Ex-Clergy realizing there is no god

[Anonymous]

I always wonder why atheists ask for proof of spiritual things. There isn't proof, that is why we call it "faith." If it was proven, faith would be paltry. I am not looking for proof.

They said it best in "oh brother where art thou"...everybody's looking for answers. I don't have any answers for you. I do believe the incredible complexity that is life and space is a manifestation of God, who is infinite. The cosmos only makes sense when you have some faith, because the answers just keep changing as the concept of infinite gets larger and more complex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder why atheists ask for proof of spiritual things. There isn't proof, that is why we call it "faith." If it was proven, faith would be paltry. I am not looking for proof.

They said it best in "oh brother where art thou"...everybody's looking for answers. I don't have any answers for you. I do believe the incredible complexity that is life and space is a manifestation of God, who is infinite. The cosmos only makes sense when you have some faith, because the answers just keep changing as the concept of infinite gets larger and more complex.

For you, what part of the cosmos is only explained by faith? Because I have yet to come across anything that is so overly complex that I need some mystical way to explain it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely np to this thread.

It's fascinating to me how many people of faith call atheists offensive, name-callers, hostile, bashers, rude, mean spirited, etc... but don't see how they are behaving in the same exact way.

We're fed up. There's a long history of atheists derailing religion threads.

And when Christians get fed up, there are no holds barred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder why atheists ask for proof of spiritual things. There isn't proof, that is why we call it "faith." If it was proven, faith would be paltry. I am not looking for proof.

They said it best in "oh brother where art thou"...everybody's looking for answers. I don't have any answers for you. I do believe the incredible complexity that is life and space is a manifestation of God, who is infinite. The cosmos only makes sense when you have some faith, because the answers just keep changing as the concept of infinite gets larger and more complex.

It's the quintessential Christian escape hatch. Their God is real and you must believe in him, but there's no proof because it's all faith, which has a much higher value than proof. Why? because Christians' say so with such determination and aplomb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when they die, they'll realize they were wrong about that.

I thought God forgave all.

He did. He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. All you need do is put your trust in Jesus for forgiveness and you're good to go. Why is that so hard to accept? We all know we're sinners.

Typical example of a Christian speaking authoritatively with no evidence but full confidence in unverified beliefs.

Why is it hard to accept? Because someone made it up a long time ago and have used it to guilt trip people ever since.

Typical example of atheist disrespect and sweeping claims. Yet some of you will continue to pretend this stuff never happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder why atheists ask for proof of spiritual things. There isn't proof, that is why we call it "faith." If it was proven, faith would be paltry. I am not looking for proof.

They said it best in "oh brother where art thou"...everybody's looking for answers. I don't have any answers for you. I do believe the incredible complexity that is life and space is a manifestation of God, who is infinite. The cosmos only makes sense when you have some faith, because the answers just keep changing as the concept of infinite gets larger and more complex.

It's the quintessential Christian escape hatch. Their God is real and you must believe in him, but there's no proof because it's all faith, which has a much higher value than proof. Why? because Christians' say so with such determination and aplomb.

Nobody, certainly not PP, said *you* must believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ex-clergy-explain-how-they-realized-there-is-no-god

Hit submit too soon...

"But what about when your faith is your livelihood? After years of study and seminary, after building an entire life around your faith, what do you do when you realize the link between you and your higher power has disappeared?"

"I do, however, think that they are wasting a lot of time, effort, and money on nonsense."

Interesting how many people from so many different faiths are coming to the same conclusion: There is no god.

I'm not ex-clergy but I am an ex-evangelical who attended an evangelical university. I feel like my entire undergraduate education is a waste of time and money. The things I was taught were ridiculous and demonstrably false. It is a hard conclusion to come to. I discovered the Clergy Project recently, but they only accept ex-clergy. I wish there was an online community for former believers like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when they die, they'll realize they were wrong about that.

I thought God forgave all.

He did. He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. All you need do is put your trust in Jesus for forgiveness and you're good to go. Why is that so hard to accept? We all know we're sinners.

Typical example of a Christian speaking authoritatively with no evidence but full confidence in unverified beliefs.

Why is it hard to accept? Because someone made it up a long time ago and have used it to guilt trip people ever since.

Typical example of atheist disrespect and sweeping claims. Yet some of you will continue to pretend this stuff never happens.

Holy double standard, batman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when they die, they'll realize they were wrong about that.

I thought God forgave all.

