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Other options
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 (December 28, 2013 at 5:10 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: However I'm clearly not yet an atheist as I still like Christianity a lot! I just can't believe the basis of it. Sorry to break it to you bro, but if you really don't believe in the basis of it, you're not a christian. And if you don't believe in god, you're an atheist. You can still like christianity and be an atheist.  (December 28, 2013 at 5:10 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: I still plan to follow the same doctrines, but I can't honestly claim to believe that they are based on reality any more. Esquilax pushed me over the edge the bastard. Did I do that? Good!  I think this is simpler than you're making it, too; you say you can't be an atheist because you still like christianity, but the only thing you need to be an atheist is lack of belief in god. The dislike of religion is a common theme, but it's not a requirement; since you no longer believe that the basis of the religion is real, then am I correct in thinking the things you like about christianity are the admirable tenets? If so... keep them! Nobody is saying christianity is one hundred percent wrong on every pronouncement and concept it has ever espoused; even a broken clock is right twice a day (more if you bring it across time zones.) The things that help you there don't belong to christianity, as much as some of the followers of it would like you to believe otherwise; you can be just as much of a good, level headed person as you were before, just without believing that a space wizard is responsible for that. It's all still there; you won't suddenly be cut off from your ability to appreciate the good messages in the bible the moment you stop believing in god.
"YOU take the hard look in the mirror. You are everything that is wrong with this world. The only thing important to you, is you." - ronedee
Want to see more of my writing? Check out my (safe for work!) site, Unprotected Sects! 
Christian atheist sounds like an oxymoron, but it's pretty close based on the wiki page
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken." Sith code  (December 28, 2013 at 5:10 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: Ok, so I was, in the shower, trying to examine exactly how much of Christianity I still believe in. It didn't take me very long. I'm now thinking it's dishonest to continue to describe myself as such. It appears that you are in a deconversion process. It doesn't really matter what you call yourself -- that's up to you. I am an atheist, but I identify more as a skeptic. Some people just don't like to label themselves at all. Nothing wrong with that. I would recommend reading stories from ex-christians. http://new.exchristian.net You can also read stories from ex-members of other religions and cults. The attitude of ex-members varies greatly. I know a man who was a Moonie for three years. He just drifted away and considers it a learning experience - no hard feelings. If you want to see a really angry group of people look at ex-scientologists. http://exscientologykids.com Everyone's experience is different. There is no reason that you can't hold on to some of the warm fuzzy principles of xtianity and embrace reality for what it is at the same time. If you are a church goer, I would recommend finding some sort of social group to fill that empty space. Not necessarily a religious group -- maybe a hobby group -- pick up a new hobby. It's an adventure.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste -- don't pollute it with bullshit.
 (December 28, 2013 at 5:10 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: Ok, so I was, in the shower, trying to examine exactly how much of Christianity I still believe in. It didn't take me very long. I'm now thinking it's dishonest to continue to describe myself as such. Contemporary analytic philosophers of mind generally use the term “belief” to refer to the attitude we have, roughly, whenever we take something to be the case or regard it as true. Wiki defines it as - the psychological state in which an individual holds a conjecture or premise to be true. If you hold the premise that at least one god exists to be true, you are not an atheist. So, ask yourself if you currently hold the premise that at least one god exists to be true. You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.  Quote:Is there a name for that? Bewildered? Confused? ![[Image: JustPlainNuts.gif]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i65.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh219%2Fpjcomix%2Fblog%2FJustPlainNuts.gif)
(December 28, 2013 at 8:18 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: Christian atheist sounds like an oxymoron, but it's pretty close based on the wiki page Famous theologian, New Testament critic, Robert Price, PhD calls himself a Christian atheist. You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.  RE: Other options
December 29, 2013 at 11:17 am
(This post was last modified: December 29, 2013 at 11:17 am by Fidel_Castronaut.)
(December 28, 2013 at 12:59 pm)Simon Moon Wrote:(December 28, 2013 at 8:18 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: Christian atheist sounds like an oxymoron, but it's pretty close based on the wiki page I still can't reconcile that in my head, unless you refer to Christianity (and by reduction all other religions) as entities that exist exclusive of a deity...which still doesn't make sense (unless they don't have a god central to their mythology, but that doesn't apply to the abrahamic religions). (December 28, 2013 at 12:57 pm)Minimalist Wrote:Quote:Is there a name for that? Yes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLrnkK2Y...ata_player
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken." Sith code |
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