sent in by Andrew

I started school in 1990, and went to the local Government school where I was promptly assigned to a Catholic scripture class. Being 4 years old, I didn't think too much of it, and I followed the rituals as taught. The next year, I transferred to another Government school, and I continued being taught the Catholic faith. I didn't know what I was learning, except that I was doing what was right. By the time I was 9, I had doubts about what it was I was doing, and when I was 10, I completely renounced Catholicism.

Normally, this would be where the story ends. Unfortunately, this is where it really begins. I went to a school where, despite being a Government (Public) school, there was a mandatory school prayer, and as I was later to discover - mandatory scripture. By renouncing my "faith", I encountered the wrath of my teachers. I was not allowed to leave Scripture classes - in fact I was severely disciplined, and FORCED to participate in scripture along with the muslims, the jews, the hindi and the atheists. I first recited the school prayer mockingly, then not at all, and I received discipline. These experiences turned me from a non-christian into a vocal critic of christian indoctrination in our public schools, and more than one scripture teacher has had to listen to me tell them off.

URL: http://www.thequahreport.com
City: Sydney
State: NSW
Country: Australia
Became a Christian: 4
Ceased being a Christian: 9
Labels before: Catholic
Labels now: Atheist, Anti-Christian
Why I joined: Mandatory Christian Indoctrination at School
Why I left: I learnt to think for myself
Email Address: andrew.quah at secsmusic dot org