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I think that's become one of my favorite sayings....even though it's so commonly used.it is what it is.
I think that's become one of my favorite sayings....even though it's so commonly used.
I was a Christian for 20+ years, and I served as a youth & adult teacher in various churches for a number of those years. I was also an apologetics teacher for some time. There were many reasons why I left Christianity; one was because I researched & practiced aspects of Buddhist philosophy and psychology to handle various issues, and I found that they worked very well for me. It eventually led me to a full scale acceptance of Buddhism.Are there any members here who used to be Christians but became non-Christian?
If so, what was the major reason. How long were you a Christian before that? If you are an ex-Christian, have you ever thought about becoming a Christian again?
I put a poll thread up and if you feel I need to add more options, please inform me.
Christianity | Description, History, Doctrines, & Traditions
The church and its history
The essence and identity of Christianity
At its most basic, Christianity is the faith tradition that focuses on the figure of Jesus Christ. In this context, faith refers both to the believers’ act of trust and to the content of their faith. As a tradition, Christianity is more than a system of religious belief. It also has generated a culture, a set of ideas and ways of life, practices, and artifacts that have been handed down from generation to generation since Jesus first became the object of faith. Christianity is thus both a living tradition of faith and the culture that the faith leaves behind. The agent of Christianity is the church, the community of people who make up the body of believers.
To say that Christianity “focuses” on Jesus Christ is to say that somehow it brings together its beliefs and practices and other traditions in reference to a historical figure. Few Christians, however, would be content to keep this reference merely historical. Although their faith tradition is historical—i.e., they believe that transactions with the divine do not occur in the realm of timeless ideas but among ordinary humans through the ages—the vast majority of Christians focus their faith in Jesus Christ as someone who is also a present reality. They may include many other references in their tradition and thus may speak of “God” and “human nature” or of the “church” and the “world,” but they would not be called Christian if they did not bring their attentions first and last to Jesus Christ.
I myself spent more than 15 years as a Christian, basically I was hoping Jesus would free me from what I believed was a sexual obsession with a family member. All up I'd say I gave Christianity enough time to restore me to sanity, but in reality I just couldn't pray away fate.Are there any members here who used to be Christians but became non-Christian?
If so, what was the major reason. How long were you a Christian before that? If you are an ex-Christian, have you ever thought about becoming a Christian again?
I put a poll thread up and if you feel I need to add more options, please inform me.
Christianity | Description, History, Doctrines, & Traditions
The church and its history
The essence and identity of Christianity
At its most basic, Christianity is the faith tradition that focuses on the figure of Jesus Christ. In this context, faith refers both to the believers’ act of trust and to the content of their faith. As a tradition, Christianity is more than a system of religious belief. It also has generated a culture, a set of ideas and ways of life, practices, and artifacts that have been handed down from generation to generation since Jesus first became the object of faith. Christianity is thus both a living tradition of faith and the culture that the faith leaves behind. The agent of Christianity is the church, the community of people who make up the body of believers.
To say that Christianity “focuses” on Jesus Christ is to say that somehow it brings together its beliefs and practices and other traditions in reference to a historical figure. Few Christians, however, would be content to keep this reference merely historical. Although their faith tradition is historical—i.e., they believe that transactions with the divine do not occur in the realm of timeless ideas but among ordinary humans through the ages—the vast majority of Christians focus their faith in Jesus Christ as someone who is also a present reality. They may include many other references in their tradition and thus may speak of “God” and “human nature” or of the “church” and the “world,” but they would not be called Christian if they did not bring their attentions first and last to Jesus Christ.
Are there any members here who used to be Christians but became non-Christian?
If so, what was the major reason. How long were you a Christian before that? If you are an ex-Christian, have you ever thought about becoming a Christian again?
I put a poll thread up and if you feel I need to add more options, please inform me.
Christianity | Description, History, Doctrines, & Traditions
The church and its history
The essence and identity of Christianity
At its most basic, Christianity is the faith tradition that focuses on the figure of Jesus Christ. In this context, faith refers both to the believers’ act of trust and to the content of their faith. As a tradition, Christianity is more than a system of religious belief. It also has generated a culture, a set of ideas and ways of life, practices, and artifacts that have been handed down from generation to generation since Jesus first became the object of faith.
Just curious what sorts of threads you would want that you can't create under the rules as a non-Christian.I mostly stayed on the forum because I liked a few people here but honestly it bores me to death nowadays except for the very tiny number of places I'm allowed to chime in, I basically can't use the site anymore.
Just curious what sorts of threads you would want that you can't create under the rules as a non-Christian.
