Question

[Succubus]

Hi everyone.  First of all I want to be honest and let you know that I am a Bible believing Christian.  I did not join this forum with the intentions to attack, debate, or belittle anyone. I expect the same treatment, please.  I am doing a personal study on the topic of apostasy of the Christian faith. Some believers think that a person of Christian faith can choose to not follow Jesus.  I do have my own beliefs about this subject of which i will not discuss.  I do personally know of one person who kind of turned away for a period of time , but eventually returned to the faith.  I am here to ask if there are any of people who were a bible believing, Christ following, Christian who chose to "walk away" from that belief.  If so, how long were you a follower of Jesus and why did you abandon that faith?  What is your belief now?
Thank you so much for your time.
G.

Well fuck me another Gotcha set up  thinly disguised as a conversion thread.

I do have my own beliefs about this subject of which i will not discuss.

Well fuck off then.

[G Alan]

Hi everyone.  First of all I want to be honest and let you know that I am a Bible believing Christian.  I did not join this forum with the intentions to attack, debate, or belittle anyone. I expect the same treatment, please.  I am doing a personal study on the topic of apostasy of the Christian faith. Some believers think that a person of Christian faith can choose to not follow Jesus.  I do have my own beliefs about this subject of which i will not discuss.  I do personally know of one person who kind of turned away for a period of time , but eventually returned to the faith.  I am here to ask if there are any of people who were a bible believing, Christ following, Christian who chose to "walk away" from that belief.  If so, how long were you a follower of Jesus and why did you abandon that faith?  What is your belief now?
Thank you so much for your time.
G.

Could you do us a flavor a start an intro thread for yourself? We don't know you.

Ok c172 a little intro of myself
As I stated in my post, I am a Christian.  49 years old.  I was raised in a Southern Baptist church from birth.  My family and I left the Baptist affiliation 4 years ago and started going to a non-denominational church.  I got tired of all the traditions and rules that the people were so hung up on.  We found a bible following church that cares more about others than themselves. And again, the reason I am on here is to pose the question for my personal bible study.  I try to better myself as a person and Christian.  I like to understand things from the actual persons mouth than making presumptions.  Again, not here to debate at all, but if anyone has a question about my belief thats fine. But i will not debate.  That tends to get ugly and offensive. I honestly appreciate peoples responses no matter what belief they may have.  Thanks

[G Alan]

Hi everyone.  First of all I want to be honest and let you know that I am a Bible believing Christian.  I did not join this forum with the intentions to attack, debate, or belittle anyone. I expect the same treatment, please.  I am doing a personal study on the topic of apostasy of the Christian faith. Some believers think that a person of Christian faith can choose to not follow Jesus.  I do have my own beliefs about this subject of which i will not discuss.  I do personally know of one person who kind of turned away for a period of time , but eventually returned to the faith.  I am here to ask if there are any of people who were a bible believing, Christ following, Christian who chose to "walk away" from that belief.  If so, how long were you a follower of Jesus and why did you abandon that faith?  What is your belief now?
Thank you so much for your time.
G.

Well fuck me another Gotcha set up  thinly disguised as a conversion thread.

I do have my own beliefs about this subject of which i will not discuss.

Well fuck off then.

Sorry that came across as being offensive for you.  Not trying to set anyone up at all.  I will be more than happy to answer any of your question about my belief.  I just do not want to debate.

[vorlon13]

If you're comfortable discussing it, does the communion bread come first before the wine, or vice versa ??

[G Alan]

I've never believed in Jesus so I can't help you. But there are many here who did so I'll let them speak.

Welcome by the way, hope you stick around and that this isn't a hit and run thread.

Thanks for the welcome.  I hope its not a "hit and run" thread either.  Not my intentions.  Ya'll can help me with more understanding of what I believe and why.  I am sure you have your reasons for not believing, I am just trying to genuinely understand.  I hope I don't come across as deceitful or rude.  I have no ulterior motives at all.

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You're gonna find a bunch of former believers here.  Welcome aboard.

Thanks.  I just want to understand the reasons behind former vs. now.  Is it something that we as Christians need to be aware of and are we a part of the problem.

[The Valkyrie]

I was a believer until I was eight and started doubting.

Then I read the bible. All of it, not just the happy clappy parts that are usually read in church.

Became an avowed atheist at 13 and haven't regretted the decision.

[G Alan]

I was a Christian until I was about 23. Long story short, I started reading the Bible and realized I didn’t believe anything in there.

Hi Losty,  There is a lot in the  Bible that seems far fetched.  Some things are really hard to wrap the brain around and understand.   Some of the versions are so hard to follow as well for me.  I use the NLT version and NASB.  It is a whole lot easier to read and understand.  So if you don't mind, is there anything in particular that made you not believe the whole?

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I had indoctrination (I could say all the right words at the right times) but I don't think anyone would ever call it faith or belief, certainly not me. Left at age 13.

Was that like the Catholic catechism, or something else?

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I believed until about 15-16 and I just couldn't wrap my head around magic being real, I'm too much of a logical thinker. I gave up religion for what made more sense and what had proof.

Thanks for your honesty.  It is hard to wrap the brain around some of the miracles in the Bible.  I try to be a logical thinker as well.
If you don't mind, what was your belief before giving up?  And what kind of "proof" did you turn to?

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I was a believer until I was eight and started doubting.

Then I read the bible.  All of it, not just the happy clappy parts that are usually read in church.

Became an avowed atheist at 13 and haven't regretted the decision.

Up until 8 years old were you a "believer" because you were brought up in church or told by someone what you should belief?
So glad you started trying to figure it out on your own.  That is exactly what my kids are doing.  I want them to come to their own conclusions about their belief.  I answer any questions they have but make them do the research.  A lot of the research they do is outside the bible. 
If you don't mind, did anything happen in life that made you start doubting?   Was there anything in particular that you read that caused the most doubt?   and when you call yourself an "avowed atheist" what exactly do you mean?  And what do you believe now? 
Thank for your honesty.

[KevinM1]

You belong to a church, yet the religious views under your username is listed as “Do not like religion.” Uh huh.

In any event, I grew up in a mostly non-practicing Catholic household. I never truly believed in any god, and I’m beyond thankful that I’ve only ever been in a church 10 or fewer times in my life.

[G Alan]

If you're comfortable discussing it, does the communion bread come first before the wine, or vice versa ??

Hi vorlon13,  I don't mind answering anything.  I do not believe anywhere in the bible it gives a specific order in which communion has to be given.  However during the supper with Jesus and his disciples, Jesus did pass the bread first, then the juice.  I think that is why some do it in that order?   I am a part of a non-denominational church.  When we pass communion, both are passed at the same time.    I drink the juice first to wash down the cracker that I ate.  I left a church where there were a lot of traditions that weren't found in the bible took precedence over things that were biblical.  Religious people can get legalistic as well. 
Thanks

[brewer]

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I had indoctrination (I could say all the right words at the right times) but I don't think anyone would ever call it faith or belief, certainly not me. Left at age 13.

Was that like the Catholic catechism, or something else?

Evangelical Lutheran. (watered down catholic/catholic lite) Yeah, there was catechism but it didn't stick. The final straw came from the youth pastor, that in a nutshell, said "I don't care if it does not make sense, that there is no proof, just believe".

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Thanks.  I just want to understand the reasons behind former vs. now.  Is it something that we as Christians need to be aware of and are we a part of the problem.

bold mine

Yep, that god(s) is a illusion/delusion and belief that it exists outside the mind is fantasy.