Amos

Hi Bree, the old line here is that "he did but they won't listen to him."

emur

Bravo Debbie T! Your whole post hit home with me. I saw the same things as an evangelical minister. While not all Christians are mean and rigid, many, many are. I have all too often been on the receiving end of their "love".

I left evangelicalism for several reasons. First, the pain of being treated poorly was becoming too much to bear. And that pain snapped me out of it, so to speak. When I looked outside of the box, I wondered why I had been a part of evangelical Christianity in the first place. Second, I really didn't want to become like the rigid ones, and as long as I was in the system, the pressure to do so existed. Now I am free. I don't have to follow someone else's example, or be molded into someone that isn't me.

Sabine's comments about introspection hit a nerve with me. It is not that introspection is bad. It is a good thing. But...from my experience with Christians, you are told to do it so that you can see what is "wrong" with you and why the person telling you is "right". In other words, it is a tool used to manipulate. Introspection is also used to emphasize your behavior or thinking while deflecting any challenge to the Christians treating you poorly.

Anyway, I'm glad you are telling your story and that you are free from the effects of your past with Christianity.

Mel

Scottyman

Well put Debbie! I found myself going through a similar evolution many years ago. Athiesm is the next step in human conciousness in my opinion. Only when mankind (and womankind) can leave behind these apelike beliefes that have been carried with us since the dawn of human awareness will we be able to move ahead and cure what ails the human race.

Debbie T

Hello Mel, Sorry it took me so long to get back on this, we had a storm that knocked our power out. It's back up now but a worse storm is on its way so I am going to try to get caught up.

Do you find that you are now a better person too? I agree about the freedom. Sometimes when you are caught up in the middle of things you don't realize just how bad it is until you walk away. Now that you are the real you I am certain you are a better person.

I caught it too but as I said to her its about not about me so I didn't let it irritate me. Something I learned along the way. Usually if I am irritated or angry about something someone else says I realize its because there is a part of me that believes it might be true. That's when I go work on those residuals left over from being told something and always believing someone over my own convictions. (I meditate a lot to help).

Something I didn't realize is how manipulative Christianity is. Was it an eye opener to have that revelation!

And thank you for your kind words, its always nice to hear from a fellow human that has walked back to their humanity.

Debbie T

Thanks Scotty! Whether its atheism or a newer kinder religion (for those who need a belief system) like liberal Christianity seems to be headed towards, I agree that we need to move ahead. Perhaps more time for us to evolve more so that we work together in improving our species (and other species) to live in harmony and peace with each other. Hope we do it before we annihilate ourselves!

Amie

Hi scottyman
sheesh...you make theism sound so...viral

Infinity Lover

Worshipping the coffeepot seems to work well for a lot of people here.

Amie

lately I'm kind of a tea-kettle-ist myself

Infinity Lover

Amie you bag-dipping heritic!!! (shakes fist)

Ronin

Twitterpated.




<shudders>