[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:
I started out ‘Christian’. Anyway, I went to church and thought there was a God that was judging me. Then by late elementary, I decided that there wasn’t a God. In 9nth grade of HS, I was a born again Christian. At the time, I accepted Jesus as my savior for all sins I committed and let the holy spirit enter my heart and all that jazz because I genuinely and really believed in it. I really got into it too, started going to church regularly when my family didn’t, did missions, went on the different bible retreats offered by my church and I studied the bible and read books by C.S. Lewis and a few other authors, started praying regularly. Believed that until my mid-sophomore year of college which is about the same time I started really questioning fundamental beliefs of mine and reading about the subject. And now, I’m still atheist. [/quote]
I think someone like yourself is the only person who can truly comment on this subject - having been on both sides of the story. What made you turn back to atheism?
I was watching a science show the other day - Out of curiosity - what does the bible say about other intelligent life forms?
Also, does the bible not say Humans were here from the start of “time”? Are dinosaurs mentioned in the bible, and if so why are there no human records as old as dinosaurs.[/quote]
What changed my mind is asking fundamental questions about Christianity without blindly looking into the bible or Christian authors to find the answers. Basically, I couldn’t make sense of Christianity anymore. There really wasn’t anything external that influenced me. I only had one professor who I think was atheist and he didn’t straight up say it so it wasn’t the college education and ‘atheist professors’ that influenced me (I was in the heart of the bible belt and deep deep South at the time i.e. Northern Louisiana). Just added that in there because it seems like at least a few Christians think there’s some sort of conspiracy in college to turn kids atheist.
Chris, following through your line of reasoning, it sounds like you wouldn’t consider it immoral to defend your own life, even if it meant killing a 90 year old man. What if the nonagenarian didn’t threaten your life, but by killing him you could still save your own life?
Would you also not consider it immoral to kill the 90 year old in order to save every other man, woman, and child on the planet? Would god condemn or approve you for doing so?
Fletch, in my experience Christians (especially fundamentalist Christians) are at a loss in explaining people like us, who once saw the world as they did. Typically, they will claim that we weren’t truly converted to Christ. I wish there were a way for them to meet our former selves, and understand just how deeply we believed the very same doctrines they currently believe. I understand the psychology behind it though…it feels less threatening to view us in that way.
[quote]forlife wrote:
Fletch, in my experience Christians (especially fundamentalist Christians) are at a loss in explaining people like us, who once saw the world as they did. Typically, they will claim that we weren’t truly converted to Christ. I wish there were a way for them to meet our former selves, and understand just how deeply we believed the very same doctrines they currently believe. I understand the psychology behind it though…it feels less threatening to view us in that way. [/quote]
Ah you and fletch bring up a very heated point of contention among Christians and that is whether can a true believer depart from the faith or is it impossible for them. Someone like Tiribulus would contend that it is in fact impossible to do so while I wouldn’t be so hasty as to claim whether it is possible or not from the bible.
Anyways many people in churches have not come to Jesus personally instead relying on others to know about Jesus instead of knowing him, this may sound insane or schizophrenic to the majority of atheist here or even a few Christians but when one has a relationship with Christ there is communication. There is a promise in the bible that says that God reveals himself to those who seek him with all their heart.
If you or flecth want to share how you guys became atheist that would be interesting.
[quote]forlife wrote:
Fletch, in my experience Christians (especially fundamentalist Christians) are at a loss in explaining people like us, who once saw the world as they did. Typically, they will claim that we weren’t truly converted to Christ. I wish there were a way for them to meet our former selves, and understand just how deeply we believed the very same doctrines they currently believe. I understand the psychology behind it though…it feels less threatening to view us in that way. [/quote]
You guys aren’t that rare or mysterious. I’m sorry to burst your bubble.
Don’t presume, I can tell you straight up, she’s pretty damn hot.[/quote]
Heheh. Thanks Mak. I’ll let you guys judge for yourselves.
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…you’re a lucky, lucky man Cortes…
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Blessed, my friend. Blessed.
We managed to make a really cute little boy, too.
I am a little disappointed none of you guys noticed that 1.5 pood kettlebell in the lower right corner of the picture. But I suppose that’s a form of compliment, isn’t it?
