I am a former Christian. As a former Christian I look back to what I used to believe.
As a Christian I had very little knowledge about evolutionary biology, physics, geology, and chemistry. Yet I argued about evolution, fossils, and radioactive dating. I claimed to know problems that scientists just happen to miss when developing these thoroughly tested methods. These supposed flaws were pointed out to me by other Christians. Now I have read several books on each of these subjects and understand more than I thought I ever would. I know now that scientist have accounted for these supposed flaws.
As a Christian I vigorously denied the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but I was irritated when someone denied the existence of my God. I had an emotional attachment to my belief. My beliefs are now based on logic and reasoning and not emotional feelings.
As a Christian I felt insulted and “dehumanized” when scientists said that humans evolved from other life forms, but I had no problem with the Biblical claim that people were created from dirt. I ignored the evidence from millions of scientific tests that pointed to a different theory. Now I study these scientific findings with an open mind.
As a Christian I laughed at polytheists, but I had no problem believing in the father, son, and Holy Spirit that are separate yet the same. To me a trinity made more sense than multiple gods.
As a Christian I got upset when I heard of the violence attributed to Islam, or any other religion, but not when the bloodshed was committed by my God. I made excuses for my God. For Example: the slaughtering all the Egyptian babies in Exodus and the genocide performed in “Joshua” including women, children, animals and trees. I also claimed that my God was loving and kind.
As a Christian I thought Hindu beliefs that deify humans were just silly. I believed Greek claims about gods sleeping with women were absurd. Yet I had no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then flew up into the sky. I realize now that the difference between these beliefs is minuscule.
As a Christian I was willing to spend my life looking for loopholes in the scientifically established age of the Earth, which is a few billion years, but I found nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing the age of the Earth.
As a Christian I believed that the entire population of this planet, with the exception of those who shared my beliefs, would spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And I considered my religion “tolerant” and “loving.” I am free of the fear of hell now.
As a Christian I ignored the textual scholars that showed evidence that the Bible was not a reliable source. However an emotional person rolling around on the floor screaming gibberish was all the evidence I needed.
As a Christian I thought that the double blind studies showing prayer completely ineffective were diversions from Satan. I believed the unanswered prayers were simply God saying “No.” I ignored the fact that praying to any god produced the same results. I also ignored the fact that if my god was the one true god, my prayers would be answered more often than other religions which would cause a statistical anomaly that could be measured. I don’t waste my time praying now.
As a Christian I actually knew little more about my religion than what I heard in church. I did not study the history of Christianity, the early church, how the bible was written, what books were left out of the bible, the mistranslations from the original Hebrew, and the atrocities committed in the name of Christianity. This knowledge was not needed to be a Christian. Studying all of these items and actually reading the entire bible will help anyone to see the truth.
I am happy I do not believe in superstitions anymore. I believe actions are more important that beliefs.
Confessions Of A Former Christian
Video of something from a someone
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:14 am
Man, you got me thinking and reviewing about my beliefs as well…
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:20 am
yeah.. i think that organized religion made sense at a time when people did not know why volcanoes erupted or why eclipse happens.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:51 am
interesting read.
i am a “critical, liberal” christian, and some Elders woul even me and my thinking aloud/allwed anti-Christ. Do I care?
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Hey there friend,
I was browsing thru petaling and came across your blog. Your post captured my attn.
“As a Christian I thought Hindu beliefs that deify humans were just silly.”
- If I got money everytime someone told me that, I’d be retired before 30. Alas, it just doesn’t happen. Sigh.
I read your post, and a few things reflect of it – Inflexibility. And this is a problem that is common. I daresay in many religions.
It is vital, always, to find that balance between being a good religious follower and proper understanding of the scriptures of the religion. That’s a problem because the former is mechanical, the latter is subtle.
And we tend to get lost in the mechanics – You cannot work compassion, you *install* it as part of your psyche that then reflects in your actions.
My advise to you – Don’t let your disappointment and frustrations make you a cynic. We all make mistakes, lesson is in extracting them and moving on.
Go re-learn your religion proper. If not, study another POV. What you learn could change how you think. I would know. Don’t discount God thru religion.
Together with religion, bring spirituality into your life.
I bid you well. Look at the light in all, and it will shine in you. It will work out eventually.
And please, we would love to have you over at the blog. Come on over.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:07 am
Hey Chris,
You’re no longer a Christian? This is an interesting post. I have always claimed that I am a Buddhist, yet I don’t visit the temples, I don’t meditate, I don’t understand the Buddhist chants… I guess it doesn’t matter whether I am a Buddhist, Taoist, Christian or Muslim. I believe what matters is the value that we possess. Every religion has its values for us to learn from. If I’m a Buddhist, it doesnt mean that I shall condemn the teachings of other religions. All we have to do, is to make a judgement ourselves on what are the good values that we should follow. Respect, is the key to peace. I believe, religion should evolve according to times… Civilization is not a one-time matter, it’s an on-going process, so do religions.
Point of view from a free thinker in normal days, but a Buddhist when it comes to “isi borang” time…
July 13th, 2007 at 8:12 am
hey victor.
yeah. i’m leaning more towards buddhism now. it seems to make more sense.
=P
July 15th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
nammo onni tho hoot~ Welcome to the world or karma~
July 15th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
*of