I've been a Christian my whole life. I was raised in a Christian home, and I was always very active in the church. I always loved watching debates of Christians vs Atheists. Particularly, I had a great admiration for Christopher Hitchens even though he seemed to have great hatred for religion and it's trapping of free society. I also had a lot of respect for Sam Harris. Though I highly disagreed with them, they always caused me to really think about what I was believing in. I had heard many times from atheists that, "the best argument for atheism is the Bible itself." I just thought it was a snobby way of making fun of Christians, but then I thought, "If God ultimately wrote this book, then I shouldn't have to defend it. It should defend itself." Like every other Christian I knew (besides my Dad who really is sincere), I had never read through the whole Bible. I decided to go ahead and do that. I read it carefully for a year. It caused me to have many doubts and questions of which no one had the answer for. I finally made up my mind that I'm not going to base my whole life around something with so many contradictions and yet still claim it as perfect and holy and the way to eternal life. I was tired of defending something that has no evidence to back up it's incredible claims. I have completely denounced belief in the Bible. What sucks is everyone I know is a professing Christian. My wife is very supportive of me though. It's been a few months now, and she loves me the same, so I'm very thankful for that. My parents are super cool to me as well, so I'm also thankful for that. It's weird though to change your worldview - very weird. I feel free though. So much of a burden has been lifted. So freeing.
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You know, in the past it was illegal for a layman to own a bible. Think your experience might be related to that? :P
Welcome to AR!
Welcome to our little corner of godless heathenism. And CONGRATULATIONS on shirking the shackles of religion.
C'mon and join us. The temperatures are nice balmy 15,000°C. Just ask any Christian.
Dive right on in, the water is fine.
rmfr
Congrats on choosing freethought, Vaporwave! Goatspeed.
Welcome, Vapor! Happy to have you with us here in the AR. Yes indeed, finally pulling free from the bonds of religion can be a most liberating feeling. I know when I finally severed the last few threads it was as though a ton of weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I am able to think so much more clearly now without all the doubt, fear, and indecision that once plagued my conscious and subconscious. Makes me feel almost giddy sometimes. *chuckle*
So, jump on in here and enjoy yourself. We have a pretty good crew of folks. Be warned, however, there are no lifeguards. It is a "Swim at your own risk" pool. lol Oh, and don't worry too much about the temperature. Sure, it may sound bad, but it's a dry heat. You get use to it. lol
Same. I will never again support anything, intellectually, that my mind disagrees with. I felt compelled (surely through cognitive dissonance) to continue to defend it, and it was the most conflicting, frustrating and depressing state of mind.
Welcome vaporwave.
For myself, I rely on simple common sense. And reality.
Agreed. I reached the same conclusion when I read the Buybull and realized that it’s a load of dogshit.
Vapor ware....such a pleasure to have you join us! Welcome!
Enjoy the freedom and unburdening! It's a common experience for all of us ex-believers. You will see life in a different way. Although we've all got here through various paths in life, we have come to the same basic conclusions. That seems to be the case for honest truth seekers.
I haven't been here but a few months but have found many friends. Welcome and enjoy!
"We hate to say it ........ but........ told you so."
I had never read through the whole Bible. I decided to go ahead and do that.
Welcome to the forum. Hope to hear more from you. We love doubts and questions around this place. We also love telling the Christians to go and read their damn religious text. Good on you for having the commitment and motivation to do so. Congrats!!
Perhaps my fear of this happening fueled my reluctance to ever do so in the first place. Glad I did though.
There are Christians, fervent Christians, who are not bothered by atheist family members. It makes life more interesting for them to have a atheist in the house … I wouldn't be surprised if your wife and parents relate OK to others outside the family who are atheists. Getting frustrated by and annoyed at people who do not follow one's beliefs is a clear sign of insecurity.
Yes, my siblings don't believe either, so the parents are used to it. My wife's best friends consist of two agnostics (one being a biologist). So, they are used to mingling with non-Christians.
