Teresa MacBain on her transition from minister to atheist at Reason in the Rock 2012.

[@zeldamorgan9260]

Raised Baptist, can certainly relate. Struggled for over a decade before I finally admitted to myself that I no longer believed and hadn't for a long time. Never been happier or enjoyed and appreciated life more. Still in the closet to everyone but my husband, sort of. And of course anyone who reads this...

[@anrose8335]

Teresa MacBain: You are an amazing woman! Thank you for speaking your mind fearlessly and honestly.

[@matheusdabnei5540]

Teresa went back to Christianity Note from Clergy Project: "After not hearing much from Teresa over the last few months, The Clergy Project discovered yesterday [October 15, 2016] that she has now returned to the Christian faith and is again active in Christian church ministry. Upon reaching out to her and participating in a friendly yet detailed conversation, Teresa made it clear that she has, in fact, returned to belief in the existence of the supernatural"

[@AmitKumar-qz2us]

Religion has ever been anti-human, anti-woman, anti-life, anti-peace, anti-reason and anti-science. The god idea has been detrimental not only to humankind but to the earth. It is time now for reason, education and science to take over. Madalyn Murray O'Hair

[@timmonapier8832]

Proof that love depends on being human NOT Christian. Go girl!!

[@iamthatiamiamthatiam2942]

Timmo Napier. the word Christian is getting alot of criticism. Jesus did say in the last days all this stuff that is going on today would happen. all the things going on in the world today, he said it would.

[@k0smon]

@@iamthatiamiamthatiam2942 ///// Jesus never said anything. See "Caesar's Messiah". It was the bible that said it.

[@infinite8382]

@ I AM THAT I AM , its been the last days according to Xianity for the last 2000 years, buzz off and take your fear with you.

[@RB-zh1eq]

@@iamthatiamiamthatiam2942 Yep, the world's coming to an end. we've been in the last days for what, 2,000 years. You're a fear monger.

[@littlesmith5005]

@@iamthatiamiamthatiam2942 How do you know?

[@VestigialHead]

A young teacher explains to her class of third graders that she is a born-again Christian. She asks the class if any of them are born-again Christians too. Not really knowing what it means to be born-again, but wanting to please and impress their teacher, many little hands suddenly shot up into the air. There's just one girl who doesn't raise her hand. So the teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. The girl says, "Because I'm not a Christian." The teacher asks, "So what are you then? " The girl replies, "I'm an atheist." The teacher's a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks the girl why she's an atheist. The girl says, "It's just that my family isn't religious. My Mom's atheist, and my Dad's atheist, so I'm atheist."rnrnThe teacher is now angry. " That's no reason." she says loudly. "What if your Mom was a moron, and your Dad was a moron. What would you be then?" "Then," says the girl, "I'd be a born-again Christian."

[@douglassmiller9460]

Typical atheist insult ... yeah ... real intelligent

[@izroklevakonic]

@@douglassmiller9460butthurt? even tough the joke is a little bit infantile, only a truth can insult, a lie cannot.

[@douglassmiller9460]

@@izroklevakonic ... following the 'real intelligent' theme I see ...

[@izroklevakonic]

@@douglassmiller9460 definitely butthurt.

[@douglassmiller9460]

@@izroklevakonic I don't know ... if one is told something is lacking intelligence and repeats it ... that would seem to prove the statement as correct, in turn making it seem a bit infantile. Two; your premise is incorrect as a whole, and I could prove it ... but let's go with the times that it is ... meaning your 'opinion' is irrelevant, and you can keep repeating it till you die from a lack of oxygen; it doesn't change from the first time you said it. Three; my butt is fine. However, what I do have a problem is buttheaded comments. You have a good day.

[@thevirus7368]

The best way to cure the disease that is religion is to actually have MORE people actually KNOW whats in the Bible, Koran etc. In my opinion.

[@jsnel9185]

Actually reading the Bible is what caused me to leave my faith after 21 years. One day I was reading the Bible, it dawned on me that it has nothing to teach me about morality and is indeed filled with immoral acts commanded by their god, I just closed the book and never opened it again.

[@brianmchugh7679]

I really struggle as a Scottish European to understand why America (USA) is so far behind the rest of the developed world on the topic of religion. I can understand some undeveloped countries lagging behind on their penchant to rely on religion, but not a technologically developed nation... I cannot see an excuse for that. That observation still throws me.

[@CoffeeNCardio]

+Brian McHugh Our government has been infiltrated by the monetary power of the religious right. That's how. It also helps that we are isolated from other religions by two oceans and an arrogance we really need to let go of. You've got Turkey and Spain and eastern Europe, with high Muslim populations, France too, the influence of the Anglican, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox church, as well as a long sordid history of religious wars and religious tyranny. We don't have that. One of the consequences of being in a country without a rich history of religious tyranny, surrounded by multiple equally large populations (Canada and South/Central America) of more Christians, is that we haven't the experience you have to see the sad ending of this story, to learn from history. The primary problem of today is that we as a nation have allowed our government to become a place where the biggest spender wins the seat so no one who is JUST ethical or JUST moral can win a seat. You also have to be RICH or agree to do the bidding of those rich people willing to support your run for office financially. And guess who has all the money? Churches, who are not taxed AT ALL and who receive federal and state funding for charity events that help the community (while they preach their fire and brimstone nonsense). Also, and this may be equally a problem, there are 350,000,000 of us. The UK population is what, 66 million lately? You think getting 66 million people to all agree on something is hard? Try getting 350 million (I'm including illegal and work visa immigrants in this number) people to. Heck, the European Union consists of about 503 million people and y'all are still working on currency and how the high speed trains ought to be secured from terrorist activity without offending anyone. So you see what we're up against...it's not so surprising.

