Ben Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 I have a question for all former Christians: What sorts of things led you to deconvert?
Guest Valk0010 Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 The bible stopped making sense and I saw advice on the godly life to start being harmful. As well its learning about the bible and what is fact and what is debated(though my understanding of that is not the greatest).
bush country Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Maybe you should go to the section called "Testimonies of Former Christians" and read for a month or two before asking such an inane question. 5
DrummerScott Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 The one question that got me thinking about faith was, "Do people who don't know who jesus is still go to heaven?" From there I analyzed religion and such...I believed in god for a good amount of time while I was still questioning. But soon enough i realized god was made in mans image. And yeah...just read the testimonial section.
sangheili_asylum Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 There were two different sides to my deconversion. I get so offended when Christians assume I left because I wanted to do "bad" things (drinking, smoking, gossiping, sex outside marriage, homosexuality). And sure, I do want to do those things. But that wouldn't have made me leave...what, am I ten years old? They also accuse me of leaving because Christians can be hypocrites. Sure they can, so what? My reasons were purely intellectual. I studied it, studied "proof," studied apologetics, studied atheist literature, and everything in between. It is much too farfetched for me to be expected to believe. So much made no sense, and a lot of it seems to be made up as people go. But not just that...I figured that even if it were true, it is horrible. There is so much in it I don't agree with or that even horrifies me...the Christian god seems so evil. So, it was moral and intellectual reasons I left.
Yalta Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 I suppose I could say "read the testimonials section" (and I notice this is your first post, so maybe you're new here?), but I'll quickly give my basic reasons. I started out by wondering why there were so many religions if Christianity was true. If it was true, it should be obvious, and everyone should know. I also wondered why God (the Christian one) wouldn't just tell people directly, or tell all of Earth at once, rather than having them realize on their own which religion's sacred text was true. After all, they could easily believe in the wrong one, and get punished for it. It ultimately made no sense to me, and got me to wondering how people could believe one religion over all the others other than simply because they were told to do so or society does so. So with lack of proof and those burning questions, I stopped believing. At the age of 12.
Eugene39 Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 http://www.ex-christian.net/topic/42612-leaving-the-holiness-movement/page__p__621525__fromsearch__1#entry621525 Here's my original post, and was still quite nervous at that time. Now I consider myself to be a humanist with a somewhat agnostic deistic concept of God.
JadedAtheist Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 I have a question for all former Christians: What sorts of things led you to deconvert? Even the most cursory glance over the forums would have shown this recent topic here.
Antlerman Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 I have a question for all former Christians: What sorts of things led you to deconvert? It wasn't spiritual. It was religion.
user_0168486295 Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 So many things... The birth of my first daughter was the catalyst for letting go of God Couldn't keep pushing the doubts away Logic and reason prevailed Took the phrase "It's hard to see the picture when you're inside the frame" and used it to look at Christianity objectively. It looked just like all other religions. But the straw that broke the camel's back was a holy spirit response to prayer that turned out a dud. I reasoned that I must have made up my own experience, otherwise it wouldn't have been a dud. And if I made up my own experience, then what were all the other experiences in my life that felt the exact same way? Soon, I saw that I was making it all up in my own mind.
Foxy Methoxy Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Maybe you should go to the section called "Testimonies of Former Christians" and read for a month or two before asking such an inane question. Which is why this thread is confusing. We've only devoted the last 10 years or so answering that question in the individual level. 2
Moderator Margee Posted April 30, 2011 Moderator Posted April 30, 2011 My letter will explain: http://www.ex-christian.net/topic/44259-please-forgive-me/
Overcame Faith Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Allah (praise be his name) told me that Christianity is a false religion. Then the God of the Bible told me Allah is a liar. So I decided to drop all religions since I couldn't believe either of those gods. 2
Ouroboros Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 I have a question for all former Christians: What sorts of things led you to deconvert? A convergence of many things. But the most important one, God didn't reveal his existence when I was in need. I realized it is all imaginary. We want to believe in a magical being, so we do, but it doesn't make him real.
