religious turned atheist?

there are many threads on any forum where there are people who try to convert atheists into christians AND vice verca. I do however believe that these thread never serve any other purpose then people coming in to defend the reasons behind their belief system.

I used to be Christian and when I heard or read discussions about religion I never took the scientific arguments against the bible seriously. that was because I had 'faith' and felt that things didn't have to make sense, because it's God. I didn't believe in the story of Genesis, because every other religious person around me seemed to pick and choose what to believe in the bible, so why couldn't I? Homosexuals believe in the bible, yet there seems to be a bias against them in the bible. female rights activists believe in the bible, yet it¨s pretty clear that women aren't equal to men in the bible. serial killers believe in the bible, yet the outlook for them isn't too good either accoriding to the bible. so it seems to me that the bible can be interprited a million different ways to fit whoever YOU are. to be honest, if you are religious, or christian spesifically, then you really are bulletproof from any argument against religion, because the minute you yourself interprited christianity to fit your own views on life, any counter argument made against your religion is going to hit your own view on life and will instantly have you rationalize against the argument, not because the argument is wrong according to the bible, but because it's wrong according to your life philosphy. at least this is the way I look back on how I managed to stay religious. The tides did start to change when I one day realized that all the people in the world that I look up to and respect for their intelligence were all atheists. Not only atheists, but they were actually quite adamant about the problems and dangers of religion. So keeping an open mind about things, this was what started the breaking down of my 17 years of personal religious belief. It was a difficult thought at first to accept that there is no God watching over me, and it took some getting used to, especially as I lay thinking in bed before I fell asleep. But now I can confidently say I am very happy about how things turned out. I can now see more of the world for what it truly is. I don't have to live in fear or God, I can live by my own concience and it has really freed my mind.

so what I was interested to know was; are there any others out there who have drastically changed their belief system after previosuly being relatively seriously convicted by another? because I would really like to hear your stories and how it affected you. Wether you turned religious or atheist.

before you flame me, this is all IMO

http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/

That link provided some good information you can read.....or is your mind not open enough to read it? Unlike what you said you did, I thoroughly researched everything and to this day I still keep an open mind. My conclusion is that there is no hard evidence for either side, so it really comes down to faith when evidence has been explored. You can have faith in a greater being that created the universe on purpose, or that the universe created itself by chance, and we evolved from rocks.

http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/

That link provided some good information you can read.....or is your mind not open enough to read it? Unlike what you said you did, I thoroughly researched everything and to this day I still keep an open mind. My conclusion is that there is no hard evidence for either side, so it really comes down to faith when evidence has been explored. You can have faith in a greater being that created the universe on purpose, or that the universe created itself by chance, and we evolved from rocks.

champion_tyler

Why do you imply that we evolved from rocks?Maybe the universe was created by some super force or poerful diety,i dont know.Thats what im trying to find out,but please try not totype stupid things like your rock comment.Your ignorance is showing.

http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/

That link provided some good information you can read.....or is your mind not open enough to read it? Unlike what you said you did, I thoroughly researched everything and to this day I still keep an open mind. My conclusion is that there is no hard evidence for either side, so it really comes down to faith when evidence has been explored. You can have faith in a greater being that created the universe on purpose, or that the universe created itself by chance, and we evolved from rocks.

champion_tyler

this is what I'm saying. When you personalized christianity by taking your own views on creationism into it, I, nor anyone else can't touch you. Because you are always going to have an answer that fits exactly what YOU believe and by having your own version of Christianity to back it up, I REALLY can't touch you. But that's ok. I do agree that believing in creationism or evolution takes faith. And I have faith that one day science will prove evoltuion to be true. But until that day I remain a man of science AND a man of faith (in science).

it seems people like saying "i have faith" so that makes them somehow better people. it almost comes off as trying to suck up to the god they think exists... its very strange to me.. you beleive in the invisible and unprovable. thats great. have a cookie.

yeah but wut happens when you die, you wont go anywhere cause you have abbandoned religion. :( :|Putzwapputzen

why does anything have to happen? if this was it for you? if life was the "prize that the universe has granted you" maybe you'd live it a little differently?

yeah but wut happens when you die, you wont go anywhere cause you have abbandoned religion. :( :|Putzwapputzen

Just cause you dont believe in a religion doesnt mean nothing happens when you die.

We dont know what happens when you die.Maybe one day we'll find out.

May i ask you, TC, what your view on life is? What makes your view favourable to say, an atheist's view on life?