[@TranslatorCarminum]

I think most of it has to do with one or two major rounds of of religious revivals that happened between the mid 19th and mid 20th centuries (I don't remember the exact years). "In God we trust" wasn't originally on our currency, nor was "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance. I don't think either of those travesties arose until as late as the 1950s. I welcome any historian to narrow down or correct my very approximate dates. I want so much to be proud of my country, and in some respects, I am. However, most of what does inspire pride lies in the precedents set by its founding principles rather than how it actually implements those ideals nowadays. Many Americans tout their ideals of ""freedom" and such as if they were still as innovative and unique as they were in the 18th century, never seeming to realize that much of the rest of the world has caught up and has now started to surpass us. If the hare doesn't wake up soon (and, while he's at it, shed that heavy crucifix hanging around his neck), the tortoise will win the race. I find myself all too often embarrassed on behalf of my country as it is today, especially now with a man like Donald Trump as a serious contender for the presidency. Not only am I scared of a guy like him having access to the nuclear codes, but I also shake my head in dismay at what his popularity says about the American populace. I mean, the guy joked about his penis size at the Republican debate and claimed that global warming was a Chinese hoax intended to sabotage our economy. He might as well have said that we never went to the moon, 9/11 was an inside job, Elvis is still alive, and there was a second shooter on the grassy knoll in 1963! This whole election is a farce come horribly to life! Of course, Hillary Clinton's far from ideal too. Rather than a matter of who is best for the country, the question has instead become who will do the least damage to it. Sorry for the somewhat tangential rant. My point, Brian, is that as an American myself, I don't get it either and fully understand your confusion. The pervasiveness of superstition in any developed country, much less one of the wealthiest, is a national embarrassment. One of the first steps in truly improving the USA and ensuring that it remains a world leader is to shake off the yoke of Christian fundamentalism. Here's to hoping it happens soon, before it's too late!

[@dgibbs8851]

+clgaram720, I think Brian McHugh was questioning the entire topic of religion in the USA. You answered as if he had asked about the topic of Christianity. I believe his premise is: increases in technology should result in decreases in religion (of any sort). Thus, if USA is technologically developed, then religion as a whole in USA should subsequently decrease, yet it doesn't seem to be?

[@CoffeeNCardio]

It doesn't really matter what religion your talking about, though I would point out that even though we have multiple religions here, Christianity in all its various forms is a HUGE majority. 70% of the US population identifies as a type of Christian. Christianity, specifically Christianity, has immense privileges that the minority religions do not have, you need only to walk into a school or government building in the bible belt to recognize that. When our insane religious right wing talk about a "judeo-christian" government or history, they are only saying the "judeo" part of that to sound nice. If they had it their way, and they often do get it their way, this would be a Christian Theocracy. If I answered his question in a way that made you think I was only addressing Christianity, it's because it's the primary problem and the source of all theocratic power. With the other religions amounting to 1 or 2 percent each, and with 22% self-reporting as "Unaffiliated", when you talk about USA religion problems, you ARE talking about Christianity. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States Technological development just isn't enough on it's own to spur an entire society, where Christianity or any religion gets a free pass damn near all the time, to relinquish religion. Religion isn't like other forms of false beliefs. I'll let Greta Christina explain: "The thing that uniquely defines religion, the thing that sets it apart from every other ideology or hypothesis or social network, is the belief in unverifiable supernatural entities. Of course it has other elements -- community, charity, philosophy, inspiration for art, etc. But those things exist in the secular world, too. They're not specific to religion. The thing that uniquely defines religion is belief in supernatural entities. Without that belief, it's not religion. And with that belief, the capacity for religion to do harm gets cranked up to an alarmingly high level -- because there's no reality check. Any other ideology or philosophy or hypothesis about the world is eventually expected to pony up. It's expected to prove itself true and/or useful, or else correct itself, or else fall by the wayside. With religion, that is emphatically not the case. Because religion is a belief in the invisible and unknowable -- and it's therefore never expected to prove that it's right, or even show good evidence for why it's right -- its capacity to do harm can spin into the stratosphere. Let me make a comparison to show my point. Let's compare religious belief with political ideology. After all, religion isn't the only belief that's armored against criticism, questioning, and self- correction. Religion isn't the only belief that leads people to ignore evidence in favor of their settled opinion. And contrary to the popular atheist saying, religion is not the only belief that inspires good people to do evil things. Political ideology can do all that quite nicely. People have committed horrors to perpetuate Communism: an ideology many of those people sincerely believed was best. And horrors were committed by Americans in the last Bush administration ... in the name of democracy and freedom. But even the most stubborn political ideology will eventually crumble in the face of it, you know, not working. People can only be told for so long that under Communism everyone will eat strawberries and cream, or that in an unrestricted free market the rising tide will lift all boats. A political ideology makes promises about this life, this world. If the strawberries and cream and rising boats aren't forthcoming, eventually people notice. (The 2008 election was evidence of that.) People can excuse and rationalize a political ideology for a long time ... but ultimately, the proof is in the pudding." Technological advancement, scientific knowledge of how the universe works and where it came from cannot penetrate the bubble of religion. Christianity, in the US case, permeates the schools and dispels misinformation. It permeates government and policy. We could have flying cars tomorrow and it wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference because the strongly religious currently hold the most power, the most money. And the normal people who aren't assholes but just happen to be religious give them cover to do their badness and in some cases defend them because when we atheists say "hey you're making a religious law!" even the liberal christians pop out of the woodworks and cry "you just hate religion" and "oh no those are just bad people, they arent REALLY christians" and every other apologetic you've ever heard. People who would otherwise be our allies in promoting reason don't feel like they can because they are bound together with the bad ones by a common god. And in some cases, having us as a common enemy can bring together groups who would otherwise have nothing to do with each other. Theism can only be battled by reason. Technological advancement has been happening since the wheel, we're always advancing, it's what homo sapiens do. What makes you think that now, today, all of a sudden, technological advancement is gonna sway their course to heaven? Why didn't the lightbulb? Why didn't Origin of Species? Why didn't Alexander Fleming or Louie Pasteur? Why didn't Galileo? Or Isaac Newton? Or Marie Curie? Or Carl Sagan? Because religion has no reality check. Nothing we do here on earth matters to their god belief. It's completely unrelated, and when it begins to interfere with their god belief, they simply adopt it into the fold. Like every time a theist thanks god for curing their cancer, but not the surgeon. They will always find a way to make what you are talking about a part of their theism, or they will name it an enemy and try to legislate it away, or they will reject it altogether. Reason, and only reason, can compel them to change their minds. It isn't a scientific discovery that turns a scientist away from theism, it's him having to accept that what he has discovered isn't rational if there is a god. It's him reasoning himself out of his own beliefs. And that's the case whether he discovered the wheel or a cure to AIDS.

