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Goodbye Jesus

Unlikely Meetings...


sarahgrace

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I had something interesting happen to me this weekend. My roommate and I were on a walk and we ran across some old friends from bible college. We stopped to chat, and it turns out they live very near to us. Fantastic! More christians to hang out with. *sigh* Or at least, that was my initial reaction, though I was genuinely glad to see them because they're really nice people. Anyway, I was chatting to Brandon and he mentioned that he and his wife were not planning on having children. I congratulated them on their choice and told them I didn't buy into the whole 'WE MUST PROCREATE BECUZ GAWD SEZ SO!!!!!!" thing, and then made some crack about people following ancient laws recorded in a questionable book that are completely irrelevant to our culture. Brandon gave me this quizzical sort of look and asked, "so... are you still a christian?"

 

Uh oh. I figured it could either go really well or really badly. Well would end in me being accepted and treated no differently. Badly would end in me being interrogated or shunned. I envisioned these and every possible scenario in between as I sort of averted my eyes and shook my head no.

 

To my very pleasant surprise, he offered me a high five and told me he'd been an atheist for a couple of years, and his wife was no longer a christian either. he got such a kick out of finding out someone else had chucked out religion. Sigh of relief!!! So I got their number, and now I have some exxies very near by that I can socialise with! Huzzah!

 

Anyway. I just wanted to share that story 'cause I know you guys will recognize how good of a thing it is.. more than my roommates will, that's for sure. Have any of you ever been pleasantly surprised in a like manner by old acquaintances you thought were still christians?

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Good to hear more people breaking the chains of religious enslavement to a non-existant being.

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I am the loneliest atheist in the world. Except on xschristian.net of course.

 

:D

 

Someday soon I hope to get an atheist high five and be 'pleasantly surprised' like you sarahgrace.

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so strange. i still do the pleasantly-surprised-high-five when i meet christians, because i'm still shocked at meeting them.

 

i think most people on this board would love to trade social situations with me.

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so strange. i still do the pleasantly-surprised-high-five when i meet christians, because i'm still shocked at meeting them.

 

i think most people on this board would love to trade social situations with me.

 

Mulls exactly what do you mean? Very many Christians reject very many other Christians and then they claim that there are hardly any Chrisians left. But we know that is not the case. Do you mean that all the people where you live are self-proclaimed agnostics and atheists? Or do you mean you cannot find your own brand of Christians? If you mean the latter, please understand that atheists do not necessarily agree, either, on some life issues. Also please understand that being exChristians does not automatically mean atheist. Thus, even though I may be surrounded by atheists (which I am not) they may not be my particular brand of atheists. I wish you would stop pretending that you have so much in common with us when your real purpose on here is to evangelize.

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SarahGrace, I am so happy for you. That is so wonderful.

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so strange. i still do the pleasantly-surprised-high-five when i meet christians, because i'm still shocked at meeting them.

 

i think most people on this board would love to trade social situations with me.

 

Mulls exactly what do you mean? Very many Christians reject very many other Christians and then they claim that there are hardly any Chrisians left. But we know that is not the case. Do you mean that all the people where you live are self-proclaimed agnostics and atheists? Or do you mean you cannot find your own brand of Christians? If you mean the latter, please understand that atheists do not necessarily agree, either, on some life issues. Also please understand that being exChristians does not automatically mean atheist. Thus, even though I may be surrounded by atheists (which I am not) they may not be my particular brand of atheists. I wish you would stop pretending that you have so much in common with us when your real purpose on here is to evangelize.

 

 

ugh.

 

 

I'm saying that, I don't meet Christians very often. Everyone else here seems like they can't get away from Christians.

 

I'm not pretending anything.

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I am the loneliest atheist in the world.

 

Dude, move to Bulgaria, it's the atheist capitol of the world. That's what I did (after growing up in a very fundie country (South Africa)) and it works for me. Now if only I could learn the language a little quicker.... :scratch:

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It is Sunday morning here in Aoteaora and since my rugby team lost last night, my fundie friends are coming to pick me up for church soon with the promise that my prayer will somehow help them with the rest of the season. :D

 

I wouldnt move to Bulgaria mate as I am moving to Samoa soon, a christian stronghold and armed only with my Sam Harris complex without the accompanying intellect and wit, I will martyr myself for the cause :P ... nah, not martyr in the religious sense but I will die an atheist after living a fulfilling life.... ah bliss.

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nah, not martyr in the religious sense but I will die an atheist after living a fulfilling life.... ah bliss.

