Former Christians

exchristians @ 2009-06-25T08:41:00

2009-06-25T13:45:25Z

It's truly satisfying when quoting scripture at a Christian leaves them stumped and stupid. I feel just like Jesus in the desert... ;)

Lovely recent example:
community.livejournal.com/exchristians/191833.html

Weeks of silence from religious contender = SHUT DOWN.
yeah, son.

VenomFangX parody.

2009-06-14T05:24:33Z

I made this parody of VenomFangX (a now defunct two-faced Hovid-following comment-censoring lying patronising YouTube evangelist) for a contest hosted by another YouTube channel where people are meant to do impressions of famous youtubers. People who followed the VanomFangX will get the most out of it.

exchristians @ 2009-06-11T13:18:00

2009-06-11T19:07:26Z

Getting into a discussion with religious folks about why I'm not religious is almost impossible. They always like to talk about love and eternal salvation.....or hell. ;) But honestly? I'm so over that shit.

The reason I deconverted is so incredibly fundemental that a lot of Christians don't even go there in their minds. It is glossed over as a basic accepted truth far below actual contemplation. I don't give a flying duck about "why bad things happen to good people," or "how could a 'good' God create evil." No horrible event happened in my life that caused me to lose faith.

The reason I don't belive in God is because it's stupid.
Well, that's the short version. ;)

Here's the long reason:

Christians have got this god, right? He's really powerful. No, like really super powerful. He can do literally ANYTHING. He was always there, never didn't exist. Then one day (even though days didn't exist yet) he gets bored and decides to make some friends. (pun totally intended) *Poof!* Universe exists. *Poof!**Poof!**Poof!**Poof!* Planets, stars, plants, animals and the cherry on top: us. Now this is really great, because since He gave us free will, God is having a ball being in loving, personal relationships with all of us. Now we can enjoy his creation, enjoy the life and bodies he gave us, and when we die, we get to go to Heaven and be with him forever! Yay!

Wait, what? Not everyone gets to go to Heaven? Whyever not?

Because of sin. God is good, and sin is bad, so He can't be around it.

Why not?

Because he said so.

Alright, well why doesn't he just make sin go away?

That's not the way it works.

But he can do anything!

Look, it's against the rules, okay?

....You mean the rules he made up?

....yes.

I could go on, but that is the heart of the matter. God supposedly created absolutely everything, but then there are all these rules about how sin works and how it cannot enter his kingdom? So either God himself is goverened by pre-existing pre-God laws (which would destroy the concept of the christain god), or he imposed these rules on us himself as part of this sick little game. Sin is the heart and soul of Christianity, and when you get right down to it, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

In my experience, Christians are flabbergasted by this vien of logic. Sin and the laws surrounding it are presented as unquestionable facts, but no one really goes into why the whole system is set up the way it is. And really, if you can't reason out the most basic foundations of the religion, why bother quibbling over good vs evil, or why evolution kicks ID's withered booty?

New to the comm

2009-05-11T00:45:33Z

Hi all,

New to the comm. I grew up fundamentalist Baptist. Walked away from the church ten years ago. Went through the usual deprogramming and stages of fear and anger. Embraced liberal Christian theology, then Wicca and finally admitted I was an atheist about six years ago. Now I have two concerns. One, I want to help others like me that are leaving their faith (either for more "friendly" Christian faiths or for nothing at all). Two, I am concerned about how militant and fundy-thinking the atheist movement is becoming. I fully support anything that will pry to cold dead hands of fundamentalism off the neck of America but I don't think saying, "All people of faith are stupid" is the way to do it.

So, hi all. Hope to find a home here. *waves*

New Community

2009-04-26T19:02:17Z

I wanted to let you all know about the community I have just created -- reclaiming_sex . The focus is on people who come from a sexually detrimental religious set of beliefs who are reclaiming a healthy idea of sex. All are welcome, regardless of current or past religious beliefs. If you have been hurt by sexual repression, abuse, the exgay movement, or hate from within a religious idea, or simply want to cultivate or help others cultivate a healthier incorporation of sex into one's life, please join and share your journey with others.

