im no longer a christian... anyone understand?

[mamabear4]

"Xian" is short for "Christian", in the same way that "Xmas" is short for "Christmas". The letter X represents the initial letter
chi of the Greek 'kristos', meaning "Christ". It's not an insult.

Another variant often seen is "Xtian".

http://www.skepticfiles.org/skep2/athfaq.htm

sniff, sniff. I knew that. I just doesn't make me feel good. crying some more. (LOL)

What's wrong with writing the name of Christ, anyway?

But here, I'm digressing from the topic at hand. I never "heard" Endure2 ask for any advice. When I read the rest of your posts, I'd love to put in my two cent's worth, but all I read in his plea was for understanding, so that was all I gave him. Am I free to give advice, too?

Never mind. Y'all know what I'm gonna say anyway, don't you? I'll save my breath and pass the cookies that I just finished baking. And tonight when I lay my tired old bod down in bed I will close my eyes and pray for all of my atheistic and agnostic friends on CF. Believe me, God hears my prayers and answers them, too, so look out all of y'all. The Lord is my Shepherd. I have no wants or fears. When I walk through the valleys of the shadow of death, He is my constant companion. He has anointed my head with healing oil. My cup is running over with blessings heaped upon blessings. Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and will continue to do so until I fall into my fearless grave, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, and ever and ever and ever, Amen and Amen. I have preached my sermon and will get ya'll the cookies now. Sweet tea with them?

 

[levi501]

What's wrong with writing the name of Christ, anyway?

nothing. Same reason I write US instead of United States... it's shorter.

 

[Zaac]

I understand exactly how you feel. In fact, the reasons you list are very close to the reasons that I'm an atheist now -- and I was once an almost fanatical Christian.

There is little I can say to you except to keep thinking, keep searching, keep trying to live and to learn as honestly and truly and rightly as you can. If you have any questions I can answer, any advice I can offer, or any moral or emotional support you need, feel free to PM me.

And shall Jesus Christ rebuke the devil.

 

[butterfoot]

i posted this elsewhere, please read it if you will and reply if you can feel me... im trying to find hope outside of Christ, becuase i dont believe in him anymore.





im not asking anyone to help me bash christianity... i was just venting and i also dont want to be a part of trying to dismantle this wide spread belief system im no longer a part of... i will never be a part of these people who harass and try to tear down christians.

but does anyone feel me?

its been about 2 weeks since i changed... im still kinda unsure and worried, but it doesnt look like i have any options...
does anyone understand how i feel?

This is the reason you need to repent and bring yourself back to God and Jesus. Sure there are things that you could be doing that are fun but that is the temptation that the Devil sends to you. To give up on Gods word is to just say I want to do what I want to do and turn your back on The Father and His Son. Ask yourself why did you believe up until now. Was it cause your parents told you so or did something else bring you here.


I have spent my time away from God and I wish that I would have listened to him earlier in my life. But I have came back to him and I feel blessed that he is given me what I have. Bring yourself back to him before you regret what you have done.


-cw

 

[Inside Edge]

Hey Endure,

Been there, bigtime.

You may fall away from Christianity for ever, you may not. Now's the time for you to just try and relax while thinking about life, the universe and everything. In my experience, lapses in faith lead to a stronger returning faith later on as often as they lead to people permanently leaving the Faith. It'll all be up to you one way or another, and it's a very good thing to go through this process.

God will call you back if you're asking/looking/open to it, and it sounds like you are or have in the past. So don't worry about it - just live each day, experience and consider as much as you can.

 

[Phats]

If you go to anti-Christian hate sites, you will see Xian, Xtian and Fundy used as slurs against Christians. They will justify it by saying it is shorthand but it's really a ruse. I used to hang out on one of these sites and they openly joked about it. The person using it here may not know it is a slur. It's disrespectful.

Every true Christian has evidence of Christ. That evidence is their personal relationship with Him. Of course, they can't pull Jesus from a hat to convince anyone else but they can show evidence of a changed life. That may not be good enough for a skeptic but it should certainly cause a non-believer to wonder about the cause of the change. A Christian who becomes an atheist may have never experienced evidence of Grace and Salvation in their lives which is why they leave.

I think we tend to mix the words "skeptic", "atheist" and "agnostic". A true atheist would probably never come to a Christian forum unless they had become a "seeker". A "skeptic" may come to argue points of theology which is fine as long as it is done respectfully and without bigotry. When I was an atheist, I never understood "agnostics" so I can't comment on them.

