ReasonableDoubt

I grew up a Christian, and was very educated, etc., and sincerely believed it. It's only been in the past few years, mainly from Internet research, that I've come to kind of an "a-ha" realization that it doesn't seem real anymore.

Things that I believed about Christianity I never really intellectually evaluated like I would other things. Really reading what is in the Bible. Figuring out how to try to reconcile all the different issues, - like the nature of God and the problem of evil, free will, heaven, the hiddenness of God, etc.

And now I am finding it very hard to believe. Like I swallowed it all hook line and sinker and have suddenly been enlightened. But it's a scary feeling as well. How does anyone else deal with it if you've had the experience? Thanks.

Darth Dane

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DD - Love Spliff

Paul2

Sounds like you're in the same boat i was 4 years ago. I figured that i'd put my brain into it, and if there was a god i'd find him somewhere. I only came to the conclusion that if there is a god, it is nothing like what we currently define god to be. put all the useless dogma behind you and move on.

Darth Dane

put all the useless dogma behind you and move on.

Which dogma should he use then? The useful ones? Which are they?



DD - Love Spliff

Paul2

did i say dogma? sorry, i ment to say bull shit.

Darth Dane

Surely he must need some rules of engagement, or is it play it by ear? is the one rule, play it by ear?



DD - Love Spliff

diana

Reasonable Doubt,

While I think this is an interesting and worthwhile discussion, it doesn't really touch on the Existence of God(s) so much as on how we deal with the experience of coming into the light. For this reason, and to ensure a more appropriate audience, I'm moving your thread to Secular Lifestyle and Support.

Those who wish to address ReasonableDoubt's OP please respect the honesty of his (?) question, keep the thread on topic, and respect the rules of the Secular Lifestyle and Support Forum.

Thank you,

d

sandlewood

ReasonableDoubt, although I’ve never been a theist, I think I still have experienced something similar. I’ve been surrounded by theists all my life, most not so devout or expressive about it, but most at least voice an opinion that a god exists. When the Internet came along, I was finally able to come in contact with people who shared my thoughts. This helped me to focus my views a lot more than they had been before. So I appreciate that the Internet now exists and particularly that Internet Infidels and the Secular Web exist.

Seb_Maya

I was also in a similar situatuion to you Reasonable Doubt.
However i was not brought up as christian. One day I had an intellectual/spiritual sort of awakening, hmm not sure how to describe it really, but i began to question the world and existence. I turned to christianity in my search for answers, however i quickly became disillusioned with the repetitive, mecahnical ripostes i was given. In truth it was a very tough time for me. Ihad made a lot of friends, but i decided that it was not fair to continue to lie to myself. Breaking away from the church was very difficult. However one day i came across the gospel of thomas, some of the passages really made an impact on me and i wondered why they had been omitted from the bible and the number of canonical gospels, once again the answers i was givent at church were wholly unsatisfactory. I read a couple of books on the gnostic gospels which i found fascinating and also very liberating. However I have not used these gospels and books to replace the bible, and instead it has crucially become, for me, a historical example that the origins of the catholic (universal) church (which succeded in stamping out gnosticism because of its increasingly strong social and political structure) which was established around about 200AD are not as clear cut as is often imagined.

The two books I vehemently recommend are "The Gnostic Gospels" by Elaine Pagels. And secondly "Insights from the Secret Teachings of Jesus: The Gospel of Thomas" by Christian Amundsen. After twenty years in the ministry Amundsen turned his back on orthodox christianity, his insights and experiences which he outlines in his book may be of some significant use for you.

I'm glad that you are questioning that which is around you, even if it causes you pain and disturbs the "calm" waters you may have been surounded by, it is important that you do yourself and your feelings justice in pursuit of (without sounding too ethereal)
a stable, healthy and happy way of life.
There are many gentlemen (and ladies!) and scholars on this website, people who perhaps have been, or in actuality are going through the same problems as you. Continue to use this website to question things, to air your opinions and concerns and to pursue intellectual fruition.

Faces along the bar
Cling to their average day;
The lights must never go out,
The music must always play;
Lest we know where we are:
Lost in a haunted wood---
Children afraid of the dark
Who have never been happy or good.
(W. H. Auden)

Posted on a thread to me by "fwh"

ReasonableDoubt

Thanks for the book references - I'll definitely check them out!