I'm wanting to talk w/ people who went from being atheist to being christian. I want to know about the process, and what it was that changed your mind.
Thanks
Thanks
-
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
Atheist ----> Christian??
- Thread starter LittleGirlLost
- Start date
- Status
Every person is different.
And to that end, every time a person becomes a believer, the story is different as well.
MY story...would do nothing to touch you, because you aren't me. I'll tell it anyway at the end of the post to make the point.
The way it seems to work is that only God knows you deeply enough to understand what you need at that moment to make the decision. He is the only one who can provide it. Therefore, the experience is deeply personal, tuned to you alone, and once that happens, your story will not touch other non-believers either.
Mine went something like this...
I am big on Science. If somebody tells me something, I want proof. Show me the facts.
My sister and her husband were born again Christians who invited me to visit them in Rhode Island. The first night of the visit, we had dinner, and what I suspected was true they cornered me in the living room and started talking about Christ. But I was prepared for them.
We argued for 9 hours, and at about 3am I was closing in on a logical trap when suddenly...I believed.
Now here is the interesting part to me - I don't remember any of that debate, not one word. Nothing of what they said touched me at the time, in fact they told me later my argument was so good that I had shaken their beliefs a little.
There was no reason for me to believe. That's why I believe so fervently.
See, my mind is not built this way. Like I said, I needed proof and there was none, and I knew it. The only way I could possibly come to accept this as truth, is if it happened on blind faith.
And since it did happen, and that isn't me or my way, then only a vastly superior being could have understood precisely what was required for me to change my mind. I believed, with no facts presented. Therefore God exists. That occurred in a blink of an eye.
What happened to me...would have no effect on you. What would convince you is deeply personal, and lays squarely between you and God.
If you are searching for a touching story that would convince you of the Truth, then what you are looking for is your own story that will develop in the days to come. Mine is unworthy of mention in your case.
And to that end, every time a person becomes a believer, the story is different as well.
MY story...would do nothing to touch you, because you aren't me. I'll tell it anyway at the end of the post to make the point.
The way it seems to work is that only God knows you deeply enough to understand what you need at that moment to make the decision. He is the only one who can provide it. Therefore, the experience is deeply personal, tuned to you alone, and once that happens, your story will not touch other non-believers either.
Mine went something like this...
I am big on Science. If somebody tells me something, I want proof. Show me the facts.
My sister and her husband were born again Christians who invited me to visit them in Rhode Island. The first night of the visit, we had dinner, and what I suspected was true they cornered me in the living room and started talking about Christ. But I was prepared for them.
We argued for 9 hours, and at about 3am I was closing in on a logical trap when suddenly...I believed.
Now here is the interesting part to me - I don't remember any of that debate, not one word. Nothing of what they said touched me at the time, in fact they told me later my argument was so good that I had shaken their beliefs a little.
There was no reason for me to believe. That's why I believe so fervently.
See, my mind is not built this way. Like I said, I needed proof and there was none, and I knew it. The only way I could possibly come to accept this as truth, is if it happened on blind faith.
And since it did happen, and that isn't me or my way, then only a vastly superior being could have understood precisely what was required for me to change my mind. I believed, with no facts presented. Therefore God exists. That occurred in a blink of an eye.
What happened to me...would have no effect on you. What would convince you is deeply personal, and lays squarely between you and God.
If you are searching for a touching story that would convince you of the Truth, then what you are looking for is your own story that will develop in the days to come. Mine is unworthy of mention in your case.
