EvC Forum: Deconversion experiences

Meldinoor writes:

Only recently have I begun to feel more secure in my non-belief. I think my non-belief is more justified and subjectable to rational critique than my Christian faith ever was. Despite this, I still feel a tinge of cognitive dissonance whenever I'm around my very religious family. For some reason that I can't quite put a finger on, God almost feels more real to me when I'm surrounded by Christians. I'm ashamed to admit that the paranoid idea that the Devil might be deluding me still occurs to me.

The way I see it, God is either real or She isnt. I prefer to view my development as a continuing conversion experience. My online friend jar helped a lot with teaching me how to think..(an ongoing process..I am stubborn

)

I am more spiritual than is my family. I dont see any reason to throw God away entirely...although I realize that it just makes sense to embrace logic, reason, and reality.

frako writes:

preatty soon the only thing god did in my mind was he snapped his fingers made the big bang go bang and then went to sleep for 15 billion years and is still sleaping now.

I prefer to think that God is busy in other parts of the multiverse. Even if God isnt busy creating, I believe that He is involved in a sort of a communion with all of life. I suppose that it wouldnt hurt to bhe an atheist, but it makes me feel just a wee bit uncomfortable that someone who knows what they are doing isnt in charge.

Meldinoor writes:

I suffer "withdrawal symptoms" because, even though I can't justify rationally a belief in God, I haven't convinced my more irrational side that God isn't there. I still sometimes catch myself praying before I go to work, bed, or before I do just about anything. It's a habit that will take some time to break.

Why is it necessary to break that habit? Even if prayer were only meditation with an idealized higher self, it would serve some useful function.But if you have to let go, by all means dont let me get in your way.

Meldinoor writes:

Sooner or later I'm just going to have to "come out" as a non-believer, but I haven't yet decided how I'm going to break it to my family.

I still dont understand why you have to be a non believer? Nobody has been able to convince me that my belief is harmful to my psychological and emotional development. Its not like I try and let God drive the car or make my basic decisions for me.

Iano,to Meldinoor writes:

Would you say the the god you believed in would applaud your decision...?

Im thinking that God would celebrate my embrace of the fullness of logic and rationality. And in my mind, there is no conflict.

9 online now:	Aussie, AZPaul3, Diomedes, dwise1, LamarkNewAge, PaulK, Percy (Admin), Tanypteryx, Zucadragon
Newest Member:	ChatGPT
Post Volume:	Total: 916,839 Year: 4,096/9,624 Month: 967/974 Week: 294/286 Day: 15/40 Hour: 0/1