Why I Am No Longer A Christian (Was Studying to be a Pastor)

[@inspiredaction162]

I love these “ why I’m no longer a Christian “ videos… it was the best decision Ive made that has given me the most peace and true joy no matter what and I’ve experienced abundance in several areas of my life and healed myself of my anxiety disorder and carpal tunnel.

[@inspiredaction162]

@jonsdaytrades our mind is powerful.. what we believe to be true, is.. you can heal yourself .. leaving Christianity les me to research and find ways to live my life in a more abundant way.. read Dr. Joe Dispenza’s book ‘You are the Placebo”.. I don’t follow any rules I just create my own based on the reality that I wish to experience..

[@baldwinthefourth4098]

And what are you now and in what way does it bring you more peace than what you had as a Christian? I am a Christian who used to be an atheist, and from my perspective I am much more at peace now than when I was an atheist.

[@baldwinthefourth4098]

@jonsdaytrades I was baptized as an infant, however I left the religion for a few years and became an atheist, but praise be to the Lord Christ, I found my way back. And I do remember that when I was an atheist I was not at peace at all. Now, though not at perfect peace, is much better than when I was an atheist.

[@baldwinthefourth4098]

@jonsdaytrades Why do you need this info? It is unnecesary to the argument at hand. Because the truth is that "Being at peace" in a belief does not mean that that belief is true or untrue.

[@Kilonz0]

​@@baldwinthefourth4098you made the right decision,a lack of understanding what christianity is,makes us leave christianity,i have battled the spirit of atheism,bcoz it is what leads us away from the truth,one can be a pastor and leave christianity, if you don't have proper foundations,you will have a lot of problems. I have heard audible voice of God 4 times, i have had visions,i have had an open vision of Jesus. I have seen my friend manifest demonic possession,wasn't staged,nothing,i have seen it all but still have had to battle doubt. The devil is real,and he will drag you to hell if you let him,if you can't identify him,you will fail. Glad you came back to you faith,Jesus guarantees to make Himself indisputable to everyone on earth. Seek and you will find is literal,we don't seek horizontally but vertically

[@dishappywithlife2556]

I left the church and never looked backed -FREEDOM

[@Kenmpachii]

Ur walking onto the road of hell. You can still turn back

[@grimlund]

​@@KenmpachiiNo. You are on your way to hell.

[@TheMichael5833]

You can leave the church and still be Christian you can even leave the religion but stay with Jesus

[@literarypotatogoblin]

Over the last two years, I've become pagan. I haven't come out of the broom closet yet because I don't want to deal with the judgment/undermining of my decision you described at the beginning of the video.

[@jesuslovesyouandiloveyouto7627]

Hey! how are you doing

[@saraisslaying2656]

same

[@Veritas-dq2hs]

what does "pagan" even mean? There's a plethora of pagan religions out there.

[@tammymiles4369]

@@2fast2block Doesn't the "good book" teach you to be loving?

[@taihavard]

@@2fast2block @2fast2block This has some holes in it. Scientifically we can only look back as far as moments before the big bang. Before that science doesn't do anything for us as there are no observations to work with. "If there was something there, it must fit the evidence of what we know" We can't assume that the properties of the universe apply to whatever process, or lack there of, created the universe. This is a composition fallacy. The observations we have are all of the universe. When talking about the process or entity that created the universe, the properties the universe has are not relevant. Within the universe energy can not be created or destroyed, this doesn't mean the process / entity that created the universe (provided there was a process / creator) would work the same way. Why would the "rules of the universe" apply to processes / things that are not the universe, necessarily? Whatever the answer to why something exists, rather than nothing, the answer is likely going to be some combination of incredibly odd, counter intuitive, complicated, surprising, maybe seemingly impossible, unknowable. The idea of a universe springing from non existence seems ridiculous. The idea of a universe cycling between states infinitely seems ridiculous. The idea of a an all powerful infinite being seems ridiculous. Every one of these explanations involves concepts for which we have never found an analogue in reality. The answer might be something beyond these 3 that we simply have not been able to conceptualise yet, and might never be able to conceptualise. Adding an all powerful being does not solve the issue of why anything exist, we now just wonder why the god exists. It doesn't get past the fact we need to deal with some kind of infinite as the god, I would assume, is believed the exist infinitely. If the god has not existed infinitely then we get the same issue of how the god could begin existing from non existence. These are the same problems as if we don't suggest a god. A few of our observations of the universe are so far unbroken. The basis of logic, identity, non contradiction and excluded middle are examples. All of these are concluded because without exception we observe the universe functioning this way. But once again, given that these are observations of the universe, not of a process / entity that created it, we can't tell if even this would hold external / prior / separate from the universe. True also of cause and effect. We observe that this is how the universe functions. But it doesn't follow that the process / entity that created the universe itself works this way. To argue that the answers we can think of seem ridiculous so we can conclude another answer, especially when this answer also seems ridiculous, is an argument from ignorance. For now at least, possibly for good (though hopefully not) we just don't actually have any real idea or evidence to help us demonstrate why a universe exists. We know there was an incredibly small dense point that began to expand very rapidly. We don't know if that point always existed, was created by a process, was created by an entity, was just a different phase in part of a cyclical process, literally sprang into existence from non existence or something else. The only thing so far that science has ruled out, and even this is tentative, is the idea of an unchanging universe that stays in pretty much the same fixed state. indefinitely. Science fiction, religions and so on that go beyond this are speculation. They are based on many things, fantasy, tradition, drug trips, social cohesion, a need for answers, human curiosity, cognitive biases, need for closure, indoctrination, actual historical events and so on. But one of the things they are not based on when it comes to questions of cause, is direct observation. People have religious experiences but different people have different experiences, and under different sects, and different religions. How would we tell which experiences are accurate and which are delusional? Given that many religions are mutually exclusive we know that most believers think that most believers of other religions are deluded, deceived, wrong, lying, mistaken. It's possible that they are right, but that this is also true of their own belief. Science doesn't provided support for a god, it doesn't rule a god out either.

[@davidboyce7996]

The Bible says that there will be a falling away. This proves that God's Word is always true. The Bible says - Trust no man. I will trust God, not this dude.

[@aaronmatzkin7966]

Believer: "Look at how many people believe in my ridiculous mythology. It must be true." Also believer: "Look at how many people are leaving my ridiculous mythology. It must be true."

[@ShikataGaNai100]

You say that as if we care.

[@bhavinmehta1490]

That’s your belief though which you cannot demonstrate the validity of, you “feel” it is truth; but feelings don’t make things true. To you you beliefs though, usually it’s people who are insecure of their beliefs are have deep rooted fear mongering effecting them, who feel the need to say things like “we will pray for you.” Guess what, Islam also says there will be a falling in the future… guess Islam is true then not you.

[@itsaboutthattime4425]

No one gives a ish what the “buy bull” says.

[@deborahleskowsky8913]

For the MESSAGE of the CROSS is FOOLISHNESS to those who are PERISHING and SPIRITUALLY DEAD, but to us who are being SAVED it is the POWER of GOD. 1 Corinthians 1:18

[@jeffbarrett411]

@Skydaddy Myth-Busters God is a Father protecting his family, yes brutal to his enemies, yet giving them opportunity to repent. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Rejecting him because the bible says unpleasant things or christians act like this and that, or science says this - is all red herrings and besides the point, Jesus said I Am that I Am. He is either there or not.

[@EPICNE55]

Convenient verse eh?

[@ZX-zw3ge]

I stopped going to church because of work, but also mostly because I've seen how these christians started worshipping Donald Trump when he became president and made Jesus look like he's a lesser god. It's just sad.

[@appie8768]

I was once an atheist. Came from an atheist family grew up with atheist friends. Still all my friends are atheist. I used to laugh at people who still believed in a god. Know they laugh at me cause i am a christian

[@mr.2cents.846]

No one will laugh at you once you're in heaven.

[@Redshadow808]

Try to encourage people with what jesus taught when we try to go about christianity in our own way and don't educate why god did what he did and the evidence of the authentication of the bible we get confused people like this.

[@kaitlinmontgomery2750]

How have you been able to confirm this?

[@Worick_]

@@kaitlinmontgomery2750 He hasn’t

[@kaitlinmontgomery2750]

@@Worick_ I'm not really looking to confirm my own agenda. I want to know how everyone discovered their truth... what justifies them to believe in what they do. I'm interested in finding out Truth and not my own agenda. I believe Christianity is a load of crap but at the same time am willing to hear someone's story. Thus far no one in the Christian community has been able to provide ANY proof of validity to their beliefs; its embarrassing. "Because it's in the Bible" is NOT proof lmao.

[@ok-bh2dz]

I'm really thinking about it. Because I have been having scary thoughts about god and I'm scared if I sin I'm going to hell and it is bad for my health I can't sleep I'm not happy and overall I feel down. So for a day I wasn't a christian and had the time of my life no bad thoughts having a great day. What do you think I should do?

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

I think you should take it slow, God is not expecting you to be totally perfect and sinless. I think you should keep a repentant heart and a pure mind. It comes in parts over time, through prayer and fasting.

[@user-vq1rl5ms9z]

I'm late to this but am struggling with beliefs. Thanks for discussing this without yelling, name-calling, etc. There are useless fights in the comments but you make your points calmly. Thanks again

[@DeadMedia-vf4je]

I Like that because yelling solves nothing Having a calm talk will almost always be better

[@InspiredRenegade]

Personally, I have found that thinking of the Universe and God in terms of energy, frequency and vibration (as Nikola Tesla proposed) will help reconcile a lot of the questions regarding "good and evil" in that it is really sine-waves that respond to the negatively or positively charged energy within us. So, essentially one might conclude that we are the creators of our environment through the energy we emit and attract. That's one idea that has worked for me. I have never been able to go all the way to Atheism, because the natural world is rather fascinating and to think that it has no origin is not something I can wrap my finite mind around. By the way, I support your deconstruction. In the end, your own authenticity is the only thing that counts, as you have to live with yourself and you need to do so in a way that supports your personal well-being on every level.

[@deborahleskowsky8913]

When you seek Him with your whole HEART (not your mind; why do you think it's called faith?), you will find Him.

[@blazerdude89]

borrow me your life savings and see how strong your faith is.

[@severelychanged3679]

You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all your heart.

[@edgectrl3346]

Amen

[@dennisp9866]

I seeked him for a long time and still wound up an Athiest. God created me, knows me, knows my past, present and future. So he would know the exact thing that would make me belive in him. So why hasnt he revealed this to me ? And how could it be my fault for not beliving ?

[@deborahleskowsky8913]

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. John 1:14

[@Radiant_Joys]

It seems like you just believed what people told you when you were younger and never had the opportunity to form your own beliefs. I know that feeling. Keeping pursuing your truth, but I truly hope the truth pursues you .

[@kofw72]

@Deborah Hearne what a gracious and loving response. You must be a Christian.

[@toma3447]

“Who do you say that I am?”

[@Aevans786]

❤❤

[@kofw72]

A highly mythologized itinerant Jewish rabbi, if you existed at all.

[@arlindokamati2059]

We sometimes think that God lives by our rules and do not want to know how Great he is a God that can make the sun hang in the sky and the earth turn. A Christian is a lifetime of walking and talking Jesus

[@dawnpham8394]

I support you. I am too, no longer a Christian and very happy.

[@zippyblessed839]

So if it no longer a christian Then who do you lean on..when times are bad? What do you believe happens wen we die?

[@theforgottenbook7775]

@@zippyblessed839 When times get bad we lean on our friend's and family but most importantly on ourselves. We don't lean on a person who allows evil and suffering to happen

[@darrellanderson6650]

Hello. I appreciate your video. I have had a similar deconstruction. However. I was curious if you ran across the story of Francis Collins and if you had any response. Thanks.

[@kellydorney3514]

One thing that has convinced me that this is real are personal encounters with the demonic and to witness the Power in Name of Jesus.

[@adamkosakowski]

But you know that these encounters with demonic also appear in Islam and then you can witness the power of Muhammad or Allah also in Hinduism in the name of Brahma and in other diferent religions as well.