 

I always say (in regard to "healthy" food but it works for this too), rather live a shorter and happier life than a long and limited one. Good luck sitting through a church service, it's not something I'd ever do again for fear of the intense boredom sending me into a catatonic state.

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Yes, die a beautiful death... like one of the 300 spartans! .. love that movie.

 

Anyway, church services arent that bad... they tell jokes no-ones else finds funny but me.

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That's just glorious, Sarahgrace! Glory! :)

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so strange. i still do the pleasantly-surprised-high-five when i meet christians, because i'm still shocked at meeting them.

 

i think most people on this board would love to trade social situations with me.

 

Mulls exactly what do you mean? Very many Christians reject very many other Christians and then they claim that there are hardly any Chrisians left. But we know that is not the case. Do you mean that all the people where you live are self-proclaimed agnostics and atheists? Or do you mean you cannot find your own brand of Christians? If you mean the latter, please understand that atheists do not necessarily agree, either, on some life issues. Also please understand that being exChristians does not automatically mean atheist. Thus, even though I may be surrounded by atheists (which I am not) they may not be my particular brand of atheists. I wish you would stop pretending that you have so much in common with us when your real purpose on here is to evangelize.

 

 

ugh.

 

 

I'm saying that, I don't meet Christians very often. Everyone else here seems like they can't get away from Christians.

 

I'm not pretending anything.

 

Okay sorry. I don't know how you know who is a Christian and who isn't. How do you know that no one around you is Christian? Why do you feel such a need to be around Christians? Why are you on an atheist board if you want to be around Christians? Something's a bit funny here and I don't know what--providing you are telling the truth. And some of what you are saying is not the truth because it contradicts each other head on.

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Okay sorry. I don't know how you know who is a Christian and who isn't. How do you know that no one around you is Christian?

 

Not many profess it/live it out in any distinguishable way. Folks on this board seem to bump into distinguishable Christians often, and I'm simply saying I don't have this experience.

 

Why do you feel such a need to be around Christians?

 

When did I say I had this need? I was merely making an observation about my life, not whining about it.

 

Why are you on an atheist board if you want to be around Christians?

 

This board is interesting. I have enough Christian friends that I can be around when I choose. I'm saying I don't often meet Christians in day to day life.

 

Something's a bit funny here and I don't know what--providing you are telling the truth. And some of what you are saying is not the truth because it contradicts each other head on.

 

Please show me, so I can clear up any perceived contradictions.

 

I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of all of this...

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I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of all of this...

 

Because you're lying through your teeth and pretending to be something you're not. See below.

 

The fact that you are "pleasantly surprised" to meet a christian tells me you really like being around christians. Otherwise, why would it be pleasant? In Post 7 you repeat how little you see of Christians. It seems you really would like to meet more Christians, you seem to feel a need for it.

 

Something's a bit funny here and I don't know what--providing you are telling the truth. And some of what you are saying is not the truth because it contradicts each other head on.

 

Please show me, so I can clear up any perceived contradictions.

 

As already stated above, you seem to really want to be around Christians more. An exChristian forum is a funny place to look for Christians.

 

Now here's your outright lie:

 

1. Ruby: Very many Christians reject very many other Christians and then they claim that there are hardly any Chrisians left.

 

2. mulls: I don't meet Christians very often.... I'm not pretending anything.

 

3. Ruby: Okay sorry. I don't know how you know who is a Christian and who isn't. How do you know that no one around you is Christian?

 

4. mulls: Not many profess it/live it out in any distinguishable way.

 

Mulls, you're caught in your own trap. In #1 I suggested that you just reject very many Christians. In #2 you denied it. Now in #4 you confess that they really are (self-identify as/profess to be) Christians but you reject their profession as genuine. You're playing god. You're violating divine command. See Matt. 7.

 

That is why I make such a fuss about this whole thing. You're pretending and lying and disobeying God's Word, all at the same time and--what's worse--you're denying all of it. If they profess to be Christians they ARE Christians. You don't get to define christian.

 

A guy or gal who does all that stuff is very possibly also lying about the evangelizing stuff.

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By the way, mulls, you still owe Ramen a reply in your thread on charismatic gifts (Lion's Den).

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Have to agree with you, Ruby. I think what he means is, he doesn't meet any Real True Christians . Real True Christians , of course, being his own brand of fundy Christian who probably wear their religion on their sleeve the whole day long like my former fundy co-worker did.

 

Most Christians simply do not feel the need to proselytize 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They live normal lives except for Sunday mornings (and Wednesday nights during lent). The fundies, however, are an entirely different breed.

 

I'm willing to bet also that there is a church out there who will say that Mulls' church isn't a Real True Christian church, because they all say that everyone else isn't the Real True Christian church. It's how they get people to stay.

