7 Things I've Learned Since Leaving Christianity

[@oliviagabrielle6980]

"Plenty of people have faith that don't have moral standards" Totally agree and very good point

[@redstickham6394]

Some of the worst people I've known were the ones who were always in church on Sunday.

[@dow3372]

Kristi, you are forcing people to come to terms with their own biases and contradictions in an intelligent yet kind way; and it's beautiful. We all need this right now!!!

[@garystapp1656]

Most people even in church have biases not based on truth. She apparently made the statement there are no objective absolutes. That's not true.

[@martinnyberg9295]

@@TheoLogicAlt 18.6 what? Feet? Metres? Tons? You forgot the unit. 😏

[@michaelnewton5873]

​@@martinnyberg9295Chapter 18 verse 6.

[@michaelnewton5873]

​@@martinnyberg9295chapter 18 verse 6.

[@DrPhilGoode]

@@martinnyberg9295 It’s hours. The Matthew 18.6 Foundation is a charity organization dedicated to the memory of Matthew, a little boy who tried to swim across a lake to impress God. Unfortunately, that brave and courageous little guy came up short of his goal…and 18.6 days later. So it is days, not hours…my bad. Actually…I think it’s a reference to mile marker 18.6…where the entire Matthew family was killed in a horrific collision with a tractor trailer.

[@Here_For_Now]

When I left Christianity, I literally felt my heart soften. I was free from having to put people into boxes of judgement, and I loved that feeling! ❤️

[@graydanerasmussen4071]

We all do, probably including you, that's part of the human psyche... -but now you don't have to pretend it's the right thing to do! :)

[@lilafeldman8630]

Yes, I'm learning to develop empathy. Feels good.

[@marchoffmann7480]

When I entered christianity, I felled free from my horible past self. I dislike the selfish person that I was. I stand for God, and that is better than any worldly crap. God never forsakes us. The blame is on us humans wanting to worship our selvs. No. Ain’t working like that. We’ll never be perfect. Only when we truely start going on the narrow path to heaven we can be forgiven and get true empathy.

[@HarryNicNicholas]

it's the hallmark of an abusive relationship, to make out that it's you has the problem and make you insecure - god relies totally on insecurity and neediness, listen to any christian and you'll hear the dependence they have on someone else to tell them what to do and who they are. i feel sorry for people who aren't naturally stubborn and bolshy - like me :)

[@marchoffmann7480]

@@HarryNicNicholas I’m not depending on anyone but God. For the reason that what he offers is so much better than my flesh’s desires.

[@laurarobin6311]

My parents mandated that i go to church every Sunday, so i started going to a "different church" and instead go to Wendy's, get a frosty, shop at Goodwill, and run a few errands way past the service so they have no idea. Did that today and came home to watch your video! You've helped me so much in my journey, thank you for your content ❤

[@jezebelvibes]

Ha! I used to do the same thing! I chose a "different church" and would get dressed in my sunday best, then drive to a friend's house and we'd cruise around for a couple hours 🤣 I'm happy your here, and thankful for your support!

[@graydanerasmussen4071]

Scary concept! Glad I'm a Dane, just reading this. Ironically, Denmark is an actual "Christian Nation" (Evangelical Lutheran National Church), while full of functional atheists :) We learned the stories in kindergarten, and I filed them in my mind next to other fairy tales I was presented.... Nobody ever demanded I pretend they were actually true. Later in life I looked these stories over, compared them with similar stories from other religions (and a lot of New Age crap, this was the 80s, after all), and still found no reason to give them any credence. Later, learning about science enabled me to find actual answers. I was diagnosed with autism 2 years ago (had NO idea!), so perhaps that's why my brain doesn't like being lied to :)

[@jimd6641]

@@jezebelvibes That's so naughty!😄 Wish I thought of that.

[@heatherclark8668]

When I was young, I had a boyfriend who still lived with his parents He was a Catholic. The culture in that church is that you don't necessarily have to go to the same congregation every week, as long as you go to any Catholic church His mother would always ask him what particular church he went to and so he did his research and found out what services were on and at what time so he could report back to his mother

[@Jcs57]

I’m 68 now but growing up my parents insisted I go through the indoctrination process even though I insisted I just couldn’t accept Christian mythology as factual. They told me when I got older I would understand and an appreciate that I took part in their cult activities. Well I’m still here waiting on that understanding and appreciation and time is running out.

[@MrTrickatreat]

This is me. i'm a 38 year old man with two kids, and i have no idea who i am. Looking inward for answers was absolutely an abomination to the lord, so i obviously never did it, and more over i thought it was so stupid to ask myself what i thought about anything. I left the church 3 years ago, and I'm trying to slowly form my own thoughts, but it's so hard.

[@jezebelvibes]

You should be really proud of yourself for coming this far and breaking through the indoctrination. That's a really difficult thing to do. Best wishes on your journey!

[@tonyfendex2558]

You're not alone!!! We all go thru similar experiences!!! I'm happier now that I left religion behind!!!

[@randyhodges8782]

I'm 65, atheist for years, and having same identity crisis. Good luck to us both.

[@colinpistorius1206]

Be strong, friend. Only you can be the driver on this journey. I am ex-Catholic, via Anglican and Methodist churches. Strongly Catholic wife and two daughters, with a third who is devout Muslim. They accept me for what I am, an atheist who cannot believe there could be a god who would allow all the suffering in this beautiful world.

[@christasimon9716]

"...and i have no idea who i am." You're a father. You're a person, presumably with thoughts and interests. And if you treat others the way you wish to be treated, and can weigh net harm vs net benefit in your conscious decision-making to minimize harming others, then you're a good person. Start with that. You can leave religion behind and choose your own path and morality.

[@ericcwelling5970]

Since I left Christianity, I feel like I can truly think for myself, that I don’t have to be a Christian to please my family. I love my family, and I’m happy that they accept me as a nonbeliever. After reading what’s truly written in the Bible, especially the contradictions, I will never come back to Christianity.

[@gearaddictclimber2524]

I feel very similar to you! I love how I can freely think without this fixed scaffolding structuring my search for knowledge.

[@shaqyardie8105]

​@@user-ws1pp2hg2jhere's one. That humans used to live to be 900 years old. We know that isn't true and it being written in a book doesn't make it true. Take the hint.

[@ericcwelling5970]

@@user-ws1pp2hg2j Look them up and see for yourself. I’m going to let you decide for yourself. Just do as research as you can, and it is best to hear both sides of the story.

[@gearaddictclimber2524]

@@user-ws1pp2hg2j How did Judas die? Who is Jesus’ grandfather? How old was Jehoachin when he became king? Was the stone already rolled away when the women arrived at the tomb? Did they go inside? All of these rations yield contradictory answers when you read your Bible.

[@shaqyardie8105]

@@user-ws1pp2hg2j 900 doesn't surprise you? Are you stupid? Do you understand that because it's written in a book doesn't necessarily mean that it's true? There is no evidence that humans lived to be 900 years old outside of an ancient book. There's also no evidence of a god, a talking snake, virgins giving birth, god making food fall from the sky or talking donkeys. Take. The. Hint. We need evidence!

[@stevenbwilkinson]

Thanks Kristi for your videos. I was a Jehovah's witness for 35 years. I deconstructed the JW religion during the pandemic, looked into general Christianity but ended up an agnostic. Keep up the good work.

[@KendraWest-xk6po]

Me too. I left JWs about a year ago. I'm thirty and was raised one. We're in the same place. Agnostic. Eventually we will find our place. I like the churches in my area but only because I'm mentally ill and don't get out to see anyone because of no job.

[@niteowl9491]

@@KendraWest-xk6po Church has always been historically a place for humans to gather and socialize in a meaningful way. I don't think there's any shame in attending a church/temple for a god you don't necessarily believe in or agree with :) In fact, if people did that more often, we'd all be better off I'd bet!

[@robertheintze9413]

​@@KendraWest-xk6poFunny how evangelicals deem JW's as a "cult", when THEY are in a cult themselves.

[@KendraWest-xk6po]

I fully realize Christianity is a cult though. There are a lot of Microaggressions disguised as humor. It is predictable and safe though, so I still like it. ​@@robertheintze9413

[@mattpowell6291]

Looking into a religion doesn't save you. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and saviour does and repenting of your sins

[@gregfugate8547]

There's something about how real your videos are. It's like I'm in the room with you having a conversation. Thanks for that.

[@jezebelvibes]

I get that a lot, and i love that I've created content that resonates in such a way 💗 thank you so much!