[@kellydorney3514]

@@adamkosakowski Actually, one of the several encounters was with a Muslim Family who called me for help. They now believe in the Jesus of the Bible.

[@adamkosakowski]

@@kellydorney3514 so what about those who got help with the name of Muhammad or Brahma. Why gods that supposed to not exist were able to help. Are they all real? There are up to 10000 religions in the world. If you ask these people they will tell you that they witnessed true power of their gods in diferent ways. That is why they stick to their believes. That would mean that not only Jesus is real but also other gods as well.

[@kellydorney3514]

@@adamkosakowski Are you acknowledging there is a demonic realm?

[@adamkosakowski]

@@kellydorney3514 I am acknowledging that there are different mental ilnesses. Depending on what you believe in, the power of your brain will help you to get it. Placebo effect works that way.

[@gregsnell4264]

There is a huge difference between being a christian and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You mention being deeply christian, but that’s not the same as being born again. Except a man be born again, he can no wise enter the kingdom of heaven.

[@sb-tp8ey]

Thank you for letting me know that I’m not the only one that have these questions. I believe I’m deconstructing as well.

[@jmdsservantofgod8405]

We will know God better at the end.... I’m studying in the book of Revelation now.... the end will be extremely bad, horrible.....persecution is the first sign of the end & its already happening in 40 countries!

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

Persecution has happened within every religion for thousands of years. Why do you believe in the Bible to begin with?

[@srinivasanloganathan9122]

Prosecution is part of the religious cleansing and none will come back again to wake you from your grave, Stop dreaming ....

[@BearFruit90]

You should also know that Christians been yelling “We are living in End times!” Since the 2nd century. They all had their reasons for believing that. Pestilence? Earthquakes? Wars and rumours of wars? These things been happening all the time. Aren’t Christians labelling almost every leaders as ‘antichrist’? Every generation interpreted mark of the beast and 4 horsemen etc to fit in their own narrative. Book of Revelation is solely responsible for creating hundreds of Cults around the globe. Cult leaders love that chapter. So, yes. God’s word has done more damage than good. It caused more confusion than any other book in the world. God isn’t the author of confusion? Think again. You see, the so called prophecies are nothing but BS to keep you in religion.

[@slickkkkk]

lol

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

I think its more than 40. It varies between places and people. Persecution is not the end, it happens when we preach and live like Jesus. Its something that is always expected to happen.

[@ngocehgayabebas2118]

Congratulation bro. You have the courage to find the truth.

[@Heisthelightoftheworld]

No judgement, have you been able to have a personal relationship with Him? Have you spoken with Him. Its not about religion, its not about others, its about you and God all He wants (which is why He sent His son) is a relationship with you. Your journey has only just begun. Safe journey. He will Still be the "I Am" no matter what happens. Oh try Mud Fosil university on KZbin Genesis chapter 6. And by the way God gave us free will, if He didn't what would be the point.

[@Reevay762]

I understand how you feel. I hate people throwing bible verses at me when they don't even embody the verses themselves. I don't quite understand why people say God will tell you what to do! You take accountability for what you do! Not God. And I was always in the church choir and in the worship team or band.

[@KelitaSahliah]

By the way your eyes are gorgeous 😍😍

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

Thank you so much 😀

[@unicornfarts8811]

I agree :) they definitely are :)

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

Agreed.

[@joshuamartinpryce8424]

Agreed.

[@BFore-rr6ze]

Yes, like clear blue water!

[@TWX27]

I grew up in a strict religious household. Every time I would ask questions about God and the Bible , it seemed like all my parents were giving me were assumptions and excuses. They said things that did not make any logical sense about God's nature, but I just accepted it, even though deep down, I had a feeling that something is wrong here. When I came to Europe, I came across atheists, secularists and people who thought differently than I did, then I realised that the deep down feeling that I felt years ago, was valid. Who knows this guy might be real, maybe he's just playing mind games, but I'm not gonna pretend to believe in someone that I have no good evidence for is real. Until this guy shows up, to my knowledge, he does not exist.

[@mason-xr5pr]

I just told my parents and youth pastor about how I wanted to leave the church. They literally cannot fathom my decision.

[@Odo-so8pj]

The great falling away. Mason you will see many leave as we're close to the end.

[@mason-xr5pr]

@@Odo-so8pj what do you mean by that? the rapture?

[@Odo-so8pj]

@@mason-xr5pr No such thing as "rapture" it's not in the bible. That's a daft idea con men in America tell Christians Along with you can get an SUV etc etc. Less than 10% of people actually read their bibles. My friend is "Roman Catholic" and has NEVER read a chapter.

[@Odo-so8pj]

@@mason-xr5pr By the way I understand why you want to leave.

[@mason-xr5pr]

@@Odo-so8pj I heard you used the term “great falling away” and I assumed you were here to try and convert me. Lol

[@kofw72]

This comment thread is absolutely brimming with Christians making assertions based on their own assumptions and speculation. I would love to see believers actually ask someone who has deconverted a relevant question or four. I’ve literally never seen it happen.

[@kofw72]

@SecondKings15fourteen well this is rather humorous. My suggestion was that believers ask questions, not answer them or make unevidenced assumptions. After 5 years of intense research the answers I find from the believer have become tediously repetitious.

[@DemonicRemption]

@@kofw72 Speaking as a Christian, I would ask such a question more often. But I've hesitated for a time because I had a sensitive creative drive and wanted to avoid getting ideas for stories that would add to a long list of ideas. But since I've sacrificed my passion for writing and creative drive on the alter of religion, and want it back, guess I better start asking, huh...?

[@is_it_true_2023]

Im a christian. I guess the only question I have is "do you have all of the information you need to make an informed decision ? If you do then great, if you don't then great and then there would have to be a next question of "do you have any questions for me?" and go from there.

[@afwalker1921]

I am a novelist. The creative drive comes from God. God makes no mistakes. Ask away!@@DemonicRemption

[@AJOloyede-ed3ib]

For people passing through: These topics are a trap set by satan to try and get questioning people to justify what satan is planning for their lives due to their experiences and "knowledge" instead of talking about the realities of ourselves. True freedom is loving God which is loving Life. It's not complicated. Didn't even say what satan is to him or what God is to him.

[@davidroosa4561]

i love how everyone in the comments tries to reconvert him by quoting bible verses to him, lol. think that'll work? the other trope is to accuse him of never being a "true Christian" well that's one way to keep score, you never lose anyone, because those who leave were never actually there. lol

[@sheinthecomments187]

Funny how you just quoted a bible verse written before you even existed stating EXACTLY what you just said.

[@justinm4497]

well I'm sure whenever an atheist converts to christianity and puts it online, atheist's likely try to do something similar, or make fun of them for becoming christian. so is it really that surprising?

[@tictacs4]

Its not that weird. If its not in the Bible is it really Christian. To represent a Christian perspective you need to have some basis in the Bible. They could attempt to put it in laymen's terms.

[@elimontoya8626]

The No True Scotsman fallacy is not a compelling reason to return to any religion. I'm very happy for him. Life has so much more meaning when you realize it's not just a dress-rehearsal.

[@Seticzech]

@Deborah Hearne "I would love for him to get saved and become a real Christian." This is exactly what every brainwashed members of every cult say.

[@saraisslaying2656]

I 100% support you. I am going through the exact same thing. But whenever I try an explain myself I'm bombarded with criticism, and people trying to shove a religion down my throat that I don't even believe in anymore.

[@douglasrowland3722]

@Deborah Hearne They are probably pretenders that go to church to put in their hours and get their time-card ''stamped''. God don't work thataway !!!!!! And the Bible SAYS THAT !!!!! You can't earn salvation....you can't buy Christ .....you can't ''be good enough'' The Bible says that ...and your church attendance record is not the criteria that God uses to judge you...If this were not true....it would be unfair...because only the smart would make it....only the strong would ''make it''....only the successful would be worthy...only the ''religious'' would ''qualify''...WHAT ABOUT THE ETHIOPIAN WHO DIED OF STARVATION AT 12 YEARS OF AGE????? THEY GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL BECAUSE THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JESUS???????????....KMA ! GO STUFF YOURSELF !!!!!!

[@douglasrowland3722]

@Deborah Hearne no comment

[@nick281972]

A) god knows but doesn't care B) god doesn't know C) god knows but can't change anything D) god is the one doing it on purpose On suffering, injustice and evil

[@Daves_not_here]

Sweetheart, no one has the right to judge you. You should be loved for who you are. Those that don’t love or except you, fuck them.

[@jensenjoji4711]

@@nick281972 My Dear Friend, can you expect only GOOD from God. When we are in this earth, we have to go through great troubles. That shows, that God loves us. We may not understand. When Christ returns, and after we reach the kingdom of God, there won't be any more pain.

[@Mcgif21]

I stopped being a Christian while I was a missionary, on a mission’s trip. I was a very ardent Christian as well. I’m still a very spiritual person and I have sympathy for my Christian friends and family, but I won’t ever be able to go back to that way of life.

[@sheinthecomments187]

Theres only one way of life in the scriptures. Told directly from God on what everyone is to be. And it ain't baptist, mormon, jehovah witness or even christianity or any other man made religion.

[@victor7845]

@Ryan Smith And a man is the one telling you there is no God.

[@AF276300]

@Ryan Smith Your point is well stated. I also have your thoughts about God. I will briefly add my "two cents worth", to your comment, which may help you. I do believe in the Christian God; however, I've decided that He's a cosmic sadist who thoroughly enjoys His cryptic games. He set the current game up, which He's been doing and playing over and over in "eternity past" with His other prior creations and creatures. The Bible was written and compiled by an intentionally cryptic cosmic sadist who thoroughly enjoys its well designed ambiguity which has caused thousands of disparate and adamant individual and group beliefs in God whose adherents always claim is the "right way" of believing in Him. He never seems to clearly intercede and resolve these differences much less make Himself objectively known to everyone as you pointed out. I'll conclude by quoting Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues", "It makes me wanna holler, throw up both my hands"!

[@theanimator2290]

I'm curious as to your experiences on your missionary trip, if you don't mind me asking.

[@Mcgif21]

@@theanimator2290 It was great! I went to places like South Africa where we spent most of our time in townships (which are essentially slums, the remnants of apartheid). And also Greece and Germany (where we ministered to Muslim refugees who were living on the streets or otherwise miserable conditions. I had my doubts about Christianity before but the more I talked with refugees on the streets of Athens, I saw strength and joy beaming off their face and it didn’t come from Jesus, it came from God. And God is accessible to all people’s everywhere under any name and INSIDE ourselves, INSIDE the people around us, though our flesh may distort that fact, even to Satanic lengths, it is the truth. It was impossible for me to think otherwise, that the divinity of God stretched like a branch or a vine into all thinks, the seed of Life planted everywhere. The Bible is important to me (I even learned Hebrew for two years in University in order to read the Old Testament after I stopped being Christian) and there is a LOT you can learn from it. But there is a lot to learn from all the religions. And when you cut away the excess of each them you forego the dogma that twists the truth (dogma and orthodoxy ruin religion, we are already beginning to see this with modern science today, the NEW religion of the age. True science leaves room for questions, the science of today does NOT. The lab coat wearing scientists have become the new white-robed priests and their religion is one of material and nihilistic science, they have left no room for spirit even though it’s effects are plainly seen (research people like Wim Hoff I have also seen many people healed on my mission’s trips).

[@jackomile1838]

Over lockdown I really struggled with despair and loneliness. I felt completely isolated from our Church, hardly anyone got in touch to check on me and I felt incredibly isolated. When I reached out to a few people to say I am struggling I would get superficial replies and not hear from them again, it's like they couldn't handle me, didn't want to engage with my suffering. The last few months have made me doubt Christianity and Church. I still love the Lord but why are Christians often so uncaring??? I have experienced more kindness from "Non" Christians during lockdown than from so called Christians - that really, really hurts.

