Atom Grew Up a Young Earth Creationist
Today we are finding out how AtomTheAtheist deconverted from young-earth creationism. He was brought up in a very religious home and was homeschooled. The non-denominational church he went to was a bit crazy. They had Holy Laughter and speaking in tongues. Also, a weird ritual where they would take a flag and run around the worship hall yelling like they were in Braveheart or something.
Young Earth Creationism Homeschooling
The craziest thing he believed in was young-earth creationism. He was taught this from a young age and was homeschooled. It seriously affected his future scientific literacy.
Young earth creationism in homeschooling is a prevalent thing. Answers in Genesis has its own curriculum for it and even textbooks. Although support for creationism in homeschooling seems to be waining a little, the amount of materials for homeschooling parents that deny evolution is massive. These textbooks present evolution as this atheistic idea that is meant to drive people away from God. But, that is so far from the truth it’s laughable.
Science isn’t meant to disprove God but explain natural phenomena in our reality.
Holy Laughter and Tongues
Atom also experienced something weird called Holy Laughter. Now, holy laughter is actually a new occurrence in Christianity. It’s somewhat related to speaking in tongues but it doesn’t seem to have a basis in the Bible, unlike speaking in tongues.
Holy Laughter sprung up in the Holiness Christian meetings in the 1800s. It was immediately viewed as an act of god. This uncontrollable laughter is recognized as Pseudobulbar affect. The causes for this condition are a stroke, ALS, MS, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. These are all neurological conditions or injuries. It is ” believed to be a result of an injury to the neurological pathways that regulate the external expression of emotions, ” according to the mayo clinic.
