Owner: ExChristian.Net -- encouraging ex-Christians URL:http://exchristian.net Join Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:23:04 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Encouraging people who are discovering that Christianity is a false, man-made cult. Site statistics:Click here
Fitna the Movie 2008-03-28 10:01:00 Geert Wilders' film about the QuranFitna is a film by Dutch politician Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Dutch parliament. The movie offers his views on Islam and the Qur'an. The film's title comes from the Arabic word fitna which is used to describe "disagreement and division among people", or a "test of faith in times of trial". The movie was released to the Internet on 27 March 2008. -- WikipediaFreedom of expression or freedom to insult? Calls from countries with a largely Muslim population to ban Geert Wilders film Fitna have fallen on deaf ears in the Netherlands, where freedom of expression is seen as an unassailable right. Folkert Jensma, NRC Handelsblad's legal affairs correspondent, explains the options. Could the screening of Wild
Abuse was common in religious orders 2008-04-02 04:56:00 A tainted legacyWhile the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland reached a $56.4 million global settlement in 2005 with the victims of childhood sexual abuse by its priests, one religious
order opted for a different tactic.The Salesians of St. John Bosco, whose Western Province is based in San Francisco, has been the most aggressive church group fighting lawsuits against its priests, said Rick Simons, a lawyer who handled many cases against the diocese and religious orders
.The order said one victim fabricated stories and had other cases dismissed -- not because its priests didn't commit abuse, but because the Salesians didn't have "notice" of the abuse, Simons said.For the order to be held liable in a civil trial, they had to know that abuse was occurring and not take preventive action, accordi
April Fools! 2008-04-01 08:54:00 By Doc MikeMany of the stories in the Bible are so preposterous, even a child should see through the bullshit. But thousands of years later, fools continue to believe. When will the insanity end?Happy AprilFools
' Day, everyone!
But what if you're WRONG!? 2008-04-01 04:06:00 Sent in by PhilipI've done it. I've gotten myself out of Christianity.Now comes the hard part: letting go of YHWH altogether.The only real problem I'm having with this has to do with this series of vows that I've made over the course of about two years -- absurd vows, having to do with my sexuality, my diet, how much money I spend: all leftovers from being a nervous Christian fearing I wasn't pious enough.I've given up Jesus, because he wasn't the Messiah. But my timidness at finally giving up my vows has left me in a very awkward position as sort of a pseudo-Jew, still worrying whether or not Jewish god really does exist. If I can just get myself to break these vows, I'll be free. But this is the final threshold, and I don't ever want to look back if I can get past this.I'm miserable, as
In reason we trust 2008-04-03 13:20:00 By: Sajia HallAs an organizing member of AHA, the UW-Madison organization for Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics, Nick Jikomes hears arguments against atheism all the time. One of the most common is that atheism requires belief and is therefore a religion.Jikomes, however, has an answer. “There’s a common witticism that saying atheism is a religion is like saying bald is a hair color,” he said. “What people often mean by that is that atheism requires faith, which is just not the case. Atheists believe in reasoned arguments, and evidence is our basis for establishing whether something exists.”Jikomes, a second-year genetics major, regularly organizes meetings and lectures on atheism-related topics. “I can’t be 100 percent sure that God doesn’t exist—to say so would be absur Read more:trust
Does God really make me a better person? 2008-04-03 12:33:00 Sent in by JasonI call myself a human animal, no better
than any other being on this planet, but I fit into the life cycle like all the other species. I spent my life in a Christian home, with a pastor for a father who encouraged us to attend church and encouraged free thought and questioning. For this I am proud of him. I gave myself to Jesus as an adolescent without knowledge of all the facts and a warped understanding of the world. Two months ago I changed my mind.I have been through a mental and emotional roller coaster ride which culminated in me crying with my sister as we realised that when we die, that was it, and we would be apart. The here and now is what is precious and I let go of the hope in a paradise that is carefree and eternal. It was devastating after believing in it for Read more:person
True Christians don't ... 2008-04-03 03:55:00 From GloriaI'd like to comment on your following statement:"My point is that many Christians
who arrive here do not obey the dictates of their own religion. They post on this site with beams in their eyes howling at Dave to remove the speck in his. They claim a loving god and can neither give a convincing argument for the claim based upon the contents of their faith nor the example of their own behavior. They call Dave hateful and promise him nothing but Hell." -- ref1. There are many people who call themselves Christians. Christ lends respectability and the image of being a "nice guy" to a person's identify. Many people simply fake it. I suspect that many of the fakers actually believe they're Christians.2. True Christians don't write hateful e-mail. They do not condemn people to He
