keyser_soze

you don't need meds to quit christianity....


BUT IT SURE HELPS. ba da bing!

Christian

Carrie,

You never knew Christ in the first place. (2 Cor 13:5-7) I normally try to avoid saying things like that which sound like a "quip." I'm not saying that you are lying or insincere about anything. But from your description it's patently obvious that you have never know any of the things I see as important or meaningful in the Christian experience, as what knowing Christ is really all about. If my experience with Christianity was what you describe here, I would have rejected it to.

I have great respect for intellectual honesty, and can understand your decision. You are closer to the truth than many casual Christians I know. Those are the people I'm not able to understand.

Take care,

Respectfully,

Christian

Vinnie

Me thinks this is in the wrong forum.

Magus55

I agree with Christian, even though you think its a cop out. If you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, you don't see Christianity as a religion, its a meaningful, undeniable relationship. Jesus said that people in Christ, who live for him cannot be snatched from his hand. Nothing can take you away from Him if you have the Holy Spirit living in you.

Obviously you don't give a crap what we say and disagree totally, but thats our opinion. The only thing that will ever turn me from Jesus is dying and ceasing to exist forever, in which case i won't care at that point. I stand by Jesus for eternity.

Peter Kirby

I tried splitting this thread so that Carrie's original post went to Secular Lifestyle and Support. I hope that nothing went wrong when I did so. The server was busy and might have hiccupped.

best,
Peter Kirby

Gregg

Christian and Magus55: I don't deny that both of you have had an "experience," and that you feel a "presence" that seems very real to you, one that you can even have a "personal relationship" with. I'm glad that this gives comfort and meaning to your lives.

What it seems you don't want to think too long, hard, or deeply about, though, is the fact that many other people on these forums have prayed and read their Bibles and sought with all their hearts to have the same kind of relationship with Jesus that you have, but have never felt anything.

You, of course, will insist that they didn't go about it right, or that they weren't truly sincere. I find this very disrespectful. But the truth is, you find it easier to think this than you do to consider the alternatives--for example, that the "feeling" of Jesus' presence in you might actually be caused by a combination of nature and nurture.

You are, of course, free to believe anything about this feeling of yours that you like. All I would ask is that Christians show a little bit of humility, and accept the POSSIBILITY that their interpretations of their feelings might be wrong. This would, in turn, lead them to show genuine respect for people with different points of view, instead of seeing them primarily as doomed sinners in need of immediate saving.

Gregg

Carrie

Thank you sir Gregg

Magus55

Gregg, i'm not saying that it is impossible for someone to have sought Jesus sincerely and after supposedly not finding him, giving up. In most cases i believe the person really didn't mean it sincerely. In the cases where they did, its possible that they really did become saved and found Jesus but didn't realize it from the distraction of the world and evil. I believe in once saved, always saved so i wouldn't be surprised seeing self-proclaimed ex-Christians turned atheist ending up in Heaven. I don't know for sure, thats God domain. He is merciful and just, he always makes the right decision. God knows you better than you know yourself, so repressed deep down could be the salvation you thought you never found.

Justin70

Awesome! Woohoo!!! I found a loophole!!!

Since I was a fundie Christians for a couple years I can still go to heaven! <rolls eyes>

Yeah, whatever

Justin

Magus55

Its not a loophole, i never said its a gaurantee. The only thing that leads me to believe it may be possible is Jesus said no one can snatch those who love him from his hands. God knows whether or not you were truly saved before. He will make the decision.