Sinner's guilt! (from Catholic school)

[eatprayshove]

NCed.

Currently doing a Philosophy & Religion course (despite not being religious) and I'm realising I still feel guilt over "sinning" despite not believing in the nature of sin. I was raised in a heavily Catholic school, in a peer group who exacerbated the worst stereotypical elements of Christianity, and I think it's probably affected me more than I let on.

Few examples of "sins" I feel unreasonable shame about - lying, masturbation, pre-marital sex etc, so nothing whacko, mostly things that everyone does.

Anybody else in the same boat? (or have advice on getting past this). Thank you. x

No.
But I didn't have a Catholic upbringing...dh did but certainly doesn't give a stuff about what the church perceives as " sin".

I was brought up a Catholic. It helped enormously at around 15-16 when I suddenly had an epiphany that the whole thing was a massive load of complete bollocks and I stopped going to church and never looked back.

I went to convent schools from the ages of 4-18 and I can't really relate to your predicament. The only 'sins' I feel guilty about are the ones that harm others. Which is a good thing really. Having sex or having a wank never struck me as being sinful. Masturbation pre-dates Christianity, so knock yourself out.

I was never religious, PuppyMonkey but I always rebelled quite hard against the nature of my school. The last time my teachers saw me I shaved all my hair off (not what good little middle class Christian girls do!).

Masturbation pre-dates Christianity, so knock yourself out.

Beautifully put . I think there are other factors (it seems I have a prerequisite for feeling shame about everything) but it's definitely knocked me as I thought I was past the nonsense. If anyone has any types for general shame-avoidant bad-assery, I'd love to hear it

My brother’s birth mother is a catholic and refused to acknowledge his attempt to reach out (just a letter nothing intrusive) and is still hugely involved in Catholicism, church, her girls schools etc so I presume she has done her Hail Marys and off she trots. I am assuming she feels massive amounts of guilt and hasn’t told her family. Personally I think she’s a twat but at least his birth father seems ok and less religious insane

Sorry but not a massive fan of that religion! Seems massively judgemental and yet also off you fuck once you’ve done ‘penance’

I’m catholic but I don’t relate to anything you’re feeling regarding guilt and sin.

My schooling and upbringing never taught me those things you mentioned were sinful.

I was raised by an extremely devout Catholic mother and brought up in her faith and I can totally relate to the whole guilt and sin thing. My mother never spoke to me about boys, contraception etc. and she was totally anti abortion. I didn't know what a boy was until I was about 17 and was terrified when a boy in my school asked me out and he was lovely aswell! I was put on the pill in my early 20's due to painful periods, I did have a boyfriend but had to hide the pills from her. I still believe and it was always be part of my life but the guilt never goes away. I haven't raised my DC's as the same as myself as I want them to decide for themselves whether they wish to follow a faith. Some of the things my mother said to me in relation to her faith were very hurtful and that will always live with me. I have no advice on getting past it sorry it's just always there but I do look outside the bigger picture and realise you do not have to follow a faith to be a good person!

I’m catholic but I don’t relate to anything you’re feeling regarding guilt and sin.

My schooling and upbringing never taught me those things you mentioned were sinful.

I'm happy you managed to avoid the more toxic areas of religion, I imagine it's a much healthier approach to faith and devotion.

The school participated in the blame game, but it was also my peers that I think were quite affecting. They were heavily religious, and perceived that to mean they needed to be homophobic / racist / generally misogynistic (including the latter, despite being a girls' school). I think also the privilege meant their socio-economic class were conflated with religion, so I'm not necessarily laying everything at the feet of Catholicism.