Sometimes I would like to converse with Christians. In theory I should be able to create a thread in this World Religions sub-forum, and the Christians should participate in my thread. In practice it seems that most Christians ignore this sub-forum, so it begins to feel like I'm marooned on "non-Christian island" with the Skipper and Mary Ann and Ginger and Mr. and Mrs. Howell and the Professor - all nice people but only a few.
I no longer consider myself Christian.
It was very gradual. I can't really pinpoint a single
reason other than that, having learned what I have up to
this point, I can't genuinely apply the label to myself.
Oddly enough, however, what the bible calls "the fruit
of the Spirit" has grown significantly within me. And
perfect love really does cast out fear.
And there you have it.
-
I decided to see if my reasons for believing held up to scrutiny and questioning. None of them did. I lost faith over several years, but I kept hoping that it was somehow true. Now I'm very content being a non-believer and I can't imagine what could bring me back to my old faith. It would probably have to be a very different form of Christianity, at least.
As for spirituality, I don't even think I could say what that word means, but I guess nature, music and Buddhist philosophy fills the void that Christianity left. Or maybe it's more true to say that the void was an illusion to begin with. I used to believe in the "God shaped hole" in us.
Anyway, today I'm just relieved I don't believe in it anymore. Sure, God gave me freedom, but then again he himself was also my greatest threat, so...
I often shake my head looking at some of the recent topics on CF. People are wondering why God created hell and widsom teeth and if it's sinful for Christian women to walk around in their underwear and I'm just grateful I can worry about actual problems now
In my experience it's profoundly toxic, in fact. Lots of people I know from growing up are constantly fighting battles of poor self esteem because they were never good enough for their super Christian family. Especially the couple that realized they are gay at a younger age.
They fought and fought and fought to confirm but eventually the cognitive dissonance was too much. One of them attempted to take his own life and only after that did his parent's see how serious it was and have reformed a ton of behavior and they eventually reconciled. Lots of kids aren't so lucky.
In my experience it creates a pretty intense double standard for women as well; all people broken but women are the Eve-like temptresses and must hide their personality as to not offend the appointed men teachers. Women are subservient to men, it's the Biblical order and how dare you question gods order! Or so it used to go in my Protestant days.
To say nothing of the threat of hell, a constant, lumbering threat. After an upbringing of being told the things I like, the feelings I feel and the friends I have are of satanic and worldly influence after awhile ya sort of go "oh well then I'm embracing that instead of this toxic social circumstance". That was when the switch flipped for me.
Sometimes I would like to converse with Christians. In theory I should be able to create a thread in this World Religions sub-forum, and the Christians should participate in my thread. In practice it seems that most Christians ignore this sub-forum, so it begins to feel like I'm marooned on "non-Christian island" with the Skipper and Mary Ann and Ginger and Mr. and Mrs. Howell and the Professor - all nice people but only a few.
Any threads even tangentially about my religion or a defense of it are an official violation of the rules under promotion.
...
At that rate they should close CWR and drop the pretense since its clearly made in the image of a staging ground for passers-by to attempt weak proselytizing in the style long form rants filled with CAPSLOCK or hit and run youtube videos.
In my experience it's profoundly toxic, in fact. Lots of people I know from growing up are constantly fighting battles of poor self esteem because they were never good enough for their super Christian family. Especially the couple that realized they are gay at a younger age.
They fought and fought and fought to confirm but eventually the cognitive dissonance was too much. One of them attempted to take his own life and only after that did his parent's see how serious it was and have reformed a ton of behavior and they eventually reconciled. Lots of kids aren't so lucky.
In my experience it creates a pretty intense double standard for women as well; all people broken but women are the Eve-like temptresses and must hide their personality as to not offend the appointed men teachers. Women are subservient to men, it's the Biblical order and how dare you question gods order! Or so it used to go in my Protestant days.
To say nothing of the threat of hell, a constant, lumbering threat. After an upbringing of being told the things I like, the feelings I feel and the friends I have are of satanic and worldly influence after awhile ya sort of go "oh well then I'm embracing that instead of this toxic social circumstance". That was when the switch flipped for me.
BTW, this is one of the issues I wish I could understand about paganism/witchcraft/occult. I get the impression that you guys are choosing your gods and practices like you might choose a pair of shoes. Sometimes I have heard it claimed that religions didn't care about belief until Christianity, but I don't think that is entirely correct. The modern revival of these religions confuses me. ... So it is a shame if the rules of CF make it difficult for you guys to explain your beliefs. They are interesting to me (but very puzzling LOL)
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