 

[Ledifni]

I must say what I feel in this instance. I feel that you are a person who is seeking attention at this time in your life. I do not know, nor do I understand your situation/circumstances, but it appears to me that you require a great deal of attention right now. What I get out of your statement is that you do not feel that you have received adequate attention from God in order for you to continue to acknowledge His existence, or at least the existence and sacrifice of the Savior, Jesus.

I also see you asking others (us) to comment on what you are saying, and provide you with information that might cause you to consider your opinion.

Well, there are two options here from my perspective.

First: I could tell you to stop belittling the sacrifice that Jesus made for you, by stating that you no longer believe it is true. Then I could go into detail about how precious you are to God (and you are); so much so, that while humans were still sinning against Him, He still offered His all to save us.
I could tell you that if you turn your back on God now, He'll turn His back on you at the 2nd Coming of Christ, and the Final Judgement.
I could remind you that if you are telling the truth, and you were really a Christian, then you should know that to many, you are the only Christ they will ever see. In other words, the love of Jesus Christ, shining through you, because of your relationship with Him, may be the only time that some people you come in contact with, ever see that. I could tell you that you were the one that was supposed to lead them to Jesus, and when you go before God for the final judgement, he'll show you how many souls were lost because of your decision to walk away from Him.
In telling you all of these things, I would be explaining to you that your decision to leave Christianity, and abandon Jesus, affects many more persons than yourself.

But would you hear me? Would your heart be open to discussing these things? Would you feel the love of Christ in my words, as I say these things to you, and realize what it is you are giving away, and how many more will suffer because of your choice?

My other option is....

I could encourage you to explore the other belief systems available to you. I could perhaps suggest that I too once believed in Jesus Christ, but abandoned that notion for something much wiser (ie: placing faith in myself, instead, because after all, when have we ever steered ourselves wrong?)

In my instance this wouldn't be true, for I love God with all my heart and trust Him with all that I am. I call Jesus my Savior, and I know that nobody else, including myself, has ever earned 100% of my faith.

So there you have it.
Now which one did I choose? We both know, don't we?

You are very angry, confrontational, and defensive in your faith, Adiya. I do not think you do any good that way, and whether your beliefs are true or mine, you would do well to learn to identify with and understand others.

Your contribution is emphatically not what the OP needs -- especially if you wish to bring him back to Christianity.

 

[WittyBanter]

I was raised a very strong Christian. Over the years, my religion changed. It did not vanish completely, it simply became different. I came to accept the idea of God as too big for a book, and not specific to any one religion. A God that creates an eternal soul would not chance it burning forever due to an accident of birth ("sorry Chief Running-With-Spears, you never heard of Jesus, off to Hell for you!") Therefore, I think of my existence on this earth is to simply be me. I do not live for Heaven or Hell, I do not spend my time in worship to the almighty (I see no reason for an all powerful God to need me to feed his ego). I do not attempt to convert others, because an atheist is doing what they are meant to be doing as well, just living.
This is a quick summary of my thoughts, and they took years to get to. My search began by looking into near-death experiences, and discovering that every faith has similarities with these, and they are not negative and hellish if the person is a buddhist or something.
Anyways, my point is simply that by leaving Christianity does not mean that you must abandon faith. I am stronger in my beliefs then ever before. Seek the truth through other means then just the bible (although it is a fascinating book as well). You may find a new way of looking at things. Check out the Dali Lama for some good spiritual thoughts.

Cheers

 

[Ledifni]

peepnklown, your the one who brings nothing to the table. Endure is looking for hope and hope isn't what your giving him.

To be honest, I don't think Endure is looking for hope. He says that he cannot believe it anymore and he is no longer a Christian -- not that he is having trouble believing it and wants a reason to believe. I think Endure wants evidence rather than hope, a vision of possibility rather than fear of Hell. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I've got.

If my memory proves to be clear, atheists don't believe in hope. they don;t believe in anything. You have a faith in the fact that there is no God. Am I correct?

(I apologize if my wording is offensive.)

I have no doubt that your memory is quite clear, and I also have no doubt that you have been atrociously lied to. Yes, I have also heard the horrific accusations leveled against atheists by Christians who don't want to believe that somebody can be a decent person without God -- after all, I've leveled them myself in the past.

That does not mean they are true. Perhaps you would do better to ask atheists what they believe, instead of repeating what those who hate atheists say about us.

 

[Phats]

Atheists don't believe in "hope" as it is defined in Christianity. There is existence and future is defined within the span of a lifetime. Everything past that is a mystery or simply not worth the worry at the present time.

Atheists see no evidence of God so they see no reason to believe in Him.

 

[levi501]

If you go to anti-Christian hate sites, you will see Xian, Xtian and Fundy used as slurs against Christians. They will justify it by saying it is shorthand but it's really a ruse. I used to hang out on one of these sites and they openly joked about it. The person using it here may not know it is a slur. It's disrespectful.

