Should an ex-Christian be able to explain why?

[GenemZ]

In my Christian days I once found myself with a lot of free time on my hands, so I decided to read the entire Bible. I found a ton of contradictions.

Yup... we all do. Impossible stuff to reconcile.

Others will leave you without excuse .... for we sought the Lord with all our heart and found (some of us anyway) good teachers. Once you start seeing some of those impossible contradictions unravel before your eyes.... You will see that God uses such things to weed out those who are not really wanting to know Him.

Its how it works for many.

One excellent teacher I found. R. B. Thieme, Jr., Bible Ministries — Home


Ironically, he ticks of many self righteous believers who think faith means believing stuff that makes no sense, pleases God.

Another thing that ticks off the self righteous types... or they simply do not know better. Is that he refuses to charge money for his excellent teachings. R. B. Thieme, Jr., Bible Ministries — Home

 

[cloudyday2]

I agree that is odd.

I suspect it is my brain. If you could listen inside my brain, you would hear partial thoughts repeating endlessly as short phrases. Deductive reasoning is not natural for my brain. I always question and doubt and double-check and worry. Given that I am chronically depressed and even lapsed into psychosis briefly, I think my brain is the problem. It is hard for my brain to be organized. ... Meditation and prayer are sometimes helpful though.

O.k. I've got it now. When I think I start repeating a partial thought like a mantra until hopefully something eventually clicks subconsciously and I say "eureka". It's not: step 1, step 2, step 3, answer.

 

[GenemZ]

In my Christian days I once found myself with a lot of free time on my hands, so I decided to read the entire Bible. I found a ton of contradictions. I asked my Christian leaders and they dodged every single question I had. The conclusion was inescapable: either God is unable or unwilling to prevent these errors, and I found neither to be acceptable. The Bible is inspired, God-breathed, the holy word, and... filled to the brim with errors?

Please/... give us some of those questions? I have seen some pretty weak teachers out there and would not want to think that your Christianity rose and set on their horizon.

 

[Tayla]

When I try to ask myself why I don't believe, I can only shrug my shoulders. I just don't believe anymore. I'm not sure why. This bugs me.

Perhaps there is a step by step sequence of events or ideas that explains it. Influences or acquiring some knowledge or whatever. Or maybe just neglect causing a going back to a previous default condition of thinking.

 

[GenemZ]

I suspect it is my brain. If you could listen inside my brain, you would hear partial thoughts repeating endlessly as short phrases. Deductive reasoning is not natural for my brain. I always question and doubt and double-check and worry. Given that I am chronically depressed and even lapsed into psychosis briefly, I think my brain is the problem. It is hard for my brain to be organized. ... Meditation and prayer are sometimes helpful though.

O.k. I've got it now. When I think I start repeating a partial thought like a mantra until hopefully something eventually clicks subconsciously and I say "eureka". It's not: step 1, step 2, step 3, answer.

If when you were younger had genuinely walked into regeneration? You had become a new creation .....

If that took place? You will never feel dialed in with life unless you can find the truth needed for your unique soul to stabilize. I used to insist on gutting it out and kept away from churches (because they were insufficient for my needs)... I remember how my gut was always tight and could not enter into resting.

Then, after years of suffering in an inexplainable way..I walked into where I finally began to find some good teaching. I did not mind calling myself a Christian at that point. Before then, I disdained what I saw in Christianity as sloppy emotionalism having a religious sense of dutifulness.

 

[cloudyday2]

Perhaps there is a step by step sequence of events or ideas that explains it. Influences or acquiring some knowledge or whatever. Or maybe just neglect causing a going back to a previous default condition of thinking.

I guess what confuses me is how others can look at the same information that I have seen and continue to believe in Christianity. After reading some books on the origins of Judaism and the origins of Christianity, I gradually came to believe that both religions were bunk. But there are plenty of Christians here who have read similar books and reached different conclusions. Why? Is there something I'm missing?

 

[Tayla]

I guess what confuses me is how others can look at the same information that I have seen and continue to believe in Christianity. After reading some books on the origins of Judaism and the origins of Christianity, I gradually came to believe that both religions were bunk. But there are plenty of Christians here who have read similar books and reached different conclusions. Why? Is there something I'm missing?

Yes, it is a mystery why one person chooses one thing and another chooses another. Free will is miraculously strange in its workings.

 

[GenemZ]

Why? Is there something I'm missing?

Yes....

But, we do not continue to believe in "Christianity."
We believe in Jesus Christ.

Christianity is the result. Not the cause.

We do not believe in Jesus Christ because of Christianity.
Christianity exists because of belief in Jesus Christ.

Belief is only the embryonic stage. Belief will turn into knowing, if we continue to choose to mature in grace and knowledge. It requires fighting to gain more truth. Fighting the good fight.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,
the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity
in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Eph 4:11-13​

 

[bhsmte]

Yes, it is a mystery why one person chooses one thing and another chooses another. Free will is miraculously strange in its workings.

It is typically related to each person's psyche and how that relates to their life experiences.

 

[GenemZ]

It is typically related to each person's psyche and how that relates to their life experiences.

It all boils down to arrogance... or humility, regardless of the person's psyche.

There are humble artists of greatness. And, there are arrogant artists of greatness.

The issue is... Humility, or arrogance. Everything else is a vending machine of choices.

 

[bhsmte]

It all boils down to arrogance... or humility, regardless of the person's psyche.

There are humble artists of greatness. And, there are arrogant artists of greatness.

The issue is... Humility, or arrogance. Everything else is a vending machine of choices.

Would this then mean; those who disagree with your personal faith belief, are arrogant?

 

[GenemZ]

Would this then mean; those who disagree with your personal faith belief, are arrogant?

Not at all... I can be arrogant.

But, simply put. The great divide in humanity stems from arrogance coexisting with humility. Volition determines what side.