“Let the dead bury their dead” 2008-04-02 19:18:00 Matthew 8:22By Brian Worley In my mind, perhaps the most stunning words rendered from the lips of Jesus were from Matthew 8:22 “Let the dead bury their dead”. These are the words of Jesus given to a grieving disciple, not to a foe! This disciple wanted to go and bury his dead father. Certainly life should be respected and moral beings should pay their respects in memory to those loved ones whom have just died, if they are able to do so. Jesus gets credited for having great character and compassion, but honesty demands that his curt attitude towards death, humanity, and lack of respect for those in grief be placed upon his sinless account! The
Pat Condel comments on Fitna 2008-04-02 17:51:00 'Fitna' has been reinstated on LiveLeak. Bravo. Long live free speech.Reaction from Iran leads the world in executing children foreign minister wears headscarf in Iran-beating in Islam bunny threatens to kill Danes over cartoons can download an audio version of this video at
Why I am not a Christian 2008-04-06 16:23:00 By Richard CarrierThe Evidence is Inadequate(One) reason I am not a Christian
is the sheer lack of evidence. Right from the start, Christians can offer no evidence for their most important claim, that faith in Jesus Christ procures eternal life. Christians can't point to a single proven case of this prediction coming true. They cannot show a single believer in Jesus actually enjoying eternal life, nor can they demonstrate the probability of such a fortunate outcome arising from any choice we make today. Even if they could prove God exists and created the universe, it still would not follow that belief in Jesus saves us. Even if they could prove Jesus performed miracles, claimed to speak for God, and rose from the dead, it still would not follow that belief in Jesus saves us.Therefore, such
Representative tries to put the fear of God in atheist 2008-04-06 11:31:00 Did you hear about the state legislator who last week blasted a Lutheran minister during a committee hearing for spewing dangerous religious superstitions, and then attempted to order the minister out of the witness chair on the grounds that his Christian beliefs are "destroying what this state was built upon?"Of course you didn't, because it didn't happen and would never happen. Not to a Christian, not to a Jew, not to a Muslim or to anyone who subscribes to any faith.Such an attack would rightly be considered scandalously out of bounds in contemporary society.But you probably also didn't hear about what actually did happen:Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) interrupted atheist activist Rob Sherman during his testimony Wednesday afternoon before the House State Government Administration Commi Read more:Representative
, tries
A Biblical crisis of faith 2008-04-06 03:26:00 Sent in by Jim RLI was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school from kindergarten through high school. I read the Bible often and prayed every night. God was very real to me through college. During college I went to church every Sunday with my grandmother.I quit reading the Bible when I got to the end of 2 Samuel and it tells the story of God killing 70,000 Israelites via an epidemic because David took a census that God told him to take. I just couldn't accept that story. I had a pretty liberal view of the Bible, but this story couldn't be true. My God wouldn't do that. The God I prayed to, talked to wouldn't do that...couldn't do that. The crisis of faith was never quite settled, but the feelings that story gave me eventually died down.After college I still went to church in Columbia, Read more:Biblical
I want to belong 2008-04-05 19:36:00 From Meranda FHow do you deal with people who don’t agree with you or threaten your position on life with good solid evidence? Do you just walk away defeated with a plain face? What about when you feel hurt or offended that your ideas or way of life just don't seem to stand up to theirs?Seems like every time I take up a new position, I get beaten down for it, because it isn’t the "right" position. I used to be atheist, but there was so much negativity expressed toward it, and I just wanted to feel at peace with my decision. I knew that I didn't believe in a god, but even if there was a god, I wanted to chose how I would deal with it. I didn't want anyone choosing for me.So I turned to secularity because it seemed to be the perfect fit for my beliefs: no religion in government, no p
Skeptical monkey 2008-04-08 04:52:00 Sent in by Ted GoasI hope my testimonial is short and sweet. I was raised by two educated, traditional parents in the New York metro area of the U.S. I was introduced to, schooled in, and eventually confirmed Lutheran. At no point was I ever enthusiastic about my religion or going to church. But like many others I took religious teachings at face value, went through the motions and believed what I read in the Bible.But then I went to graduate school, which turned out to be my turning point. There I learned to question things, filter out bad information, ask for proof, and basically ask “Says who?”During this time I watched a documentary and heard this quote from Michael Shermer: “Smart people come to revisit things they learned for not-smart reasons,” or something to that effect. T Read more:monkey
