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I am not looking down on anyone.... However I am interested in answers from Atheist who used to be Christian, Judaist, Muslim....etc... whatever. You used to believe in a supreme being, How is it that you can go from one extreme to another? I mean believing a some creator and not believing anything at all is kind of peculiar? I mean isn't that a lil fanatical? I just watched someone who was such a holy roller that she had a tattoo of Jesus and a Cross on her back! and then a couple years later she has this epiphany that there is no Christ and no God either for that matter. I dont know....What was the turning point in your life which lead you to this dedicated decision?

2006-08-22 16:31:51 · 20 answers · asked by comingofage03 4 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Science? Science has no proved anything... actually I think the more that theories that scientist come up with .... confirms even more for me that there is a God. Unless you are a scientist yourself and your conducting these hypothesis on your own.... then you still being lead by someone.... If you didnt find the truth with Christ you still dont know the truth! Your just letting some guy in a white coat tell you that he's smart and right? How would you know?

2006-08-22 16:42:03 · update #1

Please pardon the spelling and grammatical errors. Thnx

2006-08-22 16:42:50 · update #2

Many are stating that they were lied to about Santa and the Easter bunny and your right... Im not gonna lie to my kids about that stuff.... but as for those who said that Jesus didnt exist... Honestly there are alot of studies out there that insist that not only did he exist but that it's strange that with all the "MESSIAHS" that were coming in the name of God around that time,... Their following all died out. However, not Jesus'.... til this day folks are still believeing.

2006-08-22 16:59:35 · update #3

But if you are living a bad life you dont have to be afraid! What is hell? lol :) I mean seriously. The bible really isnt about fear... but it's more about someone who loves and says LISTEN!!!! I care about you! Dont walk in the street or your gonna get Hit by a car!!!! when your parents tell you this do you stop believeing in them?

2006-08-22 17:02:25 · update #4

20 answers

I believe that if that happens, those people were never true believers. They may have professed to be, and talked the talk, but something was missing and it made them vulnerable. once His spirit is within us, it continues to work in us and live in us. if a true christian were to become athiest, then they would feel a constant presence of the holy spirit. but they may deny it and choose to be blind to the truth. maybe they were hurt or something, and turned their backs on God. but either they were never true christians and became athiest, or they became athiest and are denying the presence of the holy spirt within them

2006-08-22 16:36:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2 4

I'm agnostic, but I used to be Christian.

It was mainly because that's how I was raised. Both my parents are Christian, they're not extremely religious or anything, but they believe in God, The Bible, Jesus, etc. I was taught from a young age that all of that was real. But the older I got, and the more I learned, it started to not make sense to me. Funny enough, it was around the same time I found out there was no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny. All your life you're taught that these things are real, you even have "evidence" by the milk and cookies being gone on Christmas morning when you wake up and you find gifts from the real Santa lying under your tree. I had more proof that Santa was real over God. That honestly got me thinking "What else is not real?"

And for a while there I was an atheist, but I've come to the conclusion that there is no way anyone could possibly no for sure. Blind faith is not enough for me, and science is nowhere near proving or disproving the existence of God. I'm not claiming people are dumb for following their beliefs, even though people have a poor way of wording their opinions, but I don't see how you can not question what you're basing your life on. At some point and time, I think everyone should see what else is out there in the world with an open mind.

2006-08-22 23:55:43 · answer #2 · answered by meKrystle 3 · 0 0

It might help if you think of it in terms of Harri Crishnas (sp?) instead of Christianity. Would you find it even the least bit peculiar that someone who was a Harri Chrishna might discover it's a lie and become an atheist?

If not, it's no different if they start off as a Harri Crishna or a Christian. I'm sure you find it impossible to equate the two, but from the perspective of a former Christian turned atheist, or a former Harri Crishna turned atheist, there is not the slightest difference. If the former is not fanatical, then neither is the latter. Hell, maybe they both are.

You've committed the classic falacy of assuming that losing faith was some kind of decision. For the vast, vast majority of us who lost faith, there was no decision to do so. It just happened when it all quit making sense.

For me personally, there is not a specific moment I can point to and say "aha, that was it". It started by actually reading the damn Bible all the way through, not once, but twice (plus multiple times on selected books). That left me with a sick feeling that it all made no sense. Then I discovered that god made no sense philosophically either. So I began to research the history of Christianity and discovered not only that Lee Strobel and his ilk were full of crap, but that it was questionable whether or not Jesus had ever even existed, let alone rose form the dead.

