Why I’m No Longer a Christian
by My reasoning behind my “conversion,” and an invitation for anyone to try to talk me out of it.
I was a Christian my entire life until recently, but I always questioned all the discrepancies in the Bible and in what my pastors preached. Often I would come up with my own answers to questions, as a sort of compromise.
“Why would a loving God create a torturous hell and put people there who were never told about Him, or who died before they had a chance to come to Him? Maybe it’s because hell isn’t really a place of fire and brimstone. Maybe it’s just a place away from God. Maybe, if you didn’t want to spend eternity worshipping God, hell wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Why is the pastor driving around in a car paid for with offering money? I guess men are just imperfect, but God doesn’t have to be.”
“Why hasn’t Jesus come back yet? Maybe he isn’t coming back. Maybe he was just a good guy who had a legend built around him.”
The older I got, the more liberal my arguments became, until I eventually gave up altogether.
Am I the only person who has ever been so disturbed by the faulty answers provided by the church? And if so, why on earth would you not question something so obviously wrong? Is it a comfort thing? Is it a fear thing? Are you just not intelligent? Or, on the other hand, am I not intelligent? So far not a single Christian has been able to give me a strong enough argument to sway me to return to religion, and I pride myself on my open mind. I invite anyone to make a valid argument. I will listen.
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Post Commentkalli
On December 20, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I completely agree, though i am only a teenager and i never was a strong believer i find non of the arguments used by christians satisfactory.
A
On December 23, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I Invite you to explore the religion of Islam and read the Quran for yourself so that you can make an informative decision about it.You’ll be quite surprised about what you’ll read.
ghbrtea
On December 24, 2009 at 11:41 pm
I may, though at the moment I’m about half way through the Book of Mormon so I should finish that first.
gkapelin
On January 27, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Not all pastors teach what the Bible truly says. Sometimes it is nessesary to read the Bible and find the truth for yourself. According to the Bible, Hell is the place in which God exiled Satan and his followers to for defying him. Hell is what it is because of Satan. Hell is a place of complete separation from God. Imagine a place where nothing good can ever happen. Heaven is a place created by God for us. Heaven is a place with no sin. It is a place of only good, which is why we must accept Jesus to be purged of our sins so that we may enter heaven. Jesus has not come back because it is not the time for him to return. Only God knows this time, but the Bible tells of the signs when his comming is near.
This is what I have learned and it is your choice to consider it.
I Have Had Enough
On February 7, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I totally agree, there isn’t a religion on earth that can convince me of their validity.
tandras
On February 8, 2010 at 9:24 am
While reading your article I came to one conclusion not once did you ever say you asked God himself to show you the truth. Man is full of faults but God is not if you are unsure of what is truth ask Him. I am sorry to hear you no longer believe and that is your choice, I will pray for you every day that you may truly discover God.
ghbrtea
On February 18, 2010 at 10:17 am
If I don’t believe in God why on earth would I ask Him anything? That’s like asking the tooth fairy to come have a chat.
Kayla
On March 2, 2010 at 12:33 am
Out of curiosity, what religion have you converted to(if any)? I, too, was raised Christian. After hours and hours of research, I have converted to Wicca. I realize many people believe that Wicca is just as ridiculous as Christianity, but for me, spirituality has always been an incredibly personal thing. That is something that is at the very center of Wicca, and is one of the main reasons I chose it. The closeness to Earth and the elements were also a big part of my decision. A major problem I had/have with Christianity was the importance it places on shoving Christianity down the throats of others. Like I said, religion and/or spirituality should be a personal thing, and not shoved down anyone’s throat. Thanks for the interesting read.
-K
TruthTeller
On March 10, 2010 at 10:04 am
Jesus will surely come back, but when you see Jesus return there won’t be so many days you live on this earth. Once Jesus comes, assume the end of the world.Though, I’m not a christian to say this, it is true. Jesus will come to kill Dajjal ( a false guy claims himself god and kills everyone who doesn’t believe in him).
Why God Created Hell?
Just to punish the mankind. What should He do when we are not leading the life as God has directed us? Shouldn’t He punish us?
God loves the people who follow His command and presents him the paradise. God Hates the people who doesn’t care His words and throw him into the hell fire.