Upvote
0
hey
Christian is a vague term for me and it's so diverse. I think by most peoples standards I wouldn't be considered one. hmmm. how did it happen? do you know thats a very difficult question. I approached Jesus with a Buddhist mind. I had already reached a place where I was content no matter my circumstances. And for the most part I was free of the elements and the opposites and was opproaching life on a very logical level. Meditation and Buddhism had brough me to some higher level of conciousness that I could sustian with disciple. So I could see things quite clearly so to speak; at least compared to what I see in the masses. B/c people are quite spun out and insane these days, face it. Ok as for Jesus, I think I asked myself 'why not?' one day. And the matter of faith is impossible to explain; I wanted explainations for years. Now I can't explain it so it's annoying whatever side of the faith question you are on. As for what faith is I won't debate b/c I still have a rational enough mind to know it may just be madness. Some old religious fervour locked in the dna, miilions of years of memory...I mean who knows. For me it's just about liking Jesus as a person and his ideals and as no two people can read any words the same way who knows how I have intrepreted it. I don't see any God being vengeful either and it makes absolutely no sense to me despite the Bible. Oh I'm highly supisicious of the Bible and everything else for that matter. But whenever I'm reading parts I do think, 'yeah that doesn't really jell' So really it was his message of love even as unlikely as it is..to me thats the point. Its romantic idealism to believe in absolute love ect...very true. But again I ask myself, why not? The concept of forgiveness is so obvious. And as no two people can read any of the words the same anyways perhaps its the perfect ideal I see. I don't see the hell fire many do, not at all. I see warnings against a very real hell that can exist in the mind the same as the Hindus and Buddists taught. I often wonder if he jsut didn't really have time to explain all this to everyone. After all the disciples worried about things like bread. lol so u see what he had to deal with. Through this I always see his sense of humour...after all who has ever heard his voice? saw his face? or heard the way he expressed things. I don't see it as a reward, punshment thing either at least not for me. I can't say I've spent one second of my life worrying about heaven or hell or death..why would I you know? Its not healthy for me and besides I'm not looking for favours. Jesus is someone I will follow, someone I will always help but not b/c I want anything. I know I'm supposed to be worried about my soul and salvation but I'm not and I never will be; I'm cool. His concept of judging too is really just an obvious piece of knowledge b/c it looks very stupid to judge anyone, ever. Or to critisize, or argue, or feel anger ever again; to just truely live and let live. Total love universal, it's that it COULD work b/c anything is possible. and that weird faith thing again..if I can figure that out I will let you know. It seems logic should be able to tear it all down but logic leads me back to the same conclusions. I think really I just believe everything is possible and why not? Faith in absolute love without a naive mind. I can see the mind control aspects and it's no different than the media; churches I cannot stand. Any God or godhead is going to want us to use our minds and be free from any constraints. At the same time I see the need in the morals of the bible in times past and maybe just as much now. Depends on how well the rules and laws can remain effective I guess. But I don't torment myself over the Ten Commandments or probably could name them all really lol again I don't see Jesus/God worring over these details and it's not like I was killing people before I read "Thou Shalt Not Kill" or whathaveyou.
so ok, yeah I'm just a bad Christian I guess lol
oh well, God made me
peace
Andrew
Christian is a vague term for me and it's so diverse. I think by most peoples standards I wouldn't be considered one. hmmm. how did it happen? do you know thats a very difficult question. I approached Jesus with a Buddhist mind. I had already reached a place where I was content no matter my circumstances. And for the most part I was free of the elements and the opposites and was opproaching life on a very logical level. Meditation and Buddhism had brough me to some higher level of conciousness that I could sustian with disciple. So I could see things quite clearly so to speak; at least compared to what I see in the masses. B/c people are quite spun out and insane these days, face it. Ok as for Jesus, I think I asked myself 'why not?' one day. And the matter of faith is impossible to explain; I wanted explainations for years. Now I can't explain it so it's annoying whatever side of the faith question you are on. As for what faith is I won't debate b/c I still have a rational enough mind to know it may just be madness. Some old religious fervour locked in the dna, miilions of years of memory...I mean who knows. For me it's just about liking Jesus as a person and his ideals and as no two people can read any words the same way who knows how I have intrepreted it. I don't see any God being vengeful either and it makes absolutely no sense to me despite the Bible. Oh I'm highly supisicious of the Bible and everything else for that matter. But whenever I'm reading parts I do think, 'yeah that doesn't really jell' So really it was his message of love even as unlikely as it is..to me thats the point. Its romantic idealism to believe in absolute love ect...very true. But again I ask myself, why not? The concept of forgiveness is so obvious. And as no two people can read any of the words the same anyways perhaps its the perfect ideal I see. I don't see the hell fire many do, not at all. I see warnings against a very real hell that can exist in the mind the same as the Hindus and Buddists taught. I often wonder if he jsut didn't really have time to explain all this to everyone. After all the disciples worried about things like bread. lol so u see what he had to deal with. Through this I always see his sense of humour...after all who has ever heard his voice? saw his face? or heard the way he expressed things. I don't see it as a reward, punshment thing either at least not for me. I can't say I've spent one second of my life worrying about heaven or hell or death..why would I you know? Its not healthy for me and besides I'm not looking for favours. Jesus is someone I will follow, someone I will always help but not b/c I want anything. I know I'm supposed to be worried about my soul and salvation but I'm not and I never will be; I'm cool. His concept of judging too is really just an obvious piece of knowledge b/c it looks very stupid to judge anyone, ever. Or to critisize, or argue, or feel anger ever again; to just truely live and let live. Total love universal, it's that it COULD work b/c anything is possible. and that weird faith thing again..if I can figure that out I will let you know. It seems logic should be able to tear it all down but logic leads me back to the same conclusions. I think really I just believe everything is possible and why not? Faith in absolute love without a naive mind. I can see the mind control aspects and it's no different than the media; churches I cannot stand. Any God or godhead is going to want us to use our minds and be free from any constraints. At the same time I see the need in the morals of the bible in times past and maybe just as much now. Depends on how well the rules and laws can remain effective I guess. But I don't torment myself over the Ten Commandments or probably could name them all really lol again I don't see Jesus/God worring over these details and it's not like I was killing people before I read "Thou Shalt Not Kill" or whathaveyou.