Edit - Spelling

May i ask you, TC, what your views on life is? What makes your view favourable to say, an atheist's view on life?

mGard

I dont believe its a matter of favoribility for me,more like realistic circumstances,within these circumstances i choose to view the world in a beautiful way,the universe,different planets and space being one of my big interests.Its so breathtaking...

My parents never went to Church and still don't. I was agnostic before becoming religious at 21.

:)

First off, let me say this is an excellent post. I was thinking "Great, another religious thread just for the sake of more posts." I'm surprised, thank you.

Now for my story.

I was raised in a Catholic family, went to a Catholic school. Like most, I began to question things. The priest's answers were insufficient, and the bible's translation was too difficult to comprehend (good old King James). I became frustrated through the years, but Catholocism was all I knew. When I hit High School (public, finally!) I began to have discussions with people on religion, people who had different views than I did. Before this time, I simply accepted my faith "just because." I said my prayers each night mechanically, not even knowing the words that were droning out of my mouth.

As time pressed on, I made new friends with different views. One of my friends in particular is violently Athiest (still is) and he raised many questions that I couldn't answer. The more I thought and questioned, the more faith I lost. Eventually, without even realizing it, I became Agnostic. I still acknowledged the idea of a higher being or presence, but I had all but dismissed the Christian God of the bible. I had began to search for more answers to my questions, yet this search only brought more questions.

A few years later, I laid down in bed and prayed. I prayed for the first time in many years. This time, however, I thought about what I said. It wasn't mechanical, it was spoken from the heart. I felt an overwhelming presence inside of me, it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was a physical feeling, yet it said much. It is very hard to explain, but this feeling told me that my search was needed. It was important that I question things, and I will have answers. As soon as the feeling came it subsided. From that day forward I embraced my old Catholocism and I am still searching and questioning.

yeah but wut happens when you die, you wont go anywhere cause you have abbandoned religion. :( :|Putzwapputzen

Technically, you won't either.

I'm an athiest turned Catholic, and it was really a "kick in the ass" experience that turned me..

I went with one group of protestants to give out food to homeless people in Manhatten  (I needed to do community service to graduate my High school, so my mom made some phone calls to them).  Easily a month's worth of groceries, all donated by local bakeries and super markets.  I fed more homeless at a soup kitchen, and got some clothes that would go to homeless that people drop off.

Then I decided to go to chuch one day (catholic, since my family is catholic), and there were old people lighting candles, a sick woman leaving a note under a statue of a saint.  i just said to myself "who am I scream at all these people and thell them their wrong?" The rest is a long story, but for as much as people hate Religion and say "oh it does all these horrible things" or "religious people are ignorant, I believe there is a lot more good being done by these people than the rest of us.  Who cares what they believe, at least they're doing something to make the earth better. 

Faith is a mystery to me. I'm an Athiest turned Catholic, but I don't think questioning your own beliefs should necessarily rattle your faith.

I'm an athiest turned Catholic, and it was really a "kick in the ass" experience that turned me..

I went with one group of protestants to give out food to homeless people in Manhatten (I needed to do community service to graduate my High school, so my mom made some phone calls to them). Easily a month's worth of groceries, all donated by local bakeries and super markets. I fed more homeless at a soup kitchen, and got some clothes that would go to homeless that people drop off.

Then I decided to go to chuch one day (catholic, since my family is catholic), and there were old people lighting candles, a sick woman leaving a note under a statue of a saint. i just said to myself "who am I scream at all these people and thell them their wrong?" The rest is a long story, but for as much as people hate Religion and say "oh it does all these horrible things" or "religious people are ignorant, I believe there is a lot more good being done by these people than the rest of us. Who cares what they believe, at least they're doing something to make the earth better.

InterpolWilco

Yes, I am a photojournalist, and have seen many churches and their people do very wonderful things for others. I do not speak against churchgoers, but only people who hurt others in the name of god. (I guess that is the opposite). Still, seeing those good deeds does not make me want to be a Catholic.

[QUOTE="mGard"]

May i ask you, TC, what your views on life is? What makes your view favourable to say, an atheist's view on life?

xxDustmanxx

I dont believe its a matter of favoribility for me,more like realistic circumstances,within these circumstances i choose to view the world in a beautiful way,the universe,different planets and space being one of my big interests.Its so breathtaking...

It just sounds a little bit like you live in a little dream-world. With little bunnies hopping around. Oh, but nevermind. This is not a religious flame-topic, so we'll let it rest. :)

p.s. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call you spritual rather than christian?