[@scholarlyanalyst7700]

@@jezebelvibes Hi! You are so real! Anyway...everything in science and nature says we start with very simple beginnings (e.g. life; galaxies; matter; the universe) and evolve into greater complexity over time (billions of year). NEVER has science EVER discovered the cart before the horse (so to speak!). In other words - there is nothing that points to an infinitely complex being (God) merely "existing" without evolving from very simple origins. So, what's my point? My point is that it is intuitively (at least to me) MUCH easier to explain (and much more plausible) complexity gradually evolving from simple origins. Starting with infinite complexity (God) would turn science on its head because then we'd have to explain how something so complex can simply be (without being evolved from simpler origins). So when people use the old watchmaker argument as proof of God, we must ask where God comes from? Natural selection (as I am sure you know) EASILY explains the complexity of life evolved over billions of years. Where did it all come from? We don't know (exactly!). What science DOES tell us, for certain, is that everything always starts with very simple beginnings and evolves complexity over time (that's confirmed by science!). As far as "where did it all come from"(initially) - well, it's MUCH more acceptable for me to not yet know exactly how it all started than to posit the existence of an infinitely complex being (with no apparent explanation). That goes against everything we have so far observed and derived from science. EVERYTHING that has ever been confirmed by science has simple origins and gradually becomes more complex over billions of years. This makes the existence of God VERY incompatible with science and everything we know about nature. And, of course, science actually disproves the God of the bible - who merely "pops" everything into existence. There may well be a god (although I very much doubt it!). But if so, it is definitely not the god of the bible!

[@radosawszmid7822]

I was a Catholic for 38 years of my life. I never really thought deeply about it despite having a very analytical mind. However, 5 years ago there came that special day when I sat down in my chair and started breaking it down into pieces as I normally do with any topic that fascinates me. Nobody forced me to do it, nobody suggested me anything. After maybe 5 months of daily studying and asking myself ton of difficult questions, I simply became an agnostic-atheist... Being intellectually honest, I even gave God a chance to stop me. He did nothing to change my mind. Critical thinking and common sense simply won this battle. End of story. Love your channel Kristi!

[@maggiebarrett7300]

I too was raised a catholic; my holy water evaporated when I read the bible for myself instead of being ‘taught’ the palatable parts. I then repented of the decades I had wasted worshipping the foul, though fortunately fictional god therein.

[@tedmoman13]

@@maggiebarrett7300”holy water evaporating” just made me laugh. Love it

[@playerone3018]

This! This is a deeply honest self-inquiry that has dropped all authorities to find out what's what. Sometimes the authority of yesterday is as oppressive as the authority of a thousand years. The last authority may be oneself...the hardest to drop.

[@user-k4d-e59mo28oc]

@@maggiebarrett7300 Roman Catholicism is essentially Neo-Roman Paganism. As Christianity spread like wildfire in their empire, the pagan Romans authorities saw their grip on power slipping away. But then Emperor Constantine came up with a "solution": if you can't beat um, join um (superficially, that is). And so he "converted" to Christianity - while retaining the established framework. What this meant in practice was a structural makeover: Jupiter was transformed into Jehovah . . . the other 12 main Roman gods became the 12 Apostles . . . The Goddess Venus turned into the Virgin Mary . . . Apollo as Jesus. The Roman Senate become into the Council of Cardinals. The role of provincial governors became that of archbishops, with mayors becoming bishops, and so on. The authority of emperor himself was replaced by that of the Archbishop of Rome, ie. the Pope. Rome became the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church succeeded the Roman Empire - which in a very real sense, never fell.

[@user-qd6cd1pw1h]

@@radosawszmid7822 Much the same story here Leaving the catholic church is different than the Protestant church. I miss the Holy Mother but not the subtle terror of the rest of that gang . God terrified me and Jesus seemed like a snitch when I was young . Mary was like the nice substitute teacher . Since I never had that special relationship with Jesus I buried my ballast without drama. Now I look towards the heaven and see real miracle.

[@The-Doubters-Diary]

I am an agnostic/atheist and will never attack someone's personal experience. Yet I find it odd how many Christians attack mine and refuse to believe that at one time I was just like them. So odd. I love your story!

[@jezebelvibes]

They love your testimony until you leave the church. Then your testimony becomes an offense against them. I've seen it happen so many times to former believers.

[@colinloh6427]

They’re always trying to rationalize in ridiculous ways including blaming you. Could be straight up or subtly.

[@The-Doubters-Diary]

@@colinloh6427 Exactly!

[@martinconnelly1473]

Unforgiving, intolerant and with a lust for anger is my general assessment of deeply religious people. The more I hear people who have left fundamental religion the more this assessment seems true.

[@EclecticPerson]

I understand your viewpoint, except please keep in mind that Christians really CAN'T look completely honestly and empathetically and fairly at your viewpoint, as that would ultimately challenge their own faith. And they can't let that happen! Christians need to rationalize their faith. And unfortunately for them there are some cogent arguments against Christianity that are so compelling and convincing, and the rebuttals against those arguments are so weak (i.e., implausible, illogical or even immoral), that Christians really MUST attack you and your atheism/agnosticism, or try to ignore you. If they engaged with you fairly and tried hard to understand your perspective, they'd end up losing their faith. And they certainly don't want to let that happen! I'm not too surprised when I see Christians straw-manning atheist arguments or failing to properly understand those arguments or simply attacking atheists personally (ad hominem attacks, etc.). What choice do Christians have, if they're gonna keep their faith?

[@Pattie_rizzo]

That comparison to the husband dragging you into the fire pit in the backyard as a comparison to hell really stuck with me because that is INSANE. And I’d tell any friend I love, to RUN in the opposite direction. But it’s commonplace in Christianity to “out of love” tell people to STAY. 😂

[@Pattie_rizzo]

@@sammur1977 oh love… the difference is HELL. Getting reprocussions for sins or bad behavior on earth is understandable. Cause and effect. Get drunk then spend an eternity in hell?! Being born a sinner?! God is choosing to punish people for all eternity for things they’ve already paid for in consequences on earth. Thats abuse. And if that works for you boo, then I don’t kink shame 😂🤍

[@Pattie_rizzo]

@@sammur1977 Again… not here to yuck your yum. If you’re into pain, bondage, and self deprecation, punishment… as long as it’s consensual… do you boo! Have fun, find your tribe.

[@mangarox134]

@@Pattie_rizzothis is such a great point!

[@Pattie_rizzo]

@@mangarox134 Thanks! I spent so many years living in it.

[@Masha_Sulym]

I have lost my faith, realized that it is pointless after my mom died a long painful and horrifying death from brain cancer. She has always believed in god, prayed, did many good things, but it is at God's watch she has got a terminal cancer, a very aggressive type, which couldn't be cured even at stage 1 anyway. I prayed, she prayed, we tried to cure her. Nothing worked. She was suffering so much that I consider people who died quickly super lucky. And there was nothing we could do. God also did nothing. At the most crucial moment he did nothing. Why ever pray to him again? If it was in his power to stop it and he didn't, fuck him! I don't need him in my life.

[@Fair-to-Middling]

7:47 This! 'Loving' God out of fear is not love and not a choice. Exactly.

[@JustReed]

"Amore Sine Timor.' Love Without Fear!

[@mattpowell6291]

Loving God out of fear of hell will not save you in Christianity

[@JustReed]

@@mattpowell6291 Christianity doesn't realize this. They created their own Hell on this earth by their own enslavement to their beliefs, traditions and laws.

[@mattpowell6291]

@reamebjp There's a lot that will be for sure

[@HungryWarden]

@@mattpowell6291then why love him? What is the incentive? It’s not because he’s nice, because he isn’t.

[@MicaLeal-yl8rq]

I love that you are back!! ❤

[@jezebelvibes]

Thanks so much for being here!

[@itsallillusory671]

​@@jezebelvibes Hey Kristi are you aware that Alan Parr an apologist made a video response to you in your absence on 5 Bible verses or passages that made you doubt your faith. His channel is called The Beat by Alan Parr or something like that. Anyway I haven't even watched it yet just seen that he made it but apparently he has a response an answer actually to the verse about rape. So anyway do you think you can respond to him on that one? I'd love to see it.

[@itsallillusory671]

It does bug me that these people think they can justify rape slavery genocide as long as it's In the Bible or any immoral thing. But then go on to tell us how immoral we are and how our morality is wrong unless it aligns with theirs. There the judge of morality lol! Ridiculous. But I really don't think you should skip over that one. Don't let him get the last word on that one please!!! Im begging you if you want it I up to you but my one personal request to you.

[@dongxx]

​@@jezebelvibes0:57 you said that "you realize that there are not always absolute or objective answers" but death is absolute truth. life is absolute truth. eating is absolute truth. hating God and pretending he doesn't exist is also absolute truth.

[@jeremydiaz5172]

@@dongxx Low IQ answer dude. We don't know how this universe was created. Just a bunch of books that claim their God did it. Their is no absolute truth. God could be an adcanced Alien species from another dimension that created this. Or not. We don't know for absolute how this was and how we were created. Your IQ is significantly low if you cannot understand what I typed.

[@GymLeaderEddie-v7]

This is my Sunday Morning Service . 😂😂❤, from the comfort of my home , not feeling guilty or gaslit by others or what my pastors biased beliefs are .

[@jezebelvibes]

Happy Sunday friend! Thank you for all your continued support

[@mattpowell6291]

So you shouldn't feel guilty about sin?

[@teddyjam8134]

@@mattpowell6291 There's no proof that sin exists, and if it does who created it? Now cut the crap.

[@mattpowell6291]

@@teddyjam8134 So does that mean you should do whatever you want regardless of anyone else?

[@omgkawaiiangel147]

​​@@mattpowell6291 you can have morals without believing in any god. no, atheists generally don't believe that they can do whatever they want because there's no eternal punishment awaiting them; they can think for themselves and know not to hurt people. they just don't hate themselves for messing up like religious people do. hope this helps!