Yrth Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 I have a question for all former Christians: What sorts of things led you to deconvert? What sort of things led you to convert?
par4dcourse Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Once santa and the easter bunny were gone, the sillier myths like jesus and the tooth fairy were a snap. (Apologies to any TF fans.)
Ouroboros Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Easter Bunny is not real? But where do all the colorful eggs come from? It can't come from humans. It must have a supernatural source. (The objective eggs argument)
recoveringfromchristianity Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 I'll answer your question since you are new, but I agree with everyone else read the testimonies section. Trying to find answers in the bible. There are so many times that people say the bible or god has the answers. I didn't find that to be true. In fact, I found more things that contradicted themselves. If there was a god don't you think he would be smart enough to give us all the same list. There is no reason to give parables, etc. It would be straight foreword. If you think that everything makes such good sense or is reliable then tell me why are so many denominations? And they all believe in the same god and the same bible. If it was so gosh darn easy to understand there would be ONE denomination. Not only that but wouldn't he have been smart enough to make us all believe whatever he wanted us to? Which brings me to freewill. What a crock. If he gave us freewill that makes no sense. Wouldn't he want or create us to do whatever the hell people think he wants us to do or be? Why would you create people to have a choice to be disobedient? So he wouldn't feel guilty when he banished you to hell? Which religion is 'true". Everyone who has a religion believes that their way is the real or true way. I was taught to believe in god and the bible. What if I had been born somewhere else? After all no one to my knowledge picks their parents. So, how can you fault anyone else who wasn't taught the same thing as me? Do you honestly think you would change your mind after you have been essentially brainwashed? Not only that but what about the people who have never heard of christ? Christians themselves/Religious leaders (other religions as well). There is so much hypocrisy that it would take me pages to answer. Here is an example I just love (NOT) is that when a catastrophic event happens people say it is because of sin or gays, atheists, etc. He is warning us. Sure that is why all those innocent children die in the event. Yes, god made N. Orleans flood because of the gay activities that go on there. Yep, don't kill the actual sinners (in their words NOT mine) kill other good, honest hardworking folks and children. That will show them. Choice. Of course this only goes to the christians who believe you have to accept Jesus to get to heaven. Yeah, here is my choice - I believe or I am put in hell. Yes, that is a choice all right! Science. What happens for instance if they find out that being gay isn't a choice? Well, we are taught that that is evil so I guess the person who is lucky enough to get the gene (let's just assume that is it and even if it wasn't and it was due to the parents/environment/sexual abuse then how in the hell or why would god hold these children at fault - oh, I know, every child wants to be abused they bring it on themselves) automatically is damned to hell through no fault of their own. Add to that everything else christians don't want to believe even though science backs them up, not some unseen person. Satan. Why would any god even have a devil let alone evil. Why would you let adults abuse children? Innocent children? If he can't protect us when we are too little to defend ourselves then why and how does he care for these people. He created us so I would assume he could undo what he let happen. Also using satan to scare us into believing - oooooooooo so scary! The apple. Sure, god put a beautiful tree with gorgeous red fruit right in the middle of his garden. Guess what, you aren't allowed to touch it or eat it because if you do you will be damned. Not only that but Adam & Eve damned us to everything like painful childbirth, mental illness, and everything else they blame the fall of man on. Not really a smart god specially since he is all wise and knowing. Why put the damn apple tree there when you KNEW what was going to happen? Not only that but damn the rest of us for something they did? There are so many things I could add to this list but just stew on that for awhile. 1
recoveringfromchristianity Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Oops just to add one more thing. I just turned on a religious channel and there is a show called Campmeeting. This is the what the preacher was telling his audience: "Right now, right now, do NOT even think about it for one second. Go to your phone and make a $1000 seed pledge so that god will bless you. I know that there 120 people out there, don't know who you are, but by starting your seed pledge god is going to help you with some real estate issue. It could be that you are having a problem selling your house or you are buying your house, I don't know; but it has to do with real estate. If you don't do it right know and think about it you are being disobedient.............." Yeah, if I was god I wouldn't do something to this disgusting person claiming to do something this awful in my name, Nope, who cares if these people squander every cent they have to a huckster. Who cares if that church leader in a cult is having sex with children? Who cares if people drink the poisoned koolaid because they are vulnerable and believe these idiots? Oh sure, we just have to believe that god is in control and we don't know what his will is and that person will get their just rewards someday. Sure, just keep deluding yourself. 1
Foxy Methoxy Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 If you act now, I'll give you 50% off and God will still bless you just as much as if you paid that other guy.
