Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious[W:322]

How did your change come about?

What's the reason that made you turn away and become non-religious?

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

tosca1 said:

How did your change come about?

What's the reason that made you turn away and become non-religious?

Click to expand...

Independent, logical thinking.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

tosca1 said:

How did your change come about?

What's the reason that made you turn away and become non-religious?

Click to expand...

I was raised as a Catholic. While I was in college, I was possessed by the need for credentialed authority. Nobody could be an authority on anything that did not hold an advanced degree.

Proof became the bedrock of belief.

Time moves on...

With age, comes wisdom, or, so it is said.

Now I realize that often times, credentialed authority makes some people so stupid it's difficult to understand how they can be so entirely divorced from reality.

The intelligentsia wanna be's are quick, as I was, to crow about their superiority individually and as a part of the whole. Rejecting reliance on and belief in a supreme being seems to be a part of their self identification as being superior to others within the whole.

All are equal, but some are more equal than others. Rejecting religion becomes an identifier of being a member of the elite.

For me, it is impossible to be both a Humanist and a Christian. For me, being a Christian is a humbling way of life. For me, being a Humanist was a narcissistic way of life.

This is not to say that I am not in awe of the human being and the capabilities we possess as a group and as individuals. To the contrary, I still am.

It is only to say that I have gained an internal understanding of something greater that I find to be enlightening and strengthening. It is a good thing.

I recall the exact place and moment when it happened- not much different than falling in love. I can't explain either acceptance. I can only proclaim that either and both are good.

It is an extremely personal and intriguingly independent acceptance of a greater understanding of everything. An enlightening access to the unknowable and peaceful acceptance of the inherent limitations of being me.

Rejecting religion is a self crippling action from which a person can recover. Or not. I feel, personally, that God is always reaching out to each of us. Like a gentle and helpful parent. It is up to us to reach back. Or not.

Religion is a real world vehicle that aids us in the reaching back.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

I just realized it wasn't real. Took about a decade, but getting through the existential anxiety religion is designed to anesthetize us to was worth it.

Sent from my BLN-L24 using Tapatalk

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

tosca1 said:

How did your change come about?

What's the reason that made you turn away and become non-religious?

Click to expand...

lack of good reason behind my faith

moral rules that seemed immoral

biblical acts on the part of god and its prophets that seemed imoral

yes gods could be evil but when there portrayed as benevolent that's a flag

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

code1211 said:

I was raised as a Catholic. While I was in college, I was possessed by the need for credentialed authority. Nobody could be an authority on anything that did not hold an advanced degree.

Proof became the bedrock of belief.

Time moves on...

With age, comes wisdom, or, so it is said.

Now I realize that often times, credentialed authority makes some people so stupid it's difficult to understand how they can be so entirely divorced from reality.

The intelligentsia wanna be's are quick, as I was, to crow about their superiority individually and as a part of the whole. Rejecting reliance on and belief in a supreme being seems to be a part of their self identification as being superior to others within the whole.

All are equal, but some are more equal than others. Rejecting religion becomes an identifier of being a member of the elite.

For me, it is impossible to be both a Humanist and a Christian. For me, being a Christian is a humbling way of life. For me, being a Humanist was a narcissistic way of life.

This is not to say that I am not in awe of the human being and the capabilities we possess as a group and as individuals. To the contrary, I still am.

It is only to say that I have gained an internal understanding of something greater that I find to be enlightening and strengthening. It is a good thing.

I recall the exact place and moment when it happened- not much different than falling in love. I can't explain either acceptance. I can only proclaim that either and both are good.

It is an extremely personal and intriguingly independent acceptance of a greater understanding of everything. An enlightening access to the unknowable and peaceful acceptance of the inherent limitations of being me.

Rejecting religion is a self crippling action from which a person can recover. Or not. I feel, personally, that God is always reaching out to each of us. Like a gentle and helpful parent. It is up to us to reach back. Or not.

Religion is a real world vehicle that aids us in the reaching back.

Click to expand...

hey god you their?

...................................................................................


nope guess not

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

Organized religion has some serious problems.
Hypocrisies.

I can see where some people benefit from it, but in general I find the whole ball of wax to be something I have no use for at all.

I was born and raised in a christian church. Nothing hardcore mind you, but most Sundays for first 10-12 years of my youth.

From a pretty early age I questioned a great deal of it. So much just seemed like fairy-tale stuff.
The older I got, the more I seriously questioning of the entire concept of "god".

The older I get, the less and less evidence of any kind of god I see.

I have no need for religion. Christian or otherwise.

I can be happy, content, productive, and perfectly at peace with life without any need for that stuff.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

The more you learn about Christianity in particular and religion in general, the more you come to realize that the Christian faith is garbage.