[@dgibbs8851]

After reading your response, is it fair for me to say that you disagree with Brian's premise? Namely: technological advancement does not lead to religious decline. Instead, religious decline occurs when religious protection is removed and knowledge dispensed?

[@Largo64]

I saw this video when it cam out, and was impressed. But, according to Google, MacBain went back to her faith in 2016. A big disappointment.

[@jeanetteyork2582]

Teresa! You and I have much inn common. Indoctrinated from age 5 on in "Southern Baptist" propaganda....I am now free of religion. You go girl. Freedom requires courage. Hey y'all back! I admire you so much.

[@TshaajThomas]

I see. How are you doing now? Are you sure you know what you're doing?

[@ominous-omnipresent-they]

@@TshaajThomas Yes, she's positive of it. Religion is a disease that should be cut off.

[@TshaajThomas]

@@ominous-omnipresent-they Teresa is back to religion so jeanette has been fooled. Anyway, disease? You didn't mention Las Vegas rampage.

[@ominous-omnipresent-they]

@@TshaajThomas No one has been fooled. You're just saying things without making sense.

[@ominous-omnipresent-they]

@@TshaajThomas What the hell does events that took place in 2017 have to do with anything?

[@apollocvermouth2915]

A former Methodist minister who came out as a nonbeliever in 2012, and returned to her faith in 2016. So sad.

[@JesseErnest1992]

Follow up comments as I watch this video testimony, there are thousands of thoughts I had realized just now. I'm glad I'm continued watching this. Thank you for making my brain work again in a way that it feels hard but it's worth it. Thank you for adding wisdom in my life as a secular being.

[@PacoOtis]

Teresa, thanks for your talks. I was raised secular and never did have to go through all this superstition nonsense. I'm a septuagenarian and had to tolerate a lot of crap all my life but stood my ground though, sometimes, silently. I'm also a retired military pilot circa the Vietnam area who was in some very tough situations and there are atheists in cockpits and foxholes. Religion needs to be recognized as the cancer of the intellect of our planet that it is. Please carry on!

[@TshaajThomas]

Retired pilot? Well, you didn't get shot down didn't you? Also religion is a cancer? Really? Are you sure?

[@SanctitySmellsGoodOnMe]

Joseph Stokes the Tribulations and rapture now comes, their will be alien deception dont fall for it though it may seem authentic, fallen angels will be in workings and on earth, you must seek Jesus repent, pray this moment that you be worthy to escape those left behind, will face time like no other and there will be no escaping after rapture, do not take mark of beast, linked vids my account

[@honestlyna]

Thanks for your service, Joseph.

[@PRHILL9696]

400 pastors becoming atheists wow that is great!

[@iamthatiamiamthatiam2942]

PRHILL9696. they weren't pastors in the first place.

[@robertpreston2220]

It is wonderful how all of these pastors and priests, etc are all seeing the truth and becoming atheists

[@snate56]

400's pretty good but there must be millions out there. We still have a lot of work to do.

[@123keepitsimple97]

@@robertpreston2220 Yes it is wonderful but this particular lady Teresa Macbain is a Christian again. You may already know that ...

[@robertpreston2220]

@@snate56 True there are millions out there who preach god when they know it is not true

[@lonelyp1]

Boy, it was easy for me to give up religion when I was 10 or 12. I never even thought about how hard it might have been if Dad was a preacher. I went to a Catholic church when I was a kid. Never molested, never an alter boy. It wasn't hard for me to leave.

[@newshades7009]

i thought the catholic church had priests not preachers

[@digitaldigest3683]

" There are so many illusions that the human brain is capable of creating " -Richard Dawkins

[@tadstrange1465]

Richard Dawkins is still an asshole though. He's a brilliant biologist who thinks he's a philosopher. This is a better person to quote from: "The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe." - Voltaire

[@ingodwetrustgachatuber2747]

And that's why his illusion that we came from star dust and that he doesn't know how material came into the big bang (stupid) theory proves Dawkins a duck, lolz. Dawkins was mopped on the floor by Lennox that he even alluded to a supernatural force/being creating from nothing. Dawkins atheist friend Krauss couldn't even understand ''nothing''; he tried a silly, stupid, definition of nothing by saying nothing is actually the presence of something- such a debased ''professor'' of nothing...

