RE: Hi, I'm a Christian. Help Me Disprove My Religion!
September 23, 2015 at 2:12 am
(This post was last modified: September 23, 2015 at 2:13 am by TheRocketSurgeon.)
I'm obviously too late to jump in on any serious basis, since others have done an excellent job of laying more than enough to chew and digest, on your intellectual "plate". I won't add too many more "you should consider" elements.
What got me out of religion was being lied to by my church leaders (and the books they handed me, when I inquired about it) about the nature of science, what we know through science about life and the universe, and some of the fundamental social teachings about humanity and our history. I wound up going to school to become a biologist, so if there are questions you wish you ask in the field of Creationism/Evolution, you're welcome to PM me if I don't respond to a question posted, in here or elsewhere.
The only thing I'll leave you to consider is this. You have already been threatened with hellfire (oh, so politely, but nevertheless threats) by the Christians here who responded to your questions. And yet, all the atheists have done is answered questions you asked. At no point will one of us say we'd be upset if you stayed a Christian, nor will we try to tell you there's some reason you must become an atheist. All we want is to see people asking good questions and learning how to rigorously think about those questions using logic (recognizing and avoiding fallacious thinking) and well-sourced information to form their premises (since logic operating on false premises can still reach false conclusions). Our opinion of you will not change based on what you end up deciding for yourself, provided you arrive at your conclusions by honest means, do not blind yourself to uncomfortable facts or those that disagree with your presuppositions, and treat nonbelievers as fairly and kindly as you have done so far.
The majority of atheists on this site went through the process of deconversion (as we call it), and we know how stressful and confusing it can be. Just keep trusting in your own power to reason, and I think you will find that, whatever you choose in the future, adherence to a rational mindset is very emotionally satisfying in the long run. It's more work, true, since you won't have any pre-digested answers, but that's part of what makes it so satisfying.
Good luck in your journey.
What got me out of religion was being lied to by my church leaders (and the books they handed me, when I inquired about it) about the nature of science, what we know through science about life and the universe, and some of the fundamental social teachings about humanity and our history. I wound up going to school to become a biologist, so if there are questions you wish you ask in the field of Creationism/Evolution, you're welcome to PM me if I don't respond to a question posted, in here or elsewhere.
The only thing I'll leave you to consider is this. You have already been threatened with hellfire (oh, so politely, but nevertheless threats) by the Christians here who responded to your questions. And yet, all the atheists have done is answered questions you asked. At no point will one of us say we'd be upset if you stayed a Christian, nor will we try to tell you there's some reason you must become an atheist. All we want is to see people asking good questions and learning how to rigorously think about those questions using logic (recognizing and avoiding fallacious thinking) and well-sourced information to form their premises (since logic operating on false premises can still reach false conclusions). Our opinion of you will not change based on what you end up deciding for yourself, provided you arrive at your conclusions by honest means, do not blind yourself to uncomfortable facts or those that disagree with your presuppositions, and treat nonbelievers as fairly and kindly as you have done so far.
The majority of atheists on this site went through the process of deconversion (as we call it), and we know how stressful and confusing it can be. Just keep trusting in your own power to reason, and I think you will find that, whatever you choose in the future, adherence to a rational mindset is very emotionally satisfying in the long run. It's more work, true, since you won't have any pre-digested answers, but that's part of what makes it so satisfying.
Good luck in your journey.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