[@Unhandled_Exception]

Never trust people who act and speak on behalf of their god. Never believe in a god who requires people to act and speak on his behalf.

[@DrPhilGoode]

GODDAM!!!! 🎯👍🏻

[@thatonedude932]

I’m taking this, it goes hard

[@C0Y0TE5]

That sums up the Jewish belief that there are no longer any true prophets, and that YHWH/Adonai/God has written his message in the hearts of the Jewish people; no need for prophets. (No need for priests; Temple is destroyed 2000 yrs.) -- Note the final disputed prophecy: that Jerusalem will suffer until the Jewish people learn how to say: " Welcome is he who comes in the name of Righteousness." (Rule of Law. Moral Code?)

[@maidenthe80sla]

Their god is supposed to be the ultimate in power, omnipresent, the almighty, etc... But sometimes he is too lazy to do so and secretly tells others to act on his behalf. As another mentioned earlier, he considers this religion to be a cult and I agree with that. ✝ holidays, symbols, and traditions were also directly hijacked from different European paganistic beliefs. Never have been a believer and that has not changed on bit since as far back as I can remember.

[@cheguy9989]

out of all the speakers on this topic you have got to be the most easy to relate to. I'm so glad you are back. Thank you🤗

[@bradleycamden5626]

Beyond happy you are back! ❤❤

[@jezebelvibes]

Happy to have your support :)

[@user-k4d-e59mo28oc]

@@jezebelvibes Jesus-ism is on it's d______ bed. At a certain point, you should declare on the force that is filling in the void: the neo-Ba'al Voodoo Moon God IDOL, His Caveman-Pedo-Prophet God, Meccan Cube-Rock IDOL Gods, Paper-and-Ink God-idols, Hijab-Niqab-Burqa Idol-Gods, AK-47 Idol-Gods, Minaret Idol God, Mega-Bullhorn Idol Gods . . . ALLAHU AKBAR ASHHADU AN LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH ASHADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN RASOOL ALLAH HAYYA ALA S SALAH HAYYA ALA L FALAH HAYYA ALA-L-FALAH ALLAHU AKBAR LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH!!!!!!”

[@nienke.z]

your eloquence and kindness continue to amaze me. many people who leave christianity and make content about it do so with a lot of anger, and often rightfully so! but those kinds of videos are difficult to share with others, and their contents hard to paraphrase in a way that does not come off as condescending or lashing out. your videos are a welcome change of pace, and i appreciate how considerate you are and how you take the time to explain things in a way that's easy for people to understand. thank you for sharing all of this with us!

[@harrynyirenda284]

Indeed,it's so nice listening to her

[@ragnarkisten]

applause, applause... finally someone having the sensibility to stand up to the madness!

[@mattpowell6291]

Because rejecting the idea to love others is a great thing 🤦‍♂️

[@philleprechaun6240]

I once had a preacher who said that "Lennon was wrong when he wrote "all you need is love"" (with a strong anti liberal tone in his voice). And I turned to him and said, "isn't god supposed to be love? Wouldn't it be true that if God is Love that all you need is love?" Needless to say my relationship with that church deteriorated quickly after that. Soon after that my affiliation with christianity finally shattered and new avenues opened up.

[@Roy-mw5js]

There are so many great you tube channels that break down the myths of the Bible and how they are all related to the time and the Middle East area. Very eye opening and such diversity to find the sources 😊

[@judethree4405]

Plus that one passage that says something like “the whole of the law is summed up in this: that you love your neighbor as yourself.”

[@douglaswise6797]

Pastors don't like being corrected in public.

[@MugenHeadNinja]

It's no surprise that a majority of Christians are Conservatives. Very interesting correlation, ain't it?

[@mattpowell6291]

@@philleprechaun6240 That preacher needs to read the Gospels

[@actionitem1]

Kristi - you are the absolute best. I have listened to most of your videos over the last few years, and I agree with pretty much everything that you have said. I was not brought up and fundamentalist Christian family. In fact, I was brought up in a loving, nurturing atheist family. But I really gain solace in listening to your deconstruction videos because they very solidly explain why you can’t accept Christianity as your faith. I have many people in my life, probably more than not, who are in some denomination of Christianity. I am a believer that I want to keep good relationships with these people and that they are important to me, however, if any conversation is opened about religion, I have your excellent commentary as a basis for my arguments. I have sent your videos to many, many people. The time you spend here and you’re very intelligent, well thought out viewpoints are hard to refute by anybody who has common sense. Thanks so much for this channel and your work. It is greatly appreciated.

[@Nicola-jj1ho]

Just live life to the fullest

[@mysterythecat971]

I spent years relearning to love and care for myself after leaving the church that used me up. I'd spent years as a "Christian" praying for answers, and clarity, and getting nothing. the being told me faith wasn't strong enough. All the answers are in the book. The church I grew up in is very black and white, too. while I live in the real world. A kaleidoscope, and with that, I'm told I'm wrong, they declare they know better. and will be welcomed back wen I see it their way.

[@krembryle]

Your videos give me so much peace. You say things that I think and feel, which is refreshing in this Christian society where I live in.

[@austin_h]

For all the Christian’s born into a Christian family saying that their religion is the right one, just for a second imagine being born into a Muslim family, Judaism or any other religion you can think of. Most of the people born into the religion you were brought up in would think your religion was the right one and everyone else’s is the wrong one. Let that sink in.

[@jezebelvibes]

One of the best things humans can do for one another is try to see things from someone else's perspective. Especially if you don't agree with them

[@2l84me8]

Correct. Religion respects borders. The truth does not. All regions can’t be correct, but they could be all wrong.

[@tiredofliars]

By the age of 4, I already knew that Christianity and The Bible were false. When I was five, I remember asking my mother that exact question, because I had a lot of questions that my 11 siblings never did. Her, terrible to me, then and now, explanation was that once everyone died, Jesus would appear to them, whether they believed in life or not, and only if they had never heard of Jesus, could make the decision then to Believe he is the Son of God or go to Hell. I didn't believe it then nor do I believe it now. The more justification something needs, the less likely it is Justifyable.

[@RPruett78]

@@tiredofliars ever noticed how good behaviors don’t need to be justified? Life only becomes complicated when we try to justify our bad behavior. With the littles we don’t allow them to over complicate or justify their bad behavior, we boil out the BS and demand that they behave in a societally acceptable manner. But as adults we hypocritically find ways to add BS complications that muddy the waters, and I believe we do this as adults because we too often just want what we want and we don’t really care about who is hurt in the process of getting it. Our hypocrisy is why kids can’t wait to grow up, they see us everyday, get away with shit we’d beat their ass for doing. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@MrCanis4]

"For all the Christian’s born into a Christian family saying that their religion is the right one, just for a second imagine being born . . . " in another part of the world about 500 years ago.

[@kamirose7816]

I'm driving so can't watch now but again, so glad you're back my friend. You are loved. Im so glad you've been taking care of you. I'm proud of what you are doing; are helping.

[@michaelvelasquez3988]

Nice to see you back. You are a breath of fresh air .

[@rebekahcarrell4291]

I'm still a teen living with my parents, and for years I felt guilty for feeling like something about the "love" I was recieving was wrong, and was definitely taught the whole "your feelings don't matter" thing you mentioned, yet have to walk on eggshells around them because their love is very conditional. I was raised to be a Christian and didn't really question it for a while, but then reading through the whole Bible, I kept being like "man, god is like my dad." (and god says a lot of platitudes of love followed by threats -- e.g. "obey your parents in order live a long life" because you'll live a shorter life if you get stoned) But I felt bad because I really didn't like him. Still, I had the idea I was taught of if it was real, my feelings didn't matter. Then I went and researched apologetics, arguments, counter-arguments, human psychology, child development (I also have a passion for history and other cultures); I went very deep for about a year, and just couldn't justify it anymore. I knew I had cognitive dissonance. Before I finally admitted it to myself I even tried thought experiments like: "If I were an atheist, I guess I would think XYZ, and percieve the world in ABC way." It was inherently more fair and loving than the Christian worldview I had (still for a while I had the idea of "but if it's true..."). It didn't justify hurting kids or condemning a major portion the population, and didn't force me to believe some people were inherently lesser/bad. (I often found myself making excuses for treating people with dignity as a Christian, but learned to keep my mouth shut about it) And now I don't feel conflicted about having to keep "respecting" someone just because they raised/created me, and can focus more on helping my younger brother. (but I'm definitely going to have to keep appearances till I can leave) Thank you Kristi! Your videos have been a great comfort in this time, even well after coming to this conclusion. Logical as it is, I still get in my head and wonder if maybe I'm wrong, (even when I trace logic to it's conclusion each time) so it's great to see other perspectives. I'm glad you're back! Here's to more great videos!

[@cipherklosenuf9242]

Hi Rebekah …it sounds like you given much thought to your beliefs and values and that you’ve reached some conclusions that are meaningful to you and making sense to you. You speak of being very young and dependent on your parents. As the years pass it’s likely that some of your current ideas will develop too. That’s normal and it can sometimes be a long difficult process. I hope you are safe and can develop a healthy adult relationship with your parents. An organization called “recovering from religion” has resources that may be useful to you now or in the future …might be worth a look. But, most importantly hang in there, try to enjoy real life with friends and family and yourself! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Cheers!

