Life after church & not believing in God

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As if the vast majority of Christians out there haven’t merely accepted what their own parents taught them about god and what they learned during school rather than reading up on a many of different religions and becoming religious scholars in their spare time. The number of “religious” people who accept what is taught to them as children is far greater than the number of atheists who have done so imho. I started as a believer, questioned the existence of god (including through conversations with my priest), and decided god did not exist, but I guess that was just an easy path I took as a teen compared to all the people around me who suddenly became free thinkers and religious scholars.

I'd say it was the path that worked for you. Some people go the other direction, without much if any study. They "find" Jesus suddenly and become saved and Christian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always fascinated by how defensive (many) religious people get when some talk about leaving religion. They must be a troll or not have read (insert religious text) enough. Those are the only explanations.

It's... just fascinating.

They also sometimes assume, with great assuredness, that atheists can't comment on religion with any authority, because they are not religious themselves. It doesn't occur to them that most atheists these days were raised in a religion -- and it was instrumental in making them atheists.

Religion is a personal choice and belief. Atheists can comment on their experience and belief or lack of, but that only. Each person has a personal relationship with God and that relationship isn’t subject to other people’s experiences or opinions.

"Atheists can comment on their experience and belief or lack of, but that only"? Explain, please?

It just another religious person who thinks they have the authority from God to make rules for everyone.

Each religion has their own rules, beliefs, and traditions. Each religion has doctrine. Unless you are a Muslim, their rules don’t apply. Not Jewish? Rules don’t apply? Don’t believe in the Christian God? Rules don’t apply.

Even people who adhere to a particular religion don't follow the rules -- think Catholics and birth control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As if the vast majority of Christians out there haven’t merely accepted what their own parents taught them about god and what they learned during school rather than reading up on a many of different religions and becoming religious scholars in their spare time. The number of “religious” people who accept what is taught to them as children is far greater than the number of atheists who have done so imho. I started as a believer, questioned the existence of god (including through conversations with my priest), and decided god did not exist, but I guess that was just an easy path I took as a teen compared to all the people around me who suddenly became free thinkers and religious scholars.

How do you know what the “vast majority” of Christians do? The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 240 million Christians, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations. You’ve spoken and studied and questioned and have insight into the lives of over 200 million people?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_United_States

While you're checking statistics, you'll find that the number of church-going christians is decreasing in the US and the numbers of "nothing in particulars" is the fastest growing group. And no one is urging them to leave church. People are just falling away. https://religionnews.com/2019/03/21/nones-now-as-big-as-evangelicals-catholics-in-the-us/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As if the vast majority of Christians out there haven’t merely accepted what their own parents taught them about god and what they learned during school rather than reading up on a many of different religions and becoming religious scholars in their spare time. The number of “religious” people who accept what is taught to them as children is far greater than the number of atheists who have done so imho. I started as a believer, questioned the existence of god (including through conversations with my priest), and decided god did not exist, but I guess that was just an easy path I took as a teen compared to all the people around me who suddenly became free thinkers and religious scholars.

How do you know what the “vast majority” of Christians do? The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 240 million Christians, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations. You’ve spoken and studied and questioned and have insight into the lives of over 200 million people?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_United_States

While you're checking statistics, you'll find that the number of church-going christians is decreasing in the US and the numbers of "nothing in particulars" is the fastest growing group. And no one is urging them to leave church. People are just falling away. https://religionnews.com/2019/03/21/nones-now-as-big-as-evangelicals-catholics-in-the-us/

I was responding to a pp that presumed to speak for Christians. Notice the pp won’t answer my question as to how they have spoken to over 200 million Christians and can speak for them with authority?

There are 240 million American Christians, and our population is 327 million total.The vast majority of Americans claim Christianity, and speaking for all those millions of people and their beliefs, reasons, experiences, and opinions is not possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As if the vast majority of Christians out there haven’t merely accepted what their own parents taught them about god and what they learned during school rather than reading up on a many of different religions and becoming religious scholars in their spare time. The number of “religious” people who accept what is taught to them as children is far greater than the number of atheists who have done so imho. I started as a believer, questioned the existence of god (including through conversations with my priest), and decided god did not exist, but I guess that was just an easy path I took as a teen compared to all the people around me who suddenly became free thinkers and religious scholars.

