Even if you’ve ditched the church and traded your Bible for a science book, those Sunday school lessons or mass sermons might still be lurking in your brain.
It’s mad how that stuff sticks with you, isn’t it? Here’s a look at how your religious past might still be messing with your head, even if you think you’ve moved on.
1. You still feel a twinge of guilt when you swear.
Ever catch yourself about to drop a curse word and then feel a bit… naughty? That’s your old religious programming kicking in. Even if you’re now cool with cursing, there might be a tiny part of you that still thinks it’s wrong. It’s like your brain’s got a built-in censor that you just can’t shake off completely.
2. You get an odd feeling in your stomach when you eat “forbidden” foods.
If you grew up with dietary restrictions, you might still feel a bit weird about certain foods. Maybe you hesitate before ordering that bacon sarnie or feel a bit rebellious tucking into some shellfish. Your taste buds might be all for it, but there’s still that little voice in your head questioning if it’s okay.
3. You catch yourself silently judging people’s “sinful” behaviour.
Even if you’re not religious anymore, you might find yourself mentally tut-tutting at people’s choices. Maybe you see someone stumbling out of a pub and think “tsk tsk” before catching yourself. It’s not that you actually care, it’s just those old moral codes playing up again.
4. You still have a weird relationship with sex and intimacy.
Religion often comes with a heap of intimate hang-ups, and those don’t just disappear overnight. You might find yourself feeling oddly guilty about perfectly normal thoughts or behaviours. Or maybe you struggle to talk openly about intimacy, even with your partner. It’s like there’s still a “sex = bad” sign flashing in your brain.
5. You feel compelled to be productive all the time.
That whole “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” thing might still be messing with you. Maybe you feel guilty when you’re not being productive, or you struggle to just relax and do nothing. It’s like you’ve got this ingrained fear that if you’re not busy, you’re somehow being bad.
6. You still struggle with the concept of evolution.
Even if you’ve embraced science, you might find that deep down, the idea of evolution still feels a bit… off. It’s not that you don’t believe it, it’s just that it doesn’t sit quite right in your gut. Those creationist stories from your youth can be hard to shake completely.
7. You have an irrational fear of certain symbols or numbers.
Maybe you still get a bit freaked out by the number 666, or you feel uneasy around pentagrams. Logically, you know it’s nonsense, but those old superstitions can stick around in your subconscious, making you feel weirdly uncomfortable.
8. You struggle to make decisions without asking for advice or guidance.
If you were taught to always seek God’s will, you might find it hard to trust your own judgement now. You might catch yourself wishing for a sign or some divine guidance when facing big decisions. It’s like you’re not quite used to being the captain of your own ship.
9. You still feel the urge to pray when things go wrong.
Source: Unsplash In times of stress or crisis, you might find yourself automatically wanting to pray, even if you don’t believe anymore. It’s a habit that’s hard to break, especially when you’re feeling vulnerable. Your brain’s just reaching for that old comfort blanket.
10. You have a hard time accepting that bad things happen randomly.
The idea that there’s no grand plan can be tough to swallow if you were raised to believe everything happens for a reason. You might catch yourself looking for meaning or lessons in every misfortune, even when sometimes, stuff just happens.
11. You feel oddly guilty about your success.
If you were taught that humility is a virtue and pride is a sin, you might struggle to celebrate your achievements. You might downplay your successes or feel uncomfortable when praised, as if being proud of yourself is somehow wrong.
12. You still feel weird about certain holidays.
Whether it’s Christmas, Easter, or Halloween, these holidays might still bring up conflicting feelings. You might enjoy the festivities but feel a bit guilty about it, or find yourself oddly nostalgic for the religious aspects you no longer believe in.
13. You have an ingrained fear of questioning authority.
If you were taught that doubting religious leaders was sinful, you might still struggle with questioning authority figures in general. You might find it hard to stand up to bosses or challenge unfair rules, even when you know you should.
14. You feel uncomfortable with uncertainty.
Religion often provides clear-cut answers to life’s big questions. Without that, you might find yourself feeling anxious when faced with life’s uncertainties. The idea that some things are just unknown can be unsettling if you’re used to having all the answers.
15. You still feel the need to “confess” when you’ve done something wrong.
That urge to confess your sins might have morphed into a compulsion to always come clean about any mistake, no matter how small. You might find it hard to keep things to yourself, feeling like you need to “confess” to feel better.
16. You struggle with the concept of self-love.
If you were taught that you’re inherently sinful and need saving, the idea of loving yourself unconditionally might feel wrong. You might struggle with self-esteem or find it hard to put yourself first, feeling like it’s selfish or prideful.
17. You have a hard time enjoying “worldly” pleasures.
Even if you logically know it’s fine, you might still feel a bit guilty about enjoying “worldly” things like pop music, certain films, or just having a good time. There’s still that little voice suggesting that true fulfilment should come from something more spiritual.
18. You find it hard to let go of the idea of an afterlife.
Source: Unsplash Even if you don’t believe in heaven anymore, the idea that this life is all there is can be tough to swallow. You might catch yourself hoping there’s something after death, even if you don’t believe in the religious version of the afterlife you were taught.
