what made you turn away from christianity/theism/religion?

I've just turned to it :)

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"]

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"] *looks around* Yes...I did ask for proof...MgamerBD

[QUOTE="raynimrod"]

[QUOTE="mariostar0001"]More people have died due to the Atheistic communistic regimes in China and Russia then in all the Crusades and the modern battles in Jerusalem combined. And let's not even start about the Holocaust. You Atheists are really good about killing people. :Pmariostar0001

Um, none of the atrocities committed by those regimes were in the name of Atheism.

They hunted anyone who didn't believe what they believed, religious or otherwise - that's a very religious virtue, actually. It has nothing whatsoever to do with a lack of belief in God.

I decided to start thinking for myself instead of relying on others to do it for me. ALSO, there seem to be a TON of religion threads in off topic..Whats the deal??

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"][QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"] Should we start in the scientific discoveries department? Ever heard of the geocentric model endorsed and enforced by the church? How about a man named Galileo Galilie?

KeitekeTokage

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"][QUOTE="MgamerBD"]But you see even though the church tried to stop it. Science still progressed...just slowly....MgamerBD

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"][QUOTE="MgamerBD"]But you see even though the church tried to stop it. Science still progressed...just slowly....MgamerBD

Actually you're right, exucse me. Putting someone to death is worse than rape. No it isn't the people, it is the religion they are using the justfy these attrocities. If religion were not within existence for example, we may very likely still have the twin towers, or the heads still attached to the many bodies that the taliban have taken off, or abortion doctors that christians murder, or equal rights for same sex couples, or the offspring of hundreds of thousands of women burned because they were thought to be withches. Perhaps slavery wouldn't have prevailed for as long as it did without justfication from the bible. We'd be hundreds of years ahead scientifically than we are now if it weren't for the dark ages, the geocentric model wouldn't have prevailed for so long causing retardation of the birth of astronomy, the middle east would still be the absolute pinacle of scientific discovery. Your religion is the problem. It doesn't matter if "scientific discoveries were still being made". Religion saught to hinder those discoveries by imposing the threat of death. What about that are you not comprehending. The flaws of religion and science are not the same, religions flaws are inherent and not admited, not discused, not worked on, and not even a concern. Science is constantly working to becoming better, refining itself and making our lives better. Science has doubled the human lifespan for example. But who knows, maybe you're just a neanderthal who'd prefer that we still use techniques such as trephination as a way of curing mental illnesses rather than the flawed ways science use right? Btw, that means drilling a hole in your head to release evil spirits.

Religion made me turn away from religion.

Nothing, still a strong Christian Evangelist

Just thinking about it a lot. After I was introduced to very basic scientific concepts early in school, everything else followed. I began to realize that it was all based on the ideas of other people to explain things, that there were many religions with no real reason for one being any better than another, and that there's absolutely not a shred of physical evidence for any of it.

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"]

Lol wtf? So its ok that the church tried to stop scientific progress, often using death as the consequence of going against their teachings, because science eventually prevailed, very slowly. So therefore, since the church couldn't accomplish its goal. religion is still not the bad guy in that department! That's an interesting line of thought you have there MgamerBD. You'd make an excellent lawyer. "Even though my client raped that little girl multiple times. She finally escaped her dungeon she was locked in...just slowly...."KeitekeTokage

Actually you're right, exucse me. Putting someone to death is worse than rape. No it isn't the people, it is the religion they are using the justfy these attrocities. If religion were not within existence for example, we may very likely still have the twin towers, or the heads still attached to the many bodies that the taliban have taken off, or abortion doctors that christians murder, or equal rights for same sex couples, or the offspring of hundreds of thousands of women burned because they were thought to be withches. Perhaps slavery wouldn't have prevailed for as long as it did without justfication from the bible. We'd be hundreds of years ahead scientifically than we are now if it weren't for the dark ages, the geocentric model wouldn't have prevailed for so long causing retardation of the birth of astronomy, the middle east would still be the absolute pinacle of scientific discovery. Your religion is the problem. It doesn't matter if "scientific discoveries were still being made". Religion saught to hinder those discoveries by imposing the threat of death. What about that are you not comprehending. The flaws of religion and science are not the same, religions flaws are inherent and not admited, not discused, not worked on, and not even a concern. Science is constantly working to becoming better, refining itself and making our lives better. Science has doubled the human lifespan for example. But who knows, maybe you're just a neanderthal who'd prefer that we still use techniques such as trephination as a way of curing mental illnesses rather than the flawed ways science use right? Btw, that means drilling a hole in your head to release evil spirits.