so ok, yeah I'm just a bad Christian I guess lol
oh well, God made me
peace
Andrew
Upvote
0
gaweatherford
Member
- Jan 11, 2005
- 164
- 18
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Other Religion
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Others
Upvote
0
Gentle- Thanks so much for your story. Between you and TheSonsAnvil, my situation was written. It's nice to know I'm not alone.
gaweatherford- Thanks for the link. I"m saving it to favorites right now to visit later.
gaweatherford- Thanks for the link. I"m saving it to favorites right now to visit later.
Upvote
0
You're welcome
You know, the more I learn about myself and the incident in question, the more I come to realize that I never made a conscious decision that I recall.
Maybe it has nothing to do with logical thought. Maybe one doesn't conclude this to be the best way to go, and decide to become a Christian.
More often than not, I'm finding people who suddenly believed for no apparent reason. Like myself, these people never felt they were at the end of their ropes and it was a defense mechanism of the mind tricking them.
It's these you have to watch out for hehe.
One may choose to be a Catholic, or an Episcopal, but I don't think that any logical process is responsible for salvation. "I woke up this morning, had coffee, and decided to be a Christian." This is the difference between religion and faith.
"I'm changing my faith" is not a possibility. If you have faith, you never lose it. Oh you might have it shaken at times, you might question whether or not you are REALLY in the faith, but if you believe that's it. You can't lose that.
You can change churches like socks and that part of it is truly meaningless.
The basis of it all is in God and the Christ. It's what you REALLY believe, not a choice that you make, that is the life changing event that people speak of...
One of my favorite sayings is "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't believe, no explanation is possible." And it's the wondrous mystery of God, that he can exist in the hearts of millions, and yet provide not one single shred of proof.
You know, the more I learn about myself and the incident in question, the more I come to realize that I never made a conscious decision that I recall.
Maybe it has nothing to do with logical thought. Maybe one doesn't conclude this to be the best way to go, and decide to become a Christian.
More often than not, I'm finding people who suddenly believed for no apparent reason. Like myself, these people never felt they were at the end of their ropes and it was a defense mechanism of the mind tricking them.
It's these you have to watch out for hehe.
One may choose to be a Catholic, or an Episcopal, but I don't think that any logical process is responsible for salvation. "I woke up this morning, had coffee, and decided to be a Christian." This is the difference between religion and faith.
"I'm changing my faith" is not a possibility. If you have faith, you never lose it. Oh you might have it shaken at times, you might question whether or not you are REALLY in the faith, but if you believe that's it. You can't lose that.
You can change churches like socks and that part of it is truly meaningless.
The basis of it all is in God and the Christ. It's what you REALLY believe, not a choice that you make, that is the life changing event that people speak of...
One of my favorite sayings is "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't believe, no explanation is possible." And it's the wondrous mystery of God, that he can exist in the hearts of millions, and yet provide not one single shred of proof.
Upvote
0
Sketcher
Born Imperishable
LittleGirlLost - I don't have this background but there is an intelligent Christian author who does, his name is Lee Strobel. "The Case for Christ" is a book he did that has his testimony as the foreward and the rest of the book re-investigates all of the questions he had as a skeptic with modern scholarship from reknowned Christian professors. I highly recommend it to you. "Case for Faith" may also be worth reading.
Upvote
0
Bartlomiej Dyszkiewicz
Regular Member
i was an atheist, than agnostic, took a pill of ecstasy went crazy and started to be tormented by evil spirits, looked up to God for help kept seeking HIm and discovered Jesus Christ, ( this is a very short Jist of it)
Also I recoment finding a tract and reading it even if there is a Battle going inside not to or to be critical over it.....Or just read the book of Romans......I've personally discovered some wonderfull things of Jesus Christ...the longer you stay wth HIm the more you see How wonderfull God and His Love is.......
