Questions you always wanted to ask a Christian or non believer and remarks are accepted also.

[gaara4158]

New question for the non believers.
Who among you were raised in the church?

I was, from a young age. Went to church every week, attended early morning youth classes,, went to private Christian schools, was involved in the church scouting organization, attended religious seminars, and volunteered at vacation Bible school for most summers.

 

[Sabri]

I was, from a young age. Went to church every week, attended early morning youth classes,, went to private Christian schools, was involved in the church scouting organization, attended religious seminars, and volunteered at vacation Bible school for most summers.

What age did you make a conscious decision to turn away from the belief?

 

[gaara4158]

What age did you make a conscious decision to turn away from the belief?

It happened against my will. One day I realized I simply didn’t believe anymore. All the arguments I made against the false gods cut equally into my own god. It must have been around 19, when I was just starting to develop some real critical thinking.

 

[Sabri]

It happened against my will. One day I realized I simply didn’t believe anymore. All the arguments I made against the false gods cut equally into my own god. It must have been around 19, when I was just starting to develop some real critical thinking.

What were the reasons you gave yourself against believing in the deity of Jesus Christ

 

[Sif]

New question for the non believers.
Who among you were raised in the church?

I was not raised in any Christian denomination.

 

[comana]

New question for the non believers.
Who among you were raised in the church?

From a young age, preschool or kindergarten, every Sunday- one “big church “ service and Sunday school service in the morning and then back again for evening service. Wednesday service or later AWANA once that was started. Christian school for several years. I continued to attend church on and off as an adult and then stopped completely in my late twenties as I was feeling less and less connection to belief in God.

 

[returntosender]

From a young age, preschool or kindergarten, every Sunday- one “big church “ service and Sunday school service in the morning and then back again for evening service. Wednesday service or later AWANA once that was started. Christian school for several years. I continued to attend church on and off as an adult and then stopped completely in my late twenties as I was feeling less and less connection to belief in God.

Knowing the results of turning away from God as a Christian knows, weren't you afraid cutting your ties from God?

 

[returntosender]

I was, from a young age. Went to church every week, attended early morning youth classes,, went to private Christian schools, was involved in the church scouting organization, attended religious seminars, and volunteered at vacation Bible school for most summers.

Wow, this is so hard to understand. As a Christian knowing the results of turning away, the pits of hell. Weren't you afraid?

I like how religion can give the sufferings in some life a sense of purpose and even mysticism. As a theist I was able to pick up these frequencies well. The unpleasnt aspects of life were much more bearable.

As an atheist I'm not able to really tap into that anymore, I guess it's given me a more realistic view of suffer, but I do miss it at times.

One thing that separated me from most of my Christian peers was that I wasn't into the submissive aspect of the faith. I never really understood the purpose of worship for example or why a God would even want that. It did hinder me from having a lot of spiritual experiences my peers did. There was only one time I actually made a real effort to submit to God during worship hour at a Youth Group. It gave me spiritual feelings, but I didn't really life them... and unlike the contemplations of suffering... even after the worship the after taste lasted for a while... I'm pretty sure it's big reason I was never really able to hear from God and engage in other spiritual activities in Church.

I can relate to what you are saying here. I have a lot of these feelings. Did you feel fearful at the supposed results of breaking the ties with God?

 

[comana]

Knowing the results of turning away from God as a Christian knows, weren't you afraid cutting your ties from God?

It was a conflicting feeling early on but it faded overtime. It’s not a process I was in control of but evidence against existence of God was slowly overtaking reasons to believe and eventually I realized I just no longer believed.

 

[AV1611VET]

Knowing the results of turning away from God as a Christian knows, weren't you afraid cutting your ties from God?

Excellent question!

 

[returntosender]

I'm struck by the fact that you non believers that had Christian back grounds have no fear of what we are taught if we leave God. Hell fire and damnation and all of that. So it seems that even though you spent your early life in it that maybe you never believed. ? The fear just wasn't there ?

 

[AV1611VET]

Wow, this is so hard to understand. As a Christian knowing the results of turning away, the pits of hell. Weren't you afraid?

No Hell for those who were genuinely saved; even if they turned away.

Once saved, always saved.

 

[returntosender]

It was a conflicting feeling early on but it faded overtime. It’s not a process I was in control of but evidence against existence of God was slowly overtaking reasons to believe and eventually I realized I just no longer believed.

Thanks for your candidness.

 

[returntosender]

No Hell for those who were genuinely saved; even if they turned away.

Once saved, always saved.

I believe in osas. But i believe the person can break away it's just that God would never make the break if they don't.he will let them go if they do.

 

[AV1611VET]

I believe in osas.

But i believe the person can break away

Me too.

Just like the prodigal son did.

it's just that God would never make the break if they don't.

Whether they do or not, God won't.

he will let them go if they do.

Nope.

The story is told of the little boy who went for a walk with his father, holding his father's hand.

The boy would stumble and fall every once in awhile.

"Here," the dad said, "Let ME hold YOUR hand."

There's a difference.

 

[returntosender]

No Hell for those who were genuinely saved; even if they turned away.

Once saved, always saved.

Genuinely saved?

Me too.

Just like the prodigal son did.



Whether they do or not, God won't.



Nope.

The story is told of the little boy who went for a walk with his father, holding his father's hand.

The boy would stumble and fall every once in awhile.

"Here," the dad said, "Let ME hold YOUR hand."

There's a difference.

Story? I believe he lets them go. He gives us a choice always.

 

[AV1611VET]

Genuinely saved?

Yes.

Saved. Translated. Born again. Birthed into the Kingdom of God. Initial sanctification. Redeemed. Blood bought.

However you want to say it.

Story? I believe he lets them go. He gives us a choice always.

You just said you believe in OSAS.

Now you're saying He lets them go.

Are you confused?

 

[returntosender]

I do believe in osas. But the Christian can break the bond an god will let them go. If you follow the steps of salvation are you always saved. Such as Jesus your savior, repenting of you sins, turning from the ungodly life. If you take those steps are you always saved. Do you then receive the holy spirit?

 

[AV1611VET]

I do believe in osas.

???

But the Christian can break the bond an god will let them go.

No Christian can break the bond.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you follow the steps of salvation are you always saved.

Yes.

Such as Jesus your savior, repenting of you sins, turning from the ungodly life.

Yes.

If you take those steps are you always saved.

Yes.

Do you then receive the holy spirit?

Yes.

He comes into our lives immediately at the point of salvation.

We don't live in the period they did during the book of Acts.

In that period, the Holy Spirit was given to us progressively.

First by laying on of hands, later by baptism, today it's instantaneous.

This is because we don't have any of the Apostles around today to lay hands on us or baptize us.

The last one, John the Apostle, died circa AD 100.

(Paul died circa AD 65.)

And we don't believe in Apostolic Succession, Baptismal Regeneration, or Infant Baptism.

 

[returntosender]

No baptism no save?