Oh, for gods’ sake!

Posted on by Ark

Saw this question asked somewhere.

Is there any reason that you’re glad you were once a Christian? Did anything positive at all come from your experience?

Well …. is there?

Ark.

74 thoughts on “Oh, for gods’ sake!”

  1. After a considerable blank stare, I miss having the truth come so easily for me. I miss being so confident I had all the answers without any effort. I miss being able to prove things just by believing them. I don’t really miss the smugness that came with being a knowitall.

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    1. But, wait can people also be smug in “unbelief,” and just as dogmatic? Isn’t the idea that all kinds of beliefs lead to harm also a form of belief?

      Playin around a bit with you Jim, in a good way, of course. Hope you are well. I have to admit, I can envy you with that cabin in the mountains. But, am also glad that you and your family can build memories there. I would love it. Take care.

      Miss some of our conversations. My Border Collie doesn’t have long. I will miss him terribly, a real hole in my heart.

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      1. Nice to see you too. You too, can smug at colorstorms “belief” that the earth is flat. Where do we draw the line between that and “real” beliefs? Sorry about the pooch.

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        1. He feels the the earth is flat? I’ve never met anyone with this belief. Can’t we see the shape of the earth from space ,though?

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          1. He says it’s biblical and the Bible is 100% truth. It’s a faith statement based on faulty…well, everything.

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      2. Becky I do not think unbelief is about being smug, I truly think that who has the indisputable scientific facts here? and plainly the atheist does and the theist only has a personal faith to offer, so smugness aside the facts are indicative of the truth in reality unless of course one of the gods……but it will never happen.

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        1. I don’t think so either. I think people can be dogmatic and smug in their view whether they are a theist or a non-theist. It just depends on the person.

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    2. I kinda missed that too, but it’s easy to forget about the threats of damnation or thinking about the consequences of merely just not following Jesus with all your heart. I would rather take neither than both.

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    2. I probably should clarify. At one time I could write a book . . . those days are gone. 🙂

      Starting here. More later?

      A little baby comes into the world, her conception not planned, her teenaged parents . . . surprise! A joyous union? Nah. Nonetheless, the baby continues on.

      Her people are Jesus people. Jesus loves the little children of the world. The little baby grows into a little girl and notices the Jesus people don’t appear to love the little children of the world. Well, sometimes they do. Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

      A little girl notices the adults seem to also not love one another all the time and it seems they don’t love themselves either.

      Does Jesus love the little children of the world after they grow up?

      Getting out of the house and going to church is a welcomed relief. A feeling of safety unless of course one acts up. Little girl has learned for the most part, not acting up is safer.

      Jesus is strong. I am weak. It seems the adults are the one’s that are weak. What does she know? She’s seven. “Little one’s to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.”

      “Yes, Jesus loves me . . . ”

      Jesus = Rock and sure foundation. The people who are in charge teach me “The Bible tells me so.”

      The little girl rests her head in the gentle arms of Jesus. He loves her. This saves her.

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        1. I can’t speak for Zoe, but I imagine some form of consolation on this topic from a Christian must be similar to remembering the local priest is coming round to babysit your five year old later that evening after having just watched a documentary on paedophiles in the Catholic Church.

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  3. Yes. Because now I am not. I miss going to church, to catch a nap. It was always so warm inside and combined with a boring preacherman, sleep would come so easily.

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    2. 😆 Ahh, I miss all the naughtyness with female church staff, even at one of my many former churches: the minister’s daughter! AND doing all the nastiness everywhere in/on church property! 😈🤭

      And to be clear, NONE of those sinfully delicious encounters were initiated by me!!! No, no, no. I have NEVER been so overwhelmed with Christian women like that than IN the churches themselves! Satan’s domain has NOTHING on sexual prowess inside churches, many of them married!!! 😈🤭

      That’s what I miss.

      Well, the part about how easy it was with female “believers”… not any of the hilarious theology. 😉😈

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      5. IDK, but methinks you took a wrong turn in the French Quarter because that doesn’t reflect my experience in any church I ever attended. Then again, I left during my late teens.

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        1. 😆 “And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”” — Mark 2:17 😈

          Ron, I was only filling my god-given duty! 🚀 And btw, it was the Christian Quarter near the (phallic) Eiffel Tower of Power. 😁

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          1. Interesting. Did Jesus say this before or after he told the woman to “go and sin no more”? You know, come to think of it, there’s that foot-washing incident and the parable about the ten virgins. Maybe Jesus was the leader of a sex cult.

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  4. Surely sarcasm will abound here, per your question. I must be a prophet to so accurately pr3edict words of former believers!! lol

    Would you like to hear of a few things from a solid believer which are just as relevant today as was from the beginning, with no shadow of turning? If not, all good.

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          1. c’mon jim be reasonable and fair. Be true to yourself. You boast of ‘hope without evidence’ when you preach the spinning ball and alleged orbit.

            See how the game is played when your opponent is a chessmaster?

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          2. Yes, and water flows up hill in the Suez Canal. I get all that, but I’ve seen the curvature of the earth from the Concorde, RIP. You can watch the spinning globe from space cams too.