I went through a period of denial in which I claimed to be a 'general' theist, and then an agnostic, and finally, I accepted that I was an atheist. I hated it at first, but I love it now.

2006-08-22 23:52:07 · answer #3 · answered by lenny 7 · 1 0

I was a Christian but I don't believe the Bible is accurate or true and I have a real problem with the story of Jesus being a God. I do however believe in a Creator or God if you like. I belonged to a Church of Christ, conservative, and I learned a lot but I also learned a lot about people. I left the church and started doing research on the origins of the Bible and found that I had a lot of questions. I still do. If people are willing to believe that men wrote those books because they heard God, and then along come 3 Romans and "vote" what books they think were dictated by God, well to me it's all here say and I want to see proof which there isn't any. I have a problem taking anything on faith that can't be backed up by proof.

2006-08-23 00:04:37 · answer #4 · answered by melrae1116 3 · 0 0

First off, just by asking this question it seems that you are looking down on us. I never actually chose to become a christian, I was born into it, and those were the things I was taught to believe early in life because my parents brought me to church from a very young age. Therefore I never had the chance to question it until I was older and learned how to think more logically and more importantly, think for myself. I took a step back from going to church and asked myself what I believed, something I had never done growing up. You're right, though, it is odd to go from one extreme to the other. But the truth is, even at that young age I felt odd and out of place in church, as if for some reason I didn't want to be there. I'm very happy with my choice though, I've freed myself of the burden of going to church, praying,etc. that I had had and hated for so many years. Also I've become much more accepting of other people and don't feel that I have to live life by some silly rules that I dont' even believe in.

2006-08-23 00:37:06 · answer #5 · answered by jellybean24 5 · 0 0

I spent my whole life being Christian. When I was around 25 I started to looking into things that my religion was based on. To me, everything was this great fear. "If we don't live a good life we have to fear hell" etc. etc. etc.
I heard all of the bible stories, all of these tremendous things that supposedly happened, some that certainly appear to have some grounding in history, I mean, nobody argues the existence of Jerusalem, or Golgotha, and Israel & Palestines is drama that continues todya. But, I realized everything was faith based on relatively no facts. I also thought long and hard about the fact that humans like to put faces on what they can't understand. The ancient greeks believed in Zeus, and all of these other Gods. Things that people can't explain through science usually get a supernatural spin. Once upon a time, the world was flat, and you would drop off the edge if you got too close to what we now know is the horizon. It seems to me, that the same thing exists with religion. Without question, I can't change you, and you can't change me, but what is religion for? How could so many people follow a religion so closely, and completely devote themselves to it, if it is wrong? Or rather, how cna there be so many? If one of them held a firm truth, then wouldn't everyone start to catch on? Growing up, my parents would always use the following line to refuse science "well, the scientists that made up (insert any theory here, from evolution, to my mom denying that dinosaurs existed) that are men, and the devil can corrupt their minds so the ythink they know what the yare talking about." I realized, someone was truly mistaken in their 'what are we here for' speech.
Not once did I ever see God acting out to help people. I always ask myself, why he would allow such an insane amount of suffering to happen if he was a forgiving, good God? Sure, 'he works in mysterious ways'. But to me, that again sounds like clouded minds saying that the earth is flat. Give me some kind of proof, that he exists, show me something that is not from the mouth of a fanatic that has brainwashed themselves, just like the aztecs, and mayans, and other ancient cultures.
I finally came to believe that people have made up religions over the years to comfort themselves against the unknown. No one wants to think that when you die, that is it and you cease to exist. But I have not seen anything to make me think otherwise. Other aspects, like, how could christianity condemn homosexuals, if they truly cannot help but feel anyway but how they do? If a person wakes up and spends their entire life with a driving emotion, but they are constantly fighting a mental battle over the morality of it, why would a neveolent God give them a task that monumental to deal with?
Just a whole lot of things that I think Science has made a much better picture of dealing with. And yet, nothing for me to see from the religious side except the fanatical ravings of people, who might also be dancing naked around a campfire sacrificing animals. One final thought, it seems everyday we get closer to finding life outside of our planet. Why would God not mention anything outside of earth? It just seems like too many pieces are not fitting. The people who want to see a complete puzzle but don't necessarily have all the pieces, like myself, are left wanting the rest of the myseteries of our lives, and those fanatical people, have already decided what the final picture will be, even though they only have a handful of misconstrued ideas of what the picture SHOULD look like. Think of the 'telephone game' we all played in school.

