine a young American raised as a devout Christian making that statement to their grandmother? Assume this young person has matured, cannot conquer their religious doubts and has thrown off the shackles. They are now apostate. Assume further that they have a strong sense of personal integrity and they reject a life of deceit. They are loyal family members, and they don't feel concealing the truth is a valid choice. After grappling with this dilemma, they at last decide they must confess the truth to their family and friends. The reason they no longer attend church, or go to church functions, is because they no longer believe.

Why would it be so difficult to tell friends and family that you no longer believe? Because apostates know what they face. Because, we don't really believe in freedom of conscience, that's why. The ability to hold any idea regardless of what other people think certainly sounds good in theory, but fails miserably in the face of religious dogma and family pressure.

What kind of dogma, I hear you ask. The number one hurdle Christian apostates must overcome is the dogma of salvation and eternal life. If you don't continue to believe and retain your faith, you cannot attain an eternal afterlife. But, here is the problem. Your family members want you with them for eternity. Never mind such lofty ideals as freedom of conscience; grandmother is not above a little emotional blackmail to keep you in the flock. Your wishes be dammed.

This is how people get trapped for a lifetime into doing and saying things they don't really believe anymore. Read the personal accounts on the exchristian.net web site written by people who have left the faith. Families choose sides and even break up over an apostate family member. Sons and daughters are formally disowned. Close personal friends desert you. Although life can be very harsh for apostates you never hear about this dirty little secret of religion. Apostates don't advertise their abuse.

For the religious who might be reading this, have you ever heard your imam, rabbi, preacher or priest tell the congregation that if anyone wants to leave the fold there is a counselor they can talk to for support and guidance? I didn't think so.

How did we get in such a state? Take the Christians as one example. The Christians are an inventive lot. Not satisfied that simple justifications would hold people to the faith, Christians invented the novel "eternal salvation"

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