How many ex-Christians are there here on CF and reason for leaving Christianity?

[ICONO'CLAST]

Then I'm not responsible for not being a Christian and I can continue to walk my path as I see fit. If your god never allows me to believe, then my eternal blood is purely on his hands. Why would I ever want to honor such a deity?

You are fully responsible for your sin. You are already condemned in your unbelief.
You need Gods mercy.
You walk whatever path you want, but if Jesus is not your Saviour, He is your judge..
Your hatred and rebellion for the living God is not a surprise. Salvation is not for everyone. Only those who come humbly to Jesus.

Jesus said All the Father gives to Him will come to Jesus.
If you have not come yet, I would be concerned.

 

[FireDragon76]

Mindfulness and enlightenment are Christian concepts: ' Take not thought for the morrow, the morrow will take though for the things of itself... Consider the lilies of the field... My yoke is light.... Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is.... Blessed are you who run to him... meditate on His word day and night.'

Enlightenment, as most Dharmic religions understand it, is not dependent on believing a particular creed. Both Buddhism and Hinduism recognize that people outside their religions can be enlightened.

 

[ICONO'CLAST]

Enlightenment, as most Dharmic religions understand it, is not dependent on believing a particular creed. Both Buddhism and Hinduism recognize that people outside their religions can be enlightened.

Heathen darkness is not enlightenment.

 

[FireDragon76]

You are fully responsible for your sin. You are already condemned in your unbelief.
You need Gods mercy.
You walk whatever path you want, but if Jesus is not your Saviour, He is your judge..
Your hatred and rebellion for the living God is not a surprise. Salvation is not for everyone. Only those who come humbly to Jesus.

I never really cared for that schizophrenic view of Jesus. That suggests the sort of pathological attachment that abused and neglected children develop.

 

[FireDragon76]

Heathen darkness is not enlightenment.

Insulting other peoples religious traditions does nothing to engender your own.

 

[Kaon]

A lot of people have left "god" because they have been told a myriad of lies about the Most High God, and they don't have the emotional/psychological/spiritual energy to begin the process again even if they were sure they could learn the Truth about the Most High God.

In other words, other humans and their lies - from the top of institutions to the bottom of the gutter - keep and pull people from the Most High God. It is very unfortunate to hear some of the reasoning and stories of some of the members who chose to leave [the idea of the Most High] God, and in many ways I do not judge or blame them. The world is full of lies we justify in different degrees of acceptance; we ignore how those lies affect us on the whole (e.g. the "white" lie of santa).

I almost left my Father until I went through some things and began to understand all of this at the most basic level (I still don't really know anything, but I know enough to continue). Finding the Most High God usually means forgetting everything you think you know, and abandoning all forms of "religion" you think are appropriate. God is not an institution, or an academic concept that can be taught or learned. He is God; you need to relate to Him... which means going through "stuff" with Him just like a real family - and trusting Him just like you would a Father.

That is asking a lot when the world (even parents) have lied about something so fundamental as the Most High God - to rebuild that relationship. But, if you believe it is worth it, you should take the risk - with the insight of what the world and humans are actually like. Don't be naive to the totality of human depravity and manipulation, especially when it means a gain in money or power.

 

[Bobber]

As for why I became a non-Christian.. growing up really.

I think my attraction to being hated by non-Christians is what really tipped things. Back in the day I used to join atheists sites as a theist just to see how much bashing and hatred I could generate towards myself, lol. There is only so much skepticism and whatnot a believer can be exposed to until they have second thoughts about their faith..

Second thoughts about their faith? To people who genuinely have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come? Heb 6:4 I'm sorry but if one has second thoughts about their faith I'd say they never really had experienced the powers of the world to come! When you have YOU KNOW...you don't just think or wonder about it.

As for being a Christian again, anything is possible. Although I highly doubt it, I'm quite grounded and comfortable with my non-belief. Doesn't mean I don't miss spirituality. My mind is well suited to it, and atheism has deteriorated my mental well being to quite an extent.. but it is what it is.

Well if you feel it's done that don't let it. For the very reason you feel you've missed out on something positive is a sign to you it is indeed right or you wouldn't feel a loss without it.