I gave God up 2008-04-08 04:36:00 Sent in by Sean HI was raised in a Christian home on "Biblical Principles" (in this case as defined by an American evangelist named William Branham who my parents believed - and continue to believe - was God's prophet sent to this 'final generation' to tell them God is coming, I happen to be his mouthpiece, turn from your wicked ways, etc). Unfortunately for my pastor and parents, however, I have always had an inquisitive mind, and while I went along with all this nonsense, it never sat well with me. In my early 20s I left this fundamentalist group for a more mainstream version of Christianity. I figured that God was probably real but that I had just grown up in a community that misunderstood him. All I found though was that while the lifestyle was more enjoyable and sat more at ease with
Sometimes I cry 2008-04-09 19:12:00 Sent in by Debbie LSometimes
I cry.Sometimes I'm sad to be so far away from what I used to be.It's like missing home.I wouldn't ever want to live with my parents again, but hey, there was some really good stuff there, too. Now they look at me funny when I say I don't go to church. They look at me with sad eyes and remind me that they are praying for me. I'm sure they are, and sometimes it's hard for me to know my choices are breaking their hearts. But, I haven't chosen a life of crime. I've never hurt anyone willingly in my whole life. You'd think I was choosing to become part of the Taliban or something. They send me emails on the dangers of "THE CHURCH OF OPRAH" and how I should warn everyone that she is leading millions astray with her views....sigh...I love Oprah. I know it's clich
Spiritual idiots 2008-04-11 06:33:00 From Rev Bob Pyle, MAAs a nondenominational minister, I am disturbed and enraged by the fact that many people who leave the Church do so because of the dumb actions of certain believers. The idea is to concentrate on God, and not his alleged flock.A classic case to make my point is the organization CUFI (Christians United for Israel), which is led by a self-deluded, spiritual idiot named John Hagee. His big thing is we are to nuke Iran. This is to precipitate a violent response from Muslims, and in the aftermath, Christ is supposed to return to establish His kingdom.There is NOT one word in Scripture to support nor validate this stupidity on the part of Hagge & his flock. Therefore, I strongly recommend you give thought that with "friends" such as Hagee & his biblical
Picking Christianity is like a game of Russian Roulette 2008-04-11 06:21:00 Sent in by Alan BAs far as I can remember I have been asking questions. To set the scene, I am from the United Kingdom, which is a country whilst not free from religious conflicts is not as willing to show religion on its sleeve with the same pride that America does.Both my parents raised me, and both my parents are Church of Scotland Christians. They are not the hell and damnation type, which seems to be a recurring theme on these testimonials, but the quiet type. In fact, you can barely tell they are of any religious persuasion. And this is where the questions would come. How come my parents were not as 'angry' as other Christians? Why did my parents not go to the same church as my Catholic friends? etc... The problem is, when you get two separate groups of Christians who both "love" the Read more:Picking
, Christianity
, Russian
A stink in God's nostrils 2008-04-12 21:05:00 Sent in by Mike ZI have just recently come to my good senses concerning religion and god. Religion is horrible and there is no god. I was raised the first 18 years of my life in a United Pentecostal Church, and those were the most awful years of my life. I am gay and going to church three times a week, sitting there listening to how I was going to hell unless I changed my ways, was the most unbelievably horrible mind fuck anyone could receive.I was told that I was an abomination and a "stink in god's nostrils." The thing was, I knew I was gay and I prayed and prayed to be "delivered." I had preachers try to "cast out the homosexual demon." Nothing worked. Nothing I ever did at church ever changed the feelings I had when I left the building.After I got out of the South and moved on I knew
An inferior person who needs to be crushed by God 2008-04-12 21:00:00 Sent in by John DFor the past two years or so, I've experienced intense bouts of anger, hatred, and depression all wrapped together into one big nasty mix. Yes, I am an ex-christian. I know and am glad the most feared, sadistic, tyrant talked about so much in public circles is not a real being. I no longer have to worry about the things he might do to me if I dare to disobey him, and this was indeed a great relief for me just as much the time of my deconversion as it is for me today.Yet I still feel extreme bouts of rage and depression due to the fact now that I am an ex-christian, my family and relatives see me as an inferiorperson
who needs to be "crushed." While I am no where close to being some kind of superstar prodigy, I've been a relatively responsible and motivated individual. Des
Ben Stein: Front Man for Creationism's Manufactroversy 2008-04-11 15:10:00 By Valerie TaricoBiblical creationism, repositioned as creation science and most recently intelligent design has lost the contest of ideas on all counts: the rules, the criteria and the judging. It doesn't follow the scientific method; it doesn't allow us to explain, predict, and control better; and the jury of relevant experts (aka biologists) keeps returning the same verdict.Now the creationists have taken a new approach that they hope will help them achieve their goal of teaching religious beliefs in our schools as science. That approach can be summed up in one simple word: whining.One week from today, the new movie, Expelled, attempts to turn creationist complaints into mainstream media. Featuring Ben Stein
