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except for the military service, I could swear this is my life story as well. Yes, I also waited to see if lightning would hit me during the first few days.
That was outstanding. Congratulations on freeing yourself from the mind control of religion. You are absolutely right; it's up to use to look after the environment and each other. In my view, you are now on the road of greater compassion and responsibility, despite charges to the contrary from those who still labor under the Christian dogma. Just keep reading, Neil. It must feel wonderful to be able to contemplate any possibility now without fear of reprisal. Doesn't it seem absurd that an all-knowing and compassionate god would punish you for your honestly-help opinion?
Welcome to the site. I hope to hear more from you.
I too would try and reconcile contradictions within the church, the Bible, and the faith on my own, but couldn't. I too, began to look to outside sources, not to discourage my faith but to strengthen it. I too, began to feel my faith crumble and begged god for answers. I begged "him" to not let me go. I warned him that I was teetering. I even went to the extent of writing "god" a letter on Word and begged him to answer it. Surely an omnipotent god would have no problem with reaching out to me via modern technology if he used a burning bush or talking ass! And just like you, the only thing that echoed back to me was SILENCE. I too saw that my morals stayed much the same and in some instances became even more civil. I too felt nothing but peace after I left Christianity for good. There has never been any real guilt, only a "what if I'm wrong" fear that has been born out of sixteen years of fundamental brain-washing, but it rarely surfaces.
You are so very brave, my friend. Welcome to the site. I hope to see you contribute more to our little hedonistic community
I, like all Christians, am far from perfect. Christians are often far from appealing, but Jesus still remains perfect, merciful, and loving. Despite the many shortcomings of those who are supposed to represent Him, He still draws countless people to Himself every day.
I need and enjoy Him, every day. My name is Ariston. I love Jesus.
He teaches that divine healing
is real and that we all should walk in it daily.
I heared that he got very sick
a few years back. To hide this he flew one of his lear jets to Mexico for treatment.
He is one the biggest con-artists in churchianity today.He is a cult leader with great power and control over his people.
Great post Neil,..thanks.
Do you realize you are only one person in a long line of people who has used this tactic here: "Jesus wuvs ewe! Forgive his imperfect flock and just listen to his voice."
All I can say is R-E-A-D before spewing your mini-sermon. Neil didn't say that it was the flock that ultimately let him down, it was Jesus. He asked Jesus to speak to him so that he could hear Jesus' voice. Neil understood that the flock was fucked up, so he turned to the master to see what went wrong. The only problem is, you can't get answers from dead men or non-existent gods. That's the same reality that hundreds of us here have seen.
Of course, now that I've typed all this, we'll find out that you're a troll and won't ever bother to read the comment that I just posted. Maybe it'll prevent the next troll from following your lead though.
Great testimony, I enjoyed reading it. I also found it interesting that the Ted Haggard scandal was was did it for you. When that whole Ted Haggard thing happened I really wondered if any Christians would question Christianity instead of just wave it away. What a hypocrite Ted Haggard was.... I didn't feel a bit sorry for him for getting caught. Anyway glad you finally saw the light of reason!
Ariston,
Jesus isn't perfect, because he doesn't exist. If for some reason you're seeing Jesus, or hearing voices in your head that you believe are Jesus, it's likey you have an undiagnosed mental illness (i.e. schizoprenia or psychosis), and you should seek immediate attention from a trained professional.
Great post. As others have said, I also felt many parallels with my own journey. Especially wondering why it took me so long to wake up.
I was in the Air Force in 1980 stationed not to far from you, over at RAf Bentwaters / Woodbridge. I also finally tossed the whole Christian thing in the past year or two.
It seems funny how all it takes is a quest for the truth, and an willingness to challenge any belief, no matter how deep seated, in order to realize how we were deceived for so long, and to finally wake up.
I'm just glad to be awake and free now. Glad to have you with us brother.
Thanks for the story.