[@SomeBuddy777]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnu8qHqNZ9isl5Y

[@johnferguson4089]

A great address, thank you Teresa. I have also had some similar experience as I was once a Baptist deacon for about 20 years. I had been indoctrinated with Baptist thoughts and anything else was 'sin'. No details here but my life had reached a point where I had been rejected by the Baptist church. That was the best thing that had happened to me and it made me examine what my thoughts toward God, religion and Jesus Christ actually were. I was steeped in Bible study and had 3 different versions of it (in English) on my computer plus the original Greek & Hebrew texts. Well, it didn't all tie up! In English, things are very much black and white but in the original many shades of grey can be read. In my Bible study, the book of Hebrews started me thinking. In about chapter 5 or 6 (can't remember) it exhorts the reader to 'mature' and leave the teaching about baptisms etc and I started to grow from that. At the age of 47 I also found the Truth about me. The old saying that, "The Truth sets you free" now had real application in my life. I had broken free from the jail of my mind and had got out, never to go back. Before that time I was obsessed with supposed sin in myself which the church had put there until I realised that I'm a fairly normal human being and had been manipulated by the Baptist church and ideas on things. I am also a church organist and as an observer I've seen the most deplorable things done in the name of Christianity. I still play the organ in a church but I am not of it, I love the instrument and that alone gives me a buzz and people seem to enjoy the lighter type of music I play. I could never go back to what I once believed, it was wrong. I had found hell within the church and the Bible led me out of Christianity into atheism. I'm now 74 and have been free from depression since I left the church and try to live by my own Truth. Be skeptical of all that the church teaches because it's a healthy thing to do. Question what you are told, it's not a sin but a healthy thing to do. Be kind to those who are still under the clutches of church thinking but be yourself. Your good example will save people from the errors of the church.

[@christinarasmobeymer]

This rocked! Terrific to see people thinking for themselves.

[@bobcondoulis4171]

Christina i wish people would think for themselves on politics also

[@BakkerSamuel]

A Christian also thinks for himself?

[@BramSLI1]

I'll be honest, that verse about women needing to remain quiet in church is a large part of what changed my mind about Christianity. Now, don't get too happy just yet because I left Catholicism for the Nation of Islam. I was saved in 96 by a wonderful man who was giving probably his last interview on TV to Charlie Rose. Carl Sagan made me take a very good look at myself and what I believed. He was instrumental in starting me down the path to reason and Atheism. Jesus doesn't save, but I can confirm that Carl most certainly does.

[@Largo64]

How sad! Teresa MacBain, after making that heartfelt speech, returned to her faith in 2016. Reason doesn't always win out, even for sincere, intelligent people. Childhood indoctrination is sometimes too powerful. Too bad.

[@matheusdabnei5540]

Are you serious? Did she go back?

[@ftjax]

She's so screwed up ..she doesn't know diddly about religion

[@jasminejeanine2239]

I ONLY found acceptance OUTSIDE the church, inside you can't deal with anything real. Everyone lies and pretends they aren't struggling bc they aren't allowed to doubt, to fail, or deal with reality, Thus leaving church allowed me to FINALLY tell the truth and accept myself, and DEAL with my issues and accept responsibility for MYSELF and look at myself honestly. Then I actually became what religion says Christians SHOULD act. Loving, charitable, accepting, not judging others, not hating others or thinking myself superior and thus NOT listen to ppl who came from any other POV.

[@18dot7]

A big tight hug and welcome to the world of free minds :D

[@danmiller6462]

It’s wonderful to hear Mrs. McBain’s story about how she left the faith. It’s hard enough on us non pastoral people to reconvert and tell our family and friends but I cannot begin to imagine how much more difficult it is for a pastor to leave religion and tell their family and friends. I tip my hat to this awesome lady for her courage.

[@withfootnotes]

Christians say what I used to say, "It's not a religion, it' a relationship" Yeah, right.

[@JesseErnest1992]

As Vz employee, you're fine. We're both on the same ground, human and secularism. And most of all I love your courage and different struggles you've went through on how you made a decision I would call as service to others. For me, coming out as an atheist is a civil responsibility to inspire others not to be afraid of showing up that we can unlearn religion and embrace freethinking and reason.

[@moknbyrd]

I truly hope Teresa MacBain is doing well. She's had a long, rough road since this video. She was treated quite poorly by some people in positions of power and they should be ashamed of themselves. But even though her views are a bit different now, than they were when this video came out, she helped me on my road to where I am now. ..... THANK YOU, Teresa! :)

[@ftjax]

Where is that ?

[@diaryofnricom163]

She returned to her faith in 2016

[@mayflowerlash11]

Hi Teresa again. I have one last comment. You are NOT an average person. You are an extraordinary person. I wish you well and thanks for the video. Gary

[@matheusdabnei5540]

Teresa went back to Christianity Note from Clergy Project: "After not hearing much from Teresa over the last few months, The Clergy Project discovered yesterday [October 15, 2016] that she has now returned to the Christian faith and is again active in Christian church ministry. Upon reaching out to her and participating in a friendly yet detailed conversation, Teresa made it clear that she has, in fact, returned to belief in the existence of the supernatural"

[@moknbyrd]

You can thank the way she was treated for that. Apparently no one is allowed to make a mistake. She was basically cancelled by the very people she trusted. Best wished to her. :)

[@marwamourad]

I would like to listen to her story how she came back to Christianity, listening to her here it seems impossible to go back

[@normanberg9940]

She is the dumbest Pastor that I have ever come across. Ex or otherwise.

[@sanfrois]

Welcome to you. It's a long way but there's reward to come...in this life.

