Ask a former Christian

[T.J.]

Hi. Name's Ayen. Real name's Tom. I was motivated to start one of these because I kept seeing all these questions aimed at theists I always want to answer, but never qualify so I figured a questions thread of my own would be good. Feel free to ask me questions about my perspective growing up religious and what all I was taught and believed before I deconverted.

To help narrow some things down, I was raised in a right-wing conservative, religious home, who identified as 'Born-Again Christian,' but we were members of a Pentecostal Church. I was a part of that church from 89 - 01, and then for reasons I can't remember we moved to a Baptist church that was closer from 01 - 07, and then a third church that was trying to be hip and stuff that I can't remember what branch they were actually a part of, and then back to the Pentecostal Church because the passage the preacher read that day just happened to be the same one Dad already had bookmarked with a Garth Brooks concert ticket.

I stopped going to church around the time Obama became President because I was tired of hearing Christians go on about how much Obama and Muslims sucked. During the 08 - 13 time frame I identified more as 'spiritual' and just left people with opposing viewpoints alone. I didn't officially become a non-believer until two years ago.

I like playing video games, and long walks on the beach. Shoot.

Ducks underneath gunshot

Ask away.

[robvalue]

How open are you able to be about your atheism / non belief? Do you think it would affect you if more people knew?

[Salacious B. Crumb]

Did you feel guilt, or was it tough for you to break up your relationship with Jeebus Kryst?

P.S. Obama is the Anti-Chrriissstt, watch out!

[T.J.]

How open are you able to be about your atheism / non belief? Do you think it would affect you if more people knew?

Not sure. I haven't felt brave enough to test it. I'm lucky that I have parents who wouldn't flat out disown me if I converted to another religion or abandoned one entirely. I know my dad had plenty of moments where he doubted, albeit for different reasons, and he at least understands the basic definition of the word 'atheism' and doesn't demonize those affiliated with it. I know my brother is a little more open about his non-belief, and they haven't given him much flack about it from what I've seen.

Worst case scenario? They'd probably ask me a bunch of stupid questions and expect me to answer for every atheist they either see on TV or read about, or they'd just pray for me in secret and fret about the idea of me burning in hell. Funny thing is, I think my dad would take more exception to me being Pro Gay Marriage, and Pro-Choice, than he would me simply not believing in God anymore.

Did you feel guilt, or was it tough for you to break up your relationship with Jeebus Kryst?

P.S. Obama is the Anti-Chrriissstt, watch out!

Yes, but only because of the irrational fear of going to hell for it. Had to force myself to say the words “I renounce God” in a loud and clear voice just to prove to myself I could do it. That probably wasn't necessary, but I guess I had to prove to myself there was nothing up there to zap me for it. When I was spiritual I was never bothered by the idea that God wasn't real because it meant there was nothing to fear. Even in its weakest state my belief in hell had always been stronger than my belief in God, so I doubt if I ever truly believed.

[Minimalist]

I was motivated to start one of these because I kept seeing all these questions aimed at theists I always want to answer, but never qualify

No one pays attention to that anyway.

Welcome, fellow heathen.

[Aoi Magi]

do you eat babies?

[Alex K]

Hello!

So while you were a firm believer, did you ever encounter arguments against God, and did you encounter atheists, and what did you think of them?

[T.J.]

do you eat babies?

Yes, but only to help control the population so people don't starve. They taste surprisingly a lot like watermelon for some reason...

[ignoramus]

Hello ...
Did god ever speak to you?
Did he make any of your prayers come true?

Welcome...

[T.J.]

Hello!

So while you were a firm believer, did you ever encounter arguments against God, and did you encounter atheists, and what did you think of them?

Plenty, though never in person. A couple months after getting a computer with internet in 2005 I joined a discussion forum that had a lot of liberals and atheists and the occasional conservative religious person, be them Catholic, Mormon, or whatever, and they debated these things all the time. I actually learned a lot more about Evolution through that instead of the usual misinformation spread in Churches.

Then there were your usual Leviticus and Deuteronomy passages they'd cite to showcase how fucked up God's law really is, and of course I can't count how many times they asked why we're being held responsible for Eve eating a fruit that God put there in the first place.

I always saw them as normal people. My thoughts went from "You're wrong," to "Okay, I can't dispute that," to "I can't counter any of your arguments, so I'm not going to try." Basically, they helped me go from Hardcore Christian > Apologist > Fuck it, you guys were right.

Not exclusively on that forum, mind you. I've been to multiple sites that had plenty of atheists fighting the good fight.

Hello ...
Did god ever speak to you?
Did he make any of your prayers come true?

Welcome...

1.) No.
2.) They had like a 50/50 probability of coming true, and I can't remember anything I prayed for.