 

[ananda]

A lot of people have left "god" because they have been told a myriad of lies about the Most High God, and they don't have the emotional/psychological/spiritual energy to begin the process again even if they were sure they could learn the Truth about the Most High God.

In other words, other humans and their lies - from the top of institutions to the bottom of the gutter - keep and pull people from the Most High God. It is very unfortunate to hear some of the reasoning and stories of some of the members who chose to leave [the idea of the Most High] God, and in many ways I do not judge or blame them. The world is full of lies we justify in different degrees of acceptance; we ignore how those lies affect us on the whole (e.g. the "white" lie of santa).

I almost left my Father until I went through some things and began to understand all of this at the most basic level (I still don't really know anything, but I know enough to continue). Finding the Most High God usually means forgetting everything you think you know, and abandoning all forms of "religion" you think are appropriate. God is not an institution, or an academic concept that can be taught or learned. He is God; you need to relate to Him... which means going through "stuff" with Him just like a real family - and trusting Him just like you would a Father.

That is asking a lot when the world (even parents) have lied about something so fundamental as the Most High God - to rebuild that relationship. But, if you believe it is worth it, you should take the risk - with the insight of what the world and humans are actually like. Don't be naive to the totality of human depravity and manipulation, especially when it means a gain in money or power.

How is such a relationship possible, if the other party cannot be experienced through the senses?

 

[FireDragon76]

A lot of people have left "god" because they have been told a myriad of lies about the Most High God, and they don't have the emotional/psychological/spiritual energy to begin the process again even if they were sure they could learn the Truth about the Most High God.

In other words, other humans and their lies - from the top of institutions to the bottom of the gutter - keep and pull people from the Most High God. It is very unfortunate to hear some of the reasoning and stories of some of the members who chose to leave [the idea of the Most High] God, and in many ways I do not judge or blame them. The world is full of lies we justify in different degrees of acceptance; we ignore how those lies affect us on the whole (e.g. the "white" lie of santa).

I almost left my Father until I went through some things and began to understand all of this at the most basic level (I still don't really know anything, but I know enough to continue). Finding the Most High God usually means forgetting everything you think you know, and abandoning all forms of "religion" you think are appropriate. God is not an institution, or an academic concept that can be taught or learned. He is God; you need to relate to Him... which means going through "stuff" with Him just like a real family - and trusting Him just like you would a Father.

That is asking a lot when the world (even parents) have lied about something so fundamental as the Most High God - to rebuild that relationship. But, if you believe it is worth it, you should take the risk - with the insight of what the world and humans are actually like. Don't be naive to the totality of human depravity and manipulation, especially when it means a gain in money or power.

Even the notion of God as a "He" and "The Most High" betrays the origins of this concept in patriarchy and early bronze age political structures.

 

[FireDragon76]

Second thoughts about their faith? To people who genuinely have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come? Heb 6:4 I'm sorry but if one has second thoughts about their faith I'd say they never really had experienced the powers of the world to come! When you have YOU KNOW...you don't just think or wonder about it.

What makes you think I haven't had that sort of experience? I just understand it differently now.

By considering my spiritual experiences from another religious perspective, I do not negate them, I merely understand them in a different light.

 

[Kaon]

How is such a relationship possible, if the other party cannot be experienced through the senses?

If you are a Buddhist, you know there are "senses" that transcend the five, or even the six we know of. To do this, you have to see yourself as a point particle in space, and look "down" on your entire existence - seeing a bigger picture.

The Most High God gives you experiences and life as a form of communication. He also gives dreams, and He gives spiritual conviction (we grossly marginalize this as consciousness) to guide and direct you just like a human father may not show you the way with flashing lights, but rather directs you through experiences to a place he believes you should be. It is still your choice to go that way, and it is still your choice to trust that your Father actually 1) wants the best for you, and 2) knows the best for you. When you see your life as a point particle, you see how those experiences evolve a path that is either closer or further to Him - if you know Him.

You can know Him by asking to know Him in Truth; it shouldn't be a whim or a compulsion. If you want a relationship with the Most High God just ask Him. But, that means building that relationship - which implies going through "stuff" with Him.

 

[Kaon]

Even the notion of God as a "He" and "The Most High" betrays the origins of this concept in patriarchy and early bronze age political structures.

Good.

