(April 7, 2014 at 5:10 pm)fr0d0 Wrote:

(April 7, 2014 at 3:46 pm)Deidre32 Wrote: fr0d0, I would share my story but it's not unique. All believers think they are unique in that they have some unexplainable spiritual connection to their god of choice. They claim that their faith is based on evidence, but can never produce it or believe their holy books to be verification of their beliefs.

I was such a person. Your arguments are not unique and I don't say that as an insult but rather to show that many here were once theists. We weren't "weak" or "lukewarm" theists. Many were fervent in prayer life, and thought a god meant something.

But reality dismantled the illusion for many of us. To believe in a god is sad to say, to believe in an illusion. I no longer could do that anymore no matter how warm and fuzzy the illusion made me feel at times.

And that is my story. FWIW. :-)

Thank you for your polite reply as always Deirdre.

So you think you have no unique story? Your fellow congregation got no proof of your conversion then? That's kind of a requirement in all the churches I went to.

I certainly have no spooky unexplainable spiritual connection. You say that like it's an essential requirement. I don't claim that my faith is based on evidence either. To me that is absurd. I've heard the usual crackpot minority with such idiotic claims but no one really takes those seriously do they?

That's not to diminish your experience. What we have in vast quantities are people raised as Christians but with no understanding of what that means. They get to an inquisitive age and suddenly find that they can't support the belief they profess.

Then there are lots of people who became believers as an emotional response to truth, IMO. They don't want or need to know the reasoning but trust enough for the moment to decide. If later they're challenged they have no come back.

Some, like me, seriously reasoned there way to belief. Then through questioning thought processes reason against.

Reality doesn't dismantle anything. Sincere thought can direct you either way. I can be charitable to your belief or lack thereof. All I would ask from anyone is the same courtesy in return.

How about it?

Strong atheists, in my opinion, are fearless enough to grant an opposing view respect. We have one or two of those on here.

Ok. :-) I'm sorry if I've ever been a bitch to you, fr0d0. You're a nice man and undeserving of it. It isn't you that I'm angry with but sometimes you remind me of my past "life" as a Christian. A life that brought me comfort. How can something untrue, bring someone comfort?

If I had no mind, and only a heart, I would probably still be a Christian. (I hope you know what I mean lol) I spend time on the Christian forums. I stay out of certain areas, but the people there have been nice to me. Really nice. I've been nice in return. Some, are skeptical of me and it's weird because what we "believe" in this life, draws such deep lines in the sand, u know? Unnecessary deep lines.

Anyway! :-)

Hey I deserve it sometimes. Let's hug... {{{{hug}}}}

(April 7, 2014 at 6:07 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: Hey I deserve it sometimes. Let's hug... {{{{hug}}}}

Ok

So you know, I was heartbroken to abandon Christianity. Even if I was indoctrinated as a kid, I still believed for a long time that a god would save everyone. I had doubts about the Bible always. But, I believed that there was a god. And I was heartbroken to learn that all I believed wasn't true.

I would never go back, but know that my anger comes from mourning the loss of all that I once believed. Now you know more about my story. :-)

(((Hug)))

(April 7, 2014 at 6:13 pm)Deidre32 Wrote:

(April 7, 2014 at 6:07 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: Hey I deserve it sometimes. Let's hug... {{{{hug}}}}

Ok

So you know, I was heartbroken to abandon Christianity. Even if I was indoctrinated as a kid, I still believed for a long time that a god would save everyone. I had doubts about the Bible always. But, I believed that there was a god. And I was heartbroken to learn that all I believed wasn't true.

I would never go back, but know that my anger comes from mourning the loss of all that I once believed. Now you know more about my story. :-)

(((Hug)))

Deidre.. noooooooooooo... come back........ dam u fredos!!! Stop it.

(April 7, 2014 at 6:17 pm)truthBtold Wrote:

(April 7, 2014 at 6:13 pm)Deidre32 Wrote: Ok

So you know, I was heartbroken to abandon Christianity. Even if I was indoctrinated as a kid, I still believed for a long time that a god would save everyone. I had doubts about the Bible always. But, I believed that there was a god. And I was heartbroken to learn that all I believed wasn't true.

I would never go back, but know that my anger comes from mourning the loss of all that I once believed. Now you know more about my story. :-)

(((Hug)))

Deidre.. noooooooooooo... come back........ dam u fredos!!! Stop it.

Lol no worries...I'm happy being an atheist. But there was a time when I was happy being a believer. I envy people who have been atheists their whole lives because they don't know any different. :/

(April 7, 2014 at 6:27 pm)Deidre32 Wrote:

(April 7, 2014 at 6:17 pm)truthBtold Wrote: Deidre.. noooooooooooo... come back........ dam u fredos!!! Stop it.

Lol no worries...I'm happy being an atheist. But there was a time when I was happy being a believer. I envy people who have been atheists their whole lives because they don't know any different. :/

AMEN.. now please pass the biscuits. . Thank you.