Arlene Rios
9Hello, my name is Arlene Rios and I’m a Latina atheist.
I was born into my parent’s religion, Catholicism, and later considered myself a liberal Christian. Religion wasn’t really present with my father and mother as much as it was present with the rest of my extended family. When I was a kid I would go to misa (church) with my abuelita (grandma) and fall asleep. She would yell at me and pray for me. I would get on my knees for hours and to resar (pray) several rosarios (rosaries) to make her happy and because I felt I was making a difference. I wasn’t. I was just chanting the same things over and over again.
I think about all those hours wasted praying. I could have been out being productive and really making a difference by helping out my community instead of sending “thoughts and prayers.”
I left religion the summer of 2012. I didn’t tell anyone. I was scared. My daughter was underage at the time and I was afraid her father, a devout Christian, would take her away from me. Most of the time, I’m an honest person and I really felt guilty living in secret. I really hated it. I eventually built up courage and came out to my friends and family. Greta Christina’s book, “Why Are You Atheist So Angry?: 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless” really put a lot of things into perspective. It’s a good book and I encourage anyone to read it.
There is ONE thing I missed about religion, the sense of community. I was feeling lonely because most of my friends were Christians. My atheism, or their beliefs, created an awkwardness between us. I lost a couple of friends but have made many more new friends and I am very grateful for that. I was extremely happy to have been introduced to The Secular Latino Alliance. I can connect with people de mi cultura (culture) who understands the struggle of being secular en una familia Latina.
I am exactly the same person I was when I considered myself a Christian except of course without the God part. I am still good without God and much more happier without religion.
If you would like to contact me please email me at [email protected].
In friendship, Arlene Rios
I was born into my parent’s religion, Catholicism, and later considered myself a liberal Christian. Religion wasn’t really present with my father and mother as much as it was present with the rest of my extended family. When I was a kid I would go to misa (church) with my abuelita (grandma) and fall asleep. She would yell at me and pray for me. I would get on my knees for hours and to resar (pray) several rosarios (rosaries) to make her happy and because I felt I was making a difference. I wasn’t. I was just chanting the same things over and over again.
I think about all those hours wasted praying. I could have been out being productive and really making a difference by helping out my community instead of sending “thoughts and prayers.”
I left religion the summer of 2012. I didn’t tell anyone. I was scared. My daughter was underage at the time and I was afraid her father, a devout Christian, would take her away from me. Most of the time, I’m an honest person and I really felt guilty living in secret. I really hated it. I eventually built up courage and came out to my friends and family. Greta Christina’s book, “Why Are You Atheist So Angry?: 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless” really put a lot of things into perspective. It’s a good book and I encourage anyone to read it.
There is ONE thing I missed about religion, the sense of community. I was feeling lonely because most of my friends were Christians. My atheism, or their beliefs, created an awkwardness between us. I lost a couple of friends but have made many more new friends and I am very grateful for that. I was extremely happy to have been introduced to The Secular Latino Alliance. I can connect with people de mi cultura (culture) who understands the struggle of being secular en una familia Latina.
I am exactly the same person I was when I considered myself a Christian except of course without the God part. I am still good without God and much more happier without religion.
If you would like to contact me please email me at [email protected].
In friendship, Arlene Rios