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          3. 5 sighs jim- especially about the convex glass/ and alleged unevenness of the Canal. It is dead horizontal @ 100 miles. It’s called science.

            But you are getting far too off track per the post.

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          6. Yes. I’ll give you full props for coming to the table with a much more pleasant disposition than some of the other apologists I’ve encountered.

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          7. In other words- opposition tests the mettle….. thereby noting there is much blame from every corner.

            The metal is weak…….?

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  5. What about all the great pot luck dinners, bake sales, and corn roasts? Membership in the Lutheran church automatically comes along with a free pyrex 10-inch baking pan. Why our last vicar looked like he put on about twenty pounds since coming to intern in our congregation. Just sayin. 🙂

    Our specialty is the Loaves and Fishes cafe, feeding the hungry.

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  7. Yes. The “positive” thing it gave me is an understanding of the propaganda that is regularly and consistently fed to those who have “accepted Jesus into their hearts.” I know their “arguments” because I used them myself. I recognize the “scripture” quotes and the platitudes that continually pop up in religious discussions.

    I also feel “positive” about the fact that I’m no longer bound by the myths and legends presented in a book that has an extremely dubious origin — yet I’m aware of its contents so I’m able to counter it with facts and observable data.

    I’m also “glad” I was once a Christian because it provides me the opportunity to fully appreciate the unfettered-by-religion life I live today. ❤

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  8. Oh, most definitely! I miss the practically non-stop sexual opportunities—96% of them fulfilled multiple times!—with all the female members, staff, and as I mentioned in my comment above to Makagutu… one particular minister’s daughter who was inSATIABLE! 🤭😈 And I attended many, many churches on 4 different continents, two of which I was promoted to Deacon, one in Mississippi, the other in Texas. (see my comment above)

    What I found utterly ironic and comical was that I was the one being bluntly true to myself, exactly who I was… raw honesty… and the women were putting on the hypocritical facade when “normal” church activities were going on! I got a HUGE kick out of that. That is what I really miss: the incredible intensity women in the churches have because so much is impossibly forbidden!!! 😈 hehe

    Oh my, the hypocrisy. 😉

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  9. You ask, “Is there any reason that you’re glad you were once a Christian? Did anything positive at all come from your experience?”

    I answer, yes and yes. If you want more, you may ask or read my blog. While I prefer the denominational specificity of Roman Catholic to Christian, I was technically both. Since I dabbled in other (protestant) denominations, I will say I am glad I had those experiences, also. I am also glad that I eventually fully embraced my own atheism.

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  10. There are some experiences that I’m glad I had that are related to church. I enjoyed potlucks, youth group, retreats, and especially choral music. I liked the community service projects, and the lack of insistence on biblical literalism. But none of those things is specific to christianity, I could get them at a UU, and Ethical society, or Reformed Judaism if I wanted that again. I kept choral music, even though I dumped church (at least until the quarantine, I kept it.)

    I guess I appreciate having an understanding of the mindset of accepting things as true because those around you accept them, and because people you trust tell you to believe, since that lets me do a better job of talking to others coming out of religion. Again, that could be from any belief system, not just christianity.

    So was there anything unique to the beliefs of christianity that was a positive experience? I don’t think so. I would not repeat the experience and I have not put my children through it, either. (For which they have thanked me)

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    1. @ Ubi
      Your final paragraph is what it’s all about. And this is why the likes of Becky and Colorstorm will NEVER acknowledge the harm this garbage inflicts on people or dare for an instant not to infect their own kids or others at the drop of a hat

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  11. Interesting question. For me Catholicism is intertwined with my work much of the time, so I if I hadn’t been born to a Catholic world, I’m fairly confident I’d make less money. As religious groups go, Catholics have the best art, by a mile.

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  12. I don’t miss much from my Christian days. There are times when I think of loved ones who have passed on and I miss the hope of being reunited with them. But then I think of what that’d be like if I actually met them in Heaven. I can picture my Dad saying, “Oh shit, you made it too? This is not what I told it was when you were a kid, is it? It’s just constant bowing down and ass kissing…and it never ends! Oh well. I guess we’re in this together. Sucks to be us, doesn’t it? Good to see you, boy.”

    One positive is that I know what it’s like to be trapped in a religion that promises the world and delivers absolutely nothing…and I now know what it is like to be free of that. I know what it’s like to feel guilty about every little thing because I was told I was being sinful. I now know what it’s like to be truly happy and guilt-free. I think since I was there and made it out, I appreciate my life a little bit more.

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    1. Well, you could always give the progressive Lutherans a try. It’s all about grace and freedom in Christ. No need to kiss ass. And, if you like beer, you’ll fit right in. I have to be about the only person in the church who doesn’t enjoy the taste of alcohol. Just give me a mocha latte and I’m good.

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  13. Gregorian chants. When I can I go see them in SP on Thursday mornings in Mosteiro De Sao Bento. Lovely church. Probably would have discovered it without Catholicism, but hey…

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    1. I actually like your observation of finding value in something where value as a whole is seldom seen by folks in your camp.

      Who could fault the tenor and baritone harmonies with the usual acoustical excellence, as well as the historical tradition.