It's illogical to suggest that abreviating a word somehow shows less respect or is insulting. There are many words we abreviate... does this logic extend to those words as well? No... so your logic is flawed and cause for offense is unfounded. Your personal anecdotal evidence doesn't some how make your statement anymore convincing either. I can easily counter with the internet site known as Internet Infidels where the abreviation is used a lot and the xians that post there hardly seem to care. Or I can go with more substantial evidence and mention that xians here use the term also. Go to the members list and look at the number of xians that use "X" in their name to denote Christ.

 

[mamabear4]

Go to the members list and look at the number of xians that use "X" in their name to denote Christ.QUOTE]


No offense on my part. Only hurting for Christ. I'd sure hate to be referred to as xbear. I'm the mama around here, for pete's sake. ha.

 

[Phats]

Whoa, don't get so defensive. I'm just telling you. You can do whatever you want. If it is too difficult for you to spell Christian so you have to use Xian, that's your deal. I'm just informing you of something you may not know.

My aunt never knew that the word "colored" was demeaning. I understand your plight.

 

[""]

You are very angry, confrontational, and defensive in your faith, Adiya. I do not think you do any good that way, and whether your beliefs are true or mine, you would do well to learn to identify with and understand others.

Your contribution is emphatically not what the OP needs -- especially if you wish to bring him back to Christianity.

There is nothing angry or confrontational about my post. There is a difference between assertive and aggressive behavior. I happen to be assertive in my faith. You see it as aggressive because it angers you, and you're turning your anger outward, in my direction. I will not weaken my faith in God and Jesus Christ, nor will I weaken my assertive statements regarding the giving up of one's faith in Christ.

I will not submit to you, or to he whom you represent. I submit only to God.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

There is spiritual death for those who reject God and the Savior Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:113-120
I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Depart from me, you evil doers, for I will keep the commandments of my God! Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually. You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood. You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.

 

[levi501]

Whoa, don't get so defensive. I'm just telling you. You can do whatever you want. If it is too difficult for you to spell Christian so you have to use Xian, that's your deal. I'm just informing you of something you may not know.

that's fine... and I'm telling you not all xians agree with you.

My aunt never knew that the word "colored" was demeaning. I understand your plight.

This is absurd... do I really need to touch this?

 

[Phats]

Same type of thing. She grew up using the term and was ignorant of its change. Go to any anti-Christian site and they are using the term "Xian" or "Xtian" heavily to describe Christians. They almost never spell out "Christian" even in long essays where other words are spelled out. Coincidence? I doubt it.

The fact they will use justify its use by using silly rationalizations is even more evidence of its use as a slur. One bigot told me that it was used because he didn't want to insult the diety of Christ even though he openly blasphemed the name of Christ. They use "Jesus Christ" or "Christ" as an epithet but can't spell Christian? Yeah, right. Bigots don't tend to be strapped to the truth very often and consider it a plaything.

Obviously, you don't know it is a slur. Some Christians use it out of ignorance and it can't be helped. But simple etiquette should tell us that its use should be avoided in Christian forums. We proclaim Christ Crucified, not X crucified.

 

[Ledifni]

There is nothing angry or confrontational about my post. There is a difference between assertive and aggressive behavior. I happen to be assertive in my faith. You see it as aggressive because it angers you, and you're turning your anger outward, in my direction. I will not weaken my faith in God and Jesus Christ, nor will I weaken my assertive statements regarding the giving up of one's faith in Christ.

I will not submit to you, or to he whom you represent. I submit only to God.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

There is spiritual death for those who reject God and the Savior Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:113-120
I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Depart from me, you evil doers, for I will keep the commandments of my God! Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually. You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood. You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.

I could tell you that you're wrong, that I'm not angry, but then it would simply devolve into "YesyouarenoI'mnotyesyouare." So instead, I'll just ask you a question: if you were doubting, and a Christian wrote a post as accusatory and hurtful as yours was, would it prompt you to return to Christianity?

That is all. Think about it if you like, ignore it if you like. It makes no difference to me, and so I consider this discussion ended.

 

[""]

that's fine... and I'm telling you not all xians agree with you.

While it is true that some Christians do agree with you, it is also true that some see the use of an X in place of Christ, as the non-believers way of attempting to diminish the significance of Jesus Christ altogether.

There are groups of Christians who approve of the X in place of the word Christ, because they see it as a symbol of the cross. An X was also used by many in times when belief in Christ was punishable by death (those times are nearly upon us again). So in a way, the X honors those who died in the name of Christ, and who had to hide their faith with an X or a fish symbol for their own safety.