Everyone is an Agnostic - You are agnostic, your parents are agnostic, everyone on this site is agnostic. Agnostic has nothing to do with belief unless belief is based on agnosticism. Your friends are likely Atheists who are afraid to use the term Atheist. I am only informing you of this so you can begin to see through the Christian smoke screen. Agnosticism does not address BELIEF/
Agnostic is a term about KNOWLEDGE. (Not Belief). Is there any knowledge anywhere about the existence of any God or gods. There is no knowledge that stands against critical inquiry, logic, experimentation. NONE. A = without Gnosis / Gnostic = knowledge. Everyone on the planet that I have ever met is "WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF GOD."
Same here. A lot of my mom’s friends are also atheists, as is my aunt (my dad’s sister).
Welcome VW
Nice to have you along! Some great minds in here and the debates, although seeming ferocious are all well contained. Dive in...
Gosh, Old Man,
Wish you would quit telling on me...
rmfr
EDIT: added omitted word
Welcome to AR forums: v a p o r w a v e.
If you are anything like me, hanging out here and in the debate forums will only further illustrate why your decision to call religion on it's bullshit was the correct decision. Once you stop trying to defend religion in your own mind, the tidal wave of powerful evidence that religion is a lie and harmful to the entirety of the human race becomes increasingly obvious. Evidence that was there all along, but needed the "switch" where the mind instead of rationalizing for religion, begins to rationalize for evidence and reality.
While it may be scary at first, you will find later that the day you tossed off religion is the day you became free. Free from mankind's oldest con. And the con-men that perpetuate it for easy money and power over the masses. Always remember for people that identify atheist, there is no collection plates, no organizations of power, no rules or ideology one person wrote that others are suppose to follow etc. No promises made about the afterlife that are completely unprovable etc.
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▮ I am an atheist that always likes a good debate. ▮
▮ Please include @LogicFTW in responses directed to me. ▮
▮ Useful list on forum usage. A.R. Member since 2016. ▮
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I agree. It's been hard so far because of how ingrained I am in the local church, but in the midst of the hardship, my mind is absolutely free. It is exhilarating.
Hal-al-ow-lou-ya (or however you spell it, I ain't never cared) me brother. As Logic said, I have been an atheist all my life, excepting when I had to fake it to keep THEM from beating my ass all the time. Thus, I ain't much help in helping others to get over it when they finally wake up.
About all I can do is say, "Welcome, to world of reality." Kind of Morpheus-Matrix thing there...
Enjoy the the exhilaration of being free.
rmfr
Thanks brother.
Don’t worry. Now that you are free, you can just leave your church as soon as possible if you wish to do so.
Congrats on being willing to really look at an entire belief system and enough to follow your own way. It's freeing and it's isolating but as long as family and friends are either supportive or don't care, that's really enough, isn't it?
And besides, you needn’t even feel isolated at all! We’re here, so you are not alone, brother. Goatspeed!
I, like you, have come out and still live in the same community that I fervently practiced my christianity. TALK ABOUT AWKWARD! My family has needed some time to get used to the new me, but we still love each other and have to be considerate of each other's beliefs. It is not important for me to engage other friends and former fellow believers as they are like I used to be. They won't let themselves even consider my point of view. I've had a few conversations with them and it was mostly counterproductive. I like to think that I'm an example of free thinking and honest inquiry to this small bible belt town. I will respond when someone asks but do not look to stir the pot very much. Anyway, just a few thoughts on how I handle things.
That's actually very helpful. I'm in the bible belt as well. Some have responded to me with tears (grown men) and others have been proud of me (only 1 person). My wife supports my decision. My parents are devastated. I can't wait for the shock to wear off. Kind of sick of it to be honest.
I feel for you. My mother occasionally gives me these long lectures whenever I mention atheism even once in a conversation. I’m also patiently awaiting the day that she stops doing that.
Welcome to reality!
Congrats on choosing freethought! Remember- you are not alone. Join our family!
Thanks!
Hey vapor it's great to have you. I hope to join you in the ever going conversation here.