Do You Have the Same Politics or Religion You Grew Up With?

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I was raised in a very conservative Christian environment. Now I consider myself to be at least moderately liberal and probably an atheist (I try not to think in absolutes).

It’s strange, though, because fairly regularly an ultra conservative belief or value will pop into my head, and for a moment, I take it for granted that it’s right (in a moral sense). I have to stop myself and say: “That’s not really true” or “I don’t really believe that.” Then I think: “Man! What kind of liberal, feminist, or whatever am I?”

I abandoned the values I was raised with because they didn’t align with my own sense of morality, justice, or decency, but I continue to be influenced by them in some way.

Do you have the same values you were raised with? If you changed them, why did you do so and do you still feel their influence?

I don't think any sort of political values were present in the way I was raised, but religion... well, I was born in to a christian family, but am now an atheist both officially and on paper. It's not like my family was ever super religious or anything; I was never forced to pray or got to church (except with school.) Neither did my parents read the bible to me or talk about god or other stuff like that... here, the most common thing is to be evangelical lutheran on paper, but not exactly go to churh other than weddings and such. In other words most people aren't members of a church because they'd believe but because it's just how it's done. My family is like this, but they are a bit stuck on tradition; they don't like me bringing up the fact that I'm no longer a member of the church.

My parents are radical libertarians and ultra-conservative Catholics.
I used to share their views as a teenager but over time I drifted center in politics and moderately agnostic in religion. I understand their views but I also understand the views they oppose to.
My parents still in denial.

Do your parents think you have to be Catholic to go to heaven? That’s sort of the situation with my family but they aren’t Catholic.

Officially they don't... but mum became very manipulative to drag me back to religion. I don't really get why, she agreed with my arguments and then burst in tears about how I harm myself... but she didn't lift an eyebrow when I was actually self harming under her roof years ago...
I just want to distance myself from all these. I can't believe in God prefering lies and manipulations over honest disbelief.

If I'm different, the only thing I can say for certain is that it's because I took an interest in either subject at all (that I know of.)

I had only one Uncle and Aunt who I remember being at all religious (Christian, I don't know what church) - I do remember there being comments about us not saying grace in our household. I don't even know that any of the family were atheists or agnostic either. No-one has ever seemed to think it worth remarking on. I went to Boys Brigade as a kid (a Methodist youth group) which involved church attendance, but I only went because a school friend did - I treated the religious parables as I would any fictional allegory, and I genuinely did not comprehend that religious faith was anything more than a "fan club" the same as some folks go to comic conventions. This was neither encouraged nor discouraged by my family. Nothing much has changed there (aside from learning that, to believers, it is rather more profound than liking Batman.)

Likewise politics. Even when the news was on TV, I don't remember there being much said about who believed what. From the newspapers he read, I would guess that my Dad was a bit of a Tory, and my Mum dislikes talking about the subject at all. I'd guess I'm rather to the left of what either of them believed, but I don't feel that I "grew up with" any particular political values - there was no attempt to indoctrinate me with anything.

Childhood indoctrination is extremely effective on young people who haven't yet developed the ability of higher reasoning...
People have taken advantage of this susceptibility for millennia...
The Jesuits had a saying: Give me the boy until age seven, and I will show you the man...

However, philosophical "detoxing" just takes time and persistence...
It took me decades to comprehensively "clean out the attic"...

Some values I have kept...
Some I have discarded...

May I also point out to you that adopting someone else's philosophy on feminism, liberalism, etc is hardly the way to become self-actualised/independent/inividualistic...
I consider myself more conservative than liberal politically, yet my philosophical position incorporates aspects from both sides of the political divide...

One has a choice between being partisan or independent...
I prefer/choose the latter...

I have my own views as far as liberalism and feminism are concerned.

It’s just frustrating when ultra conservative (to an offensive extent) stuff pops into my head. It presents itself as being normal/right and my own personal views as being weird/wrong.

That might have something to do with being homeschooled. The few people I knew were really conservative, so I always felt like the odd one out.

I grew up in politically mixed family. My paternal grandparents were liberal Democrats, my parents and I were moderate Republicans, most of my mom’s side of my family is very conservative.

I grew up in a mostly Pentecostal family, but I am Lutheran now.

Obviously, you have some further work to do if you find these intrusive thoughts offensive...
These thoughts are not who you want to be...
Persist in the exorcism of concepts that you no longer wish to own...
What else can you do?

Old habits/indoctrinations tend to be hard to break...
Evolution has a lot to answer for...

May I introduce you to atheism?...

Misery loves company?

I dunno what my religion was when I was little. I went to Unitarian and Quaker schools and later attended my mom's Presbyterean church, but then went back to a Quaker high school. But I'm an atheist now w/some interest in Buddhism. Politically when I was little I remember liking Jimmy Carter as president and HATING reagan so I guess I was liberal. Now I'm a communist.

Communism has a lot of historical baggage...
I am assuming you are aware of that?

my parents were agnostic. i am a believer.

Judging by your avatar, I thought you were Santa Clause.

Assumption: You initially took on your parent's beliefs

When did you change philosophies?
How old were you?
What sparked the transformation?
Is there anything I can do to help you get over it?