Totally de-converted at 72
Sent in by Jay P
I was raised in the Presbyterian Church and had a flawless attendance record – so many “Gold Stars”. Then, there were church camps, becoming a Deacon in my mid-twenties and finally teaching a Sunday school class, made up of mostly teen-age girls (what’s wrong with that picture?)
After a divorce, I was very much an “outcast” in the eyes of my fellow Deacons and life-long church acquaintances. I simply moved out of my hometown and for the next 40-years (other than the 3-years I dated a Baptist minister’s daughter) I never attended a church. Not an atheist during those times, but just generally “not interested”.
Two years ago, my son the doctor, came for a visit. This is the young man, who during his entire life, was raised as a Lutheran – attended a Lutheran college (among others) and during his visits during that period of his life, would constantly use such phrases as, “Praise the Lord” or maybe, “God Love Him/Her” - and others. It just drove me nuts!
But on this visit, we just sat and talked. He revealed to me that he had, for some time, been reconsidering his lifelong path of religious thought. Bottom line – he had stepped away from Christianity. I was shocked! (Almost “giddy” at the news, but shocked none the less.)
Long story short, he suggested that I get on the web and read “Why God Doesn’t Heal Amputees” http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com/.
This was my first intro into atheism. Kind of a shocker, but the more I read (and it is very sizable) the more I liked it and the better I felt. During that first year, I bought probably 25 or so books from Amazon and found such sites as this one which further assisted me toward de-converting.
Now 72 (two-years later) and totally de-converted from Christianity, I find my life totally improved.
As I read so many posts and appreciate so many stories (many, like mine) of newcomers to the atheist mindset, I often feel the hunger for more information - for backup in the direction they have chosen. Like most of you, I have read tons of books, visited a zillion websites and seen numerous videos. But as times passes, I can now reflect on some of my “findings” as perfect for the atheist “newby”.
I now suggest two sources that are very well done and real “eye openers”, if one has the curiosity to honestly view and hear them.
1. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/main.htm
Zeitgeist is a 3-part, 2-hour movie. It covers Religion, 9-11 and our Banking and Money system. I am also a Patriot and continuing student of my government and its’ processes. The whole production is well done. I bought their DVD for a donation of $7, as I remember, but have since (as they suggested) made many copies for ready hand-outs to whomever I choose. I am not a “conspiracy” theorist, but my mind is always open to new-found subject matter. This thing is great and millions of folks have viewed it.
2. http://www.truthbeknown.com
This is the website of Acharya S. I know, strange name. She is an archeologist who has written several books, including “The Christ Conspiracy – The Greatest Story Ever SOLD” (under a pseudonym). She also wrote a well documented study guide to the “Zeitgeist” movie, which is also available as a download (I think about $5 donation) and really a well educated (and heavily footnoted) piece of work. Going to her website (above) and looking at the upper right-hand corner, you will see her picture (not to shabby for an egg-head). Click on that photo and you will get a 1-hr video interview that is very interesting and revealing from a qualified educator/archeologist. I also downloaded this interview a couple of days ago and made a DVD, which I will soon make duplicates for handouts. How this stuff “crunches” a good Christian. You’ll never hear about it – but it does!
I hope that this post will prove valuable to you newcomers, as well as some “old hands” that might not have seen these video subjects.
Happy days!
I was raised in the Presbyterian Church and had a flawless attendance record – so many “Gold Stars”. Then, there were church camps, becoming a Deacon in my mid-twenties and finally teaching a Sunday school class, made up of mostly teen-age girls (what’s wrong with that picture?)
After a divorce, I was very much an “outcast” in the eyes of my fellow Deacons and life-long church acquaintances. I simply moved out of my hometown and for the next 40-years (other than the 3-years I dated a Baptist minister’s daughter) I never attended a church. Not an atheist during those times, but just generally “not interested”.
Two years ago, my son the doctor, came for a visit. This is the young man, who during his entire life, was raised as a Lutheran – attended a Lutheran college (among others) and during his visits during that period of his life, would constantly use such phrases as, “Praise the Lord” or maybe, “God Love Him/Her” - and others. It just drove me nuts!
But on this visit, we just sat and talked. He revealed to me that he had, for some time, been reconsidering his lifelong path of religious thought. Bottom line – he had stepped away from Christianity. I was shocked! (Almost “giddy” at the news, but shocked none the less.)
Long story short, he suggested that I get on the web and read “Why God Doesn’t Heal Amputees” http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com/.
This was my first intro into atheism. Kind of a shocker, but the more I read (and it is very sizable) the more I liked it and the better I felt. During that first year, I bought probably 25 or so books from Amazon and found such sites as this one which further assisted me toward de-converting.
Now 72 (two-years later) and totally de-converted from Christianity, I find my life totally improved.
As I read so many posts and appreciate so many stories (many, like mine) of newcomers to the atheist mindset, I often feel the hunger for more information - for backup in the direction they have chosen. Like most of you, I have read tons of books, visited a zillion websites and seen numerous videos. But as times passes, I can now reflect on some of my “findings” as perfect for the atheist “newby”.
I now suggest two sources that are very well done and real “eye openers”, if one has the curiosity to honestly view and hear them.
1. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/main.htm
Zeitgeist is a 3-part, 2-hour movie. It covers Religion, 9-11 and our Banking and Money system. I am also a Patriot and continuing student of my government and its’ processes. The whole production is well done. I bought their DVD for a donation of $7, as I remember, but have since (as they suggested) made many copies for ready hand-outs to whomever I choose. I am not a “conspiracy” theorist, but my mind is always open to new-found subject matter. This thing is great and millions of folks have viewed it.
