# Newbie from South Africa

**URL:** <https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/newbie-from-south-africa/2853>\
**Category:** Introduce Yourself\
**Created:** [May 30, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/newbie-from-south-africa/2853 "2013-05-30T07:15:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fmc40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@fmc40](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/fmc40)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/newbie-from-south-africa/2853/1 "2013-05-30T07:15:20Z")

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Hi, every-one.  
I live in Pretoria, South Africa. I used to be a christian but de-converted when my eyes opened after leaving the church. I realized that the church is just a business enterprise, feeding on people’s fear and longing in wanting to know the answers to life’s big questions.  
However, being a seeker all my life, I took a round-about route, moving from christianity to spirituality, until realizing that this stuff (religion, spirituality) is all in the mind!  
The pieces fell into place while I was reading one of Douglas Adams’ books!  
That’s my story in a nutshell, happy to be here!

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**Author:** ![hazelnut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bbce88/32.png) [@hazelnut](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/hazelnut)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/newbie-from-south-africa/2853/2 "2013-05-30T10:45:09Z")

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Hi and welcome FNC40, glad to hear you left the church.  
Sounds like you should find this forum quite interesting.  
Good avatar BTW, Homer is a total enemy of religion and superstition.

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**Author:** ![fmc40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@fmc40](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/fmc40)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 10:50am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/newbie-from-south-africa/2853/3 "2013-05-30T10:50:25Z")

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Thanks! Like your signature!

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**Author:** ![darrons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@darrons](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/darrons)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 12:09pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/newbie-from-south-africa/2853/4 "2013-05-30T12:09:58Z")

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Welcome aboard. I see you are off to a fast start. I’m happy to have you here and look forward to discussing things with you.

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**Author:** ![timb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@timb](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/timb)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/newbie-from-south-africa/2853/5 "2013-05-30T22:04:21Z")

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Welcome, FMC, I am a Douglas Adams fan, as are others on this forum. Though I don’t recall his books having an impact on my religiosity. I am just curious, if you recall, which book led to your “de-conversion” falling into place?

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**Author:** ![fmc40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@fmc40](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/fmc40)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/newbie-from-south-africa/2853/6 "2013-05-31T06:15:09Z")

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> Welcome, FMC, I am a Douglas Adams fan, as are others on this forum. Though I don't recall his books having an impact on my religiosity. I am just curious, if you recall, which book led to your "de-conversion" falling into place?

Hi! It was "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", in the beginning where he describes the electric monk. I just realized that people can believe anything if they put their minds to it!