This world is a test to the Eternal Life. If we are pious and righteous here then our eternal life will be good else it will be in the Hell fire.
We are just slaves of the God, we have to reach Him one day. We can’t escape from His knowledge.
♡
On March 18, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I think this website really helped me find the true meaning of Jesus. : http://www.jesusteachings.com/
Jesus did not want his death to be a religion. He wanted it to be something that could unite us with God.
You can give up Christianity, but never give up Jesus. (:
Never stop asking questions! Even if they can’t be answered, it is better to not know that to never have questioned at all.
Zoya
On March 25, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Hi. I think that you should study other religions beside Christianity. I am a Muslim and have studied the Quran and the sayings of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and I recommend you to do the same if you sincerely want to get answers. Believe me, there is not a single discrepancy in Islam and every verse in the Quran is in accordance with the known and proven facts of Science. Maybe you should also listen to Dr Zakir Naik’s lecture on “The Quran and Bible in the light of Science.” All the best in your quest for the truth. May Allah grant you Hidayat(guidance) and the true path. AMEEN!
Gareth Lewis
On May 21, 2010 at 4:51 pm
If someone is giving their full time to care for the people in a church, how else would they pay for the car they drive around in?
ghbrtea
On June 4, 2010 at 11:57 am
I’m more concerned with the fact that the car- and the house, and the office furniture- are outrageously extravagant. When a person chooses to become a pastor, the choice should come with the understanding that that person will give up some extravagances. It’s called sacrifice. Not “let me take all the offering money and get myself something nice, because I can.”
austin
On June 17, 2010 at 12:44 pm
you wouldn’t know of a religion if no one told you about it and that’s that!
achilles2010
On July 24, 2010 at 12:33 am
I see you had raised too many questions and your mind did not provide you an answer. Therefore, you gave up. I am not answering to your post just to persuade you that you should come back. No, you should remain happy where you are. As you do not have answer to these questions, none has, not even pastors, yet they all believe.
God did not create hell for us, but we create hell for ourselves. Similarly, we create heavens too. If you make others happy, you will be happy too. Hell and haven are in our mind; because that is the place, we go to live after we die. Don’t we say, though he is no more yet he would always live in our memory? If we have brought peace of mind to others, they will extol us when we are no more. If they do we will be in a state of eternal bliss, but if they abuse and curse us, we will be in a state of hell. Therefore, all must live in a way that people after you praise you whenever they remember you.
Further, concerning your next question Jesus comes only once in an age. He would come only after this generation has passed away and he would come to usher us into the new world. The time is not ripe yet. He would come only after the harvest is ready and not before.
Please do not think God is the ruler of this world. After God created this world, he went away to create a new world for us. Satan took over, and he is the ruler of this world. Pastor is his emissary.
After car maker had built your car did he come back to see how the car is functioning. No, but we take the car to the mechanic.
Satan is the mechanic. We go with our problems to him. We think He is the God, and He too behaves as one.
I see he has managed to convince you and now you are his customer forever. He will not see that you ever remain happy.
God gives us sufferings because he wants us to mature, and gain sweetness. God needs that sweetness to create body of Christ.
moonsparkle528
On July 26, 2010 at 1:36 pm
learn about islam
RSyed
On August 11, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Like many suggested, I too recommend learning about Islam if you havent already.
But let me answer some of your questions which are a part of Islam as well.
There is a Hell because in Islamic belief, everybody gets a chance at some point in their life to understand what this world really is and that there is in fact one true God. If you then choose to reject this, then you will be punished because on the Day of Reckoning, you will not be able to repent and ask God for mercy because you rejected Him while you were alive!
Jesus will come when things get even worse than they are right now. He will come (in Islamic belief) and lead a war against the antiChrist at a time when people will think there is no hope in their lives and will prefer being dead in those days.
Discover as many religions as you can, but from reliable sources. Islam should be discovered through the Quran and authentic books of narrations from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Discover Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, atheism and others – and then choose with your own intellect what really seems right.
Good luck!
Greg
On August 31, 2010 at 4:34 pm
What if Jesus agrees with you? Would that change your mind about him?
Minister Marlene
On September 11, 2010 at 2:48 pm
There is no valid argument. No one can convince you to to have faith. That is your choice. I have a suggestion, get a red letter bible and only focus on the words of Christ.