[@isalme6557]

Thank you Jacko, for reaching out. It breaks my heart to hear this. That the people you considered brothers and sisters to have let you down. But I'm not completely dismayed, because I know someone who is trying to get your attention. I might not experience exactly what you are going through, not because I have ppl where I am, but because I saw the only one who was and is here. Let me tell you about mine first. Through hardships, torment and unspeakable loneliness, there was another In the fire. And I can't tell you the thing it does to my soul to know I've been granted to see the other in the fire and waters. It took my isolation to understand it, it took my loneliness to realize I am not. I love you so so so much more than you can imagine tho I've never seen you , because of the love my Jesus has for you. You are never alone. Neverrr. I don't know if I can emphasize this much better. But I tell you from every experience and moments in my life. I am miles and miles away from you. But Jesus.... Oh Jesus is.. Closer than your own breath. God has come that close and you're not consumed. I urge you with all my might, all my being to turn to him and say I wanna see you I want to feel and know you are here. I just can't take this anymore. He is close to the broken hearted and weak in spirit. Fall before him and cry yourself out .. Because I now see him with me and know it with every part of my being, wouldn't you want to also have that? Wouldn't you want to demand a closer relationship with him? Then ask and demand from him, that he grants you to see and know his closeness. I love you so much, but his love.. Oh his love is one that cannot be comprehended. There is more to following God than going to church. It goes beyond the physical. Yes people fail you, but Christians are not the starter of your faith. The pioneer and perfecter of our faith is Jesus. And he is beyond some letter in a book. He wants to be your soul friend, the one you lean on and cry your heart out to. The one you hold hands with while closing your eyes and walk on a tight rope. I can't explain to you enough how much he wants to be with you, like how you would spend time with a human. Chatting away into the night till dawn, while he immerses your soul with his presence that words are not created for to describe. It's beyond what I can tell you to have that with Jesus, just as you want more of him he wants more of you. For you to seek to talk to God than sit in unproductive conversation with ppl. Read the bible while you are in prayer, let it not be just you who speaks. I know you said you love the lord. So now go to the next step. You remember that woman who loved her man in song of songs? She was head over heels, but when he came to her door the night she got all cleaned up and ready for bed, she said " how can I go out again?" It was a long process so she didn't want to do it again. Finally when her man poked his finger through the door, she realized she should open for him, but he was long gone. We can love someone so dearly, but what we do with that love is the fruit of it. Desperately seek his face, especially in this lockdown. Where it can only be you two. I'll pray that he puts It in my heart I pray for you everyday. I would love to hear from you.... But he died so he could hear from you. Lots of unfailing love to you.

[@jackomile1838]

@@isalme6557 Dearest Isal Me, you cannot believe HOW much your words have blessed me. I am in tears. You are a wonderful human being to take time to write this to me. You clearly understand pain and suffering. Thank you so, so much. I am just back from a long walk with the Lord. I just walked and walked and walked and now I came home to your beautiful words. Wow!!!!!!!!! Speechless.

[@isalme6557]

@@jackomile1838 And I am more blessed to know the same spirit that dwells in us moved and touched our hearts. May God bless you abundantly according to his infinite riches. Until we see each other face to face in our father's rest, where there is no more suffering, be strengthened in Christ. Love you.

[@fabriziom9]

@@jackomile1838 I really understand you bro, during lockdown i doubed Gods existence because of many trials, i´ve struggled with many things, so many including loneliness during that time. Im still alone in some sense, but i trust Jesus over all. I know it´s painfull to carry on, that there are so many dark nights, deep valleys, but be sure, dear brother, son of God, He is with you. Don´t let this bad arguments to convince you from the contrary. Christian apologetics have good responses, but overall, you have a Great God ready to help you, that knows suffering, you are not forgotten to him, you are forgiven, because he is LOVE. Don´t be afraid to be sincere, just express yourself and try to engage online with good christians. join a community or something like that and be in contact with mature christians, just look for them, ask God to give you friends. I really know what you feel... i still struggling with that kind of thoughts, many suffering in such a short period of time, but even so, i carry on. Withouth God´s existence, life has no sense, universe neither. Take my advice, look for internet friends, christians, and there´s no problem if you have felt better love in non-christians, because God´s grace reach anybody, even the non-christians. Remember how Rahab, not being jew, helped the Israelites in Jericho. I really hope you find peace during your struggling, your loneliness and your painfull nights, Jesus is there, bro, trust him, look for help and don´t let your hear die alone. You can contact me if you want. My email is [e-mail] God bless you, youre not alone, trust me.

[@Reevay762]

Same here. I've learnt to help myself during the pandemic. Parents and relatives so called Christians are nowhere to be found. Lol

[@alejandrajaramillo3198]

I feel the same and I’m just done dealing with the “We’ll pray for you”

[@gordongoodman8342]

@@2fast2block Are you saying God doesn't hear the prayer of the wicked? Well im not giving up.

[@tealx2014]

So condescending!!!

[@gordongoodman8342]

@@tealx2014 what is?

[@tealx2014]

@@gordongoodman8342 When people say, “they’ll pray for me!”

[@gordongoodman8342]

@@tealx2014 Why is that condescending to you?

[@themadisonstevens]

It’s so difficult when your whole circle (friends, family, etc.) is Christian. Sometimes I feel like the only choice is to conform, and hope that true belief will someday follow. At this point, though, I feel that I could never be a true Christian again. The issue is that my love and respect for those who’ve made an impact on me is so great, that I fear disappointing them. And then, there’s that sense of dread that you experience, knowing that your loved ones are going to go to their graves thinking that you’re eternally damned: it’s sad, and I don’t want that pain for them. But, I also don’t want a fraudulent lifestyle for myself. I cannot realistically upkeep a lie for the rest of my life, and, frankly, I don’t want to. It feels like such a delicate and confusing situation. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I’m still living under my parents’ roof, and the majority of my social experience has been under their influence. It probably does. I just want THE truth, but I’ve found that there really is no such thing: it’s all biases, and evidences towards this thing or the next, but nothing definitively proves or disproves the existence of (a) god(s). That’s a hard pill to swallow, especially having come from the belief in something solid and “unchanging”. I had a moral code created for me before, which was both limiting and comforting. Now, I’m faced with, “What do I believe is morally right?” That affords me a sense of freedom, but also uncertainty and apprehension. It’s interesting that you can be both terrified for the well-being of your “soul”, and experience feelings of freedom simultaneously. There’s always the, “What if I’m wrong?” That’s one thing that is pretty clear, and also seems to be the last line of defense for Christianity. It’s also the scariest, because nobody can even FATHOM eternity- let alone one of suffering and anguish. Anyways, I just wanted to put my thoughts of recent out there. Feel free to comment opinions/perspectives: I love to hear them!

[@L0VEisAmixtape]

I can relate about the part of feeling fear for your family going to their graves thinking you are eternally damned for no longer believing. My parents were divorced since I was 2 years old, but when my dad died, my mom expressed doubt that he went to heaven, and implied that he went to hell. I couldn't believe how insensitive that was... It was the first time I had experienced bereavement of someone I knew from my immediate family. My dad wasn't a good person or a good father, but he had experienced a lot of trauma and poverty in his life since his childhood, so I gave him grace. After that, I worried that if I were to die unexpectedly, my mom would legitimately think I went to hell. And I don't want her to think that or be troubled by that thought, so I figured I could just hide my new agnostic belief system from her. But when you think about it, if she chooses to believe so rigidly about the fate of someone's soul including mine, that's her problem... I'll be dead, chillin🤣

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

We can say these things about every religion, apart from islam, which borrows its spiritual language and prophets from the bible. There no books of religion worthy to consider, are there even any books appropriate for the occasion. If you want evidence of the bible you have to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things to you, as i did.

[@dune2024]

these days i try my best to stay AWAY from them it's best for my sanity

[@DemonicRemption]

@Madi Stevens I don't know if you'll read this, but... Back around 2013 God asked me to finish a story I wrote about a witch who defects from a cult, and has to save her son from said cult. I asked why he wanted this of me, and he implied that the themes I accidentally wove into the story about having faith oneself, and the main character's growth throughout the story might resonate with some people. And you might be one such person. I also understand your uncertainty, as I share it to a degree. Because you think I trusted the notion God gave me, you'd be wrong. Because I had to endure having my geeky hobbies demonized in the 90s and early 2000s. So the idea of writing a story about a witch saving her son, or a demon gaining eternal salvation(which is a long story...) eats at me. It got so bad I sacrificed my love of writing and creativity on the alter of religion. I'm working to get it back, and ma'am, by pure coincidence, you helped me in achieving that end.

[@cyraxkkcb2mo10]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4jCZZWYZ82Lj8k

[@iwnunn7999]

How do you control the masses? Threaten what you don't want them to do with hell fire and damnation. It sort of worked.

[@angelmirmartinez9096]

This statement is a complete misunderstanding of Christian doctrine. Hell is not a place for Christians even if they commit sin. Christian doctrine teaches their sins are forgiven by faith in Christ and His sacrifice and resurrection. So for the Christian there is no need to use hell to force them to do anything. They are already forgiven. They are advised to live according to christian values revealed in the word. For unbelievers is another story. It will be a place of separation from God which they have already chosen by their free will. If during your life you didn't want to belong to God it is fair that in the afterlife you will be separated from a God you didn't want to have in life .

[@nick_castelli]

The consequences of Christian theology is that people have treated each other with more respect than they ever have in the history of humanity

[@iwnunn7999]

@@nick_castelli hmm. I see very little respect much less love, compassion and empathy. Perhaps u live in a utopia I just don't see.

[@nick_castelli]

@@iwnunn7999 are you saying that to me? Or just to Christians in general?

[@trainingrifle]

@@iwnunn7999 well humans are evil. the Christian walk is that difficult that you see people fail at it constantly. but God is the judge, not humans. if church members were perfect then every church would be its own perfect God. humans are corrupt and will always be corrupt. do not let church be the arbiters of truth and judgement. just stand before God in your prayer, in his presence and you will know everything about your worth and you won't like it, but he will RESTORE you.

[@briansimons9472]

Studying Theology at school and uni. including Hebrew and Greek, got me thinking more deeply. The straw which broke the camel's back was the problem of evil and suffering. An omnibenevolent God does not go with war, the Holocaust, devastating disease, people/child trafficking and the deeply ingrained injustice in the world. The death of my brother and sister from cancer when they were in their fifties didn't help. Whilst I can appreciate and accept the role - positive and negative, that religion has had in human development and history, I can no longer be part of it.

[@kushdygroweruk2024]

The holocaust, war, people trafficking etc are all products of free will, something god given. Free will is necessary for the true love of god, which is the most important commandment. Now regarding diseases; god has stated that Mark 11:24-Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. So if one has cancer or a disese ask god to cure it, and if you ask with faith you will be cured. For example I myself used to have a flock of sheep with their lambs, one of the lambs had a condition wherein it would have seizures randomly, so that night I asked god to cure this lambs problem and the next day the lamb was cured, it didn’t have a seizure ever again. Bear in mind that this lamb had being having seizures every 30 mins for the past week or so. But the whole basis of your reasoning to why god can’t exist is flawed, how does diseses existing disprove gods existence, after all how does nothing explode to create complex life that have free will?

[@jdoe7674]

What if hell isn’t real and God allows suffering so we truly understand love when we receive it that honestly seems to line up more with the God described in the Bible as opposed to the God of Christianity because im sure most atheists or agnostics are smart enough to see that there is a difference

[@tylearasworld3]

Yes there is evil… but God did not stop there. You cant mention the evil without the sacrifice. Jesus died to offer us a way out. We can now choose life… and to go to a place where there is none of the things you mentioned. So its not like God created evil and left us to fend for ourselves.