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"]

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"] Yeah because raping a girl and religion is obviously the same thing :|. Anyway guy with weird name. In the end was it religion that caused all the world problems? No it was people. Religion is not the problem here but the people. And like I said scientific discoveries was still being made alos. Religion has its flaws just like science. Each has benefitted people, each has caused many more people to die...

MgamerBD

Actually you're right, exucse me. Putting someone to death is worse than rape. No it isn't the people, it is the religion they are using the justfy these attrocities. If religion were not within existence for example, we may very likely still have the twin towers, or the heads still attached to the many bodies that the taliban have taken off, or abortion doctors that christians murder, or equal rights for same sex couples, or the offspring of hundreds of thousands of women burned because they were thought to be withches. Perhaps slavery wouldn't have prevailed for as long as it did without justfication from the bible. We'd be hundreds of years ahead scientifically than we are now if it weren't for the dark ages, the geocentric model wouldn't have prevailed for so long causing retardation of the birth of astronomy, the middle east would still be the absolute pinacle of scientific discovery. Your religion is the problem. It doesn't matter if "scientific discoveries were still being made". Religion saught to hinder those discoveries by imposing the threat of death. What about that are you not comprehending. The flaws of religion and science are not the same, religions flaws are inherent and not admited, not discused, not worked on, and not even a concern. Science is constantly working to becoming better, refining itself and making our lives better. Science has doubled the human lifespan for example. But who knows, maybe you're just a neanderthal who'd prefer that we still use techniques such as trephination as a way of curing mental illnesses rather than the flawed ways science use right? Btw, that means drilling a hole in your head to release evil spirits.

So to sumarize, you ignored my points, repeated the same thing you said in your previous post and then blamed me for world wars because I played the blame game? I gave you multiple examples of attrocities committed in the name of religion. Also, did you seriously just say that people are the problem and not religion, then turn around and sa that the result of science such as the atom bomb is the problem and not the people who use it? Can you be any more hypocritical? Are you going to address any of them of further degrade your reputation on this forum by saying my post disgusts you for reasons you seem to be unable to point out?

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"][QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"]

Actually you're right, exucse me. Putting someone to death is worse than rape. No it isn't the people, it is the religion they are using the justfy these attrocities. If religion were not within existence for example, we may very likely still have the twin towers, or the heads still attached to the many bodies that the taliban have taken off, or abortion doctors that christians murder, or equal rights for same sex couples, or the offspring of hundreds of thousands of women burned because they were thought to be withches. Perhaps slavery wouldn't have prevailed for as long as it did without justfication from the bible. We'd be hundreds of years ahead scientifically than we are now if it weren't for the dark ages, the geocentric model wouldn't have prevailed for so long causing retardation of the birth of astronomy, the middle east would still be the absolute pinacle of scientific discovery. Your religion is the problem. It doesn't matter if "scientific discoveries were still being made". Religion saught to hinder those discoveries by imposing the threat of death. What about that are you not comprehending. The flaws of religion and science are not the same, religions flaws are inherent and not admited, not discused, not worked on, and not even a concern. Science is constantly working to becoming better, refining itself and making our lives better. Science has doubled the human lifespan for example. But who knows, maybe you're just a neanderthal who'd prefer that we still use techniques such as trephination as a way of curing mental illnesses rather than the flawed ways science use right? Btw, that means drilling a hole in your head to release evil spirits.

KeitekeTokage

So to sumarize, you ignored my points, repeated the same thing you said in your previous post and then blamed me for world wars because I played the blame game? I gave you multiple examples of attrocities committed in the name of religion. Also, did you seriously just say that people are the problem and not religion, then turn around and sa that the result of science such as the atom bomb is the problem and not the people who use it? Can you be any more hypocritical? Are you going to address any of them of further degrade your reputation on this forum by saying my post disgusts you for reasons you seem to be unable to point out?

:lol: Stop it, you're making too much sense.

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"][QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"]

Actually you're right, exucse me. Putting someone to death is worse than rape. No it isn't the people, it is the religion they are using the justfy these attrocities. If religion were not within existence for example, we may very likely still have the twin towers, or the heads still attached to the many bodies that the taliban have taken off, or abortion doctors that christians murder, or equal rights for same sex couples, or the offspring of hundreds of thousands of women burned because they were thought to be withches. Perhaps slavery wouldn't have prevailed for as long as it did without justfication from the bible. We'd be hundreds of years ahead scientifically than we are now if it weren't for the dark ages, the geocentric model wouldn't have prevailed for so long causing retardation of the birth of astronomy, the middle east would still be the absolute pinacle of scientific discovery. Your religion is the problem. It doesn't matter if "scientific discoveries were still being made". Religion saught to hinder those discoveries by imposing the threat of death. What about that are you not comprehending. The flaws of religion and science are not the same, religions flaws are inherent and not admited, not discused, not worked on, and not even a concern. Science is constantly working to becoming better, refining itself and making our lives better. Science has doubled the human lifespan for example. But who knows, maybe you're just a neanderthal who'd prefer that we still use techniques such as trephination as a way of curing mental illnesses rather than the flawed ways science use right? Btw, that means drilling a hole in your head to release evil spirits.