On a personal note, I am a former evangelical christian who believed lustful thoughts, masturbation, pornography, homosexuality, etc. were all sinful especially outside of marriage. As someone who was strongly devoted to her faith throughout the teenaged and sexually developmental years, I am still feeling the repurcussions of sexual repression even now, three and a half years into my marriage. My intellectual ideas of sex have changed greatly, but my psychological and emotional responses can still hold on to old habits. I know that I can't be the only one who experiences this, so I am reaching out to the greater livejournal community to hopefully create a network of support for myself and for those like me.

...but HE LOVES you!

2009-04-21T06:05:25Z

friendlyatheist.com/2009/04/19/burned-at-the-stake-after-being-accused-of-witchcraft/

Here's what evangelical Christians believe their loving, merciful God will do to those who don't accept Jesus. (watch the video)

Except it lasts FOREVER.

If Atheists Ruled the World

2009-03-31T15:56:21Z

Actors recite real quotes from Fundies Say The Darndest Things.

Via the ever awesome Friendly Atheist. I laughed so hard I just coughed up a lung :O

Sundays of Solidarity

2009-03-30T17:44:01Z

Between May 17 and June 28, 2009, groups of LGBT and allied people around the country will attend worship services at a church of their choice - a church that is not welcoming and affirming of openly LGBT members and guests. Each group will wear a lapel button that reads "gay? fine by me." For less formal churches we also have a t-shirt with this message. The lapel button (or t-shirt) serves as a conversation starter - opening dialogue with people in the church about faith, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

When that visible act of courage is paired with adequate training, then transforming hearts and minds becomes a bona fide possibility. That's why we've designed a three-part teleconference course and a resource webpage that covers the essentials of Nonviolent communication, Media talking points, and What both the Bible and science really say about homosexuality. Training teleconferences will be held on April 19, April 26, and May 3 at 4pm CST. To register for the trainings go to http://www.soulforce.org/moodle/login/index.php and enter your information.

We hope you will consider organizing a Sundays of Solidarity project in your area. It simply involves choosing a church in your area that could benefit from an SOS visit, using your contact list to recruit others to join you, attending the teleconference training sessions, and then organizing your group to take action on one of the Sundays between May 17 and June 28, 2009. To purchase a lapel button or t-shirt, please visit http://finebyme.org/sos.html.

http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com

exchristians @ 2009-02-27T00:49:00

2009-02-27T06:49:46Z

When prostrate upon earth lay human life
Visibly tramples down and foully crushed
Beneath religion's cruelty, who meanwhile
Out of the regions of heaven above
Showed forth her face, lowering on mortal men
With horrible aspect, first did a man of Greece
Dare to lift up his mortal eyes against her;
The first was he to stand up and defy her.
Him neither the stories of the gods, nor lightnings,
Nor heaven with muttering menaces could quell,
But all the more did they arouse his soul's
Keen valour, till he longed to be the first
To break through the fast-bolted doors of Nature.
Therefore his fervent energy of mind
Prevailed, as he passed onward, voyaging far
Beyond the flaming ramparts of the world,
Raging in mind and spirit far and wide
Throughout the unmeasured universe; and thence
A conqueror he returns to us, bringing back
Knowledge of both what can and what cannot
Rise into being, teaching us in fine
Upon the principle each thing has its powers
Limited, and its deep-set boundary stone.
Therefore now has Religion been cast down
Beneath men's feet, and trampled on in turn:
Ourselves heaven-high his victory exalts.
-Lucretius
de rerum natura

Ex-Christians, meet the Ex-masturbators.

2009-02-26T06:24:41Z

This shirt is actually NOT ironic humor.

Article here.

Dear mom and dad....I know you've never quite understood why I rejected Christianity.

2009-02-25T18:55:07Z

I hope it all seems much clearer now:

never really thought about this before

2009-02-24T22:03:04Z

In response to a previous post I'd made I got this response: What's amazing are the number of "Christians" who haven't ever read the Bible. I've never heard of a Muslim who didn't read the Koran.

Hello!

It kinda just seems to be the expected thing, that if you're a religious person or you lay any sort of fealty to a particular faith that you would've taken the time to read the holy text it follows at least once.

So, have you? If you're Christian have you read the Bible? If you're Jewish have you read the Torah? If you're Muslim have you read the Koran? Etc?

Belief

2009-02-23T23:01:06Z

There's a line that Tom Cruise used in Men of Honor, and this isn't an exact quote, that went "It doesn't matter what I know, it only matters what I can prove." It kinda echoed in my head while the following was percolating in the background...