It is a plagiarized fabrication.

If you think believing a lie is better than suffering the truth, then go ahead and continue to accept the delusion....but do it just for yourself.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

tosca1 said:

How did your change come about?

What's the reason that made you turn away and become non-religious?

Click to expand...

Actually being educated on religion.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

tosca1 said:

How did your change come about?

What's the reason that made you turn away and become non-religious?

Click to expand...

Long story short...Critical thinking and in depth study of the bible.I discerned mere mortals wrote the text for personal agendas.....i.e...Men created god(s),not vice versa.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

When I was around 19 I decided to ask myself why I believed that God exists. I had been involved in the church as far back as I could remember so I was pretty nervous about the question. At the end of the day the best answer I could come up with was faith. Faith to me is the decision to believe in something because you want to believe in it. Needless to say I fell out of Christianity pretty quickly after that.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

blarg said:

hey god you their?

...................................................................................


nope guess not

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"... And if you could hear the whispering of the
dream you would hear no other sound.

But you do not see, nor do you hear, and it is well.

The veil that clouds your eyes shall be lifted by the hands that wove it,
And the clay that fills your ears shall be pierced by those fingers that
kneaded it. And you shall see. And you shall hear.

Yet you shall not deplore having known blindness, nor regret
having been deaf. For in that day you shall know the hidden
purposes in all things, And you shall bless darkness as you would
bless light."

-Kahlil Gibran

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

code1211 said:

"... And if you could hear the whispering of the
dream you would hear no other sound.

But you do not see, nor do you hear, and it is well.

The veil that clouds your eyes shall be lifted by the hands that wove it,
And the clay that fills your ears shall be pierced by those fingers that
kneaded it. And you shall see. And you shall hear.

Yet you shall not deplore having known blindness, nor regret
having been deaf. For in that day you shall know the hidden
purposes in all things, And you shall bless darkness as you would
bless light."

-Kahlil Gibran

Click to expand...

Do you know the hidden purpose in all things, whatever that means? My tin opener has only one purpose.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

code1211 said:

"... And if you could hear the whispering of the
dream you would hear no other sound.

But you do not see, nor do you hear, and it is well.

The veil that clouds your eyes shall be lifted by the hands that wove it,
And the clay that fills your ears shall be pierced by those fingers that
kneaded it. And you shall see. And you shall hear.

Yet you shall not deplore having known blindness, nor regret
having been deaf. For in that day you shall know the hidden
purposes in all things, And you shall bless darkness as you would
bless light."

-Kahlil Gibran

Click to expand...

ya if god is reaching out to me and i reach out to it and there's no communication then it seems like the premise of god reaching out is false it doesn't seem to be their

why the hiding if god exists?

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

I've been eyeing my sofa suspiciously, wondering what it's hidden purpose is.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

code1211 said:

"... And if you could hear the whispering of the
dream you would hear no other sound.

But you do not see, nor do you hear, and it is well.

The veil that clouds your eyes shall be lifted by the hands that wove it,
And the clay that fills your ears shall be pierced by those fingers that
kneaded it. And you shall see. And you shall hear.

Yet you shall not deplore having known blindness, nor regret
having been deaf. For in that day you shall know the hidden
purposes in all things, And you shall bless darkness as you would
bless light."

-Kahlil Gibran

Click to expand...

Meaningless doggerel.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

Rich2018 said:

The more you learn about Christianity in particular and religion in general, the more you come to realize that the Christian faith is garbage.

It is a plagiarized fabrication.

Click to expand...

How about providing an example from the Gospels of something that's supposedly fabricated? Cite any scripture #'s.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

devildavid said:

Independent, logical thinking.

Click to expand...

What DD said......

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

tosca1 said:

How did your change come about?

What's the reason that made you turn away and become non-religious?

Click to expand...

All the assholes I've met over the years who identify as Christians.

For the record, I still believe in something that passes for "God", although I am not inclined to anthropomorphize such an entity into a giant bearded granddaddy who lives in the sky.

And I have met a handful of good, decent, generous, kindhearted people who live a Christ-like existence, so even if Jesus Christ the person never actually existed, it's clear that Christ-like persons have existed, then and now.
But the vast majority of those people are disowned by what passes for mainstream Christianity today, which I view as primarily a fundamentalist cult, because that's where the majority of the money and power exist in Christianity today.

My wife and I even made a valiant and sincere effort to be good conservative Christians when we lived in Arkansas.
Our reward was to be demonized by our own congregation.
Every single Christian faith congregation I've ever looked into has had a corrupt and fleshly agenda aimed at personal power and control at the hands of the church leadership and existed mostly as a sponge to soak up the meager savings of the flock for the self aggrandizement of the pastor.

