? A Question For All Former Christians Who Fell Away ?

[YahDough]

This is a question addressed only to former Christians who have left the faith.

Why did you become a Christian?
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[YahDough]

This is a question addressed only to former Christians who have left the faith.

Why did you become a Christian?
[/b]

I was a Christian because I was raised to be one. Then I started thinking about it and became an atheist.

Were you prompted by your "born again" Christian parents to adapt to thinking that you never did fully accept? Or did you have a heart-felt faith that you left? (In other words were you born again?) Sometimes children go through the motions to outwardly please their parents, but inwardly rebel.

I find it interesting, if not somewhat confusing, that Christian faith often skips generations. My dad was an atheist. I'm a confirmed believer. I know of others who are just the opposite, atheists from believing parents. Some parents who are believers seem to have a hard time convincing their children to have authentic belief, while other children rebel in the other direction, toward a hope they couldn't find in their parents. I suppose people need to go through the motions of owning an experience that convinces them of the reality of Christ. And even after that experience it is not easy to endure and overcome the sufferings and temptations we must endure as believers with the promise of peace with God and everlasting life.

[zombiefive]

I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian but rather just lived within a family (close and extended) that believed in god and heaven and Jesus. My parents never really attended church because of work and never forced me to, but my sisters and myself chose to on our own volition. I read a good amount of the bible, accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and thought I was going to heaven. Looking back, I truly did believe that, but honestly, I'd say I only did because it was the only option presented to me at the time. As I got older I learned more and more about the world and other religions, leading to an amount of skepticism of all religion, including mine. That skepticism, in turn, lead to my atheism.

[YahDough]

I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian but rather just lived within a family (close and extended) that believed in god and heaven and Jesus. My parents never really attended church because of work and never forced me to, but my sisters and myself chose to on our own volition. I read a good amount of the bible, accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and thought I was going to heaven. Looking back, I truly did believe that, but honestly, I'd say I only did because it was the only option presented to me at the time. As I got older I learned more and more about the world and other religions, leading to an amount of skepticism of all religion, including mine. That skepticism, in turn, lead to my atheism.

I think your testimony is typical of a large number of former believers and backsliders. Those who don't continuously nurture and nourish their faith in Christ can get sidetracked into other more tempting things and from there it isn't too hard to justify disbelief. It's not easy to stay focused on a religion that requires it's subjects to bear their own cross.

Can you recall anything specific that led the way for your departure from the Christian faith? Or was it too subtle to pinpoint an exact moment?

[zombiefive]

I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian but rather just lived within a family (close and extended) that believed in god and heaven and Jesus. My parents never really attended church because of work and never forced me to, but my sisters and myself chose to on our own volition. I read a good amount of the bible, accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and thought I was going to heaven. Looking back, I truly did believe that, but honestly, I'd say I only did because it was the only option presented to me at the time. As I got older I learned more and more about the world and other religions, leading to an amount of skepticism of all religion, including mine. That skepticism, in turn, lead to my atheism.

I think your testimony is typical of a large number of former believers and backsliders. Those who don't continuously nurture and nourish their faith in Christ can get sidetracked into other more tempting things and from there it isn't too hard to justify disbelief. It's not easy to stay focused on a religion that requires it's subjects to bear their own cross.

Can you recall anything specific that led the way for your departure from the Christian faith? Or was it too subtle to pinpoint an exact moment?

I think your assumption of why people become atheists is typical of most believers. "There must be something that happened to you that made you sad/hurt/question your faith." While I agree that is the case for some people but hardly not most. There was no event that pulled me away. All I did was apply reason and logic to the things I once believe and it just didn't fit. None if made any logical sense and therefore I had absolutely no reason to believe the stories I was being told. The accusation that I didn't nurture and nourish my faith is completely false. That's the exact reason why I became and atheist. I wanted to learn more about what I believe to be a better Christian and found it was all nonsense.

[YahDough]

I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian but rather just lived within a family (close and extended) that believed in god and heaven and Jesus. My parents never really attended church because of work and never forced me to, but my sisters and myself chose to on our own volition. I read a good amount of the bible, accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and thought I was going to heaven. Looking back, I truly did believe that, but honestly, I'd say I only did because it was the only option presented to me at the time. As I got older I learned more and more about the world and other religions, leading to an amount of skepticism of all religion, including mine. That skepticism, in turn, lead to my atheism.

I think your testimony is typical of a large number of former believers and backsliders. Those who don't continuously nurture and nourish their faith in Christ can get sidetracked into other more tempting things and from there it isn't too hard to justify disbelief. It's not easy to stay focused on a religion that requires it's subjects to bear their own cross.

Can you recall anything specific that led the way for your departure from the Christian faith? Or was it too subtle to pinpoint an exact moment?

