Atheist
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Like Matt, I think it's important to understand why you left Christianity. if a person wants to believe, then they will beleive.
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Living in the Light
How may I be a better Christian?
Returning to Christianity is the right thing to do; the only Truth. Your life will be better by returning.
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I never really "turned from Jesus" so to speak, more like I considered the possibility that my beliefs weren't justified, then after seeking justification through prayer, asking others in my congregation and speaking to atheists, I realised that I didn't have any reason to believe.
I am very open to the possibility that I am wrong,
This I definitely can not agree with.
Believing is a by-product of being convinced, it is not a choice.
If you "choose" to believe something you are being dishonest with yourself.
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Even if that was true, that holds no bearing to whether or not christianity true
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I can sympathize! Although I don't know your story, I do know that the "church" has done its utmost to turn christianity into a set of religious, legalistic dogmas that keep us away from the truth rather than into it.
There are many patronizing comments I could make, but they would probably only go to confirm the very reason you left the church.
So one question would be, did you leave the church, christianity, Jesus or just your concept of God? Its an important distinction. I would hazard to guess that it was a combination of things but probably the "church" and what you came to believe is God.
If you like, I have a blog where I try to be very honest about myself and christian things, feel free to drop by, just google Jim's Awesome Blog.
There are many patronizing comments I could make, but they would probably only go to confirm the very reason you left the church.
So one question would be, did you leave the church, christianity, Jesus or just your concept of God? Its an important distinction. I would hazard to guess that it was a combination of things but probably the "church" and what you came to believe is God.
If you like, I have a blog where I try to be very honest about myself and christian things, feel free to drop by, just google Jim's Awesome Blog.
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I can sympathize! Although I don't know your story, I do know that the "church" has done its utmost to turn christianity into a set of religious, legalistic dogmas that keep us away from the truth rather than into it.
There are many patronizing comments I could make, but they would probably only go to confirm the very reason you left the church.
So one question would be, did you leave the church, christianity, Jesus or just your concept of God? Its an important distinction. I would hazard to guess that it was a combination of things but probably the "church" and what you came to believe is God.
If you like, I have a blog where I try to be very honest about myself and christian things, feel free to drop by, just google Jim's Awesome Blog.
I never felt really pressured by the church, it was a bunch of really nice people with whom I got along great.
The problem for me was acception of the supernatural, something I am strongly opposed to considering there hasn't been any evidence that the supernatural could even exist.
Mostly the whole concept of God, the contradictions in the Bible and the contradictions in Jesus' teachings.
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Yeah, that's a problem
Well, for starters, the contradictions are there alright, and most christians aren't prepared to acknowledge that, lol. One of the big issues is the difference between the old and new covenants, which are in contradiction to each other. Jesus was the transition between the two so he was speaking to the Jews who were still under the old, but also speaking about what was to come after his death. The New covenant completely did away with law, legalism and religion and made a way into complete unity with God, free from "sin", condemnation, guilt etc, so we could have an intimate one to one relationship with him - yeah, I mean like a best friend/lover sort of thing. Not a knowledge and belief, but a real relationship. He talks to us, we talk to him. Sure there's the cliches of He talks to us through the bible and others, and He can, but I'm not meaning that. This is the real spooky deal.
Perhaps the easiest thing for you to do is ask God if He's real to show you. The trick of course is for you to be prepared to have your paradigms busted open.
Well, for starters, the contradictions are there alright, and most christians aren't prepared to acknowledge that, lol. One of the big issues is the difference between the old and new covenants, which are in contradiction to each other. Jesus was the transition between the two so he was speaking to the Jews who were still under the old, but also speaking about what was to come after his death. The New covenant completely did away with law, legalism and religion and made a way into complete unity with God, free from "sin", condemnation, guilt etc, so we could have an intimate one to one relationship with him - yeah, I mean like a best friend/lover sort of thing. Not a knowledge and belief, but a real relationship. He talks to us, we talk to him. Sure there's the cliches of He talks to us through the bible and others, and He can, but I'm not meaning that. This is the real spooky deal.
Perhaps the easiest thing for you to do is ask God if He's real to show you. The trick of course is for you to be prepared to have your paradigms busted open.
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Yeah, that's a problem
Well, for starters, the contradictions are there alright, and most christians aren't prepared to acknowledge that, lol. One of the big issues is the difference between the old and new covenants, which are in contradiction to each other. Jesus was the transition between the two so he was speaking to the Jews who were still under the old, but also speaking about what was to come after his death. The New covenant completely did away with law, legalism and religion and made a way into complete unity with God, free from "sin", condemnation, guilt etc, so we could have an intimate one to one relationship with him - yeah, I mean like a best friend/lover sort of thing. Not a knowledge and belief, but a real relationship. He talks to us, we talk to him. Sure there's the cliches of He talks to us through the bible and others, and He can, but I'm not meaning that. This is the real spooky deal.
Perhaps the easiest thing for you to do is ask God if He's real to show you. The trick of course is for you to be prepared to have your paradigms busted open.
Believe me, I've asked God to show me he is there, the problem is I understand things like mistaken attribution of causation and confirmation bias. I am very prepared for Him to be there, so far he just hasn't been
Also, do you have a specific passage where Jesus says the "old" laws are fulfilled and no longer applicable? Pretty sure Matthew has something to say about that...
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Never could understand why atheists keep saying they used to be Christians when being a Christian requires a personal encounter with God.
If you're going to claim you're a Christian, then what you're saying is:
1. God chose you before the foundations of the world
2. God sent someone to present the Gospel to you
2a. God breathed the scriptures preached to you
2b. The events portrayed in scripture are true (which, of course, necessitates the existence of God)
3. The Holy Spirit (God) convicted you of your sin
3a. You understood that your sin was an offense to God
4. You received Christ (God) and His atonement on the cross for your sin
4a. Christ's (God's) righteousness was imputed to you
4b. You were reconciled to God
5. You were adopted as a child of God
6. You have the Holy Spirit (God) living inside you
So, if you're an atheist and you don't believe God exists, how could these things be true and how could you have been a Christian?
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Very simple actually, I believed all those things before and found later that I was wrong to believe them.
no...What I'm saying is that I used to believe such things, not that it actually happened, big difference.
You are committing a "no true Scotsman" fallacy.
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- Mar 22, 2011
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Jesus loves you. You will never match the comfort and purpose He offers anywhere else.
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I find more comfort and purpose in my 3 beautiful daughters and my wife than I ever did in the faith thankyou very much, your statement is void of meaning or substance.
Wotan loves you. You will never match the comfort and purpose He offers anywhere else.
^^^^
Are you convinced by this?
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No, I'm not. But then I've never searched out Wotan, and neither have I ever heard of anyone's heart or life being changed by him.
Just trying to help, friend. If you're looking for debate, you won't find it from me. And quite frankly, I doubt you'll find it from God either. He has nothing to prove to anyone.
And since I greatly dislike going around in circles, I will wish you well and unsub at this point.
Just trying to help, friend. If you're looking for debate, you won't find it from me. And quite frankly, I doubt you'll find it from God either. He has nothing to prove to anyone.
And since I greatly dislike going around in circles, I will wish you well and unsub at this point.
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Well congratulations for making yourself feel like you have helped when you have actually done nothing.
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