deprogramming

[willybilly30]

got a problem with church but i have no idea what forum this goes in so ill just say it here.

i dont want too go too church i dont beleave in it. but i always get drawn back in christianity. i have christian friends a christian family and live in a christian town so i guess i got the influence always on me. i got some pagan freinds but we ongly meet mabe once a month were all so far away. im so tired of being drawn back too christianity. im tired of being drawn in a church just too have too tell people im not interested enymore. i think part of me must think i need too be christian. how do i get rid of it?

[♦ nivek ♦]

Hiya WillyBilly,

 

First of all, feel welcome to use the resources of Ex-Christian dot net. Read, peruse, gander and garner everything.

 

Ask as many questons and participate in the Forums. Find other folks like you, people in similar situations and lives.

 

Don't be afraid to begin the process of Freethinking start.

 

Feel welcome to Dave's House here at ExC.

 

kevinL

[Fweethawt]

Yeah, Billy, what he (Nivek) said.

 

Spend some time reading around here in the forum area, or scroll up to the top of the page and click where it says "Archives".

 

The best way to deprogram is to educate yourself as much as possible.

 

And a lot of patience.

[Checkmate]

Hello, WillyBilly30. Welcome to Ex-C!

 

Well, first off, there is NO set "way" of deprogramming yourself. That being said, you have already accomplished the two MOST important things -- Recognizing that you don't want Christianity, and seeking how to free yourself permanently from it's grip.

 

From your post I understand that you consider yourself awash in a sea of Christians. That in itself poses no problem. UNLESS you are underage, or married. Single, adult apostates can do what they please and not fear repercussions. Those with family have it rough.

 

If you are living with family, TREAD LIGHTLY. Christian parents tend to act harshly when "threatened" with the "loss" of a child to "the devil".

 

Have you read any of the exit testimonies at this site? If not, you should. You'll find much encouragement from reading what others have been through. You'll also find many similar experiences to your own. It'll definitely help.

 

Now, as for resources, the simplest thing I can do is refer you to my blog at the bottom of my post. Just click on it. Don't concern yourself with reading my posts there. What I want you to focus on are the links provided to some excellent web sites FILLED with information you need. The Secular Web Library is phenomenol.

 

Again -- if you are with parents or spouse -- BE DISCREET! Christian parents and spouses view atheist knowledge the same way they do pornography. They might make your life harder.

 

In addition to this, begin to study the bible. But THIS time, do it with the eyes of REASON. From the position of a SKEPTIC. Learn for yourself what is wrong with that silly book. Begin making of yourself an intelligent non-believer. Know WHY you reject Christianity. Beyond "I just don't like it!"

 

I congratulate you on your initial escape from the cult, and hope that we can be of any assistance in keeping you free. Again, welcome!

[MQTA]

The MyStory link in my sig has a bunch of websites I found over the last 18 months that were very helpful

[willybilly30]

ill check out the sites and testomonies. i think thatd help. also from reading your post i see i need too think about why i dont want too be christian and explore my beleafs. i have alot of problems with the bible already iv never read the whole thing im shure ill find more problems. one of the biggest problems iv always had is the bible knows nothing about science. like mary having jesus with a husband. yeah right.

 

 

 

Hello, WillyBilly30.  Welcome to Ex-C!

 

Well, first off, there is NO set "way" of deprogramming yourself.  That being said, you have already accomplished the two MOST important things -- Recognizing that you don't want Christianity, and seeking how to free yourself permanently from it's grip.

 

From your post I understand that you consider yourself awash in a sea of Christians.  That in itself poses no problem.  UNLESS you are underage, or married.  Single, adult apostates can do what they please and not fear repercussions.  Those with family have it rough.

 

If you are living with family, TREAD LIGHTLY.  Christian parents tend to act harshly when "threatened" with the "loss" of a child to "the devil".

 

Have you read any of the exit testimonies at this site?  If not, you should.  You'll find much encouragement from reading what others have been through.  You'll also find many similar experiences to your own.  It'll definitely help.

 

Now, as for resources, the simplest thing I can do is refer you to my blog at the bottom of my post.  Just click on it.  Don't concern yourself with reading my posts there.  What I want you to focus on are the links provided to some excellent web sites FILLED with information you need.  The Secular Web Library is phenomenol.

 

Again -- if you are with parents or spouse -- BE DISCREET!  Christian parents and spouses view atheist knowledge the same way they do pornography.  They might make your life harder.

 

In addition to this, begin to study the bible.  But THIS time, do it with the eyes of REASON.  From the position of a SKEPTIC.  Learn for yourself what is wrong with that silly book.  Begin making of yourself an intelligent non-believer.  Know WHY you reject Christianity.  Beyond "I just don't like it!"

 

I congratulate you on your initial escape from the cult, and hope that we can be of any assistance in keeping you free.  Again, welcome! 

[willybilly30]

ill check out the sites and testomonies. i think thatd help. also from reading your post i see i need too think about why i dont want too be christian and explore my beleafs. i have alot of problems with the bible already iv never read the whole thing im shure ill find more problems. one of the biggest problems iv always had is the bible knows nothing about science. like mary having jesus with a husband. yeah right. 

i meant too say without a husband. i looked on the net theirs no such thing as virgin births

[willybilly30]

The MyStory link in my sig has a bunch of websites I found over the last 18 months that were very helpful

ok thanks

[HadouKen24]

My way is to talk and read about religion on the internet. Even more than reading about it, I can actually communicate about it and further sharpen my identity as a non-Christian without having to deal with as many face-to-face confrontations. That makes it easier on me when I do have to deal with people in person on religious topics, I find.

 

So hanging around, perhaps, might be a good way to bolster yourself.

