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Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
#1
Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
Hi there. This almost feels like introducing myself at a 12-step program.

First: Background. 

I grew up in a pseudo-Christian household. My grandmother was very religious, but my family usually only went to church once or twice a year on holidays. Though...*I* was very into church and went through a lot of my childhood on the Sunday school bus (usually talked into it from a few older kids who lived next door).

I went back to church as a teenager (because of a girlfriend), and was baptized at the age of 18. I was very much into the church, Jesus and my faith in general through probably my mid-20s. I had a study bible which I read regularly, I had bible software I used to study (sometimes in original Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek). I even remember scaring off some Jehova's Witnesses once by giving them more (printed) literature to take home than they gave me.

Ironically, my "wake up" moment came from trying to get deeper into my faith. I took an apologetics class. There were some hard questions in there that just weren't answered sufficiently for me. It gnawed at me. A year or two later I was at another church and there was a Th.D. from nearby Clearwater Christian College who offered an apologetics class. I thought this one would be better as this was an actual Theology educated person teaching it.

It wasn't. It was even worse. The questions I had only increased both in amount and intensity. Shortly after that I faded from the church and just stopped altogether after a while. I wouldn't say I turned into an atheist then....probably more agnostic. More than anything I just "tuned out" when it came to anything religion-wise.


Now:

I am a relatively  new found atheist. I think I've actually  been one for a while, but just didn't care enough about the 'statement' to make it public. I've LONG called myself a reformed holy roller.

I think the final nail in the coffin started about 4-5 months ago when I stumbled across James Randi and all of his skeptic debunking over the years (zillions of videos on youtube). I was mostly just laughing at him making all the psychics, spoon benders and faith healers look like fools.

I started looking up and watching videos on various skeptic topics after that (flat earth, homeopathy, pseudo-science, etc...). In these video searches I started seeing more and more atheist related videos. It didn't take me too long to realize I was definitely full on atheist these days.

I've enjoyed many videos and even read Seth Andrews book, "De-converted" (I love Seth's videos..."The Thinking Atheist"). I have "The God Delusion" on the shelf now, ready for a read soon.

I think I'm more of the "science" type of guy...so if I attack religion, it would usually be on that front. I'm not into the hard core logic....it often sounds like talking in circles to me.

I guess that's about it for me.

Reformed Holy Roller signing off...
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#2
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
Welcome!
"For the only way to eternal glory is a life lived in service of our Lord, FSM; Verily it is FSM who is the perfect being the name higher than all names, king of all kings and will bestow upon us all, one day, The great reclaiming"  -The Prophet Boiardi-

      Conservative trigger warning.
[Image: s-l640.jpg]
                                                                                         
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#3
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
Ha, if you don't like talking in circles, you'll have to avoid a few threads, and even atheists, here.

Welcome.
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#4
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
(July 16, 2019 at 1:12 pm)Shell B Wrote: Ha, if you don't like talking in circles, you'll have to avoid a few threads, and even atheists, here.

Welcome.

Oh, I have no doubt. That's just the "logical debate" and I get that. It's just not my thing. There are some famous speakers (Hitch, Dillahunty come to mind) who I don't like as much because of that. I prefer that cold hard science type discussions. More my style.
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#5
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
Welcome! I hope you find a home with us here! Just don’t let Valk get anywhere near you with her scalpel. She can be a bit impulsive at times. 😉 I think you’ll enjoy The God Delusion.
Nay_Sayer: “Nothing is impossible if you dream big enough, or in this case, nothing is impossible if you use a barrel of KY Jelly and a miniature horse.”

Wiser words were never spoken. 
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#6
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
It's not so much logic that bothers me, as it's extremely useful, it's the misuse of logic or, even worse, the misinterpretation of the opposition's argument. So often here and everywhere, people agree and don't even realize it. Or, people assume to know another's mind better than they know their own. For example, telling someone they're not actually atheist or that they're racist simply for being a conservative. Debate can be frustrating. Thoughtful conversation is worth wading through the bullshit.
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#7
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
Welcome.

For the next part of your twelve step programme you will need to accept a higher power...






...I suggest bacon.
Dying to live, living to die.
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#8
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
And tacos, I believe the going cost of admission is still tacos. Welcome.
"There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry." -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post

always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
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#9
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
@Valkyrie    

Can I make it coffee instead? I can go nutz over some good coffee!!

Not that I'm anti-bacon or anything.  Great
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#10
RE: Confessions of a Reformed Holy Roller!
(July 16, 2019 at 2:12 pm)kingtermite Wrote: @Valkyrie    

Can I make it coffee instead? I can go nutz over some good coffee!!

Not that I'm anti-bacon or anything.  Great

I’ll accept hot chocolate as an option.

Smile
Dying to live, living to die.
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