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Old 10-20-2008, 01:30 PM   #20 (permalink)
backpocket
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Malaysia
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That could be a possibility. I grew up as a Muslim, and looking back I see that I was constantly preached that suffering is good, that I'm here to help others first, that I should feel guilty for feeling good, that the rich and successful people are out to destroy us and don't give a damn about us, that I should strive for heaven first and that earth is just temporary. In short: I'm not here to feel good, I'm here to suffer and sacrifice myself so that I can be rewarded in the afterlife.

I've left my religion a few years ago because I just couldn't stomach it anymore, the message stopped resonating with me or it never did but I never stopped to notice. I guess the conditioning is still there and I've never noticed it. Conditioning from the mainstream media could've contributed even more to it, with its constant images of war and suffering and everytime there's one there'll be a fundraiser and they'll do those stupid songs and guilt trip us into giving.
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