[@mrfabulous4640]

I will present two arguments from evil and then give my rebuttal to them. *Argument 1* P1: If God is omniscient He would know how to stop all evil. P2: If God is omnibenevolent He would want to stop all evil. P3: If God is omnipotent He could stop all evil. P4: Evil exists. Conclusion 1: therefore, God is not simultaneously omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent. P5: if God exists He would (more likely) be omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent. Conclusion 2: therefore, God (more likely) does not exist. *Argument 2 (uses modal logic. "Possible worlds" are a way reality could be/unfold)* P1: If God is simultaneously omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent He would only create a best of all possible worlds. P2: The actual world is not a best of all possible worlds [I could easily imagine a better world]. Conclusion 1: therefore, God is not simultaneously omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent. P3: if God exists He would (more likely) be omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent. Conclusion 2: therefore, God (more likely) does not exist. I will give my answers below which rebuts P2/3 of argument 1 and P2 of argument 2, therefore, making the arguments unsound and thus their conclusions do not follow. Firstly, theologically omnipotence is the doctrine that God is as maximally powerful as is logically possible. Thus, God cannot do the logically impossible. If someone wants to argue omnipotence includes being able to do the logically impossible, they obviously have no real understanding concerning what the laws of logic are and no real understanding of metaphysics, but I will just respond by presenting two problems to their view. 1. If omnipotence is defined as being able to do the logically impossible and if God is omnipotent, then God is not restricted to the laws of logic and thus no logical argument could disprove God's existence (since for an argument to be valid the conclusion must logically follow from the premises--meaning the argument must not commit any formal logical fallacies--yet if God is not restricted to logical law Himself, then the conclusion would not obtain against His existence, because God's existence is not restricted by the laws of logic). 2. a proposition's content which violates a law of logic is normatively regarded as being a meaningless statement (thus it has no truth value). So, for example, the logical law of non-contradiction states something cannot be both A and not A (~A) at the same time and in the same sense. Thus, the following statement is meaningless gibberish, "In my car there exists a square which is not a square"; as it violates the law of non-contradiction. Yet, if one holds that something in existence can violate the laws of logic, they would hold that such a statement (which is normatively regarded as meaningless gibberish) has a truth value--very bizarre. It would be like thinking this following (what seems meaningless gibberish) statement actually has a truth value: "does the the pizza yellow in dice with ice cream?" With all that said, yes God is omnipotent but that does not mean He can violate the laws of logic. Secondly, I want to bring up the issue of a "necessary evil" for a "greater good." This concept is obviously logically possible and we also see examples of it in reality. For example, a doctor may cut off a person's leg, "a (necessary) evil", in order to save the person's life, a "greater good". Someone might respond: this is all true, but God being omnipotent, unlike a finite doctor, He would never be in a place where a necessary evil is required in His dealings for the greater good. my response: not true if the necessary evil is due to the fact God cannot do the logically impossible in order to achieve the greater good. For example, maybe a world where people freely love, even if it includes people who freely hate, is better than a world where people neither freely love nor freely hate. God can't, by definition, create an indeterministically free being and simultaneously determine such a beings actions (by the definitional nature of the case). There is a whole host of possible logical limitations one could think of, especially when more and more variables are introduced into the same reality. Thus far P2 of argument 1 has been rebutted--God would not want to stop all evil if evil can lead to a greater good--and P3 of argument 1 has been rebutted--God could not stop logically necessary evils for a greater good, if He wanted to achieve that greater good--therefore the conclusion can not follow. Thirdly, I want to bring up the issue of gratuitous evil (which is pointless evil not needed for the purpose of a greater good). I want to say I do not necessarily hold that every instance of evil is not gratuitous evil, some of it may well be gratuitous evil. It may be the nature of the case that allowing any evil at all (the category of evil) necessitates that some of it is gratuitous evil (and that is what makes evil so bad), but overall there is still a greater good than had the category of evil not been aloud to exist; or perhaps a world where gratuitous evil exists has an overall higher greater good than a world with no evil or a world with evil but no instances of gratuitous evil allowed because, for example, it is more interventionally micromanaged out. Fourthly, I want to bring up the issue of us not being in an epistemic place to know if we are in a best of all possible worlds via natural epistemic means. The person who says they believe we are not in a best of all possible worlds could be forming this belief: 1. Non-inferentially. 2. Inferentially (i.e. via modeling a better version of reality in their minds than what they believe the actual world to be). I want to address #2 for now. When we reason we model a reality in our minds; but obviously we do so at a very limited level. A person may argue: I can model a better world by simply imagining one less baby dying, for example, therefore this is not one of the best of all possible worlds. I believe there is an undercutting defeater to this argument (an undercutting defeater is a justified defeater which shows the belief-forming-mechanism which formed belief X is not a reliable belief-forming-mechanism) which shows this belief-forming-mechanism (BFM) does not have a reliable epistemic scope to form a reliable belief on the matter. Before I give the reasons as to why, I want to give an example of the principle. Imagine you are on the coastline of England looking south-west to see if there is any land on the earth in that direction. Your visual experience (your BFM) tells you there is no land on the earth in that direction. You have a justified reason for believing there is no land on the earth in that direction--that is until you realize that you have an undercutting defeater showing your visual experience (your BFM) is not in a reliable epistemic position/scope to form these types of beliefs reliably. This is the same problem when we model reality in our minds to think we came up with a better possible world. We can not model/know in our minds all that is logically possible to exist, we can not model/know in our minds all the logically possible interactions between what could possibly exist (including what becomes a necessary evil to a greater good in those variables and interactions) and we do not even know all of what exists/interacts in the actual world (and we would need to include variables like whether there is an afterlife, judgment day, heaven, hell, new earth, etc.). Thus, such a BFM, via means 2, is not in a reliable epistemic place to form the belief as to whether we are in a best of all possible worlds. In fact, this is the point God makes to Job in the Bible. Job is complaining about what he thinks is gratuitous evil (because in his reasoning that is what it seems like to him) and God basically responds that Job is not in an epistemic place to make such an assessment of Him. God challenges Job as to whether He has the ability to govern the universe like God does (and since he can't he should stop trying to be a back-seat driver). Job has good reason to trust God's goodness, and situations where he can not understand why God is doing what He is doing Job should just trust God (His ability and goodness) based on what He knows of Him already and because he is not in an epistemic place to know the details of these things which are making Him doubt God's ability/goodness. Someone may respond when they see, for example, a dear burnt alive in a forest that they formed the belief this was an instance of gratuitous evil via BFM means #1 (non-inferentially) and thus they are justified to hold this belief in the absence of a defeater. I again would respond that I don't think it is very likely such a BFM is in an epistemically reliable place to form this belief; but I won't go into detail on this. Rather I will grant it and say: since I allow for the possibility that there are instances of gratuitous evil (though overall there is a greater good) then maybe you are forming a correct belief about that instance of it. However, that would not mean you have good reason to know that every instance in sum total does not ultimately lead to a greater good than had none of these instances existed. Thus this rebuts P2 of argument 2 and therefore the argument is not sound and the conclusion does not obtain.

[@lawrence1318]

I take it then that you're continually giving money to starving and suffering people in Africa, and working in soup kitchens in town in your spare time, helping the homeless. If you're not, then don't accuse God of allowing suffering, when you could be teaching Him what He's supposed to be doing by your Godly example. PS: Typing on your keyboard in cyberspace doesn't count for charity.

[@elizcr111]

Thank you for this video! I can relate to so many aspects of your story, and I really appreciate your honestly in sharing your experience! I am 41, and am finally acknowledging to myself that I no longer identify with Christianity, after believing for 20 years. May I ask you a question? Have you experienced any depression, or feelings of being overwhelmed since being an atheist? For me, Christianity was my greatest coping skills for decades, and made me feel special, that the creator of the universe loved me and listened to my every word. Now that I'm uncertain about everything it's like a huge let down. I would love to hear more about how your journey has impacted you mentally and emotionally. Thanks again!

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

Instead of getting angry with God, Get angry with the devil hes the cause of all evil. God is a refiners fire. It means his teachings and persona will either encourage us and make us spiritually strong or it it will make us be deterred and become weak. The word divides soul and spirit. It means that the word will separate the believer from the non believer. Not everyone who believes at first will always believe, the bible says that will happen.

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

@Greg Letter You have not been reading your bible and studying things. The answers to what your saying is in the bible. Lack of understanding and knowledge has caused you to think like this.

[@joshuamartinpryce8424]

As an atheist there is no solution the only solution is grin and bear it. As a christian its believed that through prayer and actions you could overcome it, and repel it from your life.

[@skwozies3083]

I am not sure I would call it depression from a clinical view but I certainly had a huge existential crisis, and a lot of pain and suffering from my journey into no longer believing. When your very identity is built around this religion, your social acceptance, your ways of thinking, every last thing about you and you relationship with others in some way comes back to the religion it can be a very hard thing losing that. When the illusion breaks it can be devastating. The one being (God) who you loved more than life itself is gone, it is not easy it is like a divorce or a death of the self. It was one of the most taxing and traumatic moments of my life and it took years before I even accepted it fully. God as I knew is not and cannot be real and I devoted so many years of my life to this, I loved this simulacrum I had created and it turns out it isn't even real. The heart aches for quite a while as it needs to grieve the death of the simulacrum. But there is a brightness and beauty to life when you are free of the bonds of lies and can look at life on its own terms. One thing Jesus supposedly said which I do agree with, "The truth shall set you free".

[@awakeningblacksheep9610]

@@skwozies3083 exactly, also ...seek and you will find .... I left after 60 years of indoctrination brainwashing, it was as you described, but now after being out for a few years, I am seeing just how beautiful life really is without the all encompassing slavery of Christianity, I truly believe that those who were heavily involved in christianity and are now out are the ones that are truly Free . We can calmly see life for what it really is, I no longer judge people but now see people for who they are instead of who I want them to be, I'm no longer seeing people as prospects and projects, life is just what it is and I am just who I am , in fact " I am the great I AM "

[@nomg563]

OMG...Finally a video that describes my sentiments exactly. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@jbdolan2]

I applaud your intellect. You will do more good in the world now that you have shed the mysteries and dogma

[@souldesire5932]

oh you unknowingly give into the strategies of the demonic realms upon humanity..

[@td_kdname5197]

Here is the quote you were looking for. It comes from an ancient Greek philosopher: "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" - Epicurus

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

That's the one! The Epicurus Dilemma. Thank you!

[@loveworksnoevil]

Are you a puppet or a being, if he controlled you, you would be a puppet, if not your a being, if beings are evil it's not God it's the beings. Hmmmm?

[@lesvikla]

U should be a Christian

[@dorkailles7780]

Hi! The truth is, we do not know God’s reasons for everything, we can only have theories about that topic. I do now know exactly why God allows evil to happen, but i know that most evil thing are made/caused by man (not all, diseases, cancer, natural disasters etc. Are not, i get that) and we do not see what God prevents, only what He does not. Sometimes we can, but in other words, i mean: We can’t know, right know He may prevented somebody to get in a car crash, or He might didn’t let the devil do something. There are things we can not know, because He may doesn’t let it happen, prevents before we know it will happen. We only see what He does allow, but we can’t see what He doesn’t. His ways are higher than our ways, i do now know His reasons, but i trust Him.

[@gunther0716]

@@dorkailles7780 ahhhhhh the age old argument of "Whatever I can't explain must mean there's a God". That's the same mentality as the goat herders who wrote that book.

[@kermitthefrog5028]

Thank you as someone with lots of Christian friends and family members you helped me insure my beliefs as non-Christian

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

Glad the video was helpful! Don't let any of your Christian friends and family get you down because of your beliefs. Your beliefs and doubts are valid.

[@kermitthefrog5028]

@@skepticallyskeptical6495 Thanks

[@wabackagainman0737]

Psalm 22

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

There is no shame in believing in something different, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you was my son i would still love you and pray for you. I wish you all the best in life. I believe that life is hard enough with faith, without faith life is even harder, i know because i used to be a sceptic myself. My family members do not believe in God, i am the only one that truly believes.

[@joshuamartinpryce8424]

Just remember that faith is individual, what you are going to say at judgement is that your family members were christian. You are going to go on your past experiences, and think its enough to impress Jesus. What matters is dying a true believer and not just believing at one point.

[@itsaboutthattime4425]

It’s just really refreshing to see people waking up and using logic to get through life rather than the copium that is religion.

[@lailamichelle3810]

Thanks for this. I relate so much. Good to know others have been through similar things.

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

Thanks for watching. Yes, seems to be in the waters these days. A lot of people in my life have deconstructed/deconverted as well.

