The Girl:
I know that I have not been posting on here as much as I did last year, so I wanted to share some of my thoughts with you on how becoming an atheist has truly had a positive impact on my life.

When I first came to this forum last summer, I was in crisis. Due to my deconversion, I found myself in the middle of a deep depression where I would drag myself through my day, and I had such a hard time getting much sleep. You guys were here for me. The members of my (former) megachurch had convinced me that life away from Christ was desolate, empty agony. I even believed at one point that I would rather die than give up God. However, upon conversing with some of you, I realized that it was possible to live a fulfilling life without any kind of god at the center of it.

Today, I am a much healthier person, physically and psychologically. I lost 10 lbs (yay!) because I was able to stop abusing my body from eating too much junk food (as a Christian I had thought that only the afterlife truly matters). I was able to deal with my depression and anxiety (runs in my family, and was triggered by childhood abuse that I suffered) without any medication anymore by taking control of my own life. No longer did I have to deal with the intense pressures and worries of trying to fit into the mold of "God's plan" or "God's will," so I was able to just be myself and figure out how to be comfortable in my own skin. I realized that although I love taking care of my husband and son at home, that I did not have to limit myself just because I am female, so I went back to school.

In retrospect, I realize how much Christianity truly hurt me throughout my childhood and early adulthood. It limits your potential to grow emotionally, intellectually and socially as a human being due to its prejudices and traditions. Atheism did not turn me into a devil-worshipping, baby-eating witch. Honestly, I have more mental clarity as an atheist than I ever did as a Christian.

I think the world would be a much more loving and fair place if there were less religion in it. Although I have reached a point where I am not angry at Christians or threatened by them unless they get in my face, I do think that, ironically, the words of Jesus actually apply to them: "they know not what they do." A Christian has to cherry-pick Bible verses and be (at least somewhat willfully) ignorant of ones that do not make sense in the real world. That being said, I do generally have compassion for them (unless they pick a fight or do something outrageous or unfair) because they are like fearful children clinging to their belief in Santa Claus. I do not say that in spite, because I feel a great sense of peace regarding my deconversion, and my bitterness toward Christians has faded. I will, however, express my disgust for that fictional character called "God," and anyone who does terrible things in his name.

striktlymi: Reserved!

ooman:

speechless will do

musKeeto: Lol, atheism's a religion, one without a God, just like buddhism

kufre2010: Remember Jesus was a Nazarite so Jesus was a black man with long locks and not a picture that was paint by a Roman painter that they presented to us.

ifeness: As for those christians who are confused and ready to leave.


Stop going to church, do not send any more donations and request your name be removed from the church contact list and e-bulletin.


Break ties with any clergy members who you aren't close to (ex: priest, bishop, minister, pope,pastors etc)


Store away anything you own that promotes Christianity (crucifixes, crosses, painting, the Bible.)

Tell all your immediate family that you have left the Christian Faith and there is nothing they can do to stop that.


Tell your friends and outer circle of family you have left the religion.


do not give in to the pleas of family members, the lectures of friends, even those door to door missionaries.


When invited by friends to certain ceremonies like first communion, evangelism or baptism, deeperlife retreats,politely say no to the invitation, and tell them you cannot come due to personal problems.


Warning ! : People may judge you when you leave, and family members may get mad, but follow your heart.

ekenedegreat: dis is satan himself decieving pple. God forbid!!

poopli: more people becoming atheists this days

2 Timothy 3:
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

2 Peter 3:
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

JIL:

Not the least surprised. The bible talked about this.