Patriarchy and political structures are artifacts of man; man is, at best, confused.

 

[Zoness]

You are fully responsible for your sin. You are already condemned in your unbelief.
You need Gods mercy.
You walk whatever path you want, but if Jesus is not your Saviour, He is your judge..
Your hatred and rebellion for the living God is not a surprise. Salvation is not for everyone. Only those who come humbly to Jesus.

Jesus said All the Father gives to Him will come to Jesus.
If you have not come yet, I would be concerned.

It's not a choice he can actually make if god foreordained it, god is the only who can choose so there's no point for him to stress about the outcome. Effectively, god chooses who goes to heaven and hell.

 

[Zoness]

I never really cared for that schizophrenic view of Jesus. That suggests the sort of pathological attachment that abused and neglected children develop.

It's an example of the profoundly toxic view inwas discussing somewhere in past pages. The amount of damage this idea has caused is impossible to quantify. It's a big part of why people are throwing off the shackles of Christianity and monotheism altogether, in my opinion.

 

[FireDragon76]

It's an example of the profoundly toxic view inwas discussing somewhere in past pages. The amount of damage this idea has caused is impossible to quantify. It's a big part of why people are throwing off the shackles of Christianity and monotheism altogether, in my opinion.

Well, I don't think the attitude is intrinsic to monotheism, or necessarily even Christianity (Quakers historically have been very tolerant of other peoples religions), but it's definitely widespread in Abrahamic religions.

As I pointed out recently, there are forms of monotheism that are not exclusivistic, such as Sikhism, Oomoto, or Cao Dai.

 

[Zoness]

Well, I don't think the attitude is intrinsic to monotheism, or necessarily even Christianity (Quakers historically have been very tolerant of other peoples religions), but it's definitely widespread in Abrahamic religions.

As I pointed out recently, there are forms of monotheism that are not exclusivistic, such as Sikhism, Oomoto, or Cao Dai.

I was probably a bit too quick to jump the gun since you're right on. I haven't found a stronger manifestation of it than Christianity yet though. Maybe strains of Islam or some extreme self denial sect in Buddhism but I'd have to look closely.

 

[dlamberth]

I am a very simple person. I have no need to trick you.
I see what the bible declares will come to pass. I offer you and others a warning.
I cannot convince you. I can remove some obstacles.
God has commanded all men everywhere to repent:Acts17:30.
You are responsible. Everything God has said has come to pass.
The rest will also..
I do not want to see anyone perish, but many will.
God has an eternal purpose that is planned and ordained to come to pass.
Your objections are going to be made void.

To the OP, one of the images of God that worked on me for quite a while in my de-conversion process is that I kept seeing a Greek/Roman Pagan God bubbling up. Instead of sitting on a mountain, the God I worshiped was sitting on a Golden Thrown. And rather than throwing lightening bolts around, the God I was worshiping was causing world floods, burning cities, directing wars and genocide and judging people for correct obedience. Those who did not pass His test of obedience were sent to eternal torment in Hell. It took a while, but eventually I became freed from that God.

 

[dlamberth]

It's an example of the profoundly toxic view inwas discussing somewhere in past pages. The amount of damage this idea has caused is impossible to quantify. It's a big part of why people are throwing off the shackles of Christianity and monotheism altogether, in my opinion.

There's different kinds of monotheism. What I see happening these days is a higher interest in Panentheism, which is a type of monotheism.

 

[ICONO'CLAST]

Insulting other peoples religious traditions does nothing to engender your own.

All "religious traditions" lead to hell.
When anyone turns from scriptural truth which is light ,they turn to darkness.
It is not an insult but a fact..
God is not taking an opinion poll among those who have turned from God. Roman's 1 is how God views
Those with a reprobate mind.
In the time of Noah, God did not have to work up a sweat to destroy the world of the ungodly.
Their views, traditions and beliefs could not stand in the judgment. God has commanded all men everywhere to repent.

 

[ICONO'CLAST]

It's not a choice he can actually make if god foreordained it, god is the only who can choose so there's no point for him to stress about the outcome. Effectively, god chooses who goes to heaven and hell.

You make choices everyday. You choose sin over God's word because your sin nature loves to sin.
You are responsible. What God does or plans is His concern. You are commanded to repent and believe.