[@vlad-pm2zr]

Sad she feels compelled to get back to the life of a theist but she's an adult and has the right to chose her path in life. Good luck to her. As a former theist, I cannot fathom ever going back to that. Just could never live with myself having blind faith in things unseen and that cannot be tested.

[@delightfulkarma]

Check out Jerry DeWitt's commentary on Teresa MacBain, and what he thinks is her motivation for promoting faith again. Here are the links: Part 1: www.spreaker.com/user/hopeafterfaithpodcast/121-from-pastor-to-atheist-and-back Part 2: www.spreaker.com/user/hopeafterfaithpodcast

[@DiSaValCrescerTranscender]

Have she came back to faith?

[@cartmanrlsusall]

sharper110 dude if you think most people watching this video are impressed by bible passages, then you are deluded

[@cartmanrlsusall]

Mark the links dont work the poster has taken them down.i would like to hear his opinion

[@Ashoerchen]

+sharper110 I concur with cartman. It appears you don't know the difference between preaching and arguing. That's a fairly basic concept. Stop preaching, start arguing. Have some self-respect; be yourself. Otherwise, you just make an embarrassment of yourself.

[@barbararipani1331]

She is so wonderful.

[@lauriebolles3149]

I have always felt 'blessed' to have parents who raised my sibblings and I to follow what spiritual path we wish to follow. For my sister and I it was Athiest. Now I know I used the term 'blessed' at times I call myself a 'Devout Athiest', and I'vebeen corrected that an Athiest can't use those terms to discribe one self if you don't believe in God. What a blessing or gift to enjoy the birds singing outside my window or a dazzling sunrise or sunset tinting the clouds in soft peach and grey colors. That has nothing to do with a diety, it's the physical realities of our Universe. To me devout means to be focused and knowing ones self. I guess I'm just saying you don't have to believe in 'God' to enjoy the gifts of being.

[@maxwill6408]

According to Wikipedia Teresa MacBain has left the Clergy Project and returned to her faith. This occurred around 2016.

[@EvolBob1]

What an honest, smart, courageous, and good person Teresa MacBain is: As an atheist or theist.

[@robertpreston2220]

It is wonderful how all of these pastors and priests, etc are all seeing the truth and becoming atheists

[@k0smon]

Rob///// Bart Ehrman has the best explanation I have heard. He says he is an agnostic/atheist. Agnostic because no one can either prove nor disprove God, but an atheist because he FEELS there is no God.

[@brasspick]

MacBain has since reconverted. According to Aron-ra, her mother pressured her into her reconversion to religion.

[@rustione2603]

As an ex-atheist, I don't know how anyone stays in a religion, preaching it to others, yet never knowing God for themselves. I had a paradigm shift when God answered me one night as an atheist, but, it was amazing. The hard part was coming to the point of finally giving God a chance.

[@Bobafetblue]

Interesting I've always kind of believed in him but there is one thing that happened that really solidified the belief and ever since I have been happier and become a better person.

[@TheJanieLee]

Thank you I was born in 1960 my mom went to a Catholic school as a child and took us to church my dad was an atheist that was brilliant and had a life some would envy and some would feel sorry for him for. When you are raised in color you live in a kaliedascope. Losing your religion or using your pastorship to promote atheism. Atheism isn't a movement it just is my faith isn't gone I believe in me my family and anyone that believes in me. Anyone that has faith in me that believes in me and shows it I will return the favor, but what God? I don't have to answer that about something that doesn't exist.

[@vadimdopop4061]

She came back to Christian faith. She came to church and felt loved and believers wept with her and hugged her and she decided it was better than being an atheist

[@mayflowerlash11]

Hi Teresa, I came across this youtube at 1.20 in the morning when I should have been in bed asleep. I was riveted and could not stop until the end. Congratulations on being a thinker. Have you come across the Skeptics Annotated Bible? You would find it most amusing and fairly comprehensive. Keep spreading the thinking idea. You are great. Love. Gary

[@j.dragon651]

This is how I finally answered those questions for myself after about 45 years of "seeking". The creation IS the creator, it doesn't need a beginning or and end. It doesn't need a god. It will create anything it possibly can, naturally. There is nothing supernatural about it. If it can create cancer it will. If it can create deformed babies it will. It has no malice or forethought. Its nature is to create anything it naturally can. Is it self aware? I have no clue. At best we are a sense organ for the creation to ponder itself. Otherwise we are just another random creation of a natural process. And last but not least, I realize I don't know my ass from my elbow and it is all conjecture. Yet, it is the only explanation I can come up with that fits the evidence presented to ME and allowed ME to stop "seeking" and I expect no one to take me seriously and so far, no one has. I use upper case for me because this is personal to me and I am not trying to persuade anyone to my point of view.

[@johnp717]

This is a wonderful testimony... reminds me of how I left the church

[@johncollins8529]

Sadly, it seems she changed her mind back again after this great talk.

[@ftjax]

She is a traitor

[@antwidominic9874]

@Ftjax, she is not, believers are more happier than non believes and dealing with cognitive dissonance and the concord effect isn't small thing, you got to be though minded else you will fall into nihilism. That doesn't make religion true though

[@ftjax]

@@antwidominic9874 then why did she flip to begin with.... Huh?

[@smokikee]

When I saw that this video was over 44 minutes I thought that it was too long to watch. But I had some time to kill so I watched any way. I am so glad I did. Take the time and watch this truly amazing presentation. It's worth the time

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

This is one of the best videos like this I've seen. Thank you.