2. http://www.truthbeknown.com
This is the website of Acharya S. I know, strange name. She is an archeologist who has written several books, including “The Christ Conspiracy – The Greatest Story Ever SOLD” (under a pseudonym). She also wrote a well documented study guide to the “Zeitgeist” movie, which is also available as a download (I think about $5 donation) and really a well educated (and heavily footnoted) piece of work. Going to her website (above) and looking at the upper right-hand corner, you will see her picture (not to shabby for an egg-head). Click on that photo and you will get a 1-hr video interview that is very interesting and revealing from a qualified educator/archeologist. I also downloaded this interview a couple of days ago and made a DVD, which I will soon make duplicates for handouts. How this stuff “crunches” a good Christian. You’ll never hear about it – but it does!
I hope that this post will prove valuable to you newcomers, as well as some “old hands” that might not have seen these video subjects.
Happy days!
Comments
http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/TheDespoilingOfAmerica.htm
There are a lot of false statements in Zeitgeist. "Horizon" does NOT come from the words "Horus has risen." Many of the "saviors" listed like Krishna (who, unlike the movie says, was NOT crucified) and Horus actually have very little in common with the Jesus legend (in fact it was Osiris who was killed and came back to life). In fact the only real similarities between Jesus and the other "savior" figures (which most of them weren't) was the miraculous birth thing and the coming back from the dead or going to Heaven thing. And in fact there are many more blatant lies used to try to substantiate the Jesus myth thing).
I'm not a Christian, but I am a historian, and the almost the entirety of the Jesus-myth part of Zeitgeist is made up of lies and unsubstantiated claims.
There are many Christian sites that of course want to debunk this theory but I found one that's not pro-Christian, but anti-conspiracy theory:
http://www.conspiracyscience.com/articles/zeitgeist/part-one/
Sorry guys. But Jesus doesn't need to be an entirely made-up figure to be a hoax and a fraud.
Your post is a fine reminder of the fact that it's better late than never...
It would seem Religious Tolerance contradicts what you say about Krishna not being crucified.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jckr1.htm
The author Jacolliot, referring to the "Bagaveda-Gita and Brahminical traditions," states that the body of Krishna: "was suspended to the branches of a tree by his murderer, that it might become the prey of the vultures...[Later] the mortal frame of the Redeemer had disappeared--no doubt it had regained the celestial abodes..." 6
M. Guigniaut's Religion de l'Antiquité, which states: "The death of Crishna is very differently related. One remarkable and convincing tradition makes him perish on a tree, to which he was nailed by the stroke of an arrow." 7
There are other references to Krishna being crucified, and being shown with holes in his feet, hands and side. 5
In the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) Yeshua's crucifixion on a cross or stake is often referred to as being "hung on a tree:"
Acts 5:30: "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus...hanging him on a tree.
Acts 10:39: "...hanging him on a tree."
Acts 13:29: "...they took him down from the tree..."
Galatians 3:13: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."
1 Peter 2:24: "...who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree..." (All ASV)
--S.
I would just like to wish you all the best in the years ahead.
And I agree with the comment from Lupis Noctum - it's better late than never.
rgds
The tradition comes from the Mahabharatha, not the Bhagavad Gita, and the tradition is that Krishna was walking through a forest and a hunter mistook him for a deer, and shot an arrow at him and it struck him in the foot. The hunter was horrified and repented dearly of his mistake, but Krishna forgave him. Krishna was underNEATH a tree.
I can see where someone would make the mistake of connecting being pierced by something next to a tree to being pierced TO a tree, but it's just not the case.
---
Also, Religious Tolerance also makes the claim that Krishna descended into Hell before going to Heaven. But, since there's no Hindu concept of Hell, that's quite impossible.
- Hrothwulf
Zeitgeist has it all - the black & white worldview and the belief in beings that know everything and can do anything. The diabolically evil "men behind the curtain" in this case.
They don't seem to believe that there are such a thing as coincidences. They have found the Truth, but use lies and half-truths to support their claims. And the part about microchips is basically a classic christian conspiracy based on ideas about the number of the beast. It all seems very familiar.
Mary in Alaska
Actually, that isn't quite true. The Indians, like the Buddhists, have a multi-tiered cosmology - numerous heavens above this level of reality, numerous hells below. They're described in terms that would make a Christian fundie blanch, but they aren't seen as eternal states.
What Religious Tolerance may be referring to is this: at the end of the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic, Arjuna, the protagonist, having defeated all of his enemies (with advice from Lord Krishna), faces death. He is told that, as a result of his heroism and devotion to duty, he merits heaven, whereas his family members are all in hell. He demands to be taken to hell, refusing to go to heaven without them. At that point, he is taken to heaven (by Krishna, if memory serves), along with all of his family members. In the end, his refusal to abandon them saves them all.
They might have thought it was Krishna because he features repeatedly throughout the epic, including, I think, that last bit.
I sometimes hold this story up to Christians because, like the ideal of the Bodhisattva in Buddhism, it emphasizes collective responsibility, unlike Christianity, in which salvation is a purely individual affair - "I've got mine, you get yours!"
"I was married by a descendant of Crazy Horse here in Alaska and I can't think of a more beautiful ceremony I've ever attended even if it was my own. The Native American people are a people to be cherished and remembered as a strong, proud people."
Isn't it wonderful to be able to have an open mind to explore other things in life?
You are right, the Native American People should be cherished, and highly respected. It just kills me anytime some arrogant christian claims how this country was found upon christian principles when in fact it was christians who murdered and killed American Natives and stole their land in the name of their God, "Jesus".
The more I learn about the darkside of christianity the more sickened I become, and the more I do not ever want to return to it.