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

Its okay to feel down cast sometimes, i feel it too. Spirituality motivates me to keep jogging on. Without faith there is no true success. This is why a lot of people commit suicide despite having all the success in the world. True success comes through spirituality through the Holy Spirit.

[@joshuamartinpryce8424]

Go back to church, and give God another chance, pray for the Holy Spirit this time, and work on the Holy Spirit and receiving Him.

[@loveandfaithfulness4479]

1 Corinthians 2:14, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." The point made in this verse is crucial in our understanding of spiritualty, and how to interact with the non-believing world. In short, non-believers cannot be expected to think, or to act, like believers. The problem is not intellectual or moral; reason and evidence point towards God (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:18-23). The key difference is spiritual: those who are not guided by the Holy Spirit, thanks to faith in Christ, simply lack a godly spiritual perspective. The only way to be believe the truths of God, including His plan for salvation through faith in Christ, is for God to communicate those truths through His Holy Spirit. Paul's work is to help people who have been given that spiritual ability to believe to understand what it means, but he knows that he cannot make anyone believe it. Intellectual knowledge and human reason cannot produce faith-at best, they can only impart facts (James 2:19). Now Paul shows the negative. Those without God's Spirit cannot possibly "get it." God's truths must be understood and believed on a spiritual level. Those without God's Spirit don't have that level, Paul insists. Like a radio, television, or microphone tuned to the wrong signal, they are literally incapable of receiving that message.So the natural person rejects as foolish anything that comes from the Spirit of God. Those who have only their human senses and human reason will never be able to comprehend the spiritual truths of God's revelation about sin, salvation, and Christ to His people. It's unreasonable to expect non-believers to process spiritual issues in the same way as believers. It's impossible to expect them to have the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) when they don't have the Spirit of God.

[@carybaker7334]

Christianity is the ONLY religion in the world that can be proven....yes proven.....study the prophecies....they will show you the authority of the Bible and why you can believe what it says.....try it before you give up....God exists....we came from somewhere.

[@TowFan]

This is something that I'd rather have a conversation about rather then just comment about. I self studied the bible obsessively for a couple years searching for answers. I really wanted to know God Intellectually. Also I had a experience that I just had to know what it was about. I found answers but one thing I found was a loneliness I never felt before. The majority of Christians don't know what the bible says in a whole, or the average person. Nor do they want to. I didn't have anybody to discuss what I had learned with. It's funny how strong of a belief some Christians have is something they know nothing about.. I've now studied outside of Christianity. I didn't want to be so one sided. I wanted to question everything in my life to find out what I truly believed. One thing I notice is that there is talk of a spiritual awakening in multiple beliefs. Personally, believe it's more about finding your true identity rather then conforming to how someone else thinks you should live your life. We have a gift of authenticity. That's what I strive for.

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

I studied the Bible for three years in college and many more before that, so I feel you! If you ever want to discuss what you learned you can shoot me an email at [e-mail]!

[@kermitthefrog5028]

@@meerkatsk5170 if you did

[@kermitthefrog5028]

@@meerkatsk5170 can you show it to be true

[@seapaints]

❤️

[@isalme6557]

@Flipside Thank you for bluntly telling us you wanted to : *know God intellectually* . I mean yes it was very right of you to seek for "truth s" but... Did you ask or question about them. The reason I say this is that, when you ask something it's either when you want to receive something or are curious to know. But questioning on the other hand, somehow in this context seems to defy. It might not be your case but if you ask anyone who claimed they searched for truth, you'll realize it was questioning the authority over their lives and wanting to be "free" from it. Like freely sinning without having the *guilt consciousness*. And since you said you studied the bible, I'm sure you are familiar with the passage that talks about how God chose the most "foolish" things of earth so that he can prove vain the "intellect" of the "wise". That his foolish looking doing is the height of human " intelligence ". God also rejects the proud and is close to the humble. So what happened when you came across that? But let me ask you this.. What would it have taken for you to believe in God? Vision? Unwavering prophecy about past,present and future? Seeing Demons? Miracles? Or The bible making sense in your mind? You find believing in God rational enough? You find God when you reach a very high IQ? But a million dollar question.. Even if you found out God is, would you want to give your life to him? If so, why?

[@cmebans35]

Jesus loves you He will never leave or forsake you Salvation is about relationship with Jesus You have to focus on your relationship with Jesus and not what people do or say. People disappointed Jesus but He still loved them. God bless you.

[@Seticzech]

LOL :-D

[@madesynwhittaker9112]

Amen!

[@madesynwhittaker9112]

@ chikita evans :)

[@j.paulandrews261]

100 correct, this young man is missing the point of a direct relationship with Christ not based on emotional feelings of other Christians..

[@Kenmpachii]

This man never mentioned Jesus when the Bible is based on him.

[@oliviawestfall2002]

i am going through this right now. all of my close people are Christians and i fear i am going to lose them or get judged by them. it's hard to open up about it.

[@willardstephens3127]

Best wishes to you, Olivia. I deconverted about 5 yrs ago after being a Christian for over 40 years. Happier now, guilt-free now, and I never cared for ppl as much as I do now, when I was a Christian. You're welcome to hit me up if you want to talk.

[@elizcr111]

I totally get it. So scary. I'm still partially in the closet. I've been surprised though, by the people who still accept me. Just remember if they reject you for your believes they never really loved you for you, and there is a huge would out there with people who WILL love you. Best of luck to you.

[@ace4548]

I know I’m 1 month late but if I were you I wouldn’t tell them why give up your friends if you don’t have to

[@kevdeeA]

First rule about deconversion, try to expand you circle of friends to people out of religion, so that you can gradually leave without any emotional commitment. Christianity is designed for you to be emotionally dependent on your Christian circle. Its all psychological manipulation.

[@jesuslovesyouandiloveyouto7627]

how are you doing?

[@man-yp1gb]

I used to be hardcore Christian but my curiosity to know more led me to see how inaccurate and contradicting the bible and Christian faith is. I'm now just a deist with gratitude.

[@man-yp1gb]

@@meerkatsk5170 it is not true, see the video I pasted in the comment below.

[@man-yp1gb]

@@meerkatsk5170 absolutely no. Grab a bible , pen and paper click the link I posted . Watch, write the verses mentioned in the video and compare and deduce. From there you can decide whether the bible is legit. That's all that needs to be said.

[@tingowealeans5712]

@@man-yp1gb can you link your video? I've been through most of the comments at this point but haven't come across it yet

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

Yeah, seems the more study people do, the more inaccurate and contradicting people find it to be.

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

My brother's friend is in that boat. There are no contradictions but different insights. Remember that it says in the word that a person killed Saul (Book of 2 Samuel) and told David and it also says somewhere else (Book of 1 Samuel )that Saul killed himself. What happened was Saul tried to kill himself but would not die, so a person killed Saul and went to King David with his crown and confessed he killed Saul. David had the man who killed Saul, killed and David then lamented over Saul.

[@inthecrosshairs4480]

CONGRATS! It took me 5 DECADES of uncertainty and struggling with my fears from intense brainwashing and indoctrination to finally admit openly that I didn’t believe in a God. That my doubts, questions and unbelief were valid. Your choice to come forward publicly will help others and hopefully encourage them to do the same.

[@mistylover7398]

And future generations 😎

[@Roddysue]

Me too❤

[@stchew49]

For philosophical reasons like yours, I too became a born-again atheist after some 20 years of being a Sunday School teacher, lay preacher and deacon.

[@mrafard]

@@stchew49 born again atheist ? Have you any clue what born agin is ?

[@dougdaniel9196]

@@mrafard Obviously these people do not understand what born again means, neither are they born again. To be born again is an eternal spiritual regeneration which cannot be reversed. In fact anyone that genuinely is born again would never have any true natural desire to leave the faith as far as I know. Going to a church building on Sunday in your Sunday best and sticking a bunch of money in a jar for some crooked, fake state licensed fool who insists on being addressed as "Pastor" has no basis in scripture. The only people that leave Christianity are those that never actually were Christians. Most of those were church attendees not Christians! Wake up time folks, the devil is working overtime to deceive. "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish" Luke 3:13 KJV God's judgment is coming, Jesus warned about deception like this video in the days before the false, imposter Christ takes control of the planet.

[@charity6372]

I feel you. I've been there and this is HARD. Be still and know that you are....free!🤣😎

[@jesuslovesyouandiloveyouto7627]

how's your day going

[@charity6372]

@@jesuslovesyouandiloveyouto7627 save it man...😎

[@jesuslovesyouandiloveyouto7627]

@@charity6372 what do you mean? did i do anything? i was just asking how your day way, if i said anything please lmk(let me know)

[@yoma9021]

@@jesuslovesyouandiloveyouto7627 I think he thought you would try to convert him by quoting Bible quotes.

[@emilykell2959]

I hear you on your views on prayer. :) I'm not trying to be that person that "tries to convince people to be a Christian in the comments." I'm just saying, that to me, prayer is beautiful and a blessing. It's comforting to me when others say they pray for me, so I'm truly sorry that you felt the way you did. :) P.S. You're loved no matter what.

[@tinatullin879]

@Emily Kell A prayer is nothing more than a good thought. And it feels both nice and comforting to know that people are thinking of us and wants us well. It's an act that is nice in itself, even if there is not a "God" answering it. P.S. Sending you warm thoughts and love!

[@joshuamartinpryce8424]

I might know who you are referring to. lol I believe the same as you.

[@southernpride2003]

You're literally being that person

[@southernpride2003]

@Cage Stage Calvinist here's a message from me to you there's no such thing as a hell or heaven

[@bbmb4by]

⁠@@southernpride2003 i think she’s merely trying to say that when someone says they’re “praying for someone” that the intention is good, and loving. (instead of inherently passive aggressive) not once did she debate any of his issues with christian theology, hope this helped.

[@pureheathen1720]

Ex Christian myself. The same people that drove me away from the church are the same ones that stayed. If there’s a Heaven and it’s filled with even half the people I’ve met in this life that claimed Christianity, then hell is the place for me. At least in Hell the ones in charge are likely open and honest about their hypocrisy, arrogance and cruelty.

[@maryrosesaad9355]

THIS 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@zippyblessed839]

WOWW... plz dnt talk like that. Hell is a real place. Have a relationship with Jesus. Believe the gospel He loves you and died for you on the cross. Eternal life is the greatest gift from God which no amount of Money can buy.

[@tamiwatchesstuff]

👍👍👍

[@inspiredaction162]

@@tamiwatchesstuff no its not. Hell is a state of mind true love wouldnt condition your eternity

[@baldwinthefourth4098]

You don't know what you're saying. These bad people you met, if they end up in Heaven, will be there in a perfected state and they will not have these flaws you remember. Meanwhile Hell is eternal destruction.

[@dennisgithinji8749]

Am glad that am not alone. Being a Christian for long and then one day waking up and realising you don't believe in what you thought was real was terrifying. I thought I had a brain tumor, but I don't regret deconstructing. Just to clarify ,deconstructing doesnt mean that you are an abomination to the society. It doesn't mean that you loose your moral values. Am still whom I was in terms of values and morals, but the Idea of a God doesn't include in my portfolio THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

[@daksmusicproduction]

For the record, neither am I man, no shame in it. Lot of good points to discuss and consider, sounds like you are doing what YOU want, not what your peers want 💯

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

Thanks for the comment, Dakota. Yeah, I just want to be open and honest about my beliefs and where I stand. I hope it creates discussions and makes people think about what they believe.

[@daksmusicproduction]

Skeptically Skeptical too many people never bother to ask why, that’s the best part of life!

[@freddygovender9754]

I like your explanation and thinking.

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

Its good to be free, i believe in the freedom to discover things. We should include God, always. Doing what YOU want is a problem because the bible says if we are not following Christ and living for him, we are not worthy of him. He only saves those that give their lives for him. God appreciates people that love and follow Jesus. The bible also says that.

[@joshuamartinpryce8424]

Its good to do what you want but its more important to do what God wants, because what God wants is really what we would want.

