Date and age you left Christianity?

[TheOldWays]

I have heard from Fundamentalists that there is a "us against the world" theme, and maybe this makes it easier to resist skeptical arguments that come from outsiders.

All powerful pendulums or egregores use that technique. Pitting its adherents against adherents of another egregore gives that egregore massive amounts of energy.

Christianity itself loves hardcore anti-Christian atheists just as much as it loves it's most loyal followers as both give them energy.

 

[majj27]

All powerful pendulums or egregores use that technique. Pitting its adherents against adherents of another egregore gives that egregore massive amounts of energy.

Christianity itself loves hardcore anti-Christian atheists just as much as it loves it's most loyal followers as both give them energy.

Yep, an external enemy, especially one that is as nebulous as "the world" or "secularists" or "people who hate God" is a great tool to 1) isolate your group from outside experience and 2) create enough fear that any position you describe will sound mild compared to the imagined foe's plan.

As for the hardcore anti-Theists vs. the Super-Hard Right Fundamentalists? I find them both tiring to listen to.

 

[TheOldWays]

As for the hardcore anti-Theists vs. the Super-Hard Right Fundamentalists? I find them both tiring to listen to.

indeed. the ironic part is they feed each other and play into each others ideology perfectly.

 

[majj27]

indeed. the ironic part is they feed each other and play into each others ideology perfectly.

Feedback loops are a helluva thing.

 

[ToBeLoved]

If you're saddened and shocked by the state of the world now, then you really would have hated the rest of history...

Opinions are formed, though. I would much sooner put my trust in someone who demonstrates that habit than someone who just parrots what they hear and thinks critical thinking is evil. I don't want to be around when the latter person hears something dangerous.

There are people who live their faith. Of course one will choose the one who doesn't as their example if they want to condemn the group.

I guess we agree to disagree.

 

[dlamberth]

As for the hardcore anti-Theists vs. the Super-Hard Right Fundamentalists? I find them both tiring to listen to.

I have trouble listening to any hard Fundamentalist, no matter their trajectory.

 

[ToBeLoved]

I have trouble listening to any hard Fundamentalist, no matter their trajectory.

That's probably because you don't understand scripture. If someone knows scripture well then one deals with the verses and not necessarily whatever they think the message is.

I will admit that most people use scripture to zing someone and that is not the correct way to do it, so it is often done in a negative context, but Jesus Christ is the Good News! Good News indeed for all who believe.

 

[dlamberth]

That's probably because you don't understand scripture.

First, I was pointing towards any Fundamentalist, be they atheist, believer...or just about anything for that matter.

But, since you bring it up, when it comes to religion, personally in my experience I find religious Fundamentalist as being the least spiritual awhile also being the most ardent closed minded Lovers of God among us. That's just my experience though.

 

[cloudyday2]

I have trouble listening to any hard Fundamentalist, no matter their trajectory.

Whether a person is fundamentalist or not is not as important as other things to me (whatever brand of fundamentalist - Christian, Muslim, atheist). I agree that some fundamentalists get tiresome though.

Some non-fundamentalists seem to lack honesty, introspection, commitment, etc. to their beliefs. (Of course I don't think anybody in this thread fits that description particularly.) IDK

 

[Zoness]

Fundamentalist to me is a term that conjures up a certain type of hardliner approach to religion which is often negative in my view, mostly because 95% of the time it means its being imposed on me.

 

[ToBeLoved]

First, I was pointing towards any Fundamentalist, be they atheist, believer...or just about anything for that matter.

But, since you bring it up, when it comes to religion, personally in my experience I find religious Fundamentalist as being the least spiritual awhile also being the most ardent closed minded Lovers of God among us. That's just my experience though.

My experience too.

Most are rooted in living for God and not walking with God. It comes down to bad theology.

 

[MehGuy]

First, I was pointing towards any Fundamentalist, be they atheist, believer...or just about anything for that matter.

But, since you bring it up, when it comes to religion, personally in my experience I find religious Fundamentalist as being the least spiritual awhile also being the most ardent closed minded Lovers of God among us. That's just my experience though.

What is a fundamental atheist? Lol.

 

[juvenissun]

What was the date and your age when you left Christianity? I realize that it might have taken several years so you can give a range. Thanks

What did you learn in this thread?

 

[Robban]

What is a fundamental atheist? Lol.

Unwavering?

 

[dlamberth]

Most are rooted in living for God and not walking with God. It comes down to bad theology.

It could be, but I think it has more to do with all of the taboos and fears inherent in religious Fundamentalism. It feels sometimes that they are afraid of God. A person has to stay controlled, don't open your soul because it's corrupted. Keep that wall up or demons will enter. Fear Satan because he will cause you to go astray. Fear God's judgment. Don't do this or that. Be in a box of One True Wayism.

I think it's those sort of things that is turning our youth away from Christianity. I honestly believe that our youth hunger for the spiritual but come away from the church disappointed because of the limitation that they experience in that regard. It's as simple as that.

 

[Cearbhall]

That's probably because you don't understand scripture.

I highly doubt it.

What is a fundamental atheist? Lol.

I suppose it would be someone who feels ideologically committed to remaining atheist, in the same way that a Christian feels morally obligated to have faith in God.

 

[ToBeLoved]

It could be, but I think it has more to do with all of the taboos and fears inherent in religious Fundamentalism. It feels sometimes that they are afraid of God. A person has to stay controlled, don't open your soul because it's corrupted. Keep that wall up or demons will enter. Fear Satan because he will cause you to go astray. Fear God's judgment. Don't do this or that. Be in a box of One True Wayism.

I think it's those sort of things that is turning our youth away from Christianity. I honestly believe that our youth hunger for the spiritual but come away from the church disappointed because of the limitation that they experience in that regard. It's as simple as that.

Right.

And those things like a person cannot be who they are or a soul is corrupted or demons entering a Christian and fearing God's judgement are all very bad theology. Because the Bible talks about all of these things and so if people knew the Bible and Bibical Theology they would not fall trap to all these sayings, but be able to stand firm on what the Bible says.

What it is, IMHO and many people believe this is that as we move farther from knowing the Bible, we will fall for what the preacher down the block teaches because we do not have that foundation of truth and knowledge. One can only stand firm when one knows and is confident about what they know.

 

[ToBeLoved]

I highly doubt it.
.

Well let's talk scripture then and you can show me. Pick any topic and I will begin.

 

[cloudyday2]

What did you learn in this thread?

Well, I had a theory that the usability of the internet in the late 1990s and early 2000s was the key factor in the exodus of Christians into apostasy in the US. I suspected that there was an avalanche of people from all age groups losing faith in that time period as they were suddenly connected to skeptical information and groups. I expected this avalanche to be finished, so that now it would be only a trickle of young adults losing faith.

My theory doesn't seem to work. That is what I learned. (Of course this isn't a scientific survey.)

 

[Cearbhall]

Well let's talk scripture then and you can show me.

No, I mean I highly doubt that that's the reason why he, or most people for that matter, have trouble listening to fundamentalists.

Pick any topic and I will begin.

No, thank you.