I think your assumption of why people become atheists is typical of most believers. "There must be something that happened to you that made you sad/hurt/question your faith." While I agree that is the case for some people but hardly not most. There was no event that pulled me away. All I did was apply reason and logic to the things I once believe and it just didn't fit. None if made any logical sense and therefore I had absolutely no reason to believe the stories I was being told. The accusation that I didn't nurture and nourish my faith is completely false. That's the exact reason why I became and atheist. I wanted to learn more about what I believe to be a better Christian and found it was all nonsense.

Your first response to this post was "I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian..." That makes more sense, because to a Christian with the Holy Ghost (Spirit), "reason and logic" should bring them closer to Christ.

[zombiefive]

I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian but rather just lived within a family (close and extended) that believed in god and heaven and Jesus. My parents never really attended church because of work and never forced me to, but my sisters and myself chose to on our own volition. I read a good amount of the bible, accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and thought I was going to heaven. Looking back, I truly did believe that, but honestly, I'd say I only did because it was the only option presented to me at the time. As I got older I learned more and more about the world and other religions, leading to an amount of skepticism of all religion, including mine. That skepticism, in turn, lead to my atheism.

I think your testimony is typical of a large number of former believers and backsliders. Those who don't continuously nurture and nourish their faith in Christ can get sidetracked into other more tempting things and from there it isn't too hard to justify disbelief. It's not easy to stay focused on a religion that requires it's subjects to bear their own cross.

Can you recall anything specific that led the way for your departure from the Christian faith? Or was it too subtle to pinpoint an exact moment?

I think your assumption of why people become atheists is typical of most believers. "There must be something that happened to you that made you sad/hurt/question your faith." While I agree that is the case for some people but hardly not most. There was no event that pulled me away. All I did was apply reason and logic to the things I once believe and it just didn't fit. None if made any logical sense and therefore I had absolutely no reason to believe the stories I was being told. The accusation that I didn't nurture and nourish my faith is completely false. That's the exact reason why I became and atheist. I wanted to learn more about what I believe to be a better Christian and found it was all nonsense.

Your first response to this post was "I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian..." That makes more sense, because to a Christian with the Holy Ghost (Spirit), "reason and logic" should bring them closer to Christ.

I don't understand. How does reason and logic bring one closer to something that inherently defies reason and logic? I said I used to believe because I was born into a family that did. As I got older I began to learn new things and applied reason, logic, and skepticism that in turn led to my atheism.

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems that you are insinuating that there is more that one logic that pertains to religion, and therefore I would have to disagree. There is no "my logic" and "your logic." There is just logic, period.

[YahDough]

I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian but rather just lived within a family (close and extended) that believed in god and heaven and Jesus. My parents never really attended church because of work and never forced me to, but my sisters and myself chose to on our own volition. I read a good amount of the bible, accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and thought I was going to heaven. Looking back, I truly did believe that, but honestly, I'd say I only did because it was the only option presented to me at the time. As I got older I learned more and more about the world and other religions, leading to an amount of skepticism of all religion, including mine. That skepticism, in turn, lead to my atheism.

I think your testimony is typical of a large number of former believers and backsliders. Those who don't continuously nurture and nourish their faith in Christ can get sidetracked into other more tempting things and from there it isn't too hard to justify disbelief. It's not easy to stay focused on a religion that requires it's subjects to bear their own cross.

Can you recall anything specific that led the way for your departure from the Christian faith? Or was it too subtle to pinpoint an exact moment?

I think your assumption of why people become atheists is typical of most believers. "There must be something that happened to you that made you sad/hurt/question your faith." While I agree that is the case for some people but hardly not most. There was no event that pulled me away. All I did was apply reason and logic to the things I once believe and it just didn't fit. None if made any logical sense and therefore I had absolutely no reason to believe the stories I was being told. The accusation that I didn't nurture and nourish my faith is completely false. That's the exact reason why I became and atheist. I wanted to learn more about what I believe to be a better Christian and found it was all nonsense.

Your first response to this post was "I guess I wouldn't say that I became a christian..." That makes more sense, because to a Christian with the Holy Ghost (Spirit), "reason and logic" should bring them closer to Christ.

I don't understand. How does reason and logic bring one closer to something that inherently defies reason and logic?

The Holy Ghost (Spirit) is the teacher of the truth. This is God's reasoning and logic. A person without the Holy Spirit will not understand.

I said I used to believe because I was born into a family that did. As I got older I began to learn new things and applied reason, logic, and skepticism that in turn led to my atheism.

To "believe" means to trust. Are you sure you were a believer. It sounds more like you were a thinker, not a believer.

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems that you are insinuating that there is more that one logic that pertains to religion, and therefore I would have to disagree. There is no "my logic" and "your logic." There is just logic, period.

There is the logic of man that often conflicts with the logic of God. But the word "logic" is not even found in the Bible. The word we should be using is "Truth". There is only one truth that pertains to true religion.

[McCulloch]

I don't understand. How does reason and logic bring one closer to something that inherently defies reason and logic?

