by Athylon Prime » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:28 pm
by Regnum Dominae » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:30 pm
by Vazdania » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:30 pm
Athylon Prime wrote:In this thread, I want you to explain what drew you towards, or drove you from religion. Why you hold the beliefs you hold, how you deal with criticism, and what you specifically believe in a religious sense. If you don't have any religious beliefs, explain why. I'll start off.
I was born into a very Fundamentalist Christian household. To be specific, Assemblies of God. The driving force behind my whole family, specifically my Paternal Grandmother and my mom, was their faith in Jesus. As far back as I can remember, my mother, and to a lesser extent my father, instilled in me the idea that God was calling me to be a minister. Of course I believed them. This went on for about 14 years. Then, for reasons I won't go into, it stopped. One of the main problems was drugs, though. Not on my part, but my parents. They soon decided to get a divorce. This started a downward spiral that drove my mother, brother and I into some dark places. Very dark. It was during this dark time my brother and I started going to a Southern Baptist church. The youth group was amazing to say the least, and was a deciding factor on me continuing down the road to ministry. I went on mission trips near and far, attended church regularly, and began to study the Bible religiously (pun intended). Thus arose the problem.
While studying the Bible, I also started to read philosophical books. While searching the Philosophy section of the library, I happened upon a book titled " Why I Am Not a Christian" by the infamous Bertrand Russell. I almost put it back on the shelf, but curiosity got the better of me. This book literally changed the way I looked at life. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I began to fervently study the Bible with a new zeal, but it was to no avail. I had noticed some non-sequiturs and morally questionable acts before, but now it seemed there were many more. I began to read other secular books, "How Science Disproves God" and "Letter to a Christian Nation" just to name a few. I couldn't hide it any longer, I had lost my faith. This was a problem, for I had set out to become a minister. I was used to breaking down any problems I had logically, and the worst thing I could do in my mind was to announce to everybody I had ceased to believe. I continued and am continuing my ministerial classes, mostly because they are paid for and I still have a legitimate interest in the Bible and religions in general. But, to wrap this all up, I lost my faith in god due to their being no demonstrable, empirical scientific evidence to point to the existence to a deity or deities. I have a very logical, rational mind. My sanity AND my faith could not reside together. I chose to keep my sanity. I really do want to believe, I just see no point in lying to myself in the face of so much evidence.
by The Parkus Empire » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:31 pm
by The Kingdom of Nea Hellas » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:31 pm
by The Serbian Empire » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:31 pm
by Saint Kitten » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:31 pm
by Albul » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:32 pm
The Serbian Empire wrote:I don't think there is much explanation about the hundreds of Biblical contradictions which make me doubt that there is a God that is omnipotent or even omniscient. Once those powers are taken away, then the god doesn't sound particularly interesting and thus I lost interest seeping into atheism.
Straight 17 year old male Political Compass Economic Left/Right: -6.88 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.54 | Welcome to the Internet A specter is haunting 'Merika. It is the specter of communism. NSG Summertime I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it. -Voltaire |
by The Orson Empire » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:33 pm
by The Carlisle » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:33 pm
by Albul » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:34 pm
Straight 17 year old male Political Compass Economic Left/Right: -6.88 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.54 | Welcome to the Internet A specter is haunting 'Merika. It is the specter of communism. NSG Summertime I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it. -Voltaire |
by The Orson Empire » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:34 pm
Bentrada wrote:Just gonna put it plainly, I'm an Anti-theist Atheist. I was driving from the Christian religion while watching astronomy-related videos, and videos trying to dis-prove deities.
by Pacifornia » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:34 pm
by The United Soviet Socialist Republic » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:35 pm
by Torcularis Septentrionalis » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:35 pm
The Andromeda Islands wrote:This! Is! A! Bad! Idea!
Furious Grandmothers wrote:Why are you talking about murder when we are talking about abortion? Murdering a fetus is impossible. It's like smelling an echo. You're not making sense.
by Technopolis » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:35 pm
by Saint Kitten » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:36 pm
by Beta Test » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:36 pm
by Dyakovo » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:36 pm
Athylon Prime wrote:In this thread, I want you to explain what drew you towards, or drove you from religion. Why you hold the beliefs you hold, how you deal with criticism, and what you specifically believe in a religious sense. If you don't have any religious beliefs, explain why.
by The Kingdom of Nea Hellas » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:37 pm
by Albul » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:37 pm
Straight 17 year old male Political Compass Economic Left/Right: -6.88 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.54 | Welcome to the Internet A specter is haunting 'Merika. It is the specter of communism. NSG Summertime I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it. -Voltaire |
by The Parkus Empire » Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:37 pm
Albul wrote:The Serbian Empire wrote:I don't think there is much explanation about the hundreds of Biblical contradictions which make me doubt that there is a God that is omnipotent or even omniscient. Once those powers are taken away, then the god doesn't sound particularly interesting and thus I lost interest seeping into atheism.
Try Deism
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