He did. He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. All you need do is put your trust in Jesus for forgiveness and you're good to go. Why is that so hard to accept? We all know we're sinners.

Typical example of a Christian speaking authoritatively with no evidence but full confidence in unverified beliefs.

Why is it hard to accept? Because someone made it up a long time ago and have used it to guilt trip people ever since.

Typical example of atheist disrespect and sweeping claims. Yet some of you will continue to pretend this stuff never happens.

Holy double standard, batman.

Holy hypocrisy to you, batgirl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when they die, they'll realize they were wrong about that.

I thought God forgave all.

He did. He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. All you need do is put your trust in Jesus for forgiveness and you're good to go. Why is that so hard to accept? We all know we're sinners.

Typical example of a Christian speaking authoritatively with no evidence but full confidence in unverified beliefs.

Why is it hard to accept? Because someone made it up a long time ago and have used it to guilt trip people ever since.

Typical example of atheist disrespect and sweeping claims. Yet some of you will continue to pretend this stuff never happens.

Holy double standard, batman.

Holy hypocrisy to you, batgirl.

99% of the bigotry and flames around here come from atheists. Not from all atheist posters, but from a few here.

We all know this.

Why do you even bother pretending you're so innocent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder why atheists ask for proof of spiritual things. There isn't proof, that is why we call it "faith." If it was proven, faith would be paltry. I am not looking for proof.

They said it best in "oh brother where art thou"...everybody's looking for answers. I don't have any answers for you. I do believe the incredible complexity that is life and space is a manifestation of God, who is infinite. The cosmos only makes sense when you have some faith, because the answers just keep changing as the concept of infinite gets larger and more complex.

So this is fine, really. I am not bothered by people who look at the amazingness of our universe and see the workings of a higher being. I understand that response. But once you question others whose faith is different from yours, such as a Hindu who believes in many gods, that is where you've lost me. And maybe you, personally, don't question Hindus or Muslims or Zoroastrians. But you know that many others do. I'm sure the ancient Greeks had faith in their gods, too, and who is to say they were wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when they die, they'll realize they were wrong about that.

I thought God forgave all.

Only before you die. After you die, it's too late, unless you're Catholic and a priest is nearby to give last rites.

Do you have proof?

Doubting Thomas.

Blessed are those who believe without seeing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely np to this thread.

It's fascinating to me how many people of faith call atheists offensive, name-callers, hostile, bashers, rude, mean spirited, etc... but don't see how they are behaving in the same exact way.

We're fed up. There's a long history of atheists derailing religion threads.

And when Christians get fed up, there are no holds barred.

So stop trolling Christians and venting your bigotry. Easy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ex-clergy-explain-how-they-realized-there-is-no-god

Hit submit too soon...

"But what about when your faith is your livelihood? After years of study and seminary, after building an entire life around your faith, what do you do when you realize the link between you and your higher power has disappeared?"

"I do, however, think that they are wasting a lot of time, effort, and money on nonsense."

Interesting how many people from so many different faiths are coming to the same conclusion: There is no god.

I'm not ex-clergy but I am an ex-evangelical who attended an evangelical university. I feel like my entire undergraduate education is a waste of time and money. The things I was taught were ridiculous and demonstrably false. It is a hard conclusion to come to. I discovered the Clergy Project recently, but they only accept ex-clergy. I wish there was an online community for former believers like me.

Try another Christian faith. I agree that Evangelism is rather empty. The National Catholic Register recently interviewed Franklin Graham and concluded that while he may be well-meaning, his faith is built upon some shaky foundations and his bashing of Muslims and Gays is unchristian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ex-clergy-explain-how-they-realized-there-is-no-god

Hit submit too soon...

"But what about when your faith is your livelihood? After years of study and seminary, after building an entire life around your faith, what do you do when you realize the link between you and your higher power has disappeared?"

"I do, however, think that they are wasting a lot of time, effort, and money on nonsense."

Interesting how many people from so many different faiths are coming to the same conclusion: There is no god.

I'm not ex-clergy but I am an ex-evangelical who attended an evangelical university. I feel like my entire undergraduate education is a waste of time and money. The things I was taught were ridiculous and demonstrably false. It is a hard conclusion to come to. I discovered the Clergy Project recently, but they only accept ex-clergy. I wish there was an online community for former believers like me.

I definitely agree with you there. As a Catholic, I don't find much I recognize in Evangelical religions.