, one of the conservative right's biggest whiners, the film makes several plaint Read more:Front
, Creationism
Debate – Does God Exist? 2008-04-13 16:45:00 By godsfavoritecolorI attended a formal debate a few days ago before an audience of about 200 on the question, “Does God Exist?” The representative for the negative was a college professor of philosophy. The representative for the positive was a pastor of a local fundamentalist Christian church.The pastor was a typical fundamentalist Bible thumper, a YEC (young earth creationist, yeeecchh!) and believes that everything in the Bible is literally true. His arguments were a compendium of logical fallacies, while he accused his opponent of using logical fallacies.Not surprisingly he compared atheists to Hitler, with the fallacious syllogism: Hitler was an atheist. Hitler killed millions of people. Therefore, all atheists are as evil as Hitler. Ignoring the fact that Hitler was not an Read more:Debate
Totally de-converted at 72 2008-04-14 14:12:00 Sent in by Jay PI was raised in the Presbyterian Church and had a flawless attendance record – so many “Gold Stars”. Then, there were church camps, becoming a Deacon in my mid-twenties and finally teaching a Sunday school class, made up of mostly teen-age girls (what’s wrong with that picture?)After a divorce, I was very much an “outcast” in the eyes of my fellow Deacons and life-long church acquaintances. I simply moved out of my hometown and for the next 40-years (other than the 3-years I dated a Baptist minister’s daughter) I never attended a church. Not an atheist during those times, but just generally “not interested”.Two years ago, my son the doctor, came for a visit. This is the young man, who during his entire life, was raised as a Lutheran – attended a Luthe Read more:converted
I have experienced God, but... 2008-04-16 04:18:00 Sent in by Steve JohnsonsI am a practicing Christian and I go to the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago Illinois. Every day I am surrounded by some of the most ignorant people that I know. As a matter of fact, I only have one friend who confronts the tough questions of Christianity, like the origin of evil and some other tough ideas. I have been questioning my faith for a few weeks now. It's not that I don't have the "willpower" to believe, if you want to say that. It's whether I "want" to believe anymore. The "world" has become much more appealing to my eyes, and God, who does not communicate to me, has become less appealing. I am sick and tired of these fucking ignorant answers I get from every Christian I know. It seems as though they believe in God with no evidence, which is stupid. Why Read more:experienced
Is God a liar? 2008-04-15 21:09:00 A video by Netwriter RationalistTube.Com
RationaistTube.Com 2008-04-15 15:10:00 If you're a video blogger, you're probably familiar with YouTube, Google Video, Revver, Liveleak, and the growing array of viral video platforms that are mushrooming across the Internet landscape. Well, it was bound to happen eventually. A video network has been created with its eye on the non-religious community. Just launched this week by our own Brother Jeff, RationalistTube.Com is an exciting new, free, and potentially huge video sharing website for atheists, agnostics, humanists, and other freethinkers — people like us. Take a gander! Get in on the ground floor! If RationaistTube becomes as popular as hoped and anticipated, you'll be seeing and hearing a lot more about it right here on ExChristian.Net. Check it out. Sign up. And whether you're a video blogger or not, give Jeff
This site is such a disappointment 2008-04-17 20:39:00 A letter from SUPERNOVA & AUBREYDAWNTHIS WAS FIRST WRITTEN AS A COMMENT POSTED ON "I HAVE EXPERIENCED GOD, BUT...". I WROTE ONE PREVIOUSLY (YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT ON ABOVE TITLE IF INTERESTED, BUT IT'S NOT IMPORTANT). THIS WAS GOING TO BE A SECOND COMMENT ON THAT POST, BUT I THOUGHT IT BETTER TO POST IT HERE.I'm not sure why I joined this discussion. It's the first discussion or comment exchange I've been a part of on-line other than some with myspace friends; rarely. I wasn't looking for inspiration or validation when I logged in to this site. I just ran across it by accident; read a few comments, became irritated, and was provoked by stupidity (not ignorance, STUPIDITY) to comment. I too was a "born again christian" for 20 years of my life. I was sheltered. It took that long (2
I was once an MK 2008-04-17 20:30:00 Sent in by DKI was brought up as a fundamental, evangelical Christian - in fact, I am a missionary kid (MK) from Africa.But it took me 50 years to start seriously questioning anything that I had been taught. I had been brainwashed for so long and knew all the answers and comebacks, but they are is so full of holes - and it is so obvious now that I am an outsider looking back.This morning on the way to work I was listening to a book on tape, and they mentioned Mithra, who pre-dated Jesus by 600 years. He was born on December 25, had 12 disciples, was crucified, and rose again, and so many more similarities.Why haven't I ever heard of this before? This is almost PROOF that Christianity is not special - but just a clone of previous ancient pagan religions. This information has blown me away,
Recommend Site To A Friend