The Holy Ghost (Spirit) is the teacher of the truth. This is God's reasoning and logic. A person without the Holy Spirit will not understand.

YahDough, try to understand how this sounds to those of us who do not share your faith. You claim to have a special type of reason and logic that is only available to those who have had some kind of mystical experience with an ethereal being you call the Holy Ghost. You cannot understand unless you believe and you cannot believe through the normal process by which we all can discern what is true from what is false, that is reason, logic and evidence. What would you think of me if I made that kind of a claim to you?

To "believe" means to trust. Are you sure you were a believer. It sounds more like you were a thinker, not a believer.

I was a believer. At least I thought at the time that I was a believer. Unlike zombiefive, I was not raised in a family that took spiritual matters seriously. There was no assumption that the Bible was true or that Jesus really mattered. So, as a young adult, I came to belief as a kind of a way to make sense of it all. In retrospect, it seems more like accepting easy answers to difficult questions, rather than accepting the more honest, "I don't know."

There is no "my logic" and "your logic." There is just logic, period.

There is the logic of man that often conflicts with the logic of God.

How does the logic of man conflict with the logic of God? How do you know the logic of God without using human logic? The Holy Ghost? How do you know that the voice in you head is in fact the Holy Ghost and not a delusion? But before you answer that, think about whether you will make use of human logic in finding that answer. For if you rely on human logic, then you are no different from the rest of us and you will have given up the right to denigrate us for using human logic. If you do not rely on human logic, then why are you even here? How can you debate with non-believers about things which defy logic?

But the word "logic" is not even found in the Bible. The word we should be using is "Truth". There is only one truth that pertains to true religion.

What is truth? How do we know what is truth? We can confirm the truth of certain propositions by testing them, applying logic, reasoning and evidence. Only then can we be confident in asserting that this or that statement is true. How can the word truth be applied to religion with any pretense of integrity and honesty?

[YahDough]

I don't understand. How does reason and logic bring one closer to something that inherently defies reason and logic?

The Holy Ghost (Spirit) is the teacher of the truth. This is God's reasoning and logic. A person without the Holy Spirit will not understand.

YahDough, try to understand how this sounds to those of us who do not share your faith. You claim to have a special type of reason and logic that is only available to those who have had some kind of mystical experience with an ethereal being you call the Holy Ghost. You cannot understand unless you believe and you cannot believe through the normal process by which we all can discern what is true from what is false, that is reason, logic and evidence. What would you think of me if I made that kind of a claim to you?

To "believe" means to trust. Are you sure you were a believer. It sounds more like you were a thinker, not a believer.

I was a believer. At least I thought at the time that I was a believer. Unlike zombiefive, I was not raised in a family that took spiritual matters seriously. There was no assumption that the Bible was true or that Jesus really mattered. So, as a young adult, I came to belief as a kind of a way to make sense of it all. In retrospect, it seems more like accepting easy answers to difficult questions, rather than accepting the more honest, "I don't know."

There is no "my logic" and "your logic." There is just logic, period.

There is the logic of man that often conflicts with the logic of God.

How does the logic of man conflict with the logic of God? How do you know the logic of God without using human logic? The Holy Ghost? How do you know that the voice in you head is in fact the Holy Ghost and not a delusion? But before you answer that, think about whether you will make use of human logic in finding that answer. For if you rely on human logic, then you are no different from the rest of us and you will have given up the right to denigrate us for using human logic. If you do not rely on human logic, then why are you even here? How can you debate with non-believers about things which defy logic?

But the word "logic" is not even found in the Bible. The word we should be using is "Truth". There is only one truth that pertains to true religion.

What is truth? How do we know what is truth? We can confirm the truth of certain propositions by testing them, applying logic, reasoning and evidence. Only then can we be confident in asserting that this or that statement is true. How can the word truth be applied to religion with any pretense of integrity and honesty?

As a former believer you should know the answers to all those questions.

At the risk of derailing this thread, and the possibility of being accused of preaching, I do not feel compelled to give you answers you probably wouldn't accept anyway.

But let me give two Bible verses that justify my thinking about the issues you raise, Perhaps you will remember them. Perhaps not.

1Cor:2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Jn:14:26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

[zombiefive]

Well first I'd like to thank McCulloch for tagging in on that (doing this here because I can't pm yet ) and pretty much responding for me. Everything you said pretty much equates to what I would have responded with.

To "believe" means to trust. Are you sure you were a believer. It sounds more like you were a thinker, not a believer.

Yes...I was a believer. That's why I said I was. Only when I started thinking for myself and learning ACTUAL truths did I become an atheist.

The Holy Ghost (Spirit) is the teacher of the truth. This is God's reasoning and logic. A person without the Holy Spirit will not understand.

Could you please demonstrate two different truths that pertain to one single thing? Also, please demonstrate what a 'god logic' is and what a 'god resoning' is, without using the bible this time please, since in essence, that is the secondary truth, logic, and reasoning in question.