      Also, while they and you, were in the building, seems like a good thing.

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    2. Careful, John. That’s how they lure you in. One day you’re admiring the music; the next you’re contemplating “maybe I’d look good in a cassock”.

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      1. John Zande after confessing his predilection for wearing a cassock is here explaining to local news media about his second encounter with a kangaroo and how he throttled it.

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  14. Am I glad I was once a Christian? Not really. Its hard to say how different my life would’ve been now if I were never Christian. Maybe I would’ve wasted less time chasing make believe.

    As for my experiences, I did legitimately enjoy having potlucks and having fun with church mates after church (outside of the church setting). When moving towns it was a really easy way to meet new people. I also enjoyed going to youth camps as a teen. During my teens church could be fun sometimes but as an adult it was a boring snoozefest combined with backwards bigotry. I don’t miss that!

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  15. I made some good friends whilst I was a Christian, most of the people in the churches I attended were good people, I do miss them. Those who have told about my loss of faith remained friends.

    Because of this experience I am still empathetic with Christians, but I suppose the churches I attended tended to be accepting and not judgmental places, I realise this is not everyone’s experience.

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      1. Hi Nan and Zoe.

        Still here in the lovely island of Tasmania away from most of the Covid stress of the rest of the world.

        I have to been commenting much of late as I suppose I have not much new to say. I think we tend to repeat the same discussions and I have concluded that reason is unlikely to persuade folk such as ColorStorm, though I do pass on my greetings to our Christian friend.

        I suppose I have become a bit negative in my view on the world as I observe how divided and intolerant we (humanity) seems to have become. But I my previous latent optimism stemmed from my legacy Christian world view where I thought there was a higher power behind the scenes. Now I dismiss the idea of a benevolent higher power, the world seems a depressing place.

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        2. There’s something so refreshing hearing you are in Tasmania and away from the Covid stress Peter. Happy to hear it.

          I agree with you about the repetition Peter. For some of us I think it’s more a therapeutic exercise than an evangelical effort. And maybe along the way, what we share makes a difference in someone else’s life. As well, for me at least, it provides community. Maybe even a hobby. 🙂

          I guess for me, the world was always a depressing place, even with the belief in a higher power. Without it nothing has really changed. I do think aging for me at least has contributed to the world being more depressing, if that makes sense? There’s more to unpack there but just wanted to acknowledge your comment. ❤

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          1. Hi Zoe, I know what you mean on the points of the therapy of commenting and also age affecting ones interpretation of world events.

            I have concluded that the world has always been a troubled place, in fact looking at history the world is actually a lot less violent than it used to be, but the world used to an extremely violent place, that is one truth that the Old Testament does convey. I used to think ‘God’ was in control which gave me a certain level of false hope.

            I do feel blessed to be in Tasmania. We do seem to be remote from the madness in much of the rest of the world.

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        3. It has been an encouragement and support to me in my humanitarian work to realize in the words of MLK, that the universe “arcs toward justice,” and because of that nothing is in vain.

          But, I also think that people have an ability to create their own meaning, Peter. I feel like Zoe is right in that aging can play a part in things. We need to take doubly good care of ourselves. A good diet and exercise raise serotonin which impacts mood. Preachin to myself here. 🙂 The serenity prayer has impacted my life. I think the concept expressed there is good even without God.

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          1. Becky I agree with all that you said. However I sort of naturally slip into a state of pessimism. I recall someone once talking about his mother saying “that she spent her whole life worrying, and 95% of the things she worried about were never likely to happen”, that is a statement that I really identify with.

            One benefit of leaving Christianity is that I no longer worry about Hell. That used to scare me so much. It never made sense to me, but I have learnt that fear tends to override logic.

            Anyway it is a lovely day here in Hobart (Tasmania), 21 degrees Celsius and a cloudless blue sky.

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          2. It does sound wonderful in Tasmania, Peter. I would love to visit Australia someday.

            Thank God you are freed from the fear of Hell. I can see how someone struggling with this all their life would definitely feel freer in many ways as an atheist. It seems to me a common factor in part of why people deconvert from fundamentalist Christianity. At least it’s there in the background.

            Although there are many other reasons, I know.

            This verse from the Scripture has always spoken to me, “Perfect love casts out fear.”

            Best wishes and so glad that Covid has not made huge inroads in where you live.

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        4. I so envy you! The messes in the U.S. –both politically and medically– continue to dominate our lives.

          Fortunately, I’ve never been one to give into depression so I just take things day-by-day and yearn for better times. I will admit, however, it does help to blast away on the blogs from time-to-time. 😁

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  17. You guys are better off as atheists these days. The Christians back a few decades, at least 5 or 6 when I was a handsome young buck in New Zealand the communities looked up to the churches and the dedicated Christians as the default in decency and honesty.

    Nobody questioned their integrity then, but it is completely turned turtle today eliminating any ounce of remaining decency and all bought on themselves without any help from atheists. One of their largest own goals to date was the massive numbers of paedophile priests and now the many Christian nutters who led an attempt to overthrow the government of the largest Christian country in the world. What next?

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