[@Dalton_Boardman2000]

I'm a 24 your old and I really relate to your comment. As a kid I was told to believe in God and to pray every night. In my teenage years I figured out that God doesn't make logical sense when I compared him to Santa. It's almost like a tradition to find out jolly ol' Saint Nick is just a fairy tale that teaches you that goodness is rewarded but it's not acceptable to fully believe in after a certain age. The thing is Santa and God are both too magical to exist in a realistic setting. There's also the fact God is essentially described as a universal dictator who tortures anyone that refuses his rule. If he were to exist I'd rather not follow such a being. Thankfully my family wasn't too religious. My father accepted my athiesm pretty easily all things considered and even admits that even though he's spiritual he agrees that The Bible is not a good source to mold beliefs or ethics off as it's rife with all sorts of stuff at odds with modern day values. I know i've had it easy compared to others but I really do know what it's like to struggle with this kind of turmoil. You're not alone.

[@denisemontgomery7169]

Ms Burke it’s about time you came back but I am glad you did.

[@jezebelvibes]

Happy to have you here! :)

[@denisemontgomery7169]

@@jezebelvibes Thank you. And you have a great day

[@caribbeanman3379]

Fellow Kristian, it's Mrs with an r.

[@johnarmstrong6227]

One of the most impactful realizations I had is how we are told God is a perfect, loving father, and yet we have significant evidence, both from the Bible and from current observation, that he is anything but. I certainly would not subject my children to some of the things God subjects his "children" to.

[@user-k4d-e59mo28oc]

It's a wonder anyone in the modern world can (they must be functionally illiterate): *Exodus 20:5* "I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me, for I the Lord thy God am a _JEALOUS_ God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the *children* unto the third and fourth _generation_ of them that hate me." *Matthew 10:34-35* “Do NOT suppose that I have come to bring _peace_ to the earth. I did *not* come to bring peace, but a *SWORD.* For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." *Matthew 10:37* “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” *Luke 14:26* “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be my disciple."

[@celticbabs3105]

This realization woke me up and my belief system crumbled into a billion pieces around me. I remember the moment last summer when I realized my belief system and my world view based on that belief was an utter lie. The shock of it - the emotion of it - the betrayal... It was a difficult time. I Since then I've been slowly building a new belief system - one opposite of the Christian faith. One that I find so beautiful and far more fulfilling and satisfying that resonates with me. Without fear, shame, or condemnation, I am learning to be my authentic self. In a short time, it has allowed me to face, confront, and heal past religious trauma/abuse (with the help of a licensed and trained therapist), heal my anxiety, and now am learning what real love is all about for the first time. Not the fake love of God and Christianity, but genuine love that must start with self-love, self-care and self-compassion. Through this, I am finally able to accept myself and others and show true compassion to others. I am finally able to receive genuinely real love and compassion from other people. I have found more healing and peace in 1 year after turning my back on Christianity that I have in the 40 years I was a dedicated Christian. I agree with every point Krisit made in her video because I lived through it too.

[@riluna3695]

@@vadouis-rt3of He is a person with a mind, same as you are. There's no battle of authority taking place here, no "my interpretation is better because it's mine". Focus instead on reading the text while considering the question "is God behaving in a loving way during this chapter?" Picture a human in God's position, taking God's actions, speaking God's words, and ask yourself if that is a human you would consider Godly. One of love and compassion, one you would respect and admire. And the answer to that question becomes your interpretation of the text, at least within the context of whether it shows a loving God or not. For a truly loving, perfect or at least near-perfect God, imagining a human in his place doing all of those things, they would seem like one of if not _the_ greatest human being to ever exist. A paragon of a person. But what happens if the human you imagine seems to you to be horrifying? The kind you expect that God would condemn as sinful. What would it mean for God's actions to appear sinful? If this were to happen once or twice in a lineup of otherwise extraordinarily good deeds, one might wonder if there was some missing context that made those errant examples make a lot more sense. But what if it was nearly EVERY example? What if the only time God ever appeared to be good was when he was describing himself, and never when he was actually _doing_ things? What would it mean for a human to constantly compliment themselves and yet perform almost exclusively sinful actions? Their self-compliments, and the compliments of others, would not exonerate them. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. So what do God's actions say? And do they tend to be good, average, or bad overall? These are the sorts of questions everyone must ask in order to answer questions like "is God good?" And while different people might read the same text and come away with different answers, thus having differing interpretations, it is not fair to weigh the interpretations of someone who has never asked these questions as equal to those of one who has. I imagine you have read your bible, I am not suggesting that you haven't. But statistically speaking, you're very likely to fall into the group of people who read it sporadically, picking out fragments either randomly or by selection from your pastor during readings. And if you are such a person, I strongly, STRONGLY recommend that you read through the Bible with these and/or similar questions in mind. This can only benefit you. If what you believe now, and the interpretation you have now, is the correct one, then reading through in this way will cement that belief and give you an immense increase in confidence in, and respect for, the goodness of your God. And should things go the other way, and you find you don't like what you find in such a reading, this is still ultimately a positive, as now you know a fact that was hidden from you, and have learned a deeper truth about the world, which will better your understanding and your ability to live in that world properly. Even though it might seem negative at first. But again, there's no threat of this whatsoever if God is good as is claimed. Reading the book of God's Word more carefully can only ever prove the truth to be more true. Do try this, if you have not already. That way you do not have to take the word of atheists or of pastors. You can know it in your own bones. You can know your God more fully and more personally than ever before.

[@C0Y0TE5]

The idea that God must necessarily be All-Good, All-Knowing, All-Powerful is a philosophical invention by the Hellenists (Greeks) to prove that God cannot be, if he/she cannot be All-Whatever. -- So, for example, because Zeus was immoral (a nasty ra pist for example), he could not possibly exist. -- It only proves that that specific philosophical model of God is obviously incorrect. -- Because Christianity is Hellenized Judaism, these Greek rational ideas became the foundations of western civilization. -- The original Old Testament presentation is clear that God is god of both good and evil, of blessings and curses. It was exposure to Persian control (Second Temple period) that the idea of a struggle between gods of good and evil (Zoroastrianism) created a schism in Jewish thought. (Note the discussion in the Book of Job.) As to God using his "children" (chosen ones) as whipping boys for failing morality, the Gnostics (Hellenistic influence) turned the Jewish God into the Demiurge, arguing that a god that allowed evil must be evil itself. This may indicate the earliest expressions of antisemitism. CREATIVE COMMONS COPYRIGHT

[@harrynyirenda284]

​So in other words, even if am a good person God will still punish me for the sin of my father 😭😭😭😭😭 shame that's bad

[@jstube36]

It's not easy to walk away from something we are warned not to walk away from. I was baptized when I was 20 days old. Had my 1st Communion at 7 years old. I enjoyed going to Church. Especially loved the hymns. I even wanted to be a priest. And even though we stopped going to Mass on a regular basis, I stayed with the Faith. Held strong to it. But my thinking has since changed. I began to ask questions I never thought I would ask. Dropping Christianity did not happen overnight. But ever since, I feel a bit of self-liberation. And now believing what is more consistent with reality. Instead of being told to believe or else.

[@artstation707]

You have no idea how ridiculous this sounds.

[@jstube36]

@@artstation707 Why ridiculous

[@mattpowell6291]

@@jstube36 Did you drop the religion only or do you believe the bible is false as well as God?

[@artstation707]

What you want to believe? Not the truth? Only what you WANT to believe???

[@jstube36]

@@artstation707 Yes I should reword that. Better to believe what aligns more with real history. Instead of having to believe on blind faith. Or out of fear of reprisal for being skeptical.

[@jericosha2842]

"Faith is not a virtue." Completely agree. I wouldn't want my wife, friends, or family to love and trust me without knowing who I really am and what I'm about.

[@TheAlchaemist]

This is one of the most important realizations that former "religious believers" have. Faith IMPLIES believing stuff without evidence, and believing that that is a good thing. And that is the worst thing that a person can do on any area of life. Fortunately most people do NOT actually work like that in almost any aspect of life, except religious matters. And back to your comment, LOVE is precisely one of those things that you need the most to both receive and provide evidence that it is there. ALWAYS! Because otherwise that leads to truly bad things. So never forget to communicate with your loved ones :D

[@Infunktable]

Early in deconstruction for me still, this video helped me. I'm a very emotionally intense person and have felt overwhelming shame about it because the adults around me became angry with me when I expressed feelings, or thoughts different from theirs. I watch a lot of affirmation videos these days.

[@jezebelvibes]

It's so hard to break free from the indoctrination. Give yourself plenty of time, love and compassion. Keep watching affirming videos and be kind to yourself on this difficult journey. You're far from alone on it

[@OceanusHelios]

Repeat this mantra: There are no talking snakes and never were. There are no magic apples. No human was there to watch or hear this god say let there be light. By there own accounts there are often no producable witnesses to anything. There are lies about the age of the bible. When theists wave their hands and confidently speak about "tons of evidence" and quickly move on to other points, without mentioning exactly what that physical evidence is, then you know... It is not your fault. It is your mind rejecting absurdities. It is your mind rejecting lies. You are not alone in this. It is not abnormal to not believe in talking snakes and magic apples. It is not your job to defend your atheism or agnosticism. You don't have to answer to them. These groups are not the paragons of what is ethical or moral. These groups are the paragons of free rides and exploitation.

