After several months of being quiet I've written a letter to my former church. We'll see how this goes. I wrote it out of respect for them. I should give them some sort of reason why I haven't been going to church. Here's what I wrote:
Hello,
I guess by now I ought to give some sort of reason as to why I haven’t been going to church for so many months. After 30 years of being a devout Christian my belief gave up the ghost, I’m an atheist. I didn’t lose my faith in God and religion because of anything anybody did, I just don’t believe in god anymore. No one led me into atheism either, believe me, I found it myself. I did try the agnosticism thing for a few months…that didn’t work out so well for me.
Anyway I think this means that I’m no longer a Methodist because I believe that a prerequisite for being a Methodist is that you must have a belief in the Christian god. With this requirement scratched off the list I guess you’ll have to scratch off the other thing as well. Also, I think you need to be a Methodist to be a member of the church so I guess you’ll need to scratch me off that list too.
Anyway, to reiterate, I’m not bitter at anyone, there’s no one to be bitter at, I just don’t believe in god or religion anymore. As for those of you in the Sunday school class, I still consider all of you my friends. I just don’t see the point in coming to class. It would lead to a rather uncomfortable situation for all of us. If I see you around town, believe me, I’ll say hi. I also intend to show up for the Christmas specials at church. I’ve always loved Christmas music. As for the regular church services, well, there’s not much point to my attending these.
Sorry to drop this bomb on you like this. I just thought that, out of respect for all of you, I’d better give some reason why I’m not going to church anymore.
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Wish me luck
BTW I also learned that I shouldn't capitalize the word atheism http://atheism.about.com/od/definitionof...theism.htm
Hello,
I guess by now I ought to give some sort of reason as to why I haven’t been going to church for so many months. After 30 years of being a devout Christian my belief gave up the ghost, I’m an atheist. I didn’t lose my faith in God and religion because of anything anybody did, I just don’t believe in god anymore. No one led me into atheism either, believe me, I found it myself. I did try the agnosticism thing for a few months…that didn’t work out so well for me.
Anyway I think this means that I’m no longer a Methodist because I believe that a prerequisite for being a Methodist is that you must have a belief in the Christian god. With this requirement scratched off the list I guess you’ll have to scratch off the other thing as well. Also, I think you need to be a Methodist to be a member of the church so I guess you’ll need to scratch me off that list too.
Anyway, to reiterate, I’m not bitter at anyone, there’s no one to be bitter at, I just don’t believe in god or religion anymore. As for those of you in the Sunday school class, I still consider all of you my friends. I just don’t see the point in coming to class. It would lead to a rather uncomfortable situation for all of us. If I see you around town, believe me, I’ll say hi. I also intend to show up for the Christmas specials at church. I’ve always loved Christmas music. As for the regular church services, well, there’s not much point to my attending these.
Sorry to drop this bomb on you like this. I just thought that, out of respect for all of you, I’d better give some reason why I’m not going to church anymore.
--------------
Wish me luck
BTW I also learned that I shouldn't capitalize the word atheism http://atheism.about.com/od/definitionof...theism.htm
I have studied the Bible and the theology behind Christianity for many years. I have been to many churches. I have walked the depth and the breadth of the religion and, as a result of this, I have a lot of bullshit to scrape off the bottom of my shoes. ~Ziploc Surprise