So to sumarize, you ignored my points, repeated the same thing you said in your previous post and then blamed me for world wars because I played the blame game? I gave you multiple examples of attrocities committed in the name of religion. Also, did you seriously just say that people are the problem and not religion, then turn around and sa that the result of science such as the atom bomb is the problem and not the people who use it? Can you be any more hypocritical? Are you going to address any of them of further degrade your reputation on this forum by saying my post disgusts you for reasons you seem to be unable to point out?

A bit of materialism mixed with reason.

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"]

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"] *sigh* Your so naive its sad. With or without religion there will still and always be crime. There would still be murder. There would still be wars, slavery, prejudice. Religion do not cause these problems, People do. If religion magically disappereared the same problems will still exist tomorrow. You post is so outrageous it disgusts me. The problem here is not religion but people like you who is always playing the blame game. Your right science is constantly improving. But it is also improving to kill, it is improving to destroy. To summarize...your post disgusted me beyond belief. With or without it there will always be problems... MgamerBD

So to sumarize, you ignored my points, repeated the same thing you said in your previous post and then blamed me for world wars because I played the blame game? I gave you multiple examples of attrocities committed in the name of religion. Also, did you seriously just say that people are the problem and not religion, then turn around and sa that the result of science such as the atom bomb is the problem and not the people who use it? Can you be any more hypocritical? Are you going to address any of them of further degrade your reputation on this forum by saying my post disgusts you for reasons you seem to be unable to point out?

And I've tried to get it throug your thick skull to address my points because they all used religion as a justfication for their actions. Without reilgion, none of those specific actions would have taken place for those reasons. Do you understand that? You haven't addressed a single one of those. And of course, how else would the religious survive without scurrying away when they're left with no point? :?

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"]

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"] *sigh* Your so naive its sad. With or without religion there will still and always be crime. There would still be murder. There would still be wars, slavery, prejudice. Religion do not cause these problems, People do. If religion magically disappereared the same problems will still exist tomorrow. You post is so outrageous it disgusts me. The problem here is not religion but people like you who is always playing the blame game. Your right science is constantly improving. But it is also improving to kill, it is improving to destroy. To summarize...your post disgusted me beyond belief. With or without it there will always be problems... MgamerBD

So to sumarize, you ignored my points, repeated the same thing you said in your previous post and then blamed me for world wars because I played the blame game? I gave you multiple examples of attrocities committed in the name of religion. Also, did you seriously just say that people are the problem and not religion, then turn around and sa that the result of science such as the atom bomb is the problem and not the people who use it? Can you be any more hypocritical? Are you going to address any of them of further degrade your reputation on this forum by saying my post disgusts you for reasons you seem to be unable to point out?

People like us put down religion because it brainwashes and murders people. Have you ever heard of the word genocide? **** like that has been attempted many times before simply because of religion. Religion is like a parasite that binds and controls people. Not always to an extreme extent, but enough where it is beyond ridiculous.

It's easy to blame people who follow a religion. However, when you are brainwashed since the day you were born you can see why people will do anything and everything to do help in a cause they completely and wholeheartedly support.

Look, crime, murder, rape, etc... would all exist without religion. It's human nature. But when you give humans a REASON to go out and do those things, it just magnifies it tenfold.

People are born with the capacity to live peacefully without needing a religious code of ethics. You don't need religion for that.

I was brought up loosely Christian and always attended church schools, but, kind of like with Father Christmas, I don't remember ever seriously believing.

I flirted with spirituality a bit later in life, when things got rough, but I could never hold a consistent idea of God in mind, and instead of being assisted up onto the path to salvation by a kindly, white-haired gentleman or w/e, life (surprisingly literally) kicked me in the teeth when I was down.

I don't have a big problem with a lot of the ethical side of Christianity, and I'm not denying there are some really good Christians out there; I just feel like there's a lot of hypocrisy mixed in with the good, and, in spite of all their resources, a lot of churches are totally incapable of instilling anything but a very weak, ineffectual and timid benevolence.

I never believed in God. I went to a catholic school when I was a kid, had church every week but still I didn't care. It all sounded like a load of bull from the very beginning.

