My "conversion" to atheism
By askegg
This is is short overview of my life as a Christian and why I became an atheist. This is mainly for those religious people who may state that I do not know what I am talking about, or that I have not studied Christianity in any real depth.
There is a slight problem with the Youtube version - it cuts off one of two closing slides and the credit for the music, which called "High Drama" from the album "Pictures" by Timo Maas.
To monitor comments posted to this topic, use
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This is is short overview of my life as a Christian and why I became an atheist. This is mainly for those religious people who may state that I do not know what I am talking about, or that I have not studied Christianity in any real depth.
There is a slight problem with the Youtube version - it cuts off one of two closing slides and the credit for the music, which called "High Drama" from the album "Pictures" by Timo Maas.
To monitor comments posted to this topic, use
.
Comments
Very nice btw
HuaiDan here. Please erase this comment if you see fit, as it does not pertain to this topic. Just an FYI, ex-christian.net is down in China, can't access it using TOR proxy bypass either, so I guess it must be down in Europe too or where ever the proxy I'm hitting is. Thought China might have finally gotten around to censoring the site, but I can hit exchristian.net using TOR, but not ex-christian.net
China doesn't like ExC.
Hmm...
Keep me posted on this, if you would. Hopefully it's temporary.
You said you "reject religion". If we define religion as a set or rules defined by man, then I do too. That sounds like bondage to me.
'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
(Mat 15:9-10)
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
I don't think God want us to have a blind faith, but one based on reason. "Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you a reasonfor the hope that is in you, with mekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15)
"Killing for any reason is wrong."
I've wondered about all the people that were killed by the children of Israel in the name of God and the seemingly contradictory commandment not to murder. Murder and killing are two different things. Murder is out of a condition of the heart in response to anger, for revenge, etc. That is sin. God gave us life, personally I would be very cautious to claim that God commanded me to kill someone. But God promised Israel the land, and he delivered the inhabitants of it into their hands when they trusted him. God is longsuffering and desires that all come to repentance. He is just.
Internal consistency of the Bible
Facts contradicting the Bible.
Please reference these.
The scientific method consists of making an observation, formulating a hypotehsis based the observations and then testing the observation. If the results are reprdocuable to support your hypothesis and there is nothing to contradict it, then you can say the evidence supports your theory.
The problem about the origin of the universe is that no one alive today was around when it came into existence. Therefore, we have to use the evidence avaiable today to try to explain. Science can't recreate the creation of the world in a lab.
I have no problem with the scientific method as a method to discover truth, I think we have to acknowledge that it is limited.
Religions doing good and evil things. That's true.
John 3:18
I think the emphasis should be on the reason why one is condemned:
"not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
"God could have just forgiven us without the need for anyone to die"
God was just to forgive us.
The penalty for our sins is death (Rom 6:23)
God is just, he cannot allow sin to go unpunished.
But he provided a way.
Jesus prayed if there is any other way, let this cup (of God's wrath toward sin) pass from me.
Jesus died in place of you me.
Jesus was the only one the could pay for the sins of the world because he was sinless. If he had sin, his death would be paid for his own sins.
God proved that Jesus had no sin because death had no power over him, it could not keep Jesus down, he is the first born from the dead.
He does love you, Andrew, SO much. Love is a choice. He doesn't force you to love him, it's up to you to receive or reject his free gift. God doesn't force you to spend eternity with him.
The Bible is clear that homosexuality is wrong. (Rom 1, 1 Cor 6:9). Homosexuality is a sin. There's no sin that's too big that God can't forgive. Jesus came for us sinners.
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Mat 9:12-13)
The church is a hospital for sinners and Jesus is the doctor.
"Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come." (Acts 3:19).
Repent means change your mind and actions.
Jesus came to fulfill the law:
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Mat 5:17)
He is the only man in history to have obeyed the law.
The purpose of the law is to show us our sin, and bring us to Christ (Gal 3).
Why we are here is a good question everyone has to ask themselves.
Why do you think you are here?
Paul tells the church in Ephesus that those made alive in Jesus sit in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. And that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Eph 2:1-9)
You just don't get it do you?
However, I do understand you, because I was once ignorant like you are today. I was enslaved to this false God who I chased after all the time. I was just like you Brian.
I have found over the years that anytime I have a victory in my life it has been due to my own effort, not God. He gets no credit for my success in life.
When I trusted God to help me and when I relied on him, I got no results period. I ended up hurt and disapointed instead.
You're just like all the rest of these christians who come on here with your "Biblical Propoganda Bullshit" and you quote your little scriptures.
When are people like you going to get it through your thick skull that we don't believe in the Bible, and we don't care about what your stupid fucking book has to say. You can quote it all you want, but it doesn't mean anything to us. You're waisting your time Brian.
You think just because you quote scriputure that we are all going to immdeiately get down on our faces and worship God? What's the point in quoting scriputure when we see the bible as a joke?
Sorry dude, but it's not working and it's not going to work, so you might as well give it up.
Do you understand me Brian? I will repeat, "Your Bible means nothing to us, and it is nothing but a joke and it is a book of LIES".
The Bible is nothing but man's opinons of who and what God is supposed to be. What you call the "inspired word of God", is actually "The thoughts of Man" and his opinions of what seems right to him about what and who God should be.
"Christianity is a crutch for weak minded people who can't deal with reality".
"...I've wondered about all the people that were killed by the children of Israel in the name of God and the seemingly contradictory commandment not to murder. Murder and killing are two different things... But God promised Israel the land, and he delivered the inhabitants of it into their hands..."
The day the tribes took this view on is the day the meter started running. You can't adopt a view this messed up without expecting to be on the shit end of that stick somewhere down the line. That a recent example of it happened in our own time should come as zero surprise to anyone.