I am not among those who believe in honoring these martyr's though I do Praise God for saving them with the blood of Christ. They are now in heaven with Him because of that. The reason I don't believe in honoring them, is because I believe that all honor and glory should go to Christ the Savior, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, alone. Yet, I do understand that you may not have meant your use of the X as an insult.

It is important to acknowledge that many atheists do use the X as an insult. They do it in vain though. There is no power in the letter X, and the strength of a darkened heart will not overcome the light of Christ which lives within us.

Overcomers... not the succumbed, so we bear the name of CHRIST proudly.

We are to be overcomers by following the example of Jesus.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

Rev. 3:21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Rev. 17:14 These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him {are the} called and chosen and faithful.
Rom. 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

2 Cor. 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

Col. 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

WE ARE CHRISTIANS Praise the Lord

 

[""]

I could tell you that you're wrong, that I'm not angry, but then it would simply devolve into "YesyouarenoI'mnotyesyouare."

Here you suggest that you could be assertive, perhaps even aggressive in your response to me, but you have concern that it would turn into a back and forth issue. There is nothing wrong with having a discussion, where both sides are represented by assertion. Assertive behavior is nothing to fear. Aggressive behavior, on the other hand, is not helpful, and will not get your point across.

So instead, I'll just ask you a question: if you were doubting, and a Christian wrote a post as accusatory and hurtful as yours was, would it prompt you to return to Christianity?

Here once again you accuse me of being hurtful and accusatory, when in reality you are being accusatory, even if you do attempt to hide it in a caring question.

This is an example of passive aggressiveness.

We have spoken of assertive behavior vs. aggressive behavior already. I pointed out to you that your behavior exhibited aggressiveness, and here you continue on that path. This is not a positive step toward ridding yourself of anger.


I encourage you to explore assertive behavior. It's a wonderful thing.

From Psychology Today:

Assertiveness means being able to make overtures to other people, to stand up for oneself in a nonaggressive way, to speak up when others make demands, and to make suggestions or requests to others in a group.

For some people, assertiveness requires overcoming psychological traits such as extreme passivity, sensitivity to criticism, anxiety, insecurity and low self-esteem.

The real first step toward assertiveness is self-confidence. You develop self-confidence only one way—through the experience of effectiveness in the world. You have to rack up some successes all your own, in specific domains of experience. These commonly encompass friendships and other social relationships, academic or work achievements, appearance or style, the cultivation of physical or athletic ability, and moral and ethical rectitude. Competence in any domain is not a given. It takes work at developing skills.

 

[I <3 Abraham]

*WARNING, RAMBLE APPROACHING*

Endure2:

Gotta say, I'm at a totally different point than you are in my faith. My father is a minister, but I was never baptised, he never brought us to church, I listened to OT bible stories at bed time because they are great freakin kid's stories (daniel and david and Joseph and such)! I began to be want to know God as a result of reading Kierkegaard's fear and trembling (hence my handle) and have since been reading the bible and contemplating grad school in theology. The way that you talk about your own problems with faith seems so classic to me (not a slur, I was a classicist in school, no compliment higher than being a classic!) and distinctly human. We want to KNOW, not just to believe, not to have faith, not to hope, we want to KNOW, NOW.

Heck, I'm with you, few things irritate me as badly as pentecostals (sorry guys, nothing personal) telling me that I'm wrong about the bible because the holy spirit hasn't moved me. But that is a personal failing, greed for God's attention really. I would like to feel some sort of magical hand on my shoulder, maybe a whispering voice. I mean, come on! It's not like I'm asking for a talking burning bush or something! But, right now I feel so young in my faith that I just cant imagine saying "I've tried EVERYTHING and that stubborn God just wont talk to me!". I'm sure that many MANY monks and nuns throughout history have been driven nearly mad by this silent God that we worship. In order to avoid an earnest plea to God to speak to me (seems terrifying to me, think of the let-down, yeesh), whenever I desire God to make himself known to me, I just think of Abraham and the three days he spent riding to Mount Moriah, never speaking to God. I think of how much he must have desired that God would reverse his pronouncement, how much he must have wanted to beg God to spare his son, how much he would rather just kill himself in order to spare his son. Instead Abraham does as he is told, silently, faithfully for three days. By so doing, God reverses his own command FOR ABRAHAM'S SAKE, without even being asked! My own desire to call out to God is miniscule compared to Abraham's and he did what was seemly, his gift was nothing short of a miracle. Anyhow, if I get started on father Abraham I'll talk your ear off. I wish you all the best in your life.