Bejlnqrux Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Hello all, I'm not entirely sure if I'm posting this in the correct place. Hopefully I'm on the right track. Anyway, I'd like to share my ex-Christian testimony, if you'd be so kind as to hear me out I was born into a Protestant Christian family, identifying with the Charismatic movement. For as far back as I can remember, Christianity was always a part of my life. As a child, I regularly attended church and Sunday school. My family's church has a rather flashy worship style, with a large congregation, loud Christian rock songs, a head pastor who makes the headlines every now and then, and dozens of people getting "saved" every week. Baptism, and the casting out of demons, are also important in my church. I myself have had imaginary demons cast out of me. Looking back, I now know that it's all a crock of bullshit. I was a rather troubled and sickly teenager, but that doesn't mean I had to be exorcised; I was just going through an awkward transition into adulthood. Why oh why didn't I catch on to the bullshit earlier?! For 19 years, I was a member of the obnoxious, hateful organisation known as Christianity. Then, when I reached my twenties, I started to become more well-informed about the world and about religions in general. I was a uni/college student at the time. I was still a believer, but I'd been having niggling doubts for a while. There was something about the religion I'd been brought up in that bothered me, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. My journey towards deconversion began when I was feeling bored one day and, out of curiosity, Googled stuff about Christianity and intellectual debates about it. I watched YouTube recordings of Richard Dawkins' and Lawrence Krauss' seminars, read up on evolution and evolutionary psychology, and studied the origins of Christianity. In the end, I think it was a combination of my own gut instinct and scrutinising Christianity that led me to eventually deconvert. My family's reactions were mixed. My siblings have been fairly supportive so far, my mother was a little upset but said that she respects my decision, and my father's reaction was by far the worst. Although he claimed that he also respects my decision, he kept talking over me when I tried to explain why I am no longer a Christian, and accused me of "breaking Jesus' heart". What the fuck?! The possibility that Jesus broke my heart first doesn't even occur to my old man. Well, I for one will not cave under his attempts at guilt-tripping. I honestly don't know what exactly I identify as now-agnostic? atheist? spiritual but not religious? Most people, when I tell them I have no religion, usually assume that I'm a freethinker, and I just go along with it. I suppose being called a freethinker suits me just fine, until or unless I can think of a more suitable alternative. I don't like to label myself. As a closing statement, I'd just like to point out that since the "freethinker" moniker can be used to refer to a non-religious person, doesn't that imply that on the other end, religious people do not have freedom of thought? Interesting. Well, this is my ex-Christian testimony. I definitely intend to stick around and read as many of the fascinating real-life stories here as I can. I've had a long and winding path in Christianity, and now I'm eager to live a meaningful life, unburdened by the shackles of religion. Ciao~ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinas Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Welcome. Stick to your position. Familial pressure is no fun - and fathers tend to consider themselves as heads of families and hence take deviation from family accepted practices rather personally. However, no-one has the right to tell you what to believe. You've done well to get yourself to this position by your own efforts and intellectual honesty. As to how you identify yourself - up to you; really doesn't matter unless it matters to you. Take your time to decide with what label (if any) you are comfortable. By the way - I've just tried to pronounce your username. I think I've just got my tonsils tangled... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymistake Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Welcome Bej! Nice to have you with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llwellyn Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Thank you for sharing your experiences! Some edited books collecting deconversion stories are the following. I've read both and can recommend them. "Beyond An Absence of Faith: Stories About the Loss of Faith and the Discovery of Self." "Leaving The Fold: Testimonies Of Former Fundamentalists" Please stick around and contribute to our humble little community. I'm sure your family will get over your rejection of Christianity and family intimacy will return. The Meme is not stronger than vulgar family affection. Even your father will get over it. Congratulations on removing the fetters from your mind. There is nothing so satisfying to a social mammal than to free other mammals that we see enslaved. We free one another: Empathy and Pro-Social Behavior in Rats http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean_Decety/publication/51868769_Empathy_and_pro-social_behavior_in_rats/links/02bfe510d7190ca5b9000000.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sylensikeelyoo Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 I have a similar story as well. I am still in the process of deconverting and the only person I've "come out" to is my husband. He's been EXTREMELY supportive, as he is an agnostic deist. I think I would identify myself as a skeptic for now, and once I complete this process I will reevaluate my label. Thanks for sharing your story. It helps me a lot to read similar stories as my own. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackCat Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Thank you for sharing your de-conversion testimony. 'Crock of bullshit' indeed. I relate to much of what you have shared. I look forward to your postings here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abrooks2007 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 This part I found amusing: "Although he claimed that he also respects my decision, he kept talking over me when I tried to explain why I am no longer a Christian, and accused me of "breaking Jesus' heart". What the fuck?! The possibility that Jesus broke my heart first doesn't even occur to my old man. Well, I for one will not cave under his attempts at guilt-tripping." Kinda hard to "break the heart" of a man who has been dead for 2,000 years. Provided he even existed at ALL. At any rate: Be true to yourself, regardless of what family members or whoever else says. Seriously. This decision impacts you, not them. I completely agree with Llwellyn. Take it one day at a time, and enjoy life on its own terms, free of the b.s. propaganda of organized religion. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Welcome, Bej! Don't worry about labels. If you enjoy reading or watching videos, just keep reading or watching and decide what you really believe or not. It's much more enjoyable than just accepting beliefs with no thought whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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