2006-08-22 23:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by TonerLow69 3 · 0 0

I am not an atheist, but I am an ex-born again. I am just now beginning to study the science so it had nothing to do with my leaving the faith. As for whether or not I was a "true believer" I'll leave that judgment up to you.

I was 8 yrs old when I went against my secular family to be saved. That is a big deal for an 8 yr old. My aunt took me to a Billy Grahm crusade. She wanted to leave early to beat the traffic. I had to break away from her and ran crying down the aisle to be saved. I had no concept of hell and no fear. I believed that I took jesus into my heart that night. I started going to church (baptist)with a friend and her family. 6 months later my parents finally came. My father and I were baptised together. I was on the bible drill team, became a youth leader, sunday school assistant and more. I could not get enough. I even carried a little notebook with me (as a teen mind you) to write down little sins throughout the day so that I would not forget to ask forgivness. I went on several mission trips here and abroad. I was on fire for god for many years. I went to a conservative christian college. My major was Music Ed, but I minored in theology. Ironically it was this study that began my "journey". The deeper I delved the clearer it became. My zeal for my faith quickly turned into heartbreak. However, I am free. I now have a happy fulfilled life and would never return...not even upon pain of death.

Ironically I had to go against my family to become a christian and I had to go against them again to leave it. Not a true believer? Yes I was in my heart of hearts. Where will my "journey end". We'll see, but I'm enjoying it so much more now.

Your agnostic friend, J

2006-08-22 23:59:08 · answer #7 · answered by Medusa 5 · 0 0

I'm not sure you can consider a ten-year-old a "true believer" - but I was raised Methodist and attended Sunday-school every week of my childhood. I thought that God existed, but that was within the confines of the limited information available to children of that age. I believed he existed because adults told me he did, and I hadn't yet matured to the point of gathering my own information and thinking for myself. The day I started doubting his existence was when my mother admitted that there wasn't really a Santa Claus. My very next question was "Oh...so is that kinda the same thing with God...?" and the rest, as they say, is history.

I'm not sure that this is the kind of dramatic transformation you're talking about, of course. I suppose that sudden, adult converts of the type you refer to are kind of "extreme" people in the first place. Ever gone from intensely loving someone to flat-out hating them? Same sort of thing. When you're feeling that intensely about ANYthing, it's a thin line to flip-flop your standpoint. That's why I think it's a good idea to stay moderate and reasonable in all life-views; anytime people start taking anything too seriously, I find they're much more likely to completely abandon their views the next minute. Just the psychology of the extremist personality, I suppose. Good luck in finding answers! =)

2006-08-22 23:43:47 · answer #8 · answered by SecondStar 4 · 1 0

It didnt happen overnight.
First i realized i didnt believe in a personal god. The idea of a god who is just taking care of us seems selfish. so for a while i was thinking about intelligent design. i look around and see that this world can be so beautiful it still cheers me up sometimes. But i realized that intelligent design is just the same as any religion, they get to a point where they dont have an answer and say god did it. So I started reading about atheism, arguments against god and it truly made sense to me. as i already mentioned the idea of a personal god never made sense to me, and studying math and physics(although only intro) has helped me realize that while this world is beautiful it doesnt need god.

2006-08-22 23:56:20 · answer #9 · answered by locomexican89 3 · 0 0

I read the Bible and had questions. I asked my Church Leaders and was told that the Bible was INFALLABLE and that I should pray for understanding. So, I read the Bible again and prayed and still had questions. Again with the ptay for understanding.

Then, I took a few classes...geology, biology, history, mythology and mannnnnnnnnn did I have questions!!!!

So I took a Bible class...the Study of the First 5 Books. I ended up having an affair with the minister who was teaching the class!

After that I was very confused so until I hear directly from the source (God) I am done with the bullsheet!!!

2006-08-22 23:43:46 · answer #10 · answered by newsgirlinos2 5 · 1 0

It's kind of like Santa Claus. After awhile, you realize that no matter how much you want to believe there's a guy someplace keeping an eye on people, that eye's just not there. It's depressing for awhile, then you realize it's okay. You can still give and get gifts with people who are real.

2006-08-22 23:55:53 · answer #11 · answered by Babs 4 · 0 0

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