..which was likely inspired by a sign in front of a church I passed earlier that read "Only speaking the truth".

Most religious lines of thought are based in belief and not facts. At least with my favorite whipping horse, Christianity, because while I know a number of things of various religions...most of what I know stems from that one. Or, better to say, the followers of this faith believe certain things but they don't actually know them for sure.

Hence, the power of faith. To cling to what you pray to despite all else to the contrary.

What's interesting to me about Christianty is that it is a religion with many faces. There are Christians that believe in some things that run completely against what other Christians believe. They all ahve the Bible as their shining bastion of "the Truth" yet they don't all agree on what that truth necessarily is. Some random ones from my previous posts are whether Jesus was the son of God, God made flesh, or a combination of the two. I've gotten responses to each of those as that one of them was the truth, each person selecting a different one, and the other misinterpretations. Also whether Jesus was celibate his whole life, possibilites as to whether or not he and Mary Magdeline married, Jesus having children or not, whether or not John and Mary had other kids, or after having died for 3 days and rising from where his body was entombed if Jesus was more a vampire or a zombie...

...though, granted, that last one isn't generally something I ask about in religious communities.

*ahem*

So, whatever it is that your faith teaches you...do you think you know it or do you think you believe it?

New Member Question

2009-02-20T04:37:01Z

I just joined and have a question. The community info page says that the members aren't areligious, they just don't agree with the tenets of Christianity anymore. Does this mean that this community isn't meant for atheists? Wanted to check before I started getting involved.

exchristians @ 2009-02-18T07:26:00

2009-02-18T12:37:55Z

I'm beginning to realize that I was never sure of the existence of God to begin with. All I have is the fear: well, IF he exists, I'm going to be screwed! I suppose this is sort of living a lie to begin with, which would also probably get me sent to hell.

I've always had a strong conscience, which I have often considered to be God, but it never gave me any real answers, only more to agonize over. I also suffer from anxiety disorder, which would explain a lot of this as well. Living the life of a Christian has more or less made me miserable - but I'm so scared that I will make the wrong decision as to what to believe. Denying the existence of Jesus is a one way ticket to Hell, yes? But how do I choose?! Believing leads me to become a person I know I am not...but not believing makes me feel empty and fearful, as well.

I have been told to look in to other religions...but no matter what I always come back to the fear of Jesus Christ.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for in response to this post. Advice? Similar stories? I'm not sure, but I am thankful if you've read through this whole stupid, incoherent thing.

Something very strange happened

2009-02-01T05:23:27Z

Since leaving Christianity behind in June 2007, I have been either agnostic or atheist depending on the time. Atheism had its ups and downs but it was working for me most of the time. So imagine my surprise when last week I started believing in a god.

The story of how it happened sounds so hokey, but I'm telling you what really happened to me.

Went to church with my boyfriend on Friday night, which is their usual weekend service. And I've been to church with him many times before and never really felt connected with what was going on because 1. It's in Spanish 2. What I did understand didn't have meaning for me because I didn't believe in God. Plus, it's not a church that puts ANY emphasis on emotion at all. It's pretty ritualistic and there's no clapping ever. But that particular night when the people were taking turns praying, it was different. Even though I couldn't understand all the words, I could tell that they weren't just listing off names. It was like they really thought God was listening, and I ached to feel connected to something spiritual again.

On Tuesday night, I was on a long drive with a close friend of mine and I started spilling my guts about what happened at church. I told him I wanted to believe in God but believing in God, in my mind, brought so much baggage with it, that I didn't think it was worth it. Because if you believe in a higher power, then obviously, that higher power wants something from you. So then, it's your job to find out what that higher power wants from you. So you end up struggling to please this higher power and follow the rules and the last time I tried that, it was a nightmare.

Shane and I took turns talking and he talked about his view of God, which is a God who is helping you instead of demanding something from you. In his view of God, you don't have to figure out what God wants from you, you just follow what makes you happy and what you feel like really works for you. We talked a lot about different concepts of God, and after about an hour, something clicked. I pulled into a parking lot because I was crying, and I was crying because it was the first time in almost 2 years that I genuinely thought there might be some sort of benevolent god in the universe. I've read some great books about belief systems I liked, but I never could accept them, because even though they sounded like wonderful ideas, I didn't think there was really a higher power to believe in.