BArtek
Also I recoment finding a tract and reading it even if there is a Battle going inside not to or to be critical over it.....Or just read the book of Romans......I've personally discovered some wonderfull things of Jesus Christ...the longer you stay wth HIm the more you see How wonderfull God and His Love is.......
BArtek
Upvote
0
Bartlomiej Dyszkiewicz
Regular Member
I hope that in His time that Jesus Christ my shine His light upon you that He will draw you with a gentle Chord and show you what He has done for you and how willing He is to Help you, I pray that He will have Mercy on You and am thankfulll to see him working in your Life!!!!!!be encouraged The journey of Faith is not easy and the road is narrow.
Upvote
0
DavetheProphet
Well-Known Member
- Oct 20, 2005
- 514
- 33
- 36
- Faith
- Baptist
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Republican
twistedsketch said:
Excellent! Before I read this I was going to reply the same thing. It's definately worth reading. Just note that facts, although they may help, won't lead you to trully believe that God exists, only your own personal faith will.
Upvote
0
bethdinsmore
Veteran
I think I have written you in another thread about this. If not, you might want to read my profile, as it gives my journey from atheist to Christian.
God bless you, I'll pray for you, friend. Aloha in Jesus
God bless you, I'll pray for you, friend. Aloha in Jesus
Upvote
0
ccastellow
Active Member
- Nov 23, 2005
- 172
- 16
- 49
- Faith
- Oneness
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
Upvote
0
A
allthatisgone
Guest
You're welcome
You know, the more I learn about myself and the incident in question, the more I come to realize that I never made a conscious decision that I recall.
Maybe it has nothing to do with logical thought. Maybe one doesn't conclude this to be the best way to go, and decide to become a Christian.
More often than not, I'm finding people who suddenly believed for no apparent reason. Like myself, these people never felt they were at the end of their ropes and it was a defense mechanism of the mind tricking them.
It's these you have to watch out for hehe.
One may choose to be a Catholic, or an Episcopal, but I don't think that any logical process is responsible for salvation. "I woke up this morning, had coffee, and decided to be a Christian." This is the difference between religion and faith.
"I'm changing my faith" is not a possibility. If you have faith, you never lose it. Oh you might have it shaken at times, you might question whether or not you are REALLY in the faith, but if you believe that's it. You can't lose that.
You can change churches like socks and that part of it is truly meaningless.
The basis of it all is in God and the Christ. It's what you REALLY believe, not a choice that you make, that is the life changing event that people speak of...
One of my favorite sayings is "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't believe, no explanation is possible." And it's the wondrous mystery of God, that he can exist in the hearts of millions, and yet provide not one single shred of proof.
*smiles*
Upvote
0
Dondi
Veteran
Go to this thread for my story:
http://www.christianforums.com/t4037687-hey-satan-throw-another-coal-on-the-fire-for-me.html&page=4
http://www.christianforums.com/t4037687-hey-satan-throw-another-coal-on-the-fire-for-me.html&page=4
Upvote
0
Exonoesis
Active Member
- Nov 7, 2006
- 195
- 7
- 41
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- AU-Labor
Okay...
I was a hardcore atheist and I preached atheism and I was doing an IT course and I got up to the final day of assessment, the final presenation that I was all ready for and I felt meaning slipping from my life from the moment I woke up that day. I mentally struggled with whether or not to go. I got in the car and drove and as the meaningless became more apparent I did a U-turn and headed back home, then I turned around again, and I did that a few times, and eventually I went back home. When I got back home I started swearing and shouting and pacing and this went on for weeks, day and night, months I think, I don't recall sleeping through this time, and eventually Jesus Christ came into my life.
I was a hardcore atheist and I preached atheism and I was doing an IT course and I got up to the final day of assessment, the final presenation that I was all ready for and I felt meaning slipping from my life from the moment I woke up that day. I mentally struggled with whether or not to go. I got in the car and drove and as the meaningless became more apparent I did a U-turn and headed back home, then I turned around again, and I did that a few times, and eventually I went back home. When I got back home I started swearing and shouting and pacing and this went on for weeks, day and night, months I think, I don't recall sleeping through this time, and eventually Jesus Christ came into my life.
Upvote
0
- Status