How do you know what the “vast majority” of Christians do? The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 240 million Christians, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations. You’ve spoken and studied and questioned and have insight into the lives of over 200 million people?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_United_States

While you're checking statistics, you'll find that the number of church-going christians is decreasing in the US and the numbers of "nothing in particulars" is the fastest growing group. And no one is urging them to leave church. People are just falling away. https://religionnews.com/2019/03/21/nones-now-as-big-as-evangelicals-catholics-in-the-us/

I was responding to a pp that presumed to speak for Christians. Notice the pp won’t answer my question as to how they have spoken to over 200 million Christians and can speak for them with authority?

There are 240 million American Christians, and our population is 327 million total.The vast majority of Americans claim Christianity, and speaking for all those millions of people and their beliefs, reasons, experiences, and opinions is not possible.

Pp didn't say she had "spoken" to over 200 million Christians. She said "imho" In my humble opinion. I suggest giving up trying to nail pp down and prove her wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As if the vast majority of Christians out there haven’t merely accepted what their own parents taught them about god and what they learned during school rather than reading up on a many of different religions and becoming religious scholars in their spare time. The number of “religious” people who accept what is taught to them as children is far greater than the number of atheists who have done so imho. I started as a believer, questioned the existence of god (including through conversations with my priest), and decided god did not exist, but I guess that was just an easy path I took as a teen compared to all the people around me who suddenly became free thinkers and religious scholars.

How do you know what the “vast majority” of Christians do? The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 240 million Christians, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations. You’ve spoken and studied and questioned and have insight into the lives of over 200 million people?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_United_States

While you're checking statistics, you'll find that the number of church-going christians is decreasing in the US and the numbers of "nothing in particulars" is the fastest growing group. And no one is urging them to leave church. People are just falling away. https://religionnews.com/2019/03/21/nones-now-as-big-as-evangelicals-catholics-in-the-us/

Awesome post, thanks. You don't need a degree in statistics to understand those trends.

[Anonymous]

I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

Are you serious with this question? You can't be...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As if the vast majority of Christians out there haven’t merely accepted what their own parents taught them about god and what they learned during school rather than reading up on a many of different religions and becoming religious scholars in their spare time. The number of “religious” people who accept what is taught to them as children is far greater than the number of atheists who have done so imho. I started as a believer, questioned the existence of god (including through conversations with my priest), and decided god did not exist, but I guess that was just an easy path I took as a teen compared to all the people around me who suddenly became free thinkers and religious scholars.

How do you know what the “vast majority” of Christians do? The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 240 million Christians, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations. You’ve spoken and studied and questioned and have insight into the lives of over 200 million people?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_United_States

While you're checking statistics, you'll find that the number of church-going christians is decreasing in the US and the numbers of "nothing in particulars" is the fastest growing group. And no one is urging them to leave church. People are just falling away. https://religionnews.com/2019/03/21/nones-now-as-big-as-evangelicals-catholics-in-the-us/

I was responding to a pp that presumed to speak for Christians. Notice the pp won’t answer my question as to how they have spoken to over 200 million Christians and can speak for them with authority?

There are 240 million American Christians, and our population is 327 million total.The vast majority of Americans claim Christianity, and speaking for all those millions of people and their beliefs, reasons, experiences, and opinions is not possible.

Pp didn't say she had "spoken" to over 200 million Christians. She said "imho" In my humble opinion. I suggest giving up trying to nail pp down and prove her wrong.

So she’s spoken to how many Christians out of 240 million to come to her humble opinion?

Opinions are like buttholes-everyone has one, and they usually stink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

You’ve lost all credibility today. Move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

You’ve lost all credibility today. Move on.

You have no substance to your posts. No arguments, no facts, just ad hominem attacks in thread after thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

You’ve lost all credibility today. Move on.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

You’ve lost all credibility today. Move on.

+1,000

-100,000

I win.

PS what does posting numbers and plus signs "add" to this argument?