sangheili_asylum Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Satan. Why would any god even have a devil let alone evil. Why would you let adults abuse children? Innocent children? If he can't protect us when we are too little to defend ourselves then why and how does he care for these people. He created us so I would assume he could undo what he let happen. Also using satan to scare us into believing - oooooooooo so scary! The apple. Sure, god put a beautiful tree with gorgeous red fruit right in the middle of his garden. Guess what, you aren't allowed to touch it or eat it because if you do you will be damned. Not only that but Adam & Eve damned us to everything like painful childbirth, mental illness, and everything else they blame the fall of man on. Not really a smart god specially since he is all wise and knowing. Why put the damn apple tree there when you KNEW what was going to happen? Not only that but damn the rest of us for something they did? There are so many things I could add to this list but just stew on that for awhile. You hit the nail on the head here...when I wrote my reply I was tired so couldn't think of all my reasons, but these are good ones. If God is perfect, how is it possible that somehow a "bad apple" got into the mix? Why was there a POSSIBILITY of disobedience within Adam and Eve? Christians say, "Well, it was free choice," but no...if there was NO SUCH THING as evil, there couldn't have been a choice to do wrong. No temptation because temptation didn't exist (unless you mean temptation for some hot sex between Adam and Eve...haha gross)! So yes, why let there be Satan? Why let there be a choice of evil? Evil cannot come from good, but clearly there WAS evil before they even sinned...in the hearts. What a stupid religion.
recoveringfromchristianity Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Foxy, Hell, I will just take 10% - that would be great! I don't know how these idiots go to sleep at night. We had a pastor once (Southern Baptist Church) who when coming to interview told the search committee that he would not take one cent less than $75K (this was years ago). He was not going to go to peoples houses, one would assume to minister to them, that were nicer than his. He refused to live like a pauper. Now, I do agree that they should not be compensated fairly but to make more than 90% of your people is just ridiculous. I did not know this at the time (my sister & b-i-l were on the committee). The committee hired him the idiots. Guess what he did? He actually talked them all into building another bigger better church. I told them all he was just doing it to move on and of course nobody cared or believed it. It was really popular, maybe it still is I don't know, for pastors to go to even bigger better churches by bragging that they grew the church by xyz and actually had to build another church to hold them all. Yep, he was gone one year after the church was built. We left before it even got started because of the crazy campaign. It was insane. On the humorous side he has been to at least three other churches and isn't even at a baptist one anymore. Then there is the other pastor who was making obscene calls to the little girls in church. One of the church members was some big shot in the gov and had his phone wire tapped. When the pastor called again they found out that the call was coming from the church. Found out he was addicted to porn and he did go to jail. Not sure what other things he was doing because I am surprised he would go to jail just for making obscene calls? Good times, good times..........
Franciscan Monkey Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Bible study. When I started objectively looking at the contradictions, historical inaccuracies, scientific mistakes, bogus prophecies, illogical statements, and obviously fictional stories contained in the Bible, I realized it had to have been written by men and not a god. The Bible is the cornerstone of Christianity. Without it being reliable, I saw no reason to continue in my belief. Respectfully, Franciscan Monkey 1
Snakefoot Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 How Would You Describe Your Deconversion? A slow recovery from a long-term, debilitating disease. 3
agnosticator Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 Easter Bunny is not real? But where do all the colorful eggs come from? It can't come from humans. It must have a supernatural source. (The objective eggs argument) After 3 days as roadkill...... He is risen! 1
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