"Ex-Christians"

[jlujan69]

Every so often, I'll read on these boards how someone was once a Christian and then embraced another faith. The person speaks of having "de-converted" from Christianity. Well, that got me to thinking about something. In order to "de-convert", one must first have been "converted" at some point in his life. Now, in Christianity at least, conversion results when one, in his heart, has acknowleged his own sinfulness, desires God's forgiveness, believes Jesus is Lord, and then verbally states this to God in prayer. The result is a change in heart readily apparent to that person. His outlook and priorities change for the better and he tends to drop bad habits and take up good ones. Before long, this conversion is apparent to others. In other words, people aren't Christian by inheritance or family tradition or otherwise by default. They are converted to Christianity in the aforementioned manner. My question is this, given this understanding of true conversion in Christianity, is there anyone who meets the above criteria and has then forsaken (or replaced) it for another faith? If so, I'm just wondering why?

 

[Illuminatus]

I never converted to Christianity, I was born into it. However, I eventually realized that Christianity didn't have all the answers. Now I'm a weak agnostic, with a bit of a belief in reincarnation.

 

[S Walch]

What do you mean by "born into it" ?

As we've said, you can't be born a christian (as in, when you come out of your mothers womb you're not a christian), so how is one born into it?

 

[Crispie]

You cant be born into Christianity. There is a exact point in your life where you become a christian through faith. Thats when you become a Christian.

 

[Illuminatus]

I was born into a Christian family, and never gave a second thought to any other religions.

 

[Bevlina]

I have always been a Christian and it would never enter my mind to join another religion. I have studied other faiths, and understand the outline of them. But, my heart tells me I am on the right track regarding my faith.

 

[rahma]

I never "deconverted." I did, however, revert to Islam, as it is my understanding of human nature that we are all born submitting to God, and are therefore Muslim. Ahh, religious terminology. Clear as mud

 

[peaceful soul]

I never "deconverted." I did, however, revert to Islam, as it is my understanding of human nature that we are all born submitting to God, and are therefore Muslim. Ahh, religious terminology. Clear as mud

How can we all be born submitting to God? We must first have a conscience toward God before we can submit. Submitting to God could mean any number of things; so we can not be born Muslims defacto. That is stretching the mind to think that way.

 

[tulc]

:birthday2[updown]jlujan69!! [/updown]



tulc(who deconverted and became a Christian!)

 

[cabbitgrrrl]

Now, in Christianity at least, conversion results when one, in his heart, has acknowleged his own sinfulness, desires God's forgiveness, believes Jesus is Lord, and then verbally states this to God in prayer. The result is a change in heart readily apparent to that person. His outlook and priorities change for the better and he tends to drop bad habits and take up good ones. Before long, this conversion is apparent to others. In other words, people aren't Christian by inheritance or family tradition or otherwise by default. They are converted to Christianity in the aforementioned manner. My question is this, given this understanding of true conversion in Christianity, is there anyone who meets the above criteria and has then forsaken (or replaced) it for another faith? If so, I'm just wondering why?

yea I did, and heres why. I was once a good christian, asking for forgiveness and all that, and after a while, I got sick of asking for forgiveness for things I didnt feel were sinful but other christians and the bible sometimes suggest are, such as my sexuality and gender identity. I also didn't like the idea that we were all innately born of sin and stuff, that just didn't strike me as right.

Anyway I "replaced" it with another faith and havent been better, btw I actually am a better person in my opinion with my new faith. I have dropped some bad habits and stuff, not because my faith says I have to, its much more rewarding to be a better person when your not being told to be one.

 

[CrownCaster]

I never converted to Christianity, I was born into it. However, I eventually realized that Christianity didn't have all the answers. Now I'm a weak agnostic, with a bit of a belief in reincarnation.

A Christian who walks away and then never comes back was never a Christian to begin with. Being born into a Christian home makes you a Christian about as much as being born in a hospital makes you a doctor.

 

[sanaa]

yes this man was orthodox christian for 17 years . he became a christian in his 20s. even stayed in a monastery for 2 years . he later deconverted. after a few years of deconversion he became a hindu. hes around 50 now.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/3425/page001.htm

 

[Illuminatus]

A Christian who walks away and then never comes back was never a Christian to begin with. Being born into a Christian home makes you a Christian about as much as being born in a hospital makes you a doctor.

That's not necessarily true. I fully believed in Christianity. I went to church, I prayed daily, I defended it from my atheist friends. But the more I studied the religion and the Bible, the more unanswered questions I had. Eventually they reached critical mass.

 

[CrownCaster]

yes this man was orthodox christian for 17 years . he became a christian in his 20s. even stayed in a monastery for 2 years . he later deconverted. after a few years of deconversion he became a hindu. hes around 50 now.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/3425/page001.htm

None of that means he was for sure a Christian. Being a Christian I can tell you that God enlightens you to certain truths that you just could not walk permanently away from. If he did, I would have to suspect he was just being a church member.

 

[zoe_uu]

I was born into Christian home, but it never made much sense to me, (at least not the way the fundamentalist church we went to tried to explain things, it went against everything I felt was right. I understand Christianity better now, but the damage is done). So, I was never really a Christian I guess, even though I tried really hard to "act the part" to fit in. But I'm happy where I am now.

 

[CrownCaster]

That's not necessarily true. I fully believed in Christianity. I went to church, I prayed daily, I defended it from my atheist friends. But the more I studied the religion and the Bible, the more unanswered questions I had. Eventually they reached critical mass.

Just because you believed does not mean you trusted Jesus as your Savior. This is not meant as an attack at all but the devils believe in Jesus also but He is not their Savior.

 

[Proud Hindu]

In other words, to you, a Christian is only a Christian if they stay Christian for their entire life?

And so this thread really has no purpose, since a "Christian" can't convert anyway.

 

[Born_to_Lose_Live_to_Win]

A Christian who walks away and then never comes back was never a Christian to begin with. Being born into a Christian home makes you a Christian about as much as being born in a hospital makes you a doctor.

Once a Christian, always a Christian, even if someone walks away from the religion and even Christ.

When he accepted Christ he would have accepted through faith. The bond is made then and there.

When he rejected, his reason(brain) made him reject it, not his heart.

Once into Christ, always into Christ.

 

[jlujan69]

:birthday2[updown]jlujan69!! [/updown

tulc(who deconverted and became a Christian!)

Aw, shucks. You noticed. Thanks for the greeting!

 

[jlujan69]

In other words, to you, a Christian is only a Christian if they stay Christian for their entire life?

And so this thread really has no purpose, since a "Christian" can't convert anyway.

Are you responding to my OP or someone else's post?