[@ronnywhite5602]

I can say, as a 72 year old, that you know many pros and cons about religion, especially cons, but you haven't experienced a personal encounter with Jesus. You know a lot about Him but you've never personally met Him. I would say that I'll be praying for you but you've requested that people not say that - but I will (be praying for you, that is). You're young and quit intelligent, but if you sincerely continue to ask Jesus to reveal Himself, He will. It doesn't have to happen today, but He will. God can handle all you doubts and disbelief until then.

[@Mike-qt7jp]

I've been studying the Bible literally hours per day for forty years and He is still teaching me things. Along the way, I had questions too, but through persevering and staying with studying, God answers those questions. I want to share some reasons why we should trust the Bible; There have been over one thousand Bible prophecies literally fulfilled, 256 concerning the birth, life, ministry and death of Jesus Christ alone, and over 100 scientific facts in the Bible most of which were found in the book of Genesis (first book of the Bible) written over three thousand years ago, which weren't "discovered" by the scientists of the world until the last 500 years. If you made one of these scientific discoveries, you'd be in textbooks all around the world, and if you made four or five, you'd be in the scientist's hall of fame, along with Isaac Newton, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Albert Einstein. But whoever wrote the Bible made over 100 of these scientific declarations, to go along with the 1,000 fulfilled prophecies. So, since the Bible in literally hundreds of place claims to be written by God, you must come to this conclusion; either God DID write the Bible, or some liar did. What makes more sense; some liar, who would have to be, by far, the greatest prophet ever and by far the greatest scientist ever, wrote the Bible, or God is indeed the author of the Bible? Just one of these scientific declarations in scripture is found in the very first verse of the Bible; "In the beginning, God created the heavens, and the earth... said 'let there be light.'" Stephen Hawking, in a groundbreaking discovery said, that matter, space, energy, and time itself all had a beginning. That is precisely what God says in Genesis chapter one; "In the beginning (reference to time having a beginning) God created the heavens, (space) and the earth (matter) and said, "Let there be light." (energy) Up until Galileo developed the telescope 500 years ago, astronomers thought there were somewhere between 4,000-10,000 stars. But when Galileo peered through his telescope, he realized we couldn’t even begin to count the stars, Yet God in the Bible, thousands of years BEFORE Galileo made his discovery, compared the number of stars in the sky to sand along the seashore. I could go on and on. You say you left Christianity? How do you think the universe came into existence? The Big Bang? This theory says, if we go back about 14 billion years we have NOTHING; no matter, no energy, no space, and not even any time. And then suddenly a singularity popped into existence. It was the smallest atom ever, and in this tiny atom was all the energy, matter, space and even time itself of the entire universe. It suddenly exploded and sent into motion what would become this vast universe with at LEAST two trillion galaxies, each with about 2 hundred billion stars, and here on earth, life. If before the singularity, there was no space, where did the singularity come into existence, if no energy, how did it come into existence, and if time didn't exist UNTIL the singularity, when did it come into existence? Also, evolution claims to explain how life evolved, BUT it doesn't even attempt to explain how life started. Look at any biology textbook; it says, according to biogenesis, that all life comes from other life, with no exceptions. Life comes from God.

[@emnettesfaye4139]

Thank you so much for this video. I know it takes courage to finally say out loud that you are no longer a christian. I left Christianity 2 years ago and I'm living my best life. But I sometimes feel like "But what if it's true and It's me who didn't understand it?". I still don't want to get back to religion. I love the life I'm living and watching your video reminded me of why I left religion at the first place. The thing you mentioned on no. 4 got me the most. How can God allow genocide and taking other people's wives and taking their properties? That's insane!

[@shocker5121]

You're still faith. Lmao

[@j.jmilan551]

I left Christianity behind me eight months ago. I left it because it just stopped making sense to me. That was best the decision I have ever made.

[@souldesire5932]

@@j.jmilan551 It only appears that way in the flesh bc the enemy got to your mind..they have many deceptions to pull people away from the truth and light of Jesus..

[@favormine]

Thanks so much for your honesty. For me it was the list of "Do's and Don'ts" that made me feel inadequate and further away from God. Finally I decided to leave church, not saying everyone should, but I needed to be uninfluenced and sort myself out. What I found is that religion says "Fix yourself and God/we will accept you" while the Gospel is supposed to be "Come just as you are and I will give you righteousness/(okayness) as a gift". Religion says "You have to work hard to stay forgiven and right" while the true Gospel is supposed to be: "With a single sacrifice I have made you perfectly accepted and irreversibly forgiven forever". Religion says "God is in love with a future version of you" while the Gospel of Grace is supposed to be: "God loves you as you are right now unconditionally and is NEVER GOING TO CHANGE". This reveals a bit of what I found. Please see my journey as I left the church in this link for more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXmqe42Igq50Zpo Appreciate it. Nicolas

[@mattr.1887]

Funny thing, the genocide in the OT was all Jews. A completely different religion. Of course Christians don't see it that way. For the "what-ifs?", I realized a long time ago that if the Christian God was real, and sin is so serious, why would he be obligated to save you JUST BECAUSE YOU ASK HIM TO? This is really just an attempt to manipulate God. A loving God would look at our hearts and values, not our doctrine.

[@trashnomancer]

A friend who has been going through this same experience as of recently sent me this video, and I must say, you did a wonderful job at challenging, but very worthy work. Kudos.

[@deborahleskowsky8913]

If I'm wrong, I lose nothing. But if you're mistaken...YIKES!! We have all SINNED and fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of SIN is DEATH. God is providing a 'GET OUT OF JAIL FREE' card. Accept His gift of salvation! DO NOT BE DECEIVED!! DO NOT BE DECEIVED!! Please take these words seriously. Or not. It's up to you. It's ONLY the fate of your ETERNAL SOUL. ...I set before you LIFE AND DEATH...CHOOSE LIFE. Jeremiah 30:19

[@thegreatescapechannelwatch298]

Leaving dead religion is ok, leaving traditions is ok, leaving Jesus is totally insane, He is the ONLY hope we have!

[@conniefuentes1188]

well said

[@Gigi-wj8oz]

I’m a teenager and i decided officially that I’m not Christian around last year summer and even with all of my points, experiences in the church and the people of the church and them neglect of my mental health (saying I should just pray), all I’ve been told since then is that I’m going to hell, that I’m going down a demonic path, that my lack of belief is why I’ve have my mental illnesses etc. And that reaction is one of the biggest reasons as to why I don’t associate with Christianity- their constant need to condemn.

[@jumpy5064]

Meerkat SK5 well if a guy who basically detonated his whole life to Christ. Planning on being a pasture, went to college to study the Bible can’t prove it , I don’t think you can

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

I do not say just pray but take action too.

[@heygrandma2495]

I started my walk out of Christianity in 2012. And what it boils down too is all the murder and blood sacrifice that I never could wrap my head around sitting in the Pew and it is my opinion that it's scripted prophecy and mind control 😏I was very involved in my church,it was a journey you can't really tell ppl about they have too find your own path.I believe the kingdom of God is within our creator that is love would never demand blood or have a special group of ppl. Journey well.

[@SorbesTubeYT]

I totally understand you bro, but islam is not just based on " Faith " I'll say you should look into islam and all these answers that you have are clearly given in the Islamic scriptures

[@howdoyouknow1218]

Good for you. It took me until I was 47 to finally kick the habit. It’s mythology. There’s nothing wrong with it if it’s your thing, but it has always been mythology and people for thousands of years have had their gods. And they come and go. Gods of today are no different. I feel much better and I hope you do too!! I look forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@howdoyouknow1218]

Anna M. What you pointed out for sure. The fact that the god of the Bible is downright cruel. Friends and family telling me that I have to take everything literally or I’m not a true Christian...like the ark story, for example. Apologists getting caught in lie after lie as far as the science goes. If it’s true, why misquote the science? Why misrepresent the evidence? In short, creationist conmen. No evidence for the captivity or the exodus. Borrowed stories from Sumerian/Zoroastrian traditions. Talking snakes and donkeys. The fact that having belief seems to have zero effect on how good of a person you are (see jerry Falwell jr). So many things and I just stepped back from it and took a fresh look and it all just became absurd. It looked a lot like mythology. There ya go. We could talk about it all day, I suppose, but that’s a few things.

[@howdoyouknow1218]

Anna M. You’re welcome. I have degrees in biology and geology so the science denialism really sticks in my craw 😀. So you read a book written by goat herders and have the audacity to insinuate that I wasted my life? F you. 😂😂😂

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

Your basis for believing in God had no foundation. Its a shame. I am only 33, but i have my foundation, its the teachings of Jesus. The persona is good but true foundation is based on the teaching, and doing certain things for spiritual growth.

[@howdoyouknow1218]

@@2fast2block glad I don’t have to get triggered when someone doesn’t share my same mythology. Lol science is good like that. It doesn’t have feelings.

[@howdoyouknow1218]

@@2fast2block the HONEST answer is we don’t know. But trying to come up with answers is the reason the mythology and religion exist in the first place. Many people are afraid of not knowing.

[@baetheistbaetheist2593]

Good 4 u man! its a tough journey to get out! Glad u made it!

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

Thank you so much!! It was definitely a tough journey.

[@lesvikla]

No ur wrong dumb ass

[@rizwanrafeek3811]

@@skepticallyskeptical6495 Brother, have you ever read the Quran?

[@seapaints]

♥️

[@geolibertarian74]

@@rizwanrafeek3811 it isn't anything better

[@karlbrady5453]

You NEVER were a Christian deep in your heart. You didn't believe that Jesus is the Son of God and died on the cross for you. You need to look at Christ as an example, NOT Christians. You are choosing hell over heaven. As Christians, we MUST pray for all non-believers. Hell is something I would NEVER wish on anyone.

[@karlbrady5453]

@Ryan Smith A person who TRULY believes in Christ could NEVER reject Him. If you TRULY believe that Christ is the Son of God, that He is the Savior of the world, and that He is the ONLY way to heaven, you could NEVER reject Him. Don't have to be a mindreader. Just understand the love that Jesus has for everyone who has ever lived. He died on the cross to ensure believers they would be with Him in heaven.

[@karlbrady5453]

@Ryan Smith It is very simple. Satan has taken control of your heart. Think about this: Jesus did NOT die on the cross and did NOT rise from the dead. He was a fraud, a fake. The disciples hid his body. They knew he was a fake. They spent the next 30 preaching about the fake death and resurrection of this fake "god". Suddenly, they are faced with death because of their believe in Him. You are a disciple. You are facing burning to death, or crucifiction, or beaten to death, etc. You have a choice. You can die for a FALSE belief or you can deny the entire death and resurrection "stuff". What would you do? Would you die a horrible death for a lie? No, you would not. The apostles/disciples SAW the risen Christ. They knew He was dead and came back to life. They knew He was risen. They died because they saw the risen Christ and knew He was who He said He was. The Son of God. If you truly believed that Jesus was the Son of God, no power on earth would make you deny Him. That is why I said you never truly believed.

[@guinn2415]

Answer me this my friend , if , by God' definition of evil , He were to wipe out ALL evil at 00:00 tonight , would any of us still be breathing at 00:01 ? Or are you saying He should just wipe out the really bad evil , but leave the lesser evil by our definition ? Evil , my friend , is still on the earth , because we are...for now

[@guinn2415]

@@katiedotson704 thanks Katie , I'm sorry my post confused you . Is 45:7 is referencing Gods' omnipotence . Evil was a choice Satan chose , much the same as Adam and Eve . Also , I don't recall mentioning the flood , however , if you choose to disagree with scripture and hundreds of atheist and Christian scientists that do believe a world wide flood happened , I respect your right to choose .

[@blazerdude89]

why create evil to begin with? because the bible isnt the work of a god but flawed evil men.