Lance
What a wonderful anti-testimony! Congrats!!! Like so many here, I can relate to it on, oh, so so many levels. Like you, I knew more peace than when I was a devout Christian for more than 12 years. Like you, I did not turn into a denegrate animal when I turned my back on "God". In fact, I find myself more compassionate to my fellow human friends because they are no more a "project", a soul to be snatched from the fires of hell. I can now relate to them on equal footing, people who bleed blood when cut and cry salty tears when sad.
Ariston,
People like you when you come into this site, never ever bother to read what is written with any ounce of understanding. Like Neil, it is not Christians that turned me away from church, it is God himself. In my many years as a Christian, I cannot remember one single prayer where it is answered definitively without a shadow of doubt. I read the Bible diligently. Oh, how I read them. But did God ever speak through it? No. Nothing. Silence. Absolute deafening silence. If my spouse or partner behaved the way God did i.e. utter silence, why I would have dumped her long time ago! And I wonder why it took me so long when it comes to God.
Have a great life, Neil!
Joe
And many Christians can behave like jerks, human beings being as prone to error and self absorption as they are.
I have no doubt that your rejection of Christ has made things easier in this life, and that you will probably have a productive future.
In fact, a very full life, probably happier than you would if you had stuck with Christianity.
Enjoy the ride.
But in the end, Hell will still be waiting.
Then he added: "In the end, Hell will still be waiting."
Ironic.
Remember: You must love Greg's unconditionally loving god, or you will suffer horrific, agonizing torment throughout all eternity.
Best wishes!
It sounds to me like this guy fears hell more than he loves his gawd. At least he agrees that atheists can have happier lives than christians. Other christians think atheists are a sorrowful bunch of pricks, always searching for true happiness and never finding it.
So Greg, Why doest thou kick against the pricks?
Ditto everyone else (cept the Christians). I think the fellowship I have felt among exbelievers is far superior to that I ever experienced as a believer since the 'ties that bind' are real.
I had to laugh at what Greg said: "hell will still be waiting." Don't they say something similar about Las Vegas?
I'm an Indian and hate the things done by christians to convert the world into bloddy chri...
Wow...cant count the times i heard that one...and you know
Greg-he wasnt asking for himself if he was asking god for faith because supposedly thats to glorify God. You need to try a different one next time. May i suggest the-"you recei
ved the answer but werent listening" one? Or maybe the- "you have some sin in your life youre not letting go of" one. That was the one that always got me!
Anyway.. Neil-that was a terrific post. I felt I could have written it myself-but much less eloquently!!
"Jesus still loves you!"
Then tell him to get on the damned phone and talk to us!
"I can hear Satan's voice."
Well, at least someone's talking!
By the way, anony, I am Satan. And I've been talking with God. It seems he's going to let you be the next Job. Are you ready for some real persecution?
A. Ford
Ariston ! That sounded very gay dude. Do you an Jewsus wack-off together? Im beginning to understand why u fundy sickos want a "relationship" with Jebus.Well then...go ahead and enjoy your mindfuck!
Do you believe that the words of Christ as recorded in the gospels were manufactured by men or do you believe that someone named Jesus did exist in antiquity and did say at least some of the things the gospels record that he said? I was impressed with your thoughtful words and am just trying to understand where you are coming from.
Jeff
I now see that I didn't recognize the lessons God was sending my way because I was too busy whining and being ungreatful.
I can understand how people rebel against their pastors. I can understand how people misunderstand the Old Testament (Historical, but its not the NEW Covenant).
But no matter how angry I got at how people manipulate and try to instill constant guilt/shame -- I always new the "REAL" Jesus was out there.
The true Jesus came to yell and stop all the crap that many people talk about in this site. He was a rebel against the establishment.
Just read his words, and you will understand the context within the entire bible. He questioned and changed many ideas that the Old Testament presented.
Jesus was different then, and still remains different among all the ugliness that organized relgion still spews out.