[@graydanerasmussen4071]

Hang in there, kiddo! If they feel they need to punish you for asking questions, that's a sign you're right, they're wrong, and they know it! There is a whole world out there, good and bad, and you can be trusted to know the difference without an old book full of stupid fairie tales! :)

[@Jcs57]

We are Christian, resistance is futile. You will surrender, your identity will be our identity. We will add your distinctiveness to the collective. Lower your resistance it is futile to resist you will be assimilated, we are Christian!

[@EarnestApostate]

So nice to have your voice back in the mix.

[@InvictusMedia]

Kristi, great to see you back! Don't ever stop what you do. We love you!

[@Matp78]

My mom is always hoping I will return to Jesus. She continues to not want me to go to hell. I ask her to provide evidence and proof of God which she really can't do. I love the fact that I don't know everything and I have lots to learn. I appreciate nature more love fishing. I just embraces stuff around me. Life is a wonderful thing. No longer thinking about the future but living in the here and now. It is so much easier to be an atheist because I don't have to act like I know everything.

[@Mr.PeabodyTheSkeptic]

Welcome back! Wasn't expecting you back so soon since your last video was a bit cryptic. Pleasantly surprised.

[@jezebelvibes]

I guess the last eight months left me with a lot to say! lol

[@Mr.PeabodyTheSkeptic]

​@@jezebelvibesI bet. This video was very comprehensive. Looking forward to many more. No pressure.

[@chrishoffman2489]

Science has sped up in the last decades, answering questions for us that generations before us did not have the answers to. We are privileged to live in a time when the average person knows more about the world than anyone living before (as far as we know), but we don't know everything. If there is a "God," maybe his greatest gift to us is the joy of discovery, which we deny ourselves when we claim to already know everything. Why deny yourself the greatest gift? And do so forever? Live forever and ever, already knowing everything? Just floating around in heaven being bored, I guess. Sad.

[@lemsip207]

I found the answers to things I was wondering about in the 80s and 90s.

[@Cuffsmaster]

Why give a thingee (God) credit for good or joy and discovery.

[@gowdsake7103]

Shame that no god has ever been discovered or shown to exist

[@user-cz2bh3yl9y]

Great video!!!!!! This will help people. I left Christianity. 25 years ago and it was one of the BEST things i ever did. It was a huge relief.

[@TheArobe99]

You’re the best ! Thank you for continuing to be your authentic self. I am so thankful for your content. What you already put out has helped me evolve my thinking so much and has helped me deconstruct however I am so glad your back!

[@norwalltino]

You have the truth path Kristi, love you😀❣

[@impioussaint4421]

Beautifully said! I learned all these things after leaving Christianity too, but it definitely did take a long time. Love your work!

[@arc-michaelr9580]

Wow. You sound so understanding and loving. Even how you speak about showing grace and being respectful of others perspectives. Nice!

[@lh1673]

Exactly! Faith is not a virtue. Look at all those dangerous CULTS and EXTREME Religion, they have FAITH😅

[@skepticusmaximus184]

7:11 "I had to get comfortable saying I just don't know. And not knowing knowing doesn't put you in any kind of an inferior position." That's the uderstatement of the century, since to gain any insight; to learn the correct answer, you need to realise that you don't know: that the point is moot and the jury is still out. You can't learn anything thinking you all the answers. Not knowing is the VASTLY superior position to beliving you know when you don't.

[@graydanerasmussen4071]

The old Sensei is pouring tea for his gifted young student, while the student boasts about all the martial arts stuff he knows. Suddenly, he notices the old man hasn't stopped pouring, and hot tea sloshes from the over-full cup onto his legs, burning him. "Old fool! You scalded me!" "This is today's lesson, young one. You cannot put more into a vessel that is already full." Science still has questions that need answers, which is vastly superior to having Answers that cannot be questioned.

[@Giwii-ojimin]

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

[@skepticusmaximus184]

@Giwii-ojimin Fear of an imaginary being is how Muslims are controlled. Fear is what motivates people to accept totally irrational ideas and desperately avoid thinking for themselves. Fearless scepticism is how rational minds achieve understanding. Your God contains so much knowledge, that he didn't know the sun doesn't orbit the earth, when he spoke to it, to stop it in the sky, so Joshua could have more daylight in battle. The knowledge your God appears to have is precisely what we'd expect from ignorant nomads of the bronze and iron ages.

[@dow3372]

That was a great comment. I feel the exact same way. Those that actually try to know, know that we don't know very much. Acting like you know something when you really don't, is not a great venture; it's just having the ability to be comfortable with lying to yourself and others.

[@raepet-mb6lc]

I have been going through a very similar experience over the last several years. As I have gone through this journey looking back at how I was not "allowed", by my Christian parents, to be myself and much in the same ways you described. It left me with one very big question. "How is a person supposed to give all of their self over to God in the act of accepting salvation if they do not first become and know themself?" I now believe this is one of the greatest disservice that Christian parents and community alike do to the youth under their faith and leadership.

[@jezebelvibes]

It certainly is a great disservice. My time in talk therapy taught me that getting to know and understand myself doesn't make me selfish - it makes me more open and empathetic to the experiences of others. The church never taught us that.

[@randommemeaddict249]

It's so nice to see your videos again, and on my fyp no less! I'm glad that your break was helpful.

[@scottjackson163]

The search for God. Yes, this endeavor results in nothing but crickets. Well, not even that. If the all-knowing one can’t be bothered to find me, I guess we are destined to remain apart.

[@theboombody]

A lot of times when I study the higher math it feels quite spiritual. The complex plane in particular is VERY strange to me. It feels like there's greater mysteries in there we do not know of yet. But we do find some things, and what we do find is pretty unintuitive but beautiful. So that kind of feels like a search for God there, and whatever it is, it's more than crickets chirping.

[@scottjackson163]

@@theboombody I also know the feeling of awe and mystery that humans can occasionally experience during peek moments of concentration, creativity, or discovery. What I’m calling hog swill on is the Christian narrative, which posits the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient, supremely loving God. If there were such a being, he would surely speak to us directly and not leave the interpretation and recording of his message to a ragtag band of Bronze Age goat herders.

[@eddieromanov]

Since I left, I learned that I can, in fact, be happy. They were the ones that told me my only options were to worship their God or myself and I gotta’ tell ya’… Option B? Not so bad at all.

[@mattpowell6291]

Doesn't bring any fulfillment to life though

[@eddieromanov]

@@mattpowell6291 I feel pretty fulfilled.

[@mattpowell6291]

@@eddieromanov Because you have worldly riches now, but if everything was taken from you your fulfillment would be taken to

[@eddieromanov]

@@mattpowell6291 I’m definitely not rich in material possessions. I have good friends, good partners, two sons I’m watching become men who aren’t burdened with the shame that kept me miserable into my 40s. I’m happy for the first time in my life. And I’m proud of that. God didn’t do that for me. My therapists and doctors didn’t do it for me either. I had a lot of help but at the end of the day *I* was the one who had to do it.

[@thatonedude932]

@@mattpowell6291don’t assume his situation, people can find fulfillment outside of god and religion. Weather or not someone is fulfilled is entirely up to them

[@CharlesPayet]

"...either god's kind of an a**hole, or maybe he doesn't exist." LOVE IT!

[@daydays12]

me too!

[@twitherspoon8954]

He used one of his owns sons to perform a propitiatory human sacrifice with just to appease himself.

[@twelvestitches984]

So for you to believe you first have to get everything you want? What you failed to realize is that NOT getting what you want is the purpose. 90% of primitives, when they don't get what they want, they become self destructive. The universe only wants the 10%.

[@user-k4d-e59mo28oc]

He's a genocider of His Children: According to the Bible, God’s body count is 2,821,364 (24,994,828 if The Great Deluge is included). Satan’s is 10 (Job's children). That means God beat Satan by 249,948,180%. God’s the clear winner, the Fort Knox Gold Champ.

[@christasimon9716]

Oh there's a whole series of "Is God the A$$hole?"

[@richardmorgan1588]

"Love doesn't threaten or condemn." Wow! I want that on a shirt!

[@jezebelvibes]

I might need to add it to the merch!

[@richardmorgan1588]

@@jezebelvibes That message is more important now than ever! I'd proudly wear it!

[@ClintonHegney]

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

[@greg-op2jh]

So excited! Watching now! Hope you are doing well love!

[@jezebelvibes]

I am! Thanks so much

[@VMAN00ful]

Happy Sunday from Winnipeg.

[@jezebelvibes]

Happy Lord's day ;)

[@fepeerreview3150]

Thank you, Kristi, for making this video. 12,000+ views in 8 hours! You are reaching many people and no doubt changing lives for the better.