[@truthtrumpsdumbness638]

This is a beautiful, honest presentation I would love to know what former believers like Teresa , Matt, Seth etc. think about the number of people that they may have annoyed when they held such unsustainable beliefs - or how many potential friends they ridiculed, abused, taunted, blanked and ostracised (and therefore lost, forever)

[@rstevewarmorycom]

truthtrumpsdumbness You're an idiot. The bible is FICTION cover to cover. If their friends didn't like being told the truth, it's their fault.

[@rstevewarmorycom]

truthtrumpsdumbness Most of those people finally become atheists!! That's what it takes to change them!!

[@jcc6789]

Honesty? She’s conflicted and confused - and back in religion. She found God.

[@crystalheart9]

I was raised catholic. By the time I was in second grade I realised what the nuns were teaching me didn't make sense. They said god loves everyone but anyone who isn't catholic will go to hell. At 7 years old I rejected this idea, I could not accept that a loving god would send all the people of the world who wern't catholic to hell.

[@AhmadN]

Wow, what a lecture, what a story. Thank you very much.

[@SHAKA-NEU-LU]

As an atheist, I’m never one to say we got another one, a non believer. But what really trips me out is when believers finally come out, their friends/associates can’t open their puny minds and listen to the ppl whom they called their friend. So brainwashed You’d shun your friend for NOT believing in what you believe in

[@stoit87]

Unfortunately I believe that WE are still at least 100 years away from the the true era of enlightenment where religiosity will be gone not in this lifetime of mine regretfully. There is still a lot of suffering and persecution ahead for us freethinkers on every level of inter personal, society and government. It seems like for every one step forward that we make, we go 3 steps backwards.

[@grahamash-porter7795]

Great. refreshing, honest, light. Only complaint Teresa is that Atheists are not sheep and won't nod and shake their heads like the flock, but will come to their own conclusions. Welcome to the real world.

[@Gyurza]

Teresa, I am so happy I found you. I relate so much to your story. Keep sharing in the same way u did teach at jails and schools. Show them that to think for ourselves is the only way to free ourselves from the shackles of gods n religions.

[@aaronfuller881]

This was nice to hear. I was raised first Christian but my parents were lax on church which allowed me to realize what was going on sooner than later. Luckily by the time I was in highschool I already didn't believe

[@montymartell2081]

When I was 7 years old and Sunday School the dude said animals can't think an animals can't feel right that second I became an atheist cuz I knew better I knew the Bible was phony and I could never figure out why anybody would believe in it

[@VestigialHead]

I always find it hypocritical that religious people say things like sin is the worst thing to have in your life. Yet every single one of them that I have ever met commits actions that their religion considers sin all the time. Wouldn't they avoid these actions if they are so religious? They are also very quick to tell others that they are sinning. Yet point out the fact they are sinning and they will argue exhaustively. To me it seems like a case of do as I say not as I do.

[@CiviSgtButtercup]

The best thing about former ministers turned Atheist is that they're all such good speakers

[@tommihail2178]

Great talk Teresa!! What got me questioning the bible was Mathew 27.53!! When Christian theologian/philosopher William lane Craig was asked about it he simply said "I don't know"!! Surely if such a cataclysmic event did happen the new testament would've had an entire book dedicated to testimonials of the dead being raised and going back to their homes?? Also I questioned hell as being temporal for in the Greek the word "Aion" is used meaning "Age" or "Epoch"..It's interesting that if the bible was gods word he would've mentioned it in the old as well?? Thanks for your talk much love to you from Australia ❤️❤️👌

[@rstevewarmorycom]

Teresa MacBain later in 2016 went back to theism. She was never a real atheist. Others in the group noted at many points that she wasn't really getting it.

[@k0smon]

com//// You can still reject Christianity and believe in a Creator. I have done that. Spirituality without religion is how I explain it. The bible to me is a quagmire of truth and fiction and must be "rightly divided". I find more truth in spiritualism than I ever did in the bible.

[@k0smon]

@Richard Buse //// There seems to be a great variation as to how successful one is in his interplay with spirit. I would have loved to have been a medium, but that was not in my biological makeup. I have practiced meditation for years, and still receive practically nothing. But my reading and studying the afterlife has been a great benefit to my understanding of what is coming, so I have a lot to look forward to. I have never doubted the existence of a Creator, but remain profoundly disappointed with my inability to receive from spirit while in this body.

[@vinci1234560]

Good for her if she went back to being a christian believer. Thank God for His mercy. A lot of individuals are not as fortunate. The bible is controversial and yes, it does seem to have some contradictions but there are some scriptures that are so clear that one just can't ignore them.

[@HollyOak]

Who would have thought listening to this that she would go back to her faith just 4 years later.

[@Soapandwater6]

My guess is that she is probably missing the love of an extended church family. It's hard because in giving up your religion, you also give up your Christian fellowship, family, and friends. They will never feel the same about you and that really is a huge loss. Teresa should try joining the Unitarian Universalist Church. Most of them are atheists and humanists. (Now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one - an atheist church!) But the people there are loving and kind and just as wonderful as any Christian church family. Their doctrine is love and their mission is to serve humanity.

[@hankandlefty]

"I found that being a pastor and being a public relations [director] are about the same thing." Interesting. So you've replaced being in one bubble to entering into another. And just like the Christian church and its congregation you now have this support group that helps validate your 'belief'...and Atheism is a belief because the existence of a creator can not be proven or disproven. Human nature can be complicated but rather predictable. Keep preaching your new faith sister. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

[@DyanF]

Bravo what a wonderful speech. I'm so proud of you to have the courage to be who you are.

[@mikemerriott1326]

Wonder why she went back. Probably this 0:27 onward.