To sum it up:

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

Checkerboard Strangler said:

All the assholes I've met over the years who identify as Christians.

For the record, I still believe in something that passes for "God", although I am not inclined to anthropomorphize such an entity into a giant bearded granddaddy who lives in the sky.

And I have met a handful of good, decent, generous, kindhearted people who live a Christ-like existence, so even if Jesus Christ the person never actually existed, it's clear that Christ-like persons have existed, then and now.
But the vast majority of those people are disowned by what passes for mainstream Christianity today, which I view as primarily a fundamentalist cult, because that's where the majority of the money and power exist in Christianity today.

My wife and I even made a valiant and sincere effort to be good conservative Christians when we lived in Arkansas.
Our reward was to be demonized by our own congregation.
Every single Christian faith congregation I've ever looked into has had a corrupt and fleshly agenda aimed at personal power and control at the hands of the church leadership and existed mostly as a sponge to soak up the meager savings of the flock for the self aggrandizement of the pastor.

To sum it up:

View attachment 67237147

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Christ is the example. Are you kicking him to the curb because some of his followers are not good people? Seems to me Jesus is still your best (excuse the expression) 'Get out of Hell Free' chance. He didn't change, nor did he do you wrong.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

Logicman said:

Christ is the example. Are you kicking him to the curb because some of his followers are not good people? Seems to me Jesus is still your best (excuse the expression) 'Get out of Hell Free' chance. He didn't change, nor did he do you wrong.

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You have a serious reading comprehension problem.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

Checkerboard Strangler said:

All the assholes I've met over the years who identify as Christians.

For the record, I still believe in something that passes for "God", although I am not inclined to anthropomorphize such an entity into a giant bearded granddaddy who lives in the sky.

And I have met a handful of good, decent, generous, kindhearted people who live a Christ-like existence, so even if Jesus Christ the person never actually existed, it's clear that Christ-like persons have existed, then and now.
But the vast majority of those people are disowned by what passes for mainstream Christianity today, which I view as primarily a fundamentalist cult, because that's where the majority of the money and power exist in Christianity today.

My wife and I even made a valiant and sincere effort to be good conservative Christians when we lived in Arkansas.
Our reward was to be demonized by our own congregation.
Every single Christian faith congregation I've ever looked into has had a corrupt and fleshly agenda aimed at personal power and control at the hands of the church leadership and existed mostly as a sponge to soak up the meager savings of the flock for the self aggrandizement of the pastor.

To sum it up:

View attachment 67237147

Click to expand...

I have maintained this idea for a very long time. Religion is becoming a thing of the past, individuals are challenging the norms and believing what they wish. Additionally these religions are becoming dated and no longer entirely relevant to us today. The whole notions of GOD as this living entity has never been proved and never will be. Science is and will continue to prove these notions. However some of the values and ideas generated from religion will continue to be what guides some and cannot be disproved or negated.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

Checkerboard Strangler said:

You have a serious reading comprehension problem.

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I don't have a problem. You do - if you think your generic God is going to save you. You'd better get serious and do some serious studying on the Gospels.

I recommend "The Historical Jesus," by scholar Gary Habermas, and "The Case for Christ," by Lee Strobel.

There's not a single doubt in my mind that had people been born-again in Christ with the Holy Spirit, they would know for absolute certain it was real.

Recommend you re-think your position.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

goldkam said:

I have maintained this idea for a very long time. Religion is becoming a thing of the past, individuals are challenging the norms and believing what they wish. Additionally these religions are becoming dated and no longer entirely relevant to us today. The whole notions of GOD as this living entity has never been proved and never will be. Science is and will continue to prove these notions. However some of the values and ideas generated from religion will continue to be what guides some and cannot be disproved or negated.

Click to expand...

But I find spiritual faith something I want to follow.
And I'll clarify something else...there may be ample evidence to support the existence of a prophet named Jesus Christ, but even if there wasn't, clearly the spiritual path is there for people to lead a Christ-like existence, because there are such people.

It's the brand names which are in trouble.

Re: Question(s) To Christians Who'd Become Non-Religious

Logicman said:

I don't have a problem. You do - if you think your generic God is going to save you. You'd better get serious and do some serious studying on the Gospels.

I recommend "The Historical Jesus," by scholar Gary Habermas, and "The Case for Christ," by Lee Strobel.

There's not a single doubt in my mind that had people been born-again in Christ with the Holy Spirit, they would know for absolute certain it was real.

Recommend you re-think your position.

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Recommend you BUTT OUT.
You are the very kind of person who gave me all the reasons I needed to walk away from organized religion.
The more shrill you become, the more my middle finger grows.
Your smug self righteous brand of proselytizing is the very thing I was referring to.
Know when to back off, because if we were in person, you'd get one verbal warning to back off, and only one.