I was brought up without religion. For as long as I can remember, my mother always insisted she would "let me decide about such matters when old enough to make up my mind". By choosing to bring me up this way she broke new ground – I am part of the first generation of my French family not to get baptised and not to be enrolled at Sunday school. My family seems to have gradually lost faith, or at least lost any sustained interest in it, during the past 25 years.
At no point did my mother ever discourage me from exploring faith systems. We would visit churches, and she'd answer any questions I would have. I was taught in school, at length during my history classes, about Christianity, Islam and Judaism. But I never found any need for God. I recently developed a healthy enthusiasm for the Society of Friends, and enjoy reading about small factions of believers such as the Mennonites, or the Amish. But I remain an atheist, and my core political beliefs are resolutely secularist.
Read Full Article »