The time is approximate:
My first real exposure to religion was from the parents of my best friend Ricky B. He and his family lived across the street while mom and I lived in the Rialto Apts. His mother would go to service every Sunday and I would tag along just to hang with my friend. They were a part of the Pentecostal Church. I had never seen anything like that, and the episodes of “talking in tongues” were wild to me. People would stand up and start freaking out, arms flailing about and speaking in a “language” that didn’t seem to mean anything. Although it was strange to me, I was impressionable and I was affected by the experience. I became very integrated into the church and committed to serving god as they thought. I was scared into it mostly, since the Pentecostal church seemed to be based on damnation to hell for your sins.
I went years where I would not cuss and lived an active church life. I eventually realized that I was scared and stress about committing a sin, so I stopped going. This experience, for better or worst has made me realize that people are very impressionable. They will believe anything if you tell them they should believe. I have faith, but I don't follow religion. It's just not for me.
Side Note: I truly think that Ricky B.'s mother was going to church because she was in a very abusive relationship. I remember his dad would sit around the house and smoke weed. He would get made at Ricky and his mother all the time and he just seemed like he was on the edge all the time. I hope that Ricky and his family got out of that situation.