[@kookamunga2458]

I've been god-free for a long long time and it never gets boring. The worrying ,guilt , fear and shame has been replaced with science, light , logic and reasoning. Discovering that hellfire and tarnation is just a bunch of lies has been a truly marvelous realization.

[@Queenread82]

Oh man. How many times did my mentor tell me I am to offer myself up as a sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and that a sacrifice doesn’t complain. Now that I think of it, I think they do unless they’re drugged.

[@SeventyTons]

I love your style, Kristi. Thank you for what you do!

[@JustReed]

7 is a good start. I have so many reasons why I left Christianity. It's in the hundreds after 38 years. Thanks again Kristi.

[@BeccaYoley]

Very healing video. Thank you!

[@stevewalter5096]

Faith “exposed”. Hahahahaha. Love you and so does Jesus

[@maryquinn6661]

Thank you for sharing such wisdom and comfort to all of us leaving religion! ❤❤❤

[@mattpowell6291]

@@maryquinn6661 If you left "religion" you never understood what being a Christian is

[@stan1027]

When we speak of "black or white", the first thing that often comes to mind is shades of gray. But when we look at the visible light spectrum, every color in the rainbow exists between black and white!

[@SlimmyJimmySonjan]

Didnt think of that!! Great way of looking at it 💕

[@robertheintze9413]

Evangelicals and MAGAs see everything in absolutist terms. It's all black and white. No in-between. For example, they ignore the largest voting bloc of all...the independents and moderates in the middle. The centrists. That's why they keep denying elections.

[@skippymaster57]

The prism separates and allows us to see all of the variant colours possible, and they are many.

[@KaiHenningsen]

The Christian religion describes a classic abusive relationship.

[@nyxcole9879]

Exactly 💯

[@JustReed]

Yup!

[@mattpowell6291]

@@KaiHenningsen Loving your neighbor is a horrible thing to do...

[@KaiHenningsen]

@@mattpowell6291 No, I'm talking about the relationship of the followers (Jews and Christians alike, probably any other Abrahamic faiths) and their God. It's got that "Look what you made me do to you, this is going to hurt me more than you" vibe all over it.

[@mattpowell6291]

@@KaiHenningsen That's a very ignorant way to view Christianity. If you love God then you would love your neighbor and not sin against Him. If you sin against God and your neighbor, there generally are consequences on Earth but it also separates you from God. The choice is yours. Don't see how that's abusive

[@madeirafonseca6383]

Logic seems to trump religion every time. "Faith is not a virtue" What an outstanding revelation! Thank you so much for improving my day with that statement.

[@mattpowell6291]

@@madeirafonseca6383 There are many questions about this world that logic will never answer. Couldn't disagree more

[@madeirafonseca6383]

@@mattpowell6291 I think you're being illogical.

[@thatonedude932]

@@mattpowell6291and how do you know this? We used to not understand how the sun moves from one horizon to another but now we do. It’s all about advancing our knowledge

[@mattpowell6291]

@@madeirafonseca6383 🤦‍♂️

[@mattpowell6291]

@@thatonedude932 If an event happened in the past, you can't know for sure how or why it happened unless you have a time machine

[@CharlesPayet]

Already added to my "Leaving and Post-Christianity" Playlist.

[@jezebelvibes]

💗💗

[@themouthofsauron7697]

Great video. Always be proud of yourself and everything you do. All your experiences have made you the wonderful person you are. Kia kaha.

[@AlexLightGiver]

" I am not the Jesus of the Bible. I had nothing to do with the religion of Christianity. I wasn't even there when it started " Jesus Christ

[@HungryWarden]

Sucks that he’s dead and can’t tell us that.

[@AlexLightGiver]

@@HungryWarden We don't die. Jesus certainly dint . We merely transition from one state of being to another. Like water transitioning from liquid to solid or Aire. Jesus is still teaching today and is accessible to you and everyone. Speak to him through your heart and with intentions.

[@HungryWarden]

@@AlexLightGiver The heart just pumps blood. And yeah, death is essentially just a transition into a different state. You don’t disappear when you die. Your energy just leaves your body. But we haven’t exactly found something artificial that can capture the electromagnetic signals that run your brain that works as a functional brain, but I’m sure it’s possible, maybe even probable. We can already harness electricity. I do believe that in the future, we might be able to have robot bodies after we die. But that’s a long ways away. It makes a lot more sense than heaven, and a soul. Those are unlikely. We don’t have evidence of a soul, but we do know that your brain is run by electricity, which we have studied and already know about.

[@tomyfamily1]

❤❤❤HEY KRISTI WELCOME BACK!!!!❤❤❤ You are Loved and Missed so much!!

[@saltLTaylor]

Girl.... you said all this so beautifully. Thank you

[@jezebelvibes]

Thank you! :)

[@JackVelladeath]

I love these videos. I was raised Christian by my mom who lost her faith because she questioned what she read and eventually lost her faith. I remember asking so many questions and losing my faith as well but now as an adult I just don't remember completely the reasoning but these videos have reminded me of reasons and brought allot to light that I didn't even know about it. Thank you for these. I have a little brother who was raised to be open and he studied multiple different religions with my mom but after mom died he went to live with his dad and he became full Christian... I know I should never try to attack anothers beliefs but it feels like a cult has captured him and that I should do something. Idk what to do or if I just stay back and hope he deconstructs the religion himself.

[@jezebelvibes]

Unfortunately, we can't expect people to change their minds. But we can offer love, empathy, compassion, understanding and critical thinking for those who are still indoctrinated. Wishing you and your brother all the best. I know how hard it is to watch people you love stay trapped in harmful ideologies.

[@JackVelladeath]

@@jezebelvibes thank you for your reply, I really appreciate your opinion and the kind words. Also I believe you are right. Luckily he isn't the type that pushes his belief onto others and currently we have a respect for each other's beliefs. I once did bring up my concern that his belief was caused by fear and he told me something along the lines of the slave believes due to fear, the servant believes for a reward and the son believes since it is his father. I don't remember his exact wording but it basically conveyed the message he doesn't fear God and doesn't care if he is rewarded, he just believes because the idea of this creator makes sense to him. Though I don't see his POV I atleast felt a little better that maybe this belief is just an answer he found to reality and not something forced onto him driving him with fear. I do wonder what my mom would have done but I also remember my mom making it clear that successfully taking someone's religion away isn't always a good thing and can actually hurt them. She taught me to respect we all don't believe the same thing and it's no one's job to force their beliefs onto another.

[@imfireproof]

Kristi, to say I loved this video of yours is a MASSIVE understatement! This spoke to me on such a personal level! I left my faith, beginning in 2016, and the comfort I feel in hearing stories of people going through the same things as I have means the world to me! So glad I‘m not alone! I‘m here to tell you that you are not alone either!

[@jezebelvibes]

❤️❤️❤️

[@teallen69]

Great video Krist, spot on.

[@masteryoflife5133]

When I was a Christian, my mental health so bad, everytime I had a drink, I had a voice in my head saying that it is poisonous, I tried my best not to be gay because some lady at a church said that I had to look in the mirror everyday and tell myself that “I am not gay”. Plus I was struggling with people shutting down my ideas, I didn’t know how to think and would deny any thought that would “be against God”, it got so bad, and dealing with the struggles that come with autism and being gay, that I had a mental breakdown. I thought “this is getting ridiculous trying to believe something that won’t reveal them self”. I almost cried near the end of this video for some odd reason.

[@user-vd8ym2ww9s]

Bible is story telling, interpretation is what churches go on.❤

[@FluffyChikki]

I hope you're doing much better now.

[@masteryoflife5133]

@@FluffyChikki oh yes, that was part of the past.

[@benleven9835]

Kristi it’s so nice to see you back in the bizz girl! 🫶

[@tofersiefken]

It's been good to see you back on KZbin. You've got an insightful message, and your voice reverberates among those who question, and who deconstruct.

[@jezebelvibes]

💗💗💗

[@Giwii-ojimin]

If a person can be reasoned into Christianity than reasoned out later then it wasn't christianity

[@BolitaBalls]

Yes queennn. Welcome back 🥰

[@The_Other_Ghost]

She's alive!@!!!!! We should do obligatory comments to help boost her in the algorithm. The world can use more Kristie.

[@michaelvout7813]

Thank you. Like you, I now pursue integrity, honesty, kindness and genuine truth.

[@earlt.7573]

Welcome back Kristi !!! You are great at communicating these thoughts and perspectives, wonderful stuff, sincere and honest, thank you !!!

[@user-qd6cd1pw1h]

A fresh face undoing an all powerful entity who wants to punish us forever , using linear logic , how great is that ! Cheers

[@mattpowell6291]

@@user-qd6cd1pw1h He only punishes those that reject love

[@artstation707]

It's been tried before...

[@kenyule6928]

Glad you're back!

[@salaltschul3604]

I'm a big fan of, "no, you don't know. You believe. That's not the same thing," just like you said. I'm glad you're comfortable with not knowing...there's SO much we have no clue about and that's just incredible to me. It's wonderful trying to think and find out and being curious.

