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Post by matisse on Dec 14, 2019 15:35:05 GMT -5
Interesting. My heart broke when I realized the god I had fervently believed in didn't exist and never had. I feel for you. When I figured out that god was a con invented by humans I was quite annoyed with myself for falling for such a scam and wasting so many years on it when I could have been doing stuff far more fruitful. Thanks, Curly. I got through it. I understand the high stakes for some believers and why they might turn a blind eye to the obvious in order to protect their faith.
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Post by Annan on Dec 14, 2019 17:03:59 GMT -5
Interesting. My heart broke when I realized the god I had fervently believed in didn't exist and never had. I feel for you. When I figured out that god was a con invented by humans I was quite annoyed with myself for falling for such a scam and wasting so many years on it when I could have been doing stuff far more fruitful. I never was a believer. Growing up, I did a lot of praying, but God never saved me from the abuse I suffered. I came to the conclusion early on that he either didn't care or didn't exist. Okay, I admit he did exist for a while. I needed someone to hate and blame for allowing my abuse to happen. Eventually I held my parents accountable.
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Post by dmmichgood on Dec 14, 2019 20:44:50 GMT -5
And that my dear is utter BS. Would you come to Thor if you were going through a bad time? Allah? No, and it's because you don't believe they exist. So how in the world do you think an atheist is going to be tempted to be a theist of something that does not exist for them? having been raised in a non-God (i would say atheistic) environment from 2-14 it was from a broken heart status i accepted God... I have found that a lot of people who believe they were "atheist" before they became Christians really had been immered in the Christian culture that abounds and actually hadn't even been aware of there were people who WEREN'T Christians.
They hadn't known that the word "atheist" even existed, -let alone that there were people who didn't believe in a god. If they heard anything along that line about people it was with derogatory connotations such as heretics, infidel or heathen.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2019 22:14:03 GMT -5
having been raised in a non-God (i would say atheistic) environment from 2-14 it was from a broken heart status i accepted God... I have found that a lot of people who believe they were "atheist" before they became Christians really had been immered in the Christian culture that abounds and actually hadn't even been aware of there were people who WEREN'T Christians.
They hadn't known that the word "atheist" even existed, -let alone that there were people who didn't believe in a god. If they heard anything along that line about people it was with derogatory connotations such as heretics, infidel or heathen.
regardless, when someone is not allowed to discuss God or go to services or pray that is in effect an atheistic environment. and whether or not someone is old enough to understand the word or concept an atheistic environment is still an atheistic environment...i also would go as far as to say that even if God is mentioned in an atheistic household that doesn't mean anyone is a christian by far.
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Post by dmmichgood on Dec 15, 2019 1:10:05 GMT -5
I have found that a lot of people who believe they were "atheist" before they became Christians really had been immered in the Christian culture that abounds and actually hadn't even been aware of there were people who WEREN'T Christians.
They hadn't known that the word "atheist" even existed, -let alone that there were people who didn't believe in a god. If they heard anything along that line about people it was with derogatory connotations such as heretics, infidel or heathen.
regardless, when someone is not allowed to discuss God or go to services or pray that is in effect an atheistic environment. and whether or not someone is old enough to understand the word or concept an atheistic environment is still an atheistic environment...i also would go as far as to say that even if God is mentioned in an atheistic household that doesn't mean anyone is a christian by far. Did you ask to go to a church or want to talk about god and not allowed to discuss God or go to services or pray?
I'm not saying that everyone was a Christian nor that everyone even went to church services but whole general atmosphere oozed of ChristianityWere you, wally, in an environment where anyone either questioned the idea of there being a god or actively stated they did not see any evidence for a god? It you did not, then you lived in a Cristian culture just was most of the people in the US.
Where I was raised even small farming communities had a least ONE Christian church! Larger towns could have at least three churches surrounding the Court House Square!
Anyone who dared say there might NOT be a god was well known in the community & ostracized & isolated and considered a "heathen."
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 15, 2019 1:31:47 GMT -5
Interesting. My heart broke when I realized the god I had fervently believed in didn't exist and never had. I feel for you. When I figured out that god was a con invented by humans I was quite annoyed with myself for falling for such a scam and wasting so many years on it when I could have been doing stuff far more fruitful. The good part of letting that go is realizing that those we loved aren't in any more danger of going to hell than we are.