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I'm at an absolute loss here.

 

I don't meet many professing Christians, that's my point. If I do meet Christians, I don't know it, because how would I know it unless they said so somehow? I can't read minds. It's not a judging thing.

 

And of course I like being around Christians. But I don't have this glaring need to be around them all of the time, and I'm certainly not looking for them here

 

And please tell me when I'm going to start my evangelizing campaign, since you seem to know my attitude and intentions better than I do.

 

I don't know why you're so obsessed with proving me as some sort of terrible person. I really don't get it at all.

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I'm at an absolute loss here.

 

*****************snip**********

 

I don't know why you're so obsessed with proving me as some sort of terrible person. I really don't get it at all.

 

I don't know how to explain any more clearly than I did. Read Amethyst's post if you need more clarification. People who lie are terrible. And you seem to be a pro at it. That makes you a terrible person.

 

I don't meet many professing Christians, that's my point.

 

You keep changing your story. In one post you said:

 

Not many profess it/live it out in any distinguishable way.

 

Basically, that means you do see professing Christians but they don't live it out or profess it in any distinguishable way. "Distinguishable way" normally means distinguished in a way of which the speaker (in this case you) approves or that meets the speaker's (in this case your) approvable. Like Amethyst said, lots of Christians just don't feel a need to profess and show off their Christianity and you seem to feel a need to do so. How you think you can get away with that in a place like this is beyond my comprehension. You must not yet have made a sincere effort at seeing the world through our eyes. We naturally have a problem with that, having sifted through all the evidence and all.

 

And please tell me when I'm going to start my evangelizing campaign, since you seem to know my attitude and intentions better than I do.

 

WHEN and HOW you will do it is not clear to me at the moment. If you're like any normal fundy Christian you will think the things you are saying in response to me will "sow seed" or "be a testimony." That's a form of evangelization. Maybe that's your style--stirring up trouble then showing how good you are. To make an impression you have to actually be good, not just put on an appearance. We here on this forum know the difference--maybe you don't.

 

Whew! I can't get used to being treated this way by fundies. I was a strict faithful fundy Christian for more years than many people on this forum have been alive. Finally I found the courage, and had the backing of evidence, to stand up for my convictions and suddenly I get treated as the enemy. That is so utterly weird that it convinces me fundies are not in the least interested in truth at all, no matter what they proclaim from the housetops--or pulpits and tv and websites and whatsoever media they choose to employ.

 

We do have a respected Christian on this forum, mulls. She does not wear her religion on her sleeve the way you do. She's just a normal decent respectable person. Of course, she's not a fundy; nor does she act like one. I don't care what you call yourself, you act like the typical fundy--getting all hurt and teared up because we don't respect your "witness." Oh, and then you play innocent. That goes with the territory, I'm learning.

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Wonder if sarahgrace might like her thread back now. :scratch:

 

In answer to your question, I'm continually pleasantly surprised by the people who profess their atheism the minute I do. I think this might be explained by a generational difference... after so many decades, a lot of folks just age out of their need for a god-concept.

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Wonder if sarahgrace might like her thread back now. :scratch:

 

I would guess she does. I'm not sure if this is the place to post this. Part of the title of the thread is "positive encounters." My neighbour across the street is an atheist but he seems so "normal"--how long does it take for one to just get rid of the idea that only Christians can be truly normal? He knows about my deconversion. Yesterday when I got home he called me from his doorway. He had loaned some books from me because he wanted to know more about Mennonites. He had given me a CD with a lot of pictures of the universe. Last night he was returning my books. I had also indicated in an email that I'd like to get together sometime so he could explain more about the pictures on the CD. So he said we could do that sometime. He talked about some things that got him questioning as a teenager and he mentioned Carl Sagon. So it was a positive encounter for me and it felt like there really is a community out there for us--we just have to find it.

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LOL, pitchu. Every thread has the potential to bunny-trail off into some other realm; that's the nature of a forum. I try not to get too attached to my threads. ;)

 

Ruby, I'm happy that you have someone nearby that you can chat with! I talked to B&N this weekend and we're going to be having supper together soon. I'm excited about it! It'll be my first time hanging out with ex-christians in person. :P

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It'll be my first time hanging out with ex-christians in person. :P

Let us know how it goes, okay?

 

(I just wish that merely being Ex-C was a guarantee of compatibility. As these forums indicate, there can be some hearty disagreements on every other level of discourse. But maybe if they don't drool or bring their pet rat to the dinner table, it'll be friendly enough. :Look: )

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