[@markmckeen5124]

Hey Kristi After watching your new recent Videos, I was inspired to go back and watch a few of.your older ones. The one where you mentioned finding a tract on a bench as you watched a sunset with your husband. You went on to talk about how irrational becoming a Christian is. It was a Masterpiece. So glad You're back. Your voice is so welcome these days. Be well! Mark in Michigan. 0:24

[@YTuser1998]

Missed you Kristi! ❤ you’re starting to be a role model for me, thank you 😢

[@Loafusbreadmyre]

I've learned a ton from leaving the church, but the most jarring initially was realizing how empty the christian worldview is. It's so desolate. Christians act like we humans are so separate from everything else in nature, whether that's because we're "god's favorite" or whatever else they make up, but regardless, it distinguished between humans and everything else as if we aren't fundamentally connected to everything. It also portrays the idea that everything is "just matter and energy" to be ridiculous, foolish, boring, depressing, and just overall negative, when I've found it to be the exact opposite. Yes, we are just matter and energy, everything is, and that's so wonderfully and infinitely beautiful. "If there is no god then nothing matters" Yes! Exactly! Nothing matters any more than anything else, you get to choose! You get to choose what matters to you because everything just exists! It's so beautifully freeing and I think the church hates that.

[@miszk5690]

I feel this. I feel much less anxious about social situations and my own life when I think about humans as just very advanced apes. I have more compassion to others and more self sympathy.

[@davidmccarroll8274]

@@Loafusbreadmyre The church does not hate but you forget one problem You are enjoying your new found freedom to do exactly what you want if you want when you want !!! So what is wrong with that !!!! Actions have consequences and even if you mean no harm to anyone that does not mean that others won't use that freedom they have to do exactly what they want if they want when they want but if what they want is evil you suffer the consequences !!!!

[@Loafusbreadmyre]

@@davidmccarroll8274 the church absolutely does hate! All the time! The Christian church supports the elimination of LGBTQ+ people and identities as a whole, which is hatred! It hates independence from a woman's husband, it hates birth control and contraceptives as shown by their active attempts at eliminating such things from public availability. It hates divorce, even when it is beneficial for either or both of the people involved in a marriage, it hates when children separate themselves from abusive families, it hates when people are child-free, it hates when people are polyamorous or anything close to it. Christianity hates plenty! Also, Freedom of choice is indeed absolute. Yes, people can choose cruelty, though it is generally understood that freedoms generally end at maliciously causing suffering, strife, or death. I did not invent this freedom, however, and no one person did. It is innate to all life. Thus, the consequences of a cruel person's actions should fall upon themselves and none else. Your... rebuttal(?) argument(?) response(?) or whatever you'd call it is very hard to decipher or understand, but I've done my best to respond.

[@mattpowell6291]

@@Loafusbreadmyre Problem is we ARE very different from every living creature. What other animal has impacted the Earth as much as humans?

[@Loafusbreadmyre]

@@mattpowell6291 Every living creature is different than the other. Saying humans are unique is not saying anything new. What I'm criticizing is their insistence on the idea that we are above the rest of nature and completely separate from it (only humans go to heaven/hell, only humans need to have faith, only humans will be judged by our actions, etc etc etc etc). We are just one of a truly uncountable number of systems that exist within this universe. Everything is made of the same basic parts and we are no different. The cores of stars share startling chemical similarities to humans, bananas have DNA incredibly similar to humans, tube worms at the bottom of the ocean have blood almost identical to that of humans. Sure we've left a massive mark on the world (for better and mostly for worse) but ultimately we are just a tiny spark in the gargantuan, unknowable, intricate, chaotic machine that is the universe.

[@stephenq24]

I am happy for you and your awakening. The world needs more thoughtful and curious people like you. Keep on thinking. Keep on questioning.

[@dreadpiratelenny1348]

Religious indoctrination ruined my life. I could've had a wonderful life, but I was always too scared that I might burn in hell if I stood up for myself.

[@theboombody]

All religion really kept me from was drinking, cussing, and sleeping around. That wouldn't have made my life wonderful. I got the job I wanted, the wife I wanted, and the house I wanted. Religion didn't stop any of that. In fact, since it kept me from drinking it probably made my grades better and landed me a better job. But I know everyone's different. So I'm not sure who ruined you or how, and how we could have had such different paths. But I'm sorry your path didn't end up the way you desired. UNLESS you wanted to sleep around, then I'm not sorry you were stopped from doing that. Sleeping around is bad news.

[@richr905]

@@theboombody ok so you were the exception to the rule….because MORE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE NAME OF RELIGION THAN ANYTHING ELSE…www.reddit.com/r/atheism/s/r2UCb30sVO these figures are just profound….SO SOME HIGHLY CONSCIOUS AND SENTIENT HUMAN BEINGS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE ALL THE “GODS” OF THE RELIGIONS AND DESTROY THEM. I’m down for that

[@bookfromthetrash_official]

Same, I wish was openly gay back then. I even regret being a Sunday School teacher. For you my friend. Whatever times has you now, live your best non-christian life. 😊

[@rini6]

I’m sorry. All you can do is move forward living your best life now. Best of luck.

[@dreadpiratelenny1348]

@@rini6 Your words make me want to die.

[@Queenread82]

The I Don’t Know!! Yes! If you don’t know you don’t have to make something up, regardless of the subject. As a retired librarian I encourage people to try to find out with facts, not speculation. I love research though, so I am probably an (ADHD?) anomaly.

[@graydanerasmussen4071]

I blame my recently discovered (at 55, two years ago) autism :) I love Sci Fi and Fantasy, but I want my actual understanding of the world to be as "true" as I can make it. Life long card-carrying atheist, probably for that reason.

[@JustReed]

You are so spot on Kristi. I know the yearning, passion behind my prayers in seeking truth. I never received ANYTHING. Then to be told I was never a Christian in the first place or never a 'real' Christian? That kind of 'understanding' only reinforces my resolve, Jesus Christ is manmade, and the Christian bible is an A.I. Bible. (Assumed Interpretation Bible) I now call Christians who say I was never a Christian, 'Pagen Christians.' Thanks Kristi!

[@C0Y0TE5]

You are correct. Christianity is the original neo-paganism. It's an invention of Greek ideas. Trinity, Water-into-Wine, son-of-god: these are all Greek pagan ideas, not Hebrew nor Judaism.

[@JustReed]

@@C0Y0TE5 Yup!

[@kamauyakini768]

At 75 years old, and giving up the search for God decades ago, you, Kristi have articulated what I have felt more elegantly and honestly than I could. Thank you. If I believed in fate, I would say you were meant to be here at this appointed time. But… I don’t know. Just sayn’…

[@serpentinious7745]

My journey out of religion was slow, taking over a decade. I was raised as a Christian, albeit a weak one. I never memorized the 10 Commandments, and I didn't even know God's supposed name until well after leaving the faith. My family emphasized the importance of deeds over faith, and from an early age I was taught and shown that good deeds are their own reward. Heaven was just a much appreciated bonus. So I never feared for my place in heaven. Why should I? I lived then and continue to live now by my family's selfless example. I never thought much about the stories in the Bible, except for the life of Jesus. I would work myself up thinking about Jesus to the point of being near tears while saying grace each evening at dinner. I guess I thought of the other Bible stories the same way I did the parables of any other culture or religion. Culturally significant, but it didn't really matter if they were true or not. If I'd realized those stories are the foundation of Christianity, then my faith probably would have died a lot sooner. The first thing that started to unravel for me were the moral depictions of the Sunday school stories, Adam and Eve, Jobe, Noah's flood, etc. I still saw them as fables, so the scientific issues didn't concern me yet, but the moral character they portrayed of God did. The hate and tribalism displayed by Yahweh were incompatible with the loving and just figure I'd been raised to believe in. If God loved all living things, as I had been told, then he could not sacrifice the well-being of one person/animal to act as a lesson for another. Yet this is exactly what happens in the Bible, over and over again. It's as if only the main characters of any particular story have any value or agency. A moral God CANNOT behave this way. At some point, I started to understand that these weren't just supposed to be fables, and from there the historic impossibilities started to creep into my thinking. Then, the scientific impossibilities. Miracles could explain the events described but not why they had stopped as soon as we could investigate them, why they were never corroborated by outside sources, or why even the biggest ones left no evidence. At this point, I had just entered college and was calling myself agnostic (still leaning in favor of faith). I couldn't trust the word of the church anymore, but I wasn't willing to give up on theism yet. I started taking psychology courses and became enraptured by the science of the human mind and by proper modes of research and bias control. I decided, on my own, to start living my life by these methods, and began the long and difficult task of analyzing all of my beliefs. To my horror, I found that none of my political (story for another time) or religious beliefs held up. Even my rationalizations for nebulous faith started to crumble as I learned the mechanics of how the mind tricks itself. I'm sure my professors didn't intend for me to use their lessons in this way, but I did nonetheless. It was like finding a magician's instruction book. Once you understand how the trick's done, the magic is gone and can't ever be reclaimed. It was disheartening, sobering, anger inducing, but also freeing. Not in the sense that I could "do whatever I want" or "am my own God." I'd never felt in danger of judgment in the first place, and I have always been happiest when I'm of use to others, so neither of those applied in the slightest. I was free of the cognitive dissonance. Things fell into place and all the pieces finally connected. Bare reality was a good deal uglier than I'd hoped, but still had its charms and was more than worth living. Eventually, I lost faith in the notion that any God has ever contacted humanity. The methods by which all religions have started and spread fall too far beneath what should be expected of such a being. In fact, they all seem to have started in the exact same way. Word of mouth and sometimes scripture spreading from a single location in a single language that is then translated and spread entirely by humans with no conclusive evidence of any external being (let alone a god) being involved at any point. Every part of the proliferation is done by humans, just like it would be if it was all false. Even hypothetical advanced aliens could have done a more convincing job than any of these proposed gods just by air dropping pretranslated copies of a book at different, unrelated locations across the globe. I expect better of any interventionist God that cares about its message, tri-omni or not. I know more about the Bible and history of Christianity now than I ever did as a Christian. And to this day, the more I learn, the worse my perception of it gets. In the beginning, I still thought that it was good for people even though I no longer believed. Now I know how much it's been influenced by secular ideas. Basically, everything healthy about religion has been appropriated from secularism. Community, compassion, the golden rule, all of it predates Christianity by millennia. All Christianity did was wrap it up with a whole lot of toxic baggage and mechanisms of control. I can't respect that anymore now that I see it for what it is. About the only good thing it does is inoculate people against the influence of other, sometimes more harmful, religions. Even then, it's useless unless the competing ideology includes a competing God belief. Christians fall for all kinds of harmful ideologies all the time. Bad as it is, though, some other religions are far worse, so I am glad Christianity acts as a buffer against those. But the last thing I'd ever want to do is give Christianity back its teeth. It's only somewhat acceptable now because it's been declawed by the return of secular ideals (for which it now tries to steal credit) and the separation of church and state (which it's constantly trying to undermine). When it had power, it committed some of the most heinous atrocities in human history. Many of the church's devices would put even the Bible's depictions of hell to shame, were it not for death delivering them from the church's hands. I did hold on to hope of an afterlife for a while, mostly out of longing to see my loved ones again, but that too eventually faded. Now I've resolved to spend as much time as possible with the people I still have, to talk to them about their pasts and help them with their futures, so that I have as few regrets as possible when we are inevitably separated. I know I will someday die, and eventually, I will be forgotten. The memory and even the effect of my deeds will fade to nothing. And that's ok. For now, in this place, my life has meaning for those around me. For a time, my memory will have meaning for those I'll leave behind. Eventually, that memory will be set aside, so that future generations can forge their own purpose, unburdend by the memory of someone they never knew. Hopefully, they will get to start their own journey on slightly firmer ground because of the work I did. My legacy will be a shining brick, then an unseen foundation, then a piece of the nameless soil upon which a new foundation rests. That is all I could ever ask for. That is enough.