But that night, I actually started believing there is some sort of God. I'm not a Christian or anything, I don't have any specific beliefs about this God or about an afterlife or about any scripture. i just know I don't feel alone anymore. Not that I was depressed about being an atheist, I think that's what I needed for a period of time: just to wipe the slate clean and start over. Atheism helped me make sense of the world for a while, but at this point in my journey, it seems that faith is helping me.

It feels really strange, believing in a god. Knowing how spiritual journeys are, I don't know how long I'll have this view of god, but it's working for me right now. I don't even know what to say when I pray, I just know that it's wonderful not feeling alone.

Those Interested in Buddhism

2009-01-28T17:01:38Z

Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music and the arts in Hinduism. Saraswati is also a figure in Mahayana Buddhism. That is the Buddhism in which I practice. Saraswati appears in the Golden Radiance Sutra and later in the Mahayana Sutras. Why am I talking about this? I recently just started a community that is dedicated to icons and graphics. The reason why I am posting here is because a lot of what I will be designing includes Buddhist and Hindu icons/graphics. I also occasionally like to post Buddhist quotes to inspire. The site will also have mainstream icons as well. I thought some of you may be interested in this. Have a wonderful day! If the owner of this site is interested, I would love to become affiliates and vice versa. :-)

Saraswati English Translation of Mantra

May Goddess Saraswati,
who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me.
May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance.

exchristians @ 2009-01-28T02:50:00

2009-01-28T08:56:48Z

I was a hardcore "i'm going to be a missionary when i grow up" type of Christian until my senior year. I was struggling with severe anorexia, cutting, and suicidal thoughts. Everyday i would pray and cry and beg for God to help me. To tell that skinny bitch in my head to just shut up. But he never did. Not once did he try to help. So i said fuck it. I did it all by myself and have been bitter a longtime about it.

but now, after being sexually abused by someone i really cared about in the past. i'm having real problems again. i hate sex. i mean i hate it. I feel like dying everytime i have sex with my wonderful, loving fiance.

so i wanted know. what do ya'll do to handle your problems after Christianity? I mean, talking to God is the only way i've ever known how to get through problems. I just have no idea what to do or how to act.

i'm utterly drowning in my agnosticism. my heart just says go back to him, but my head says don't be so fucking stupid. does anyone ever wish they could still be a Christian and believe in God?

Religion and atheism discussion

2009-01-25T13:53:22Z

I hope this is of interest and is appropriate to the community, but if not please let me know and I'll delete! I've posted a piece about religion and atheism in my journal. It covers several things, but mostly it's written as a formal reply to people who argue against atheist views, and is intended (hopefully!) to stimulate discussion. Comments are most welcome! You can find it here.

Sheila, Queen of witches selling her soul!!!

2009-01-22T22:45:27Z

Hello Everyone!

If you are a real Occult, you have to watc my latest and final e-bay auction! I AM SELLING MY SOUL!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170296605055

Pass this link on to friends, add your comments, be part of the hype!

Bolivia to Vote on New Consitution With Abortion Rights, and Protections for Sexual Minorities

2009-01-22T19:33:19Z

Bolivia will hold a nationwide referendum this Sunday for its constituents to decide whether to approve or reject a new version of the country's constitution that would provide for abortion rights, religious liberties, and protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens.

Take action to urge the President and Vice-President to vocally support the referendum publicly.
http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2009/01/bolivia-to-vote-on-new-constitution.html

New member, with a question: Ex Catholics and formal defection?

2009-01-18T07:21:32Z

Hello all. I have just joined this community, and I was wondering if anyone else is in the same position I am.
Long story short: raised Catholic. Very, very loose "Its all just about love and giving to the poor" Catholic. Over time I realised that I no longer believe in Catholic (or Christian, or theist) theology and pronouncements on reality (Creation, salvation, miracles, and so on), but this has turned out to be the least of my issues.

Like many other people I am becoming more and more horrified with the Catholic leadership and its pronouncements on social issues. The Church stands for just about everything that I stand against (nothing unusual there; I know that many committed Catholics are in the same position). I feel genuinely hurt and betrayed when I compare the loving communities of my childhood with what the Church has become. I want to be rid of it on a very deep level
This is where this comes in:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actus_formalis_defectionis_ab_Ecclesia_catholica

On one hand I want to be free of this religion once and for all. On the other hand it would feel like I was abandoning a lot of good and kind people, and turning my back on a very important part of my childhood and family history. (Not to mention my mother. She's the sweetest woman who only wants me to be happy, but while liberal in a lot of ways she really does believe I might be dooming myself to hell.)