[@herbertgreen2824]

My father was a minister. At age 6 my mother sat me down to say the prayer to be "filled" with god, Jesus and the holy spirit. When I said amen, I looked at my mother and told her that nothing happened, I did not feel any different and was not filled with anything. She told me to just have faith that I was. I never accepted anything in the bible nor what my parents told me about their religion after that. My bible questions were dismissed and always told to just have faith and hope that it is all true. Been an atheist ever since. Now, when I told my sister about my experience she told me, "that is not how it works". Everytime I tell her how the claims in the bible should work according to what her book say's, she tells me the same thing, "That is not how it works". It only works according to what she has concluded about the claims and only her analysis is true and correct. As far as my analysis, she can shove her version and analytical conclusions. She is WRONG!!! I want very little to do with her.

[@barlart]

Some fundies do manage to leave religion and take up reason. It is very very hard to do though.

[@zuvarian]

The trend is from fundie to atheist in the US, even among the clergy. I was one. :) Very very rare for someone to go back from reason to theism. clergyproject.org/ www.amazon.com/JUSTIFIABLE-HOMICIDE-Growing-Baptist-Fundamentalist-ebook/dp/B001BVLV00

[@barlart]

mason lane It's good to hear that some people are not only able to reason their way out of indoctrination and believe me I cannot even imagine how extraordinarily difficult that must be. Furthermore, once you have done that, it must take real personal bravery and honesty to "come out" so to speak. I don't underestimate your strength of character. You have my admiration, for what it's worth, you really do. Thank you. BTW, I'll order the book.

[@girlkisser69420]

I just left radical fundamentalism to secular progressive Atheist Humanism. It’s been the craziest year of my life, it feels SO good to be free! And for most of my life I didn’t even know i was enslaved. But unfortunately i kinda have to stay in the closet because i live with my parents and live in the rural South 😭

[@phataton8206]

Good talk but. SUPER annoying the habit of asking a rhetorical question then expecting a sheep head nod from the audience It’s DEFINITELY a “preacher” crowd manipulation technique. We know this means yes and this means no. Just FYI.

[@richwfd2002]

The Golden Rule was practiced in other religions for at least a millennium before him. He is not original. Punishing one for the “sins” of another is not moral. Demanding a blood sacrifice in order to obtain the ability to forgive is not moral. Eternal punishment for a finite crime is not moral. Christianity is an end times death cult and it is not moral.

[@cultofdisbelief]

Thank you for helping me feel normal in my disbelief!

[@kalimanbuda6501]

She returned to her religious faith again..I am an atheist but I believe that what matters the most in her case is that she is an intelligent human being, ..whatever way she chooses to take..

[@Dr10Jeeps]

Sadly, in 2016 Teresa MacBain returned to her faith, albeit as a more progressive Christian. (Well, I guess with free thinking that can happen, although in my view it certainly does not reflect reason or critical thinking. But, it's a free world.).

[@snekbaev]

let's see if the shift is going to happen again :)

[@ronaldbishop6943]

What you just said made me sad. I was a Bapt preacher for 40 years. For 10 Years I, ve been an atheist and I never want to go back to theism.After reasoning and searching I had to get out.I don,r understand.Maybe you do.

[@Whimswirl]

ronald bishop hey, I'm an atheist who's being pressured to become a Christian. What are some of the things that made you realise Christianity is false?

[@rstevewarmorycom]

@@Whimswirl Huh! The BIBLE!! The smarmy pulpit lies! The inhumanity of their "believerism" and their hypocritical judgmentalism. How much do you need to break the spell for you?

[@k0smon]

@@ronaldbishop6943 //// Are you familiar with the story of Charles Templeton, the 'Billy Graham' of Canada ? He had to quit as he found more and more problems in the bible.

[@Relativisticism]

Hope? What do you need hope for? What exactly are you hoping for? Reality is going to be the way that it is. If you can effect it then you don't need hope. If you can't do anything to change it, then hope is useless. What good is wishing for something that either can't be changed or you don't have the ability to change it? Hope is useless and meaningless. What good is wishing for something you can't change? So tell me what good is hope?

[@johncraske]

You gotta laugh - I have just read the latest about Theresa and it turns out she's a believer again! Yup, she's got her faith back! Given everything she said in this presentation, I find that truly amazing.

[@chrissonofpear3657]

There's clearly an important aspect of belonging and fulfilment she found there though. It just may end up being schizoid in some fashion.

[@rstevewarmorycom]

John Craske Lots of folks in clergyproject said that she wasn't getting it, and had to memorize talking points rather than understanding them. She panicked and fled back to church like a good little churchy girly. She said she liked the music better.

[@jamesvanderhoorn1117]

So did she strangle her girlfriend before or after she converted to atheism?

[@rstevewarmorycom]

James van der Hoorn What? What horseshit! You're some kind of filth mouth.

[@ingodwetrustgachatuber2747]

27:45 to 28:00, why didn't she mention how God allowed the same Israelite to be slaughtered and banished? The LORD said, when bloodshed is rife in a society, the ground (earth) will vomit them (by slaughter, banishment etc.) as that is the consequence for such sins...

[@p.a.andrews7772]

I'm so happy for her as an atheist I know the feeling! 😎❤️

[@karaokeandrandomclips]

She's a progressive Christian now

[@marcosserrat3247]

You say there is a god. I don't believe you. If I am so wrong, PROVE IT. So far all evidence suggests that the existence of a god is not likely. The comfort and security you feel from believing life is in the hands of a god and not yours is not evidence that there’s a god. You have made a choice to believe in something without evidence. You are believing in a god from the influence of your environment, from beliefs past down to you. It isn't even practical.

