We have beliefs, you have beliefs. Why are you coming here to this website to spread your rude behavior? Do you really think you’ll change anyone’s mind here with that hostility? Why are you so rude and angry?

I have a practice of welcoming all newcomers, no matter how ill they treat us. Sadly, we have gotten accustomed to rude behavior from Christians visiting this site.

Welcome, Champ, for as long as you stay. We offer you friendship and fellowship and conversation. May you find what you seek here.

What sin made you turn away from the living God and killed your faith?
What a waste.

Karen, I will look into the group!

I also read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, and I recall that particular quote very well. It had a different effect on me though. Rather than prompting me to choose the rational over the supernatural, it caused me to reflect on the importance of the divinity of Christ rather than simply saying it was not important.

What occupies me these days is the question of what the divinity of Christ means to someone (like myself) who accepts both science and religion.

As for being atheist because “you didn’t know what Christianity was about”, I was raised in an ultra-fundamentalist Christian family, went to seminary (to be a pastor’s wife, not a pastor… we were fundies!), and devoted much of my life to saving the lost. In the last 5 years or so, I turned away from much of that particular Christian paradigm,

Hi Jennifer! I’m also an ex-fundy (30 years worth).

I help moderate an online support group that aims to encourage and help people who are leaving fundamentalist religions. The group was essential to helping me get through the worst part of my “deconversion.” Most of our members are former Christians (some are still religious but not fundamentalist) but we also have Jews and at least one Ba’hai. Our most recent addition is a guy who’s been a Baptist minister for something like 40 years – and he’s just now “seeing the light” and reading “The Age of Reason” – so there’s hope for everyone.

If you’re interested in joining us:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exit-fundyism/

I came to believe that Jesus’ true message was a humanitarian one. It had everything to do with the way we treat each other in this life, not getting to the next one. I became a humanitarian Christ-follower.

Jennifer – I have never heard it stated this way. I totally agree.

I also like the Dalai Lama’s “My Religion is Kindness.”

As for being atheist because “you didn’t know what Christianity was about”, I was raised in an ultra-fundamentalist Christian family, went to seminary (to be a pastor’s wife, not a pastor… we were fundies!), and devoted much of my life to saving the lost. In the last 5 years or so, I turned away from much of that particular Christian paradigm, as I came to believe that Jesus’ true message was a humanitarian one. It had everything to do with the way we treat each other in this life, not getting to the next one. I became a humanitarian Christ-follower.

Then, in the irony of ironies, it was reading Mere Christianity that made the whole thing unravel like a poorly made sweater. Either Jesus was who he claimed, or he wasn’t. Everything came down to the supernatural claims of the gospels, which I didn’t believe. So I walked away from Christianity all together.

All thanks to C.S. Lewis.