I am an atheist and a former Christian. As a former Christian I look back to what I used to believe. I wonder how I could have been no naive.
As a Christian I had very little knowledge about evolutionary biology, physics, geology, and chemistry. Yet I argued about evolution, fossils, and radioactive dating. I claimed to know problems that scientists just happen to miss when developing these thoroughly tested methods. These supposed flaws were pointed out to me by other Christians. Now I have read several books on each of these subjects and understand more than I thought I ever would. I know now that scientist have accounted for these supposed flaws.
As a Christian I vigorously denied the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but I was irritated when someone denied the existence of my God. I had an emotional attachment to my belief. My beliefs are now based on logic and reasoning and not emotional feelings.
As a Christian I felt insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists said that humans evolved from other life forms, but I had no problem with the Biblical claim that people were created from dirt. I ignored the evidence from millions of scientific tests that pointed to a different theory. Now I study these scientific findings with an open mind.
As a Christian I laughed at polytheists, but I had no problem believing in the father, son, and Holy Spirit that are separate yet the same. To me a trinity made more sense that multiple gods. Now I don't believe in any gods.
As a Christian I got upset when I heard of the violence attributed to Islam, or any other religion, but not when the bloodshed was committed by my God. I made excuses for my God. For Example: the slaughtering all the Egyptian babies in Exodus and the genocide performed in "Joshua" including women, children, animals and trees. I also claimed that my God was loving and kind.
As a Christian I thought Hindu beliefs that deify humans were just silly. I believed Greek claims about gods sleeping with women were absurd. Yet I had no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then flew up into the sky. I realize now that the difference between these beliefs is minuscule. One is just as silly as the next.
As a Christian I was willing to spend my life looking for loopholes in the scientifically established age of the Earth, which is a few billion years, but I found nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing the age of the Earth.
As a Christian I believed that the entire population of this planet, with the exception of those who shared my beliefs, would spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And I considered my religion "tolerant" and "loving." I am free of the fear of hell now.
As a Christian I ignored the textual scholars that showed evidence that the Bible was not a reliable source. However an emotional person rolling around on the floor screaming gibberish was all the evidence I needed. I know now it was just plain nonsense.
As a Christian I thought that the double blind studies showing prayer completely ineffective were diversions from Satan. I believed the unanswered prayers were simply God saying "No." I ignored the fact that praying to any god produced the same results. I also ignored the fact that if my god was the one true god, my prayers would be answered more often than other religions which would cause a statistical anomaly that could be measured. I don't waste my time praying now.
As a Christian I actually knew little more about my religion than what I heard in church. I did not study the history of Christianity, the early church, how the bible was written, what books were left out of the bible, the mistranslations from the original Hebrew, and the atrocities committed in the name of Christianity. This knowledge was not needed to be a Christian. Studying all of these items and actually reading the entire bible helped me see the truth.
I am happy I do not believe in superstitions anymore. I believe actions are more important that beliefs.
http://www.evilbible.com/Top_Ten_List.htm
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1:29You Can't Prove God Does not Existby FightingAtheist9,939 views
@thatgingauknow
I am sorry you fail. My beliefs are formed by rational thinking derived from facts, observations, and reality.
Superstitions and make believe thinking are not to be respected as reality.
We lock people up in mental institutions that talk to things not real.
Imagination has its place in our culture, we all use it, some of us just understand it better i guess. And some never let go of Santa.
Desdenova262 7 hours ago
@thatgingauknow - I agree we are both commited to our views. I would like to continue our discussion too. My email is Lionaround876@aol.com. Thank you for the compliments. Like I told you before I find you to be very intelligent christian.
TheEarthFirst 11 hours ago
@Desdenova. are you really just resorting to playground tactics? Im so ready and willing to pay you more respect and courtesy to you and your beliefs than you have displayed to me in less than ten seconds. Dont be a chronological snob (courtesy of C.S. Lewis), something is not less true just because its old.
thatgingauknow 17 hours ago
@TheEarthFirst, thank you for the conversation thus far. You are very intelligent and I admire your consistency very much. I think we both are still very convinced of our worldviews however haha. I will commit time to replying to your replies soon, though I wonder if you would like to continue this via email? Mine is j.grant@hotmail.co.nz, if you are interested.
thatgingauknow 18 hours ago
@aden302000, amen.
thatgingauknow 18 hours ago
@thatgingauknow
Is God your only superstition? Or do you cling to other wives tales?
Desdenova262 2 days ago
You are all like a bunch of bald men and women fighting over a comb.
MrAllinallisallweare 5 days ago
@BlueMuffins14 I know.What I said was a funny joke wasn't it!
MrAllinallisallweare 5 days ago
@XxSequndaEtapaXx Incest,duh!
MrAllinallisallweare 5 days ago
@thatgingauknow - I think I already know how the christian worldview answers these questions. 1) God gives you purpose. Your purpose is to glorify god in everything you do. 2) Morals are absolute and come from god. 3) Suffering is because of the fall of man. Because of this, sin came into the world and caused all the suffering. 4) If you are "saved" you go to heaven to be with god forever and sing his praises. If not you go to hell to burn forever. 5) God made everything. Is this right?
TheEarthFirst 5 days ago