Have any Ex Catholics taken steps towards formal defection? Have any of you considered it and changed your mind? For those of you who have gone through with it, how does it work in practice (the sources i have seen make it sound pretty demeaning and drawn out).

Any help at all would be appreciated.

My Story

2009-01-15T14:42:24Z

Hey, new member here :) Thought I'd give my long tale of ex-Christianity.

I was never raised religiously. My parents, though they met at a church, quit soon after because of the church's oppressive rules regarding women holding jobs, dating, and other such issues. My dad became an adamant atheist, my mom was somewhat religious, now agnostic-ish, and religion was almost never a topic at home. We also never attended church services; their previous experience with church turned them off of it forever (who wants to get up early on Sundays, anyway?).

The first time my mom talked to me about god, a car was stolen and a baby was in the back. She told me that if we prayed, god would save the baby. I watched her pray, and sure enough, the baby was okay. That was proof enough for me. When I was young, I would only pray if I wanted something. Naturally, I often didn't get it, but I would keep trying. That phase didn't last for long.

I remember when my paternal great-grandparents came to visit. They would always want to say grace before meals, even at the mall. I wasn't comfortable with it and thought it was rather silly, so I just slid under the table, giggling with my little sister, Maggie. Ironically, I don't remember any grace being said when my paternal grandparents were visiting. My grandfather was a Presbyterian minister, so he and my grandmother were very religious.

Elementary school never involved much religious stuff, though if I was asked, I would consider myself a Christian. However, it was only because I was afraid of being wrong. At one point, I wanted to be baptized out of fear of being hellbound.

I remember when I was in middle school, I was at one of my friend, Tori's, family's regular parties (I think it was the fourth of July one). I met her religious friend, Sibley, there. She seemed like a nice girl, but it always irked me that she would berate me for saying "God damnit" or "using God's name in vain" or even some minor cursing (I didn't consider "hell" to be a curse word). Looking back, the annoyance I would get were some of my first pushes towards atheism. ;)

Though I considered myself to believe in god and all that, I never liked the idea of CCD, or taking it very seriously, or anything that my religious peers did. It all seemed unnecessary and silly.

I went through a phase in eighth grade where I "luved teh jeebus" and all that jazz. My sister was a non-believer before I was, and my dad challenged my beliefs when I brought them up. I remember feeling "persecuted," which in hindsight was just silly.

Tori went to this really lavish Christian camp, Crossroads, one time, which partially inspired me. Funnily enough, I wanted to go there mostly for the good food, hot tubs, and aparent freedom. I didn't really want to do the church service they had on Sunday XD Today, we joke that all the fun stuff was our only motivation for wanting to go.

In ninth grade, my faith was wavering, especially when I learned more about the prejudice inherent in Christianity, especially that of homophobia. This eventually came to frutition in tenth grade when I officially considered myself to be an atheist. I saw the wrongs in religion, the logical fallacies, the inconsistencies, and all the unecessary rituals, beliefs, and restrictions.

I accredit my "conversion" to helping me develop even stronger critical thinking skills, debate ettiquete (besides my endeavours into anti-animal rights and other subjects that stirr debate), and grow closer to my dad, with whom I have lots of discussions about theology, philosophy (he's getting his doctorate in philosophy :D), and politics. I also blame the heated, intelligent discussions we have within our family with few hurt feelings, which few of my peers are used to. XD It helped me learn to defend my beliefs and shaped my opinion that if you have a belief that you can't defend, it's not worth believing. Both of my parents are or were involved in politics and law, so they're naturals at this stuff.

There's some more stuff about my boyfriend and some other experiences with religion that I've had, but that would take too long to explain XD

Thanks for reading!

= Teoka

The secret(?)

2009-01-05T15:03:10Z

Are there any EX-Christians interested in studying The Secret with me? I read it last month and now I am applying the principles every day. I am a former Christian and I do not believe in god at all. But I am trying to focus on the power of the universe to stay positive and tap into my inner strength.
If you'd like to chat regularly about this type of thing, email me!
--John

exchristians @ 2008-12-19T05:45:00

2008-12-19T00:28:46Z