Godless Dave

...that He created that way.

Barcode

I never had any faith to begin with. Is it possible some of us just aren't wired that way, no matter how much we might *want* to believe in something just to make our lives (seemingly) easier?

Ad Astra

Personally, I just began to learn the facts about Christianity. All the killing, the persecution, the fraud, lies, etc. Also, a little bit of logical thinking proved to be very helpful in realizing that the Christian god, and the god(s) of pretty much every other religion couldn't possibly exist in reality and are the inventions of some very sick, twisted, stupid or stoned humans. Most of them, at least.

I just don't see why I should worship a big, voodoo sky-daddy merely because a book of mythology tells me to do so...

Ispikes

Strangely the initial reason was hypocrasy, mine and other peoples. Hypocrasy is still something I have problems trying to get my mind around. Constantly watching myself for wrong thoughts or actions was exhausting and fustrating - especially being the doubtful person that I am. Then I questioned why, why does God ask this if us? From this just examined Christianity especially the fall, crucifiction and basic presumptions......and after a while, found I just didn't believe and couldn't force myself to believe.

sakrilege

I started out truly believing in god. I had experiences of god's presence and answers to my prayers.

In my case the comparative religion training helped along with the belief that other's experiences were as valid as mine. I like to think I know the answer but arrogance is a trait I actively avoid (not always successfully). Also reading books like Oliver Sack's Awakenings.

I did not want to lose my faith, I avoided examing my faith for a few years because I knew in the back of my mind it wasn't solid. I believed only because I wanted to believe there was a god. But when I did finally look at the situation squarely, when I started going back to bible studies to strengthen my faith I found it gone.

I still want to believe there is a god, I want true justice, I want people to really attain the right life for themselves, I want peace and understanding and all that. But that is not reality and I have to let the evidence that does exist for what is real be my guide.

Ronin

So, your post was just to tell us that an agnostic just happened to experience a re-conversion to his prior religion over all of the other religions due to an unspecified 'supernatural' event...and...you "hate to evangelize on any kind of personal basis."

Well...there's an element of my answer...the utter disingenuous nature of the followers of Christ.

Of course, the overwhelming evidence for reality played a significant role as well.

Carol Massey

"Faith" (in the unseen) is happily laid aside when a state of gnosis has come to the seeker. Gnosis, the light on the path, no longer needs the utility of faith, it finds that the sense-able may be trusted, and that what before may have been described as 'supernatural', is now part and parcel of the whole of experience....

so now, the human being that finds this jewel has not only his logical, analyatical mind in his service, but also finds that the intuition and instincts may likewise be trusted....

At this point, the laying aside of faith is a conscious choice.

Rima

hello:
yes that is right , I have actually read the Bible , and it won`t take too long to figure it out that all lies and absurdities in the name of God

but if somebody made up some nonsense stories that does not mean that God does not exist
it takes an experience to realize that he is here in my (our) heart and in my (our) soul
experiencing God does not need a religion , does not need institution to get knowing him ,to love him and live with him a spiritual life , I don`t need a priest , pope , apostole , or whatever to realize how much I love him and how much he is doing for me (us)

blessings

orpheus last chant

quote:
Strangely the initial reason was hypocrasy, mine and other peoples

yep, that was one of the things that made me think. but the main reason is, irony and all:

i wanted to be a better christian.

that made me read the bible, research about it, hear what the opposition says (that really blew me over) see other options and see if it can stand by it's own. i was absolutely sure that i would not become and atheist... i didn't even concieve that notion....

the image of what i wanted it to be, and what it really is - that dissapointment makes you look in the mirror and question your homo sapiens sapiens name. make that the man who believes his own lies. (ummm, me and latin are not good pals....so just try to image how that would sound)

Ronin

Calling for a personification of an undefined 'other' (God/him) working on my (our) behalf is an equally devious failure as the otherwise specified religions as it detracts from self-will, motivation and the true love of real humans.

Blood is in my heart and rational thought is in my brain.

No deity required.