[@duckydash13]

I am not sure I believe that people can be good or evil. They are people, and people do both good and bad things (which isn't always something easy to define, sometimes, as I think actions can have both intentions and consequences which are neither wholly good or wholly evil). If God didn't want there to be evil, shouldn't He, in His omniscience knowing that humans would do evil things, have chosen to not make imperfect beings? I cannot think of any way in which He could not be ultimately responsible for evil, really. If He is omniscient and omnipotent then why would He choose to make us, knowing that we would hurt each other and Him, and that some of us could never be saved because we wouldn't trust in Him? Unless you are of the opinion that ultimately all people are saved and made clean, which I know is a position held by some Christians. I know you have said Satan/Adam and Eve chose sin, but if God is the creator of everything, as it says in the Bible, and knew what the result of that would be, as He must have by virtue of being omniscient, then surely He must ultimately be responsible for evil existing? I am currently not sure what I believe, but I really can't answer these questions satisfactorily

[@guinn2415]

@@duckydash13 thanks Alfie . I don't know whether you have children of your own or not , so I'll ask you this question; Do you think your parents , knowing that you would not be perfect , regret the day you were born ? Would you also say they would've preferred you had no other choice but to choose to love them and do only good ?

[@guthrie_the_wizard]

Thanks for the courage in questioning and sharing. We need to value rationality and empathy, not easily abused faith and unfounded dogma.

[@mistylover7398]

😎👍

[@geistieswarzemann4226]

That part.

[@violetmushroom6]

I grew up in an atheist family, in a highly religious culture, and I only got exposed to religion as an adult dealing with mental health issues and I failed to find answers elsewhere. At some point I did fall into it, but realized that it would 100% make my issues even worse, and even be a symptom. Right now I am trying to stay away from it because to look at it in a critical manner, I know very few people who have kept their sane minds as religious people, their mind becomes consumed by it. And even the assumption that bible is the word of God, that is already really problematic to me. If people who wrote it down were human..idk, just it being so self-contradicting and ambiguous and open to different interpretations already doesnt sit right with me. And also, it is part of middle eastern culture and issues of the time, its fighting other peoples war

[@florrie8767]

I am catholic but as a scientist inhsve a real problem with the bible church creationist theory and that first man Adam and the world and universe os 6000 years old when its been dated to actually billions of years old and ancient human bones and fossils are dated to be much older. Not to mention what the Nag hammedi texts say

[@bridgetgullison8848]

I agree with everything you said. I too left Christianity bc I found out it’s all false. It’s actually demonic.

[@Baa975]

Demonic? 🤔

[@Whitelady000]

Yessssss it is!!! They practice witchcraft in subtle ways

[@jeromewright93]

I work in drug rehab and recovery. I think faith is very important in overcoming problems that seem impossible to overcome. The problem is that faith is so often used to manipulate and oppress people. My solution is to say this: Why say that God created the Universe when you can just say that God is the Universe. I would also like to say that most people are content holding the view of God they got from their parents and held as a child. If your view of the world has changed, maybe you should examine your view of God as well.

[@paulgritter7957]

Taking the Bible literally was your first mistake. Even Jesus didn’t view scripture literally. Saint Jerome, who translated the Bible, into Latin, and which became known as the Vulgate, believed it should be read as an allegory. It could have been worse. I eventually converted to Catholicism, after leaving what was portrayed as christianity, throughout my informative years; leading to my Protestant friends and family, writing me off. I completely agree, Protestant/Evangelical teaching, fails to adequately address the problem of evil and suffering. I’ve been where you’re at. You may stay where you’re at. Or you may not. Time will tell. Just an aside… only Luther, and company believed just having faith was sufficient. Judaism, Islam, nor Jesus and his apostles, ever taught that faith alone was adequate. Scripture is useful to some degree, but it is not necessary in relation to being “Born Again”, Water Baptism accomplishes that. I invite you to study up on the secret Church in Japan. During the time of the upheaval and so called “reformation” in Europe, Japanese Christians, were under intense persecution that almost completely wiped them out. They had no knowledge of what was transpiring in Europe, they had no scripture, no Priests, no Rites, except for one. Baptism. This community survived, with nothing but Baptism, and Prayer, until two Jesuits returned, and although outwardly appearing to apostatize, figured out how to veil Catholicism, within common Buddhist practices. That “secret” Catholic community, still exists today, in Japan, and continue as they have, since that particular persecution. If anyone would have a reason to walk away; they would. They didn’t.

[@JoyceAnn62]

It’s good to be a free thinker I’m free

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

I agree!

[@chadrasmussen6127]

I think for myself but I still have a strong belief in God or some higher power I called it just spirituality and meditation

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

According to the bible, Jesus sets people free from spiritual bondage. We are only free when we decide to leave constant sinning behind and embrace God. Do you want to be free to make bad choices, without God and morals we will always make bad choices.

[@joshuamartinpryce8424]

Are you free though. Freedom is to not conform to this world but be free from sinning which leads to physical and spiritual death. What are you free from that you cannot be free from as a believer. What you want to lust after men, or have lots of sex. God says get married and i believe that, because its best to have love and partnership with the person having sex with. I just gave the best example, to the best form of "freedom"

[@doratheexplorer5354]

@@joshuamartinpryce8424 bro Shutup. We don't want to FUCKING Kill people. Omg stop

[@napalm5]

There's only one way that the bible makes 100% sense to me and that's to realize that it was completely a product of the time it was written in. Sadly this means it doesnt transcend time its authority and applicability

[@kushdygroweruk2024]

If it was a product of its time explain to me how so many prophecies have come true, were they just lucky guesses. Of course there not.

[@A.B.3103]

@@kushdygroweruk2024 what prophecies came true? All the prophecies in the bible that I've heard people say came true were extremely vague and likely to happen. Not exactly fulfilling

[@kushdygroweruk2024]

@@A.B.3103 unfortunately that is the spirtit of the anti-christ undermining gods glory. Isaiha 7:14-“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Here the prophet Isaiah prophecies the birth of Jesus christ, before he was born, furthermore Mary and Isaiah never met eachother, further proving gods work. You see many prophecies have come true, alp you have to do is look at the evidence with an open heart, and repent. God bless

[@A.B.3103]

@@kushdygroweruk2024 I've looked at all of the "evidence" you should look up the definition of evidence. And if you still think the same your lying yo yourself

[@kushdygroweruk2024]

@@A.B.3103 you haven’t looked at all the evidence, you’re too ignorant to do that. Furthermore the bible is made up of thousands of ancient manuscripts, the bible is a historical book. If you bothered yourself to read the bible you would realise that for example, Jesus waswitnessed rising from the dead by: cephas, then to the twelve(search them up if you don’t know) then more than 500 brethren saw jesus after the resurrection. Don’t be ignorant this is fact.

[@marismmk7458]

honestly you’ve had some some great points but i just can’t let go of Jesus. my entire identity is based around him

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

Sounds good. Keep the faith.

[@olive4naito]

Jesus is probably a safe bet compared to the rest of the Bible. 🤗 I still believe in Jesus. I just no longer allow myself to be manipulated by fear of exclusion from the "body of Christ". Jesus taught the exact opposite of that.

[@gina1126]

Keep the faith! Jesus loves you... keep that relationship with Him, even if you aren't a "Religious" person.

[@keriezy]

IMHO your life should be based around you not an abstract person.

[@elimontoya8626]

So sad. I truly hope that one day you are able to break the shackles of religion and magical thinking. Best to you.

[@ever.silva7]

Great exposition.. ! I am in this very process of deconstructing all this mental prison of religion

[@MM-tz3we]

I was following untill you got to bible and objective morality then it really started to go downhill from there!! Praying you will meet him asin Christ himself!!

[@willeton]

Well I have been seeking him since early childhood and the morality lately really troubles me. I am middle aged now

[@haleytruslow7200]

I’m sad to read all of these hateful comments from “Christians”, but I’m not surprised. That’s just kind of how they are toward people who leave the church. I’m glad you were able to see the truth. Welcome to a life of real freedom. I’ve found that my atheist friends are MUCH more accepting and compassionate than my Christian friends. It’s sad. It true

[@risenyeshua7935]

Yeh, it breaks my heart to see how so called "christians" act and interact with non believers. However, judging others seems the order of the day of most people in general, most people are all about themselves. It seems pride is the culprit. Don't let religious people give you the idea that true believers act like that. Hypocrites everywhere, especially when they get online.

[@victoriadecker4224]

Let me say as a follower of Christ with an agnostic husband I see both sides and I respect others beliefs as a follower of Christ we are not to judge others decisions not Al Christians are the same like me I’m not condemning anyone it’s not my job as a Christian if we had all the answers there would be no faith no point in believing that’s the point of god he doesn’t condemn the world he’s here to save the world we have free will god says seek and you will find the Bible is inspired by god through humans he was fully god and fully man Jesus died on the cross so that we will be saved from sin all you have to do is believe and invite him into your life it’s a personal choice as a follower of Christ myself if you have questions pray to god be real with god it’s not a religion it’s a relationship with god the churches in our time now in my opinion do not teach the Bible that’s the issue they teach very man centered and I suggest you study the Bible like this man in his video has done I just think he should soften his heart his heart and mind are not open enough to understand the Bible just reading it and taking it all literal is wrong Jesus talked in parabolas remember once I was blind now I see this guy doesn’t see he is blind he doesn’t really know god from my perspective if you know god and really know him like his your friend you will understand the point of faith is not knowing like I said previously my husband is agnostic he was atheist and now is agnostic I pray for his salvation all the time and day by day he’s realizing god is the only answer questioning your beliefs means gods closer than you think so I hope one day those who are atheist soften their hearts and search god for themselves

[@ardentlyfair7315]

"I'll pray for you" is condescending and an insult. Good talk! There are 4,200 religions, but MINE is the only true one. Frankly, I think religions have done much more harm than good.

[@sheinthecomments187]

Right...until you, your husband, mother, father or any loved one is on their death bed clinging to life...then suddenly you have a change of attitude and also are the first in the doctor's office TRYING HARD not to die. What you scared of? Give up all your meds and vaccines if it does not matter what you believe. Just step out of time and leave it at that.

[@BoereViking]

Hahahahahaha that some entry level atheism you spewing there....

[@douglasrowland3722]

@@sheinthecomments187 That is quite a thing. Stepping ''out of time'' is a strange place to be in your mind....I've done it...and am doing it....I decided to dismiss and disconnect from this present world scenario before it was too late for me. I ''stepped out of time''....before I was ......OUT OF TIME !!!!........js.........

[@treeamigo8447]

Ardently Fair I couldnt agree with you more. People acting on beliefs that can't be proved should worry us all. If it was any topic other than religion, they'd be called crazy. How can the topic even be debated when NOTHING is factual? Zero evidence to support a higher power. The best emotional argument wins. And people believe what they want and the best orator stand at the podium and wins the collection plate while a bunch of fools sit in the pews handing over their money because they are too scared to think rationally.

[@AlkahestHD]

lmaoooo yeah right Ardently.

[@jamie5mauser]

If there can only be one true religion, that means thousands of them are wrong. The chances that the one I was born into being right is nil

[@TheDoveLady]

My biggest reason is that Jesus taught love and forgiveness and even for the enemy said to love our enemy. But God on the other hand will send you to hell if you just don't believe in Him.......does not compute.....

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

Yes. It doesn't quite make sense how a loving god could send so many innocent people to be tortured for eternity.

[@TheDoveLady]

@@skepticallyskeptical6495 Still I sought to know who is the real God and I found my answer. I found out who and what God is by reading Walter Russell. I loved so much his experience with encountering God that I wanted to share his words with others who I knew would love it as well. So I typed up many of his books as pdf files for sharing. His books and also many other mystics of old, whose books gave me answers. Here is one of them that I also read as I have made playlist of my reading most of the books I typed up. I send them as pdf files to people who ask me for them. Here is one that I read. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooCyZ56Ia56Djq8

[@jimmyjames6712]

@Grace Butler, God doesn't send anyone to go to hell, you choose to go to and because he is a loving God, he respects your decision. Do you think its the judge Who send people to jail? People choose to.

[@TheDoveLady]

@@jimmyjames6712 You make no sense at all saying that. The real God loses no part of God's self. We all make it back to Source.

[@victoriabrooks1526]

first of all jesus and god are the same thing just in different forms i like to think of it as water as god the main in control if it all ice as jesus the solid form (human). Both the same thing but just in different forms. I am not criticizing you in any way just replying with my beliefs😊

[@kalasatwater2224]

Your best decision ever

[@IkeCarterShow]

Lol “my DECONSTRUCTION”.. you mean De-Conversion.. I too was born in a religious house and left Christianity after 24 years of devout practice, turns out it’s all fake. I’m here if you wanna chat.

