Guidance please?

Question

I have been a Born-Again Christian for the last 20 years. I have now arrived at the point where none of it makes any sense at all and I am considering adopting atheism. It will be difficult to tell my immediate friends and family but I feel that the time is right for me to grow up and accept the reality of life and death. Your views?

No - you don't get it. I was indoctrinated as a child by my mother. It took far too long for me to realise that the bible is a collection of fabrications, stories without foundation, sheer bare-face lies, exaggerations and poor translations. I cannot see any sense at all in believing that there is an invisible fateher-figure lurking everywhere and being directly in control of everything. Once that premise is discounted, the whole religious thing just collapses in a mess. Atheism is the only way to go.
My problem is about retaining friends, who insist on bombarding me with the usual 'Jesus Loves You' nonsense, and alienation by my family.
I need to have some kind of action plan to deal with them. That's the area where some guidance wouild help.

Answer 1

I would really need to know what doesn't make sense to you. Otherwise, I can't competently answer your question.

Answer 2

You say you are a born-again Christain for 20 years. That is a long time to "not get it." There must have been a time when the spirit was strong within you. Are you a member of a church? Do you have a supportive church family? How is your pastor? Have you considered a different denomination? Do you actively participate in studies of the Scripture, such as Sabbath school? The reasons I ask these questions is because, if after 20 years you don't get it, someone, somewhere, has failed...Have you told anyone from your church how you feel? A Pastor is a wealth of knowledge. There is more than Scripture to back up the claim of a Creator. Darwin himself stated that if any part of his theory could be found false, his whole theory would have to be re-thought...I wish I had my book because there is a part of his theory that has been proven by science otherwise...I lent it to a friend or I would site it for you. Most Pastors (at least of the Seventh Day Adventists) are theologists, however, and can outline historical, scientifically proven facts that point to a Creator...Matter cannot create itself, not even in today's high-tech world.

Answer 3

Born-Again Christian, huh, 20 years, huh?? Sorry if I'm rude when I say, I don't believe you. The truth that God sends a believer through the Holy Spirit just doesn't up and leave. Not after 1 day, not after 100 years. I think you should re-read the bible and pray for God's guidance. Ask questions about what doesn't make sense.

edit***Why did you say you were a born-again Christian then? Why not just come out and say you are an agnostic and you want to how to deal with your Christian friends???

Answer 4

Some of us say that we let the Baptist "save 'um" and then when they are grown up a bit, they can come to us and we will teach them the rest of the story. I suggest that you explore another Church tradition. Perhaps you have outgrown the one that you are in and need more than simple black and white answers to the questions that you may have.

Also as we grow in the faith there come times along the way when we come to what I call a path in the woods. It is a Y and you have to make a decision. The decision always seem to be "do I keep believing or do I go another way and say there is no God". It is a time of testing. (God does not do the testing, we do.) But God waits for our answer. Are we going to stay on the path to union with Him? Perhaps you are at this place. May you make the right choice.

Peace.

Answer 5

Me: I'm now an atheist, after many years being seriously committed to Christianity. I would have used the term "born again", though from a technical theological standpoint.

It was in living, studying and teaching Christianity that I found more and more difficulties. Leaving the Christian church and faith cost me most of my friends, and exposed me to a less comfortable and less secure world.

But to stay in and lie, be a hypocrite? That's hardly compatible with Christian doctrine either.
(though I know a good number of individuals who chose community and unity over true belief. They would say they believed, and so act, in order to belong. I think they are wrong to do so, but I understand their choice.)

I have regretted not my decision, but the necessity for it.
The Christian community was largely a good thing to belong to, when you don't make friends easily.

As I have just written in another reply:
I would suggest one book in particular:
"The Case for Christianity" by Colin Chapman.
It is the best single presentation I have come across that without badly dostorting one viewpoint or another presents the questions of life and the possible answers, discussing both historical movements and their implications and the contributions of particular thinkers.

It's available from ABE books starting from a dollar plus postage.

Answer 6

Accepting atheism is a very difficult choice for most folk. My only advice, if you make the decision in favor of atheism is to adopt the motto "live and let live." Do not become a crusader! Announcing your decision to others is not a requirement of becoming a non-believer. Life will be quite pleasant when you've finally accepted the "other" religion. Good luck.

Answer 7

20 years of it not making sense? Born-again is not going to church one day a week. Born-again is knowing Christ.

God's heart is breaking for you right now. Jesus is still calling you. Faith comes into play when things dont make sense. When you get through the situation you can look back on it and finally see God's hand in the situation. Don't forsake your first love....come back.
Listen to your heart, not your mind.

Answer 8

The mistake you make is trying to make sense of a spiritual thing in the natural realm of your mind, Hey, impossible. Look thru your faith eye. What do you see now. Do you have enough Word in you? If you are not getting closer to God, check yourself, something is wrong. Don't OD on this. What I mean is don't hear more than you can handle and that could happen on here. Protect your eyes and ears, the windows to your soul until you are mature enough in the spirit. You can commit spiritual suicide.

Answer 9

Why not start out with Agnostisizm, there are many ways of the Agnostic... there are three different types of Atheism... but here are two of them, Strong atheism and Weak atheism. I'm atheistic yet spiritual. You don't have to believe in god to be spiritual.

Answer 10

Try Islam before you give up. Here is a link to the Quran.

[1:1] In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.*

[1:2] Praise be to GOD, Lord of the universe.

[1:3] Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

[1:4] Master of the Day of Judgment.

[1:5] You alone we worship; You alone we ask for help.

[1:6] Guide us in the right path;

[1:7] the path of those whom You blessed; not of those with angier on them, nor of the strayers.

http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/frames/index.html
Best wishes

Answer 11

i agree, none of it makes sense! all religions are wrong and yet Faith exists among all of them, just enough to make it right for those that need it.
I think the world wide impressions of the spirit is the HOLY GHOST trying to TELL us all that we need to question reality of traditions and consider that what we have been taught is not always true.
I bear witness of the glory of Jesus christ. What i saw was VERY REAL. but when the apostles said they feared the appearance of jesus as being a ghost in their presence Jesus said to them, feel my hands and my side for a spirit has not flesh and bone. Truly They were the first to testify to the world that Jesus was Killed, and resurrected. but jesus did not stop with them, He than appeared to many others. and through out history has appeared to many others that most christianity wont receive as true visions. I am one of those that he appeared to. it doesnt make me divine. it only makes me KNOW enough that there is a God

Since at one time you were born again, i doubt you ever stopped being born again. But in this generation the powers of darkness are rallied against all believers on every side. There are those that fall into the pit of sorrow and question their faith but there are those that foolishly follow satan to escape their oppressive circumstances. it is written in the book of revelation, we overcome the beast through our testimony and the BLOOD of jesus christ. ch 12. but it is not written to clearly to know WHO GOD REALLY IS. dont let this lack of understanding deter your present faith. Just learn to roll with the punches and endure to the end, and in the end of things we will not lose our rewards nor the crown, i.e. if we are to receive one!
Just learn to modify your faith and grow ever greater and overcome this present darkness