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 15, 2019 1:38:58 GMT -5
I have found that a lot of people who believe they were "atheist" before they became Christians really had been immered in the Christian culture that abounds and actually hadn't even been aware of there were people who WEREN'T Christians.
They hadn't known that the word "atheist" even existed, -let alone that there were people who didn't believe in a god. If they heard anything along that line about people it was with derogatory connotations such as heretics, infidel or heathen.
regardless, when someone is not allowed to discuss God or go to services or pray that is in effect an atheistic environment. and whether or not someone is old enough to understand the word or concept an atheistic environment is still an atheistic environment...i also would go as far as to say that even if God is mentioned in an atheistic household that doesn't mean anyone is a christian by far. In private places people always have the right to be free from what they don't want. In public places people are still free to abstain, and disagree. And for the sake of peace, be respect-ed/ful.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2019 2:11:03 GMT -5
regardless, when someone is not allowed to discuss God or go to services or pray that is in effect an atheistic environment. and whether or not someone is old enough to understand the word or concept an atheistic environment is still an atheistic environment...i also would go as far as to say that even if God is mentioned in an atheistic household that doesn't mean anyone is a christian by far. Did you ask to go to a church or want to talk about god and not allowed to discuss God or go to services or pray?
I'm not saying that everyone was a Christian nor that everyone even went to church services but whole general atmosphere oozed of ChristianityWere you, wally, in an environment where anyone either questioned the idea of there being a god or actively stated they did not see any evidence for a god? It you did not, then you lived in a Cristian culture just was most of the people in the US.
Where I was raised even small farming communities had a least ONE Christian church! Larger towns could have at least three churches surrounding the Court House Square!
Anyone who dared say there might NOT be a god was well known in the community & ostracized & isolated and considered a "heathen."it was forbidden to talk about God/Jesus or go to a Church or pray or read.... there was no God to believe in it didn't matter at all if anyone challenged whether there was a God...the absence of God is the absence of God zip zilch nada...
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Post by curlywurlysammagee on Dec 15, 2019 2:14:23 GMT -5
I feel for you. When I figured out that god was a con invented by humans I was quite annoyed with myself for falling for such a scam and wasting so many years on it when I could have been doing stuff far more fruitful. The good part of letting that go is realizing that those we loved aren't in any more danger of going to hell than we are. Quite right. I have no qualms about death. Nor should anyone else. It happens to all animals that I know of.
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Post by dmmichgood on Dec 15, 2019 3:00:59 GMT -5
Did you ask to go to a church or want to talk about god and not allowed to discuss God or go to services or pray?
I'm not saying that everyone was a Christian nor that everyone even went to church services but whole general atmosphere oozed of ChristianityWere you, wally, in an environment where anyone either questioned the idea of there being a god or actively stated they did not see any evidence for a god? It you did not, then you lived in a Cristian culture just was most of the people in the US.
Where I was raised even small farming communities had a least ONE Christian church! Larger towns could have at least three churches surrounding the Court House Square!
Anyone who dared say there might NOT be a god was well known in the community & ostracized & isolated and considered a "heathen." it was forbidden to talk about God/Jesus or go to a Church or pray or read.... there was no God to believe in it didn't matter at all if anyone challenged whether there was a God...the absence of God is the absence of God zip zilch nada... OK, -sounds as if they have been atheists.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2019 17:46:26 GMT -5
it was forbidden to talk about God/Jesus or go to a Church or pray or read.... there was no God to believe in it didn't matter at all if anyone challenged whether there was a God...the absence of God is the absence of God zip zilch nada... OK, -sounds as if they have been atheists.thats not what i am saying either both my parents were believers but they would not agree on what church we should go to so we were raised without anything and forbidden to talk read pray or go to any church services...so me an my sister were raised essentially in an atheistic like environment until 12 and 14 years old...when my grandparents handed me a bible i had no idea what it was or what it was for at 2 months shy of 14....
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 16, 2019 3:04:56 GMT -5
OK, -sounds as if they have been atheists. thats not what i am saying either both my parents were believers but they would not agree on what church we should go to so we were raised without anything and forbidden to talk read pray or go to any church services...so me an my sister were raised essentially in an atheistic like environment until 12 and 14 years old...when my grandparents handed me a bible i had no idea what it was or what it was for at 2 months shy of 14.... Maybe they SHOULD have been atheists -- they could have demonstrated greater love.
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