[Guest Kelleee]

My way is to talk and read about religion on the internet. Even more than reading about it, I can actually communicate about it and further sharpen my identity as a non-Christian without having to deal with as many face-to-face confrontations. That makes it easier on me when I do have to deal with people in person on religious topics, I find.

 

So hanging around, perhaps, might be a good way to bolster yourself.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What helped me was studying other religions. I studied Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung. This helps see the whole picture and how it all fits together.

[Guest sbwilley]

WillyBilly:

 

I think you can deprogram yourself very quickly by understanding there's a difference between caring for your friends and sharing their superstition. You could also still care about what the Bible says, but not believe it.

 

It took me a long time, and I had to stay away. After a while I was able to go back to study group. I just refused to lead in prayer and let everybody know I was only interested in Bible study as an intellectual exercise and a hobby. I no longer go to study group, but I occasionally write papers on topics or passages for friends who have questions about the original meaning.

 

Historical critical interpretation sheds new light by making assumptions about what it meant to those who originally heard it or read it. Principles can be extracted to improve the lives of believers and non-believers alike, just as reading Homer can teach lessons to non-believers of Greek mythology.

 

De-program yourself today by distancing yourself emotionally from the study, understanding that every word ever printed was put down by a human just like yourself. Why should you believe that any person ever born was better able to communicate with the infinite creator of the universe than you are?

 

Man cannot live by bread alone. Deprogram yourself by consuming lots of different loaves. Watch Nature on PBS. Read Scientific American and Skeptic. Trust your own mind and question everything, particularly when it comes off as dogma.

[willybilly30]

That’s true I need to learn too listen too myself

[qadeshet]

got a problem with church but i have no idea what forum this goes in so ill just say it here.

i dont want too go too church i dont beleave in it. but i always get drawn back in christianity. i have christian friends a christian family and live in a christian town so i guess i got the influence always on me. i got some pagan freinds but we ongly meet mabe once a month were all so far away. im so tired of being drawn back too christianity. im tired of being drawn in a church just too have too tell people im not interested enymore. i think part of me must think i need too be christian. how do i get rid of it?

96174[/snapback]

 

Deprogramming takes time, but really is just a matter of re-programming your mind the way you want it to be. Most of us spend years being programmed without our knowledge; in church, school, and in front of the television. Mind programming is generally accomplished using constant repetition. Churches have learned how to combine this repetition with consciousness altering music and social pressure. Remember that your subconscious mind cannot discriminate. It will believe and accept whatever you tell it to.

Replace old beliefs with facts. Make a list of your beliefs and try to verify or disprove each one. Below are a few facts you can start programming with.

Frequent repetition of new data replaces old programming. I am confident that the following statements are true. They will mean more, though, after you have read, studied, and completed your own research.

 

 

"The Bible is a collection of old myths, legends, and fables. The Bible is not the word of any god."

"Jesus almost certainly never existed. There is not one single contemporary reference to Jesus, historical or otherwise."

"Evolution is a fact, supported by 150 years of research and thousands of tests. Darwin's Theory explains the fact that we evolved."

"Dubya Bush is a serial liar. Don't believe anything he says."

 

Here are some good books you can download off the Internet. They will help you add a lot more facts.

 

Is it God's Word?

 

Forgery in Christianity

[willybilly30]

That is a good idea. This forum really helped me realize how false the bible is. Also seeing how people deal with the Christians here helps me learn good debating skills.

[Amethyst]

The others are right in that deprogramming takes time. Read as much about science as you can. Anything by Stephen Hawking is generally good, he writes in a manner that ordinary people can understand. Also, read up on religious history and the links between Christianity and Paganism. A good book I am reading currently is The End of Faith by Sam Harris. You can get it at Barnes and Noble. I also read The Book Your Church Doesn't Want You To Read. The Jesus Mystery is also a good book. I also read a lot of books about Pagan myths so I could see the similarities.

 

Stop going to church if you can. The first thing you have to do is stop yourself from being brainwashed every week (or month, or whatever).

[willybilly30]

The others are right in that deprogramming takes time.  Read as much about science as you can.  Anything by Stephen Hawking is generally good, he writes in a manner that ordinary people can understand.  Also, read up on religious history and the links between Christianity and Paganism.  A good book I am reading currently is The End of Faith by Sam Harris.  You can get it at Barnes and Noble.  I also read The Book Your Church Doesn't Want You To Read.  The Jesus Mystery is also a good book.  I also read a lot of books about Pagan myths so I could see the similarities.

 

Stop going to church if you can.  The first thing you have to do is stop yourself from being brainwashed every week (or month, or whatever).

102247[/snapback]

[willybilly30]

Those books sound good I wonder if the college library has them?

I have not gone too church in awhile. I been working a lot and my only off day is Sunday im not wasting it on church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The others are right in that deprogramming takes time.  Read as much about science as you can.  Anything by Stephen Hawking is generally good, he writes in a manner that ordinary people can understand.  Also, read up on religious history and the links between Christianity and Paganism.  A good book I am reading currently is The End of Faith by Sam Harris.  You can get it at Barnes and Noble.  I also read The Book Your Church Doesn't Want You To Read.  The Jesus Mystery is also a good book.  I also read a lot of books about Pagan myths so I could see the similarities.

 

Stop going to church if you can.  The first thing you have to do is stop yourself from being brainwashed every week (or month, or whatever).

102247[/snapback]

[ML13]

I been working a lot and my only off day is Sunday im not wasting it on church.

 

This sounds like a step in the right direction, willy. Now keep going forward and don't ever look back.

[Amethyst]

Those books sound good I wonder if the college library has them?

 

It's possible, but I doubt it. You can find them at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. Your library would probably have some of Stephen Hawking's stuff, if anything.