# Hello from Vermont. **URL:** \ **Category:** Introduce Yourself\ **Created:** [August 3, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/hello-from-vermont/5140 "2016-08-03T02:10:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![trugrit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@trugrit](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/trugrit)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/hello-from-vermont/5140/1 "2016-08-03T02:10:42Z")
I have been a non-believer for at least 7 year now. I was born and raised in a large Catholic family. Not strict, just for show. More tradition than anything. I always had my doubts growing up but I went through the motions anyway. I never met an atheist or non- believer until I was 35 years old and it still took me till I was 45 till I fully stopped believing. Now that I am a full blown atheist. Radical in some accounts. I have never felt freer and unbridled. I have cast the shackles of religion and I am a better person for it. ---
**Author:** ![loisl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/loisl/32/18_2.png) [@loisl](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/loisl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 5:32am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/hello-from-vermont/5140/2 "2016-08-03T05:32:38Z")
> I have been a non-believer for at least 7 year now. I was born and raised in a large Catholic family. Not strict, just for show. More tradition than anything. I always had my doubts growing up but I went through the motions anyway. I never met an atheist or non- believer until I was 35 years old and it still took me till I was 45 till I fully stopped believing. Now that I am a full blown atheist. Radical in some accounts. I have never felt freer and unbridled. I have cast the shackles of religion and I am a better person for it. Congratulations and welcome. Most of us have also taken that journey. Do you belong to any freethought organizations? ---
**Author:** ![trugrit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@trugrit](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/trugrit)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/hello-from-vermont/5140/3 "2016-08-03T20:47:58Z")
I joined AHA almost a year ago but that is it. I don’t like to label things, particularly people. But if I was to tag myself it would be as a secular humanist. Interestingly, that is what brought me to the CFI web page and this forum. Someone asked me what does a non believer do for funerals, weddings etc. I did not have a ready answer so I started to look into it. Vermont is the least religious state in the country, with only 22% of the people willing to call themselves "very religious."and yet I was unable to find someone that performs secular services. I came across the CFI Celebrant Certification and am considering pursuing it. I think as non-religious as Vt is that is service I could provide for the non religious community here in Vt. ---
**Author:** ![loisl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/loisl/32/18_2.png) [@loisl](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/loisl)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/hello-from-vermont/5140/4 "2016-08-04T00:47:21Z")
> I joined AHA almost a year ago but that is it. I don't like to label things, particularly people. But if I was to tag myself it would be as a secular humanist. Interestingly, that is what brought me to the CFI web page and this forum. Someone asked me what does a non believer do for funerals, weddings etc. I did not have a ready answer so I started to look into it. Vermont is the least religious state in the country, with only 22% of the people willing to call themselves "very religious."and yet I was unable to find someone that performs secular services. I came across the CFI Celebrant Certification and am considering pursuing it. I think as non-religious as Vt is that is service I could provide for the non religious community here in Vt. You can become a secular celebrant through the AHA. Go here. http://thehumanistsociety.org/apply/ Many people use Unitarian clergy when no secular celebrant is available. Despite the fact that their organization is considered a church, most are secular and non-religious. Here's one Humanist celebrant in Vermont oneil\_matthew.jpg Matthew O’Neil Celebrant Chaplain 133 Lincoln Ave Saint Albans VT 5478 United States 802-363-2089 immattoneil@me.com