[@infinitedeath1384]

I'm still a Christian but I've begun to have doubts about the morality of God. Why did he test Job to prove a point to Satan? Is eternal punishment a proportional punishment even if you never murdered or hurt people? If God is all powerful, why didn't he prevent lucifer from corrupting eve? If God is all knowing, is free will just an illusion? If God knows what I am going to do, my future is predetermined, not random. I am looking for answers, and if you take the time to help me, I'd really appreciate it.

[@mayalaurenboyd]

This is amazing! Thank you! This is EVERYTHING I’ve been thinking and feeling since I left Christianity this past year really 💜

[@jezebelvibes]

💗💗

[@greggprettyman9165]

Wish I met someone with your ability to describe and reason with biblical ideas. After 35 years with The Way Ministry position and devotion, i kept reading the bible thinking this was what God wanted.....and the horrible things in that "very black" book caused me to reject it. 2 Samuel 24 was the straw that broke the camel's back. It is ancient fiction, not current truth source. Kudos on your channel, i love listening to your frankness. May the universe reward your efforts, you are "the bomb"!!! Love ❤ and peace from California!

[@johnmcwade1]

@greggprettyman9165 Hi Gregg! I'll give it a go if you'd like. I am 50 years a Christian (not fundamentalist), have questioned EVERYTHING and been tried by fire. My understanding of God has continued to evolve and grow, and perhaps I can address some of your "very black" book concerns. Maybe not, but hey, we probably have some common ground to at least open a conversation.

[@PamelaContiGlass]

This was very good. I am a lifelong atheist, born into Roman Catholicism (baptized at my friendly neighbor church, St. Peter Basilica, in Rome) and naturally my path to non-belief was very different from yours. I still remember as a small child going to church with my grandma and wondering if all those people really believed or if they putting up a show for my benefit. I had to be there, I was a kid and I had no choice, I had a hard time understanding why anyone would put themselves through that willingly. That said, despite our different paths to atheism, a lot of what you said really resonated with me. None of it was news or earth shattering. Most of your points I arrived at on my own a long time ago, but you have a gift in being able to explain it all so easily and conversationally. That’s not easy. It’s also obvious that leaving Christianity made you, if not a better person, the best version of who you already were. I am sure you were a very nice Christian person, one I probably would have enjoyed having as a friend. You are now that same person without the baggage of guilt and shame that oppresses so many believers. A long time ago I decided to try to be the very best person I could. I grew up in a culture where men were supposed, and allowed, to act violently, rage at small injustices, real or perceived, impose my outrage and disapproval on others. Stupid things like punching walls, slamming doors, act childishly. Then I realized that invariably I would feel sorry for my outbursts, I would seek forgiveness and ultimately I’d have to apologize and feel stupid. In time I learned to skip directly to the “sorry and stupid” phase. It was a revelation. Eventually, I skipped that phase too because I had nothing to fell stupid about. I no longer felt the need to redecorate the house because of small disagreements. It took self-awareness and a good deal of work. It took shedding preconceived behaviors I thought were expected of men in my culture, and my life improved tremendously. It’s just a small example of how religion is not necessary for personal growth. At least for me. I don’t resent or condemn people that reach the same stage in life thanks to their faith. They are welcome to it, as long as their faith doesn’t include condemning me to hell for taking a different path to be the best person I can be. Sadly, I look at so many American Christians and see the very opposite of what their God supposedly stands for. They are incapable of empathy, they seek outrage and fake martyrdom in every corner of daily life. They want us all to believe what they do to the point of legislating it if societal pressure proves to be not quite enough. The funny thing is that an early interest in ancient mythologies eventually brought me to studying literary Bible criticism. What a revelation (pun intended). What I understood intuitively as a kid proved to be based on some seriously shaky foundations once one reads the Bible not as a holy or religious book, but as a literary product of that time. I feel as I have come full circle, and I appreciate those Christians and ex-Christians that also recognize the very human origins of Christian history and the foundation of their faith (or lack of it).

[@AllThingsFilm1]

Great commentary. I really relate to the part where because of religious direction I don't get to know who I am. Since I'm couching everything about me inside the box of religious dogma and tenets. I grew up Catholic. Then years later as an adult I practiced a form of Buddhism for about 5 years. Then due to an upheaval in life, I lived with my uncle and as part of staying rent free I had to attend the Mormon church. I was okay with that at the time because I was still seeking "answers". As years went by, I slowly stopped turning to religious beliefs for comfort. About two or three years ago I started to deconstruct. I still feel like I'm inside that process. As part of it, I have been saving information about stories and beliefs in the Bible. Sort of as a reference file cabinet of sorts. But, basically, I am atheistic at this point. It's great to see you back. I appreciate your channel because I relate a lot to the experiences you've shared. Take care.

[@adamc1966]

Just woke up and the first thing I saw was your smile on your thumbnail ❤

[@jezebelvibes]

trigger warning! 🤪

[@stanleystrong9591]

Thank you so much Kristie. You are really helping me in my deconstruction

[@jezebelvibes]

🥰💗💗

[@erikt1713]

My wife is ex Muslim and I am ex Christian. Our love would not have been possible had we remained in our respective religions. ❤

[@samara_dragon]

❤❤

[@mattpowell6291]

@@erikt1713 You are correct as Islam is known for oppressing Christian followers.

[@dow3372]

That's very true.

[@ianalan4367]

I know a Muslim married to a Catholic. They have been together for around 10yrs I think. Not sure how things work but it apparently works. He seems fairly devout in his beliefs. Not sure about her other than he mentioned she tends service on Sundays.

[@erikt1713]

@@ianalan4367 If the Muslim is the man it will be fine from his side. He is allowed to marry a Christian woman and Muslims recognize that Christianity is a similar religion, even though Christians are misled about the divine nature of Christ from Islamic perspective. Still, the same is not allowed for a Muslim woman so it would not have applied in our case. For the Catholic wife it is harder. According to her religion her husband will go to hell if she does not convert him to Catholicism.

[@LarryPerkins78]

Oh dear Ms Kristi I am SO happy and grateful to see you back here - I've missed you so! Thank you xoxoxo

[@mattpowell6291]

@@LarryPerkins78 Do you know her?

[@LarryPerkins78]

@@mattpowell6291 No sir, we've never met...I just know her through her channel. I appreciate her work and can relate to much of what she says

[@tylertucker2608]

So good to see you in my notifications ❤️!

[@2l84me8]

People claim I have to find god, but I question why he is hiding to begin with?

[@jezebelvibes]

That's a great question. Calls into question the "divine hiddenness" of it all.