[@luhith123456]

everyone has a right to choose .. i would respect Teresa's decision and bid her all the very best in her new found religion on Atheism..Hope she finds the peace shes looking for trashing every other belief system in this planet ..

[@indricotherium4802]

A very moving story and a beautifully clear speaker. Enjoyed it very much.

[@danmiller6462]

Religious superstition may be understandable way back when ancient people had no knowledge about how nature works. But today with all the science and knowledge at our fingertips there’s no excuse for religious superstition.

[@brianmchugh7679]

This lady is very cool. Totally clued up. Respect. :o)

[@OmniphonProductions]

I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah...the "Mecca" of the Mormon faith...and spent my first twenty-two years just dreaming of the day I'd move the hell out of there. (No pun intended.) Well, now I live in Oregon, and we have mayo, sweet tea, AND grits; sometimes it takes a bit of looking, but perhaps Teresa should pay us a visit up here. :D

[@imuawarriors]

thank you.

[@montymartell2081]

I'm glad these people finally seen the light but makes me angry about a lot of atheist is why did you believe in the first place I've known God was phony since I was 7 years old it wasn't hard to figure out either

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

All your questions can be properly answered if you do more research than asking me what I think. Neither bible has much to do with truth or has anything close to accurate answers to how life on this rotating spherical planet began. My choice of photos is like my choice to not agree with superstitious claims. I also chose to stop lying about me being a Christian just to fit in. I didn't just suddenly become a non-theist. There's no need at all to call any book holy or not work on Saturday.

[@ronjones4069]

Teresa McBain returned to her religious beliefs. She is now a practicing religious leaders. It is an indication of how powerfull early indoctrination holds us all as slaves and how difficult it is for logic and evidence to overcome those fantasies we hold dear.

[@vryc]

If religious people want to stop a planet-wide loss of religion there is a very simple thing they have to do: get rid of the internet. This one thing is the catalyst for this inevitable change. For thousands of years, learning and knowledge was the carefully isolated purview of the few. The ability to confirm or disconfirm an idea in mere moments has powerful repercussions that we're only just beginning to understand.

[@movingdragons]

I really like the video editing. Yea! Teresa, welcome to the club!

[@aprylrivera1744]

Thank u!

[@kd1s]

Come a little further north into Rhode Island - where we do use mayonaise and we do have grits. We also use vinegar liberally.

[@stevenvegh7964]

I resonate with a lot of what she says, but I have not had a similar experience dipping my toes into the atheist community. I have found that the IDEA of free thought is encouraged, but because us flawed humans are in every group the atheist community is full of people who traded one form of group belief and tribal morality for another. Much of the atheist community has a strong leaning toward left wing ideology and the perception of morality that the group currently holds, and to question it or try to think critically about it is often enough to get you labeled as one of the racist oppressors of our tainted history. What I think is really missing coming from atheist leaders and speakers is an encouragement to actually be freethinkers and not just trade one ideology and set of tribal beliefs for another.

[@bombingraid1330]

How did you deal with the conviction by the Holy Spirit?

[@rstevewarmorycom]

Bombing Raid No spirit, no conviction, simple.

[@randellpernell]

She returned to Christianity

[@randellpernell]

@Alpha Omega agreed! I messaged her regarding this but she didn't reply.

[@walterdaems57]

The loss of some imaginary friend is compensated by a healthy mind

[@marcosserrat3247]

When we die, time & consciousness ceases for us. It will be as the void before our birth. Too bad I will not be able to point out in death: “you see, no god, no heaven & no afterlife”. Evidence indicates that our personality & consciousness comes from the brain, therefore, when it's dead, it's likely that we cease. If you damage a part of the brain, a person's personality changes, memories can be lost, abilities can be lost. Why would you think destroying the entire brain leaves you intact?

[@justinwest9922]

Fantastic!!!

[@youtoo2233]

I was a Mormon 40 years and eventually didn't believe in it anymore, and later thought other churches didn't make sense either, but still not sure about is there life after death. If there is, then some of these religions may be on to something

[@ingodwetrustgachatuber2747]

from 14:00 to 18:00 she reveals the key reason why she got pissed and left the Church; she would not be told what is right or wrong because of pride. So, her way of getting back at the Church is to rebel, become atheist, and preach against Christianity wherever she went.

[@user-or4dm1fv3f]

This will only fuel the fundamentalists in the debate arena saying the clergy project is bogus but the truth is that it does work more than it doesn't. MacBain was torn between herself and just missed her religious friends who was trying to convince her to go back to the faith so that she could make sense of the world through the lens of religion.

[@rstevewarmorycom]

SkepticalJ No, she just panicked. She'll be back.

[@Linuxrat]

Excellent talk! i really enjoyed it.

[@Epicaq]

I haven't studied them, no - but saying that something's a prophecy doesn't make it one just because something similar happened.

[@AuthorityQuestion]

Her story was interesting.

[@matthewperry5121]

Good for you teresa

[@ingodwetrustgachatuber2747]

from 27:00 to 30:00 when she talked about questions no preacher would like to be asked like, ''why do babies get AIDS?'', ''why are there earthquakes?'' etc, you see how shallow her understanding of the Bible is. It's like asking, ''why does God allow us to sin?'' The simple answer is that, as beings with freewill, God allows us make our decisions else we don't have freewill or we are robots. The freewill is what exonerates God as the impartial, fair, just Judge. Doesn't she know even angels have free will? Doesn't she know that there are consequences for every action and that sin is simply not doing the right thing? Doesn't she know that God has giving His guidance, rules, laws, admonitions etc to show what good and bad are, how to differentiate them, and that He advises us to choose good and heaven.