The single notion that every single aspect of religion itself is merely the perception of another human. The bible, the Quran, and the rest are flawed representation. If I do/did follow a God, then there is no possible way that I could belong to an religion man made. That and if the sum of a God's presence and will can be absorbed by a mere flawed mortal, then that is no God in the first place. CreasianDevaili

Very wise.

The single notion that every single aspect of religion itself is merely the perception of another human. The bible, the Quran, and the rest are flawed representation. If I do/did follow a God, then there is no possible way that I could belong to an religion man made. That and if the sum of a God's presence and will can be absorbed by a mere flawed mortal, then that is no God in the first place. CreasianDevaili

I am a former agnostic and naturalist but with becoming a student of the Bible I came to become a follower of Christ. The grace of God is what saved my wretched soul.mindstorm

Seriously though, I like that you have the courage to wear your heart on your sleeve - your posts always remind me of this koan:

If You Love, Love Openly

Twenty monks and one nun, who was named Eshun, were practicing mediation with a certain Zen master.
Eshun was very pretty even though her head was shaved and her dress plain. Several monks secretly fell in love with her. One of them wrote her a love letter, insisting on a private meeting.
Eshun did not reply. The following day the master gave a lecture to the group, and when it was over, Eshun arose. Addressing the one who had written her, she said, "If you really love me so much, come and embrace me now."

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]I am a former agnostic and naturalist but with becoming a student of the Bible I came to become a follower of Christ. The grace of God is what saved my wretched soul.jimmyjammer69

Seriously though, I like that you have the courage to wear your heart on your sleeve - your posts always remind me of this koan:

If You Love, Love Openly

Twenty monks and one nun, who was named Eshun, were practicing mediation with a certain Zen master.
Eshun was very pretty even though her head was shaved and her dress plain. Several monks secretly fell in love with her. One of them wrote her a love letter, insisting on a private meeting.
Eshun did not reply. The following day the master gave a lecture to the group, and when it was over, Eshun arose. Addressing the one who had written her, she said, "If you really love me so much, come and embrace me now."

I hold that all of us are wretched, not just the unbeliever. :P

Also, I like that story.

The single notion that every single aspect of religion itself is merely the perception of another human. The bible, the Quran, and the rest are flawed representation. If I do/did follow a God, then there is no possible way that I could belong to an religion man made. That and if the sum of a God's presence and will can be absorbed by a mere flawed mortal, then that is no God in the first place. CreasianDevaili

I had no reason to carry on believing. The bible is full of contradictions, the church teaches messages that I don't agree with, there isn't any evidence to believe in a god so I might as well claim father Christmas is real (he's mentioned in a story so he must be true!)

For mMoreover, history also illustrated why so many hispanics are Catholic and blacks are Christian. Why should I follow a religion that was basically thrusted upon my people hundreds of years ago. And through the generations, my ancestors just blindly followed this faith because "it was the way it had always been." If the imperialists were Islamic, I'd be a Muslim. Jagged3dge

[QUOTE="Jagged3dge"]For mMoreover, history also illustrated why so many hispanics are Catholic and blacks are Christian. Why should I follow a religion that was basically thrusted upon my people hundreds of years ago. And through the generations, my ancestors just blindly followed this faith because "it was the way it had always been." If the imperialists were Islamic, I'd be a Muslim. X360PS3AMD05

[QUOTE="jimmyjammer69"]

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]I am a former agnostic and naturalist but with becoming a student of the Bible I came to become a follower of Christ. The grace of God is what saved my wretched soul.mindstorm

Seriously though, I like that you have the courage to wear your heart on your sleeve - your posts always remind me of this koan:

If You Love, Love Openly

Twenty monks and one nun, who was named Eshun, were practicing mediation with a certain Zen master.
Eshun was very pretty even though her head was shaved and her dress plain. Several monks secretly fell in love with her. One of them wrote her a love letter, insisting on a private meeting.
Eshun did not reply. The following day the master gave a lecture to the group, and when it was over, Eshun arose. Addressing the one who had written her, she said, "If you really love me so much, come and embrace me now."

I hold that all of us are wretched, not just the unbeliever. :P

Also, I like that story.

Wasn't brought up in a religious household so it wasn't rammed down my throat. Learnt about it in school and through some of my friends who were Christian. I just didn't see the sense in it. As I got older my thoughts changed from not seeing the sense in God/a God/Gods, to instead not seeing the sense in religion.

I had no religion to leave, though technically I was brought up as a protestant (church of england).

Reason(s) for not believing:

1: Total lack of proof of "god" existing or having ever existed.

how evil the vast majority of organized religion is.

who is even left that has not had a million individual (and/or organized) evil acts attributed to it?

the buddists and the taoists?