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

I do consider it my deconstruction because I deconstructed my beliefs, i.e., I took them apart and closely examined them. After that, I constructed new beliefs that led to my de-conversion from Christianity. I consider those to be two separate events that took place in my life. I'm always down to chat as well. Hope you stick around and share your thoughts on future videos. Thanks for the comment!

[@seapaints]

It’s so fucked up and lonely. All the trauma from it. I’m still healing and undoing years worth of self harm bc of it

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

All fake? If its all fake to you after 24 years. You didnt work on your spiritual growth, and had the wrong motives for believing in the first place. I doubt you tithed, or fast very often. These are spiritual growth fundamentals.

[@joshuamartinpryce8424]

If you think Christianity is fake is because you have not studied it. Israel exists to this very day and has most of the biblical sites in it. Jesus is recorded in Jewish history as someone that died by being crucified.

[@anewcreation4667]

@Brooke xx There can’t be two truths 🤦🏽‍♀️. It’s either we’re wrong or you’re wrong.

[@wayneburchell6346]

"That led me to realise that Genesis is not literal". On the one hand your seminary taught you Hebrew and Old Testament theology but it didn't teach you the different ways to read the genres of the Old Testament

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

It did though. None of my professors were young earth creationists. They all taught evolution as true and Genesis as allegorical.

[@wayneburchell6346]

@@skepticallyskeptical6495 So they had no problem reconciling evolution and Genesis, but you did? To be fair I've now watched the whole video and this is just one of the reasons. I just don't think it is a particularly good one. So many deconstructions I've heard over the last 15 years or so that I have been involved in apologetics seem to be people deconstructing from some form of fundamentalism (and that includes you). This always sounds like throwing the baby out of with the bathwater.

[@JamesRichardWiley]

According to the Old Testament you were born with Original Sin on your soul because a Hebrew god and a talking snake conspired against your first parents. Now show me Original Sin, the Hebrew god, the talking snake and your first parents. You cannot because it's a man made story that never happened.

[@derwoodcauthon7476]

I am saddened by this "testimony". One cannot come to faith in Christ via philosophical arguments but by relationship. An experience cannot be rocked or shaken whereas a belief can be undermined by removing one's foundations.

[@BeardedBooper]

My friend, an experience can most certainly be rocked or shaken. That relationship, passionate and pure as it is in the moment, is not as rock-solid as you or I had come to believe. Don't let philosophy become an enemy. We should see God abounding in its corridors, yet, looking in, fog shrouds those halls, and no God responds when we call into it, only echoes of the past. Be careful as you walk those halls that you don't get lost in those echoes.

[@makylemur7019]

Its Ringtailed Lemurs.

[@jamesnewman8011]

I lost my faith in the Bible when I started learning of Hinduisms idea of God which makes a lot more sense than Christianity about the nature of God. The truth is, which you touch on, we don't know. Anyone who says they "know" for whatever reason by whatever source is lying to themselves. It is okay to Believe something, but saying you know for a fact is just tolerated insanity.

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

So you believe in 100s of man made Gods. That is what they are man made. The christian Triune God only makes sense to spiritual people. Hindus do not have a book of grace, or personality or simplistic complexity as the bible God has.

[@Tarotlynx]

That's right. If there was any truth to the bible at all, then the only reason god would allow so much unchecked evil has only one logical answer: He is evil. And I won't worship that.

[@dangelojenkins4296]

Ok so I sat through this to prevent jumping to conclusions but I could've watched the first few minutes and my comprehension would be no less. You make assertions based off a fundamentally flawed premise on multiple times and just run with it while only ever entertaining weak alternative views. 1. As someone going to college for biology, your claims on evolution are just plain false. Adaptation in genetics is easy to find, but macroevolution isn't backed by fossil records or any observed evidence. It's backed by the extended application of adaptation assuming that it can lead to a change in kind. I believe in evolution with a grain of salt as there are many holes in it, but ultimately it doesn't even discredit the Bible. As someone claiming to have learned the Hebrew, you'd know that the word that we translate to "day" is actually a general word for an unspecified amount of time. 2. You also assert the morality and God's power "contradiction", but that's not a real argument. If you have free will beings whom you love but are all deserving of death, by what means can you judge God's action or lack thereof? We all deserve far worst than anything that can happen to us in this world so to claim that any lack of action by God isn't good is fundamentally flawed. This by itself invalidates the claim, but another flaw is founded in assuming God isn't doing anything. For God to wisk away any kind of action that we're capable of, that would be God stripping away free will. Seeing as the Bible is clear on Gods patience and Him using his people to bring change, it's more apparent that what's wrong isn't a contradiction but your unwillingness to accept it as an answer because it requires acknowledging your own evils and pitfalls which then requires you to take responsibility for all injustice and evil in this world

[@esmeraldawalters3913]

Amen!!! 🙏🙌

[@roflswamp6]

That doesnt sound like the video at all im pretty sure your very unversed in evolution as it for sure is supported not just by science but by other ancient texts sorry u have a problem with facts

[@dangelojenkins4296]

@@roflswamp6 point to an example of change of kind and I will wait. Macroevolution is only backed by the extended application of micro evolution aka adaptation and speciation. I could recite exact mechanics in the body that lead to these changes so last thing I need is someone unversed in biology making claims that I'm uneducated in the matter as someone directly in the field. To go further an example of his faulty research lies in the fact that he only acknowledges 2 camps any time he goes over any subject one being his fundamentalist all literal approach and a more loose approach which bends and denies portions of the Gospel as opposed to looking at matters more deeply. His answer to the issue of sodom and Gomorrah was "God bad and Christians will say they no believe that no more." That's such a poor manner of research considering the lack of mention of sex trafficking, rape, child rape, infant sacrifice on burning hot metal idols, sex slavery, abusive slavery, kidnap, etc going on completely common place in the 2 cities. Either he 1. Never did research on the cities 2. Did research but thought God was in the wrong still Or 3. Did research and saw that there was valid reason but withheld that information to make his new stance seem better. The Bible is written in 4 primary ways being historical, poetry, instructional, and apocalyptic (aka revelational/prophetic). It's beyond stupid to read the Bible 100% seeing as 2 of the 4 primary ways include extended metaphor, imagery, symbols, and much more. It's also just as dumb to reject something just because you think it seems bad and you just wanna claim "Christian" but none of the tougher stuff rather than doing research. He'd begin with his already flawed stance and then jump straight to another without looking to more valid stances which assess each portion as it's meant to be assessed

[@zwatwashdc]

We could be living in a Christian simulation. That may not be good news. Better than some simulations, not as good as others.

[@sos1691]

Yes a well-dressed deception. Remarkably, it has survived Roman times as a control device to keep the population in line. Hundreds of years ago, Christianity was forced on people under threat of death or brutal torture.

[@srich7503]

Classic gorging on the tree of KNOWLEDGE of good and evil.

[@chichisasmr]

I HATE BEING FORCED TO BE A CHRISTIAN IT DOESNT RESONATE WITH ME IT IS SO OPPRESSIVE AND INAUTHENTIC I DONT LIKE GOSPEL MUSIC I AM TIRED OF FEARING GODS WRATH BECAUSE IM BEING ME. EVERYTHING IS PERCEIVED AS DEMONIC. LIKE WHAT. IM READY TO BE MY REAL SELF.

[@Daves_not_here]

It is sad a religion that teaches only God can judge has followers that will judge you if you don’t agree with them. Strength to you, brother. I am an ordained minister who has lost my faith. Now I see the truth. Peace

[@baldwinthefourth4098]

What? When did Christianity say that only God can judge? The final judgment is up to God, but it doesn't mean that we cannot make our own judgements. Are you sure you're an ordained minister? Someone with such a high position should know better than to make such a blunder.

[@Finn-b1l]

​@@baldwinthefourth4098I think somewhere in Revelation it says that in the end many will fall away from the faith of Jesus Christ.This video I think shows that :( That makes me sad.

[@trainingrifle]

church is full of flawed people. iono why people act like Christians are God. God is God. not humans. it's simple. but here you are now judging every church goer lol

[@scrider5493]

Saying you are no longer religious, you are leaving a support system the church, fellowship nights, couples groups, church outings, picnics etc. So, that can be very lonely, since church is social. This man, studied and committed himself to learning. Very brave to move the way he did.

[@gubernatorial1723]

By the small leap of faith in Jesus you find meaning and belonging, immediate goods, but later a war on all evidence based reality that denies your comfort and, for some reason intrinsic, a war on democracy.

[@nb-uq2zf]

i've never felt so alone and judged while going to church. it does not feel like a community to me

[@alphasuperior100]

I am no longer a Christian but believe in God and some of the Bible.

[@jameskennedy721]

The Bible was clearly written by primitive and fearful men who invented an angry and petulant god , because the world around them seemed baffling and scary . People who say the Bible stories follow any dicernable logic have only skimmed the book .

[@rumrunner8019]

Funny, but everything he said in this video simply does not apply to Buddhism.

[@ambrekalynch7543]

First thing first u are one handsome dude and second of all well put together video and all your points I agree with because some of those points is what led me out of religion too

[@cyrillrusso1481]

Proud of you. Going trough the same, its not that easy in the beginning man...

[@dylanheraid4611]

Could you make a video on the morality issue with the concept of hell , I’ve been a non Christian for three years now but I still have that underlying fear that is drilled into you at a young age and it gives me anxiety even though I now have different beliefs

[@skepticallyskeptical6495]

I can look into making a video about hell. If it makes you feel any better, the modern idea of hell wasn't a concept until Christianity. The Old Testament concept of the afterlife is Sheol, which is just a sleeping place for dead people essentially. In other words, hell was just made up later on.

[@dylanheraid4611]

Skeptically Skeptical yes please, ive looked into the original concept, I’m a big linguist and the original description of hell in Biblical Hebrew was “ Gehenna “ which WAS a REAL place it was a valley that or “ pit” in Jerusalem, where they would burn garbage and the “ wicked “ and “possessed “ people ( epileptics) , I’m feeling better about it now but my anxiety was at an all time high about it when the covid started and my family and family friends ( all Christians) told me it was the rapture... illogical I know but they really still the fear into you , thanks again

[@joshuamartinpryce1237]

There is no need for that, there is tons of videos about personal perspectives on hell. If it exists it is bad to know. At the end of the day, what matters most is not coming to God because you are afraid but because you want him in your life and to have a partnership with God. Giving yourself to him and he gives you the support you need, and talks through his word.

[@karaa7595]

@@joshuamartinpryce1237 yeah BUT the fear of the Lord is also the beginning of wisdom/understanding...

[@grimlund]

@@dylanheraid4611 Think about it this way: If there is a God and he has created you. Do you honestly think that he wants to torture you forever and ever? I think hell was something that the church people invented a couple of hundred years b.c. Just to scare people and control them. I hate the doctrine of hell. I really hate it. Its unbelievible that most christians believe in this sick stuff. Their kind of God is worse then a tyrant or a dictator.

[@HipHip_Jorge]

I left Christianity and over a few months of leaving the faith my wife left me lol. I totally can relate to your story.

[@biabia4462]

She probably checked out before you left the church bro

[@HipHip_Jorge]

@@biabia4462 Ty for replying. A lot has happened over the last year. My wife and I reconciled our marriage. And I received my faith back. We are both working towards being received in the Catholic Church. God used my new interest at that time, salsa dancing, to reconnect us. When we got back together I was still reading my new age material but God opened my heart and mind to the Catholic Church in a way I’ve never seen before. My wife also was being drawn in and we allowed God grace to work in us. I am so very thankful to God our father for restoring me. Satan really tried to divorce us but greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world! God bless you! May the peace of Christ be with you!

[@janisbrown6847]

Guess wut? Even if u hate God and have poor faith, if u have EVER given Christ the time of day, He will acknowledge your free will and His blood will cover you FOREVER! ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED! on a related note, gay ppl can still act gay and STILL BE SAVED. Christ will change your heart as He pleases