BF2S Forums Has anyone here converted too belief?

seems to be a one way street

I was baptised a Christian through no choice of my own.  But even at a young age when I became capable of free thought, I decided that there was no god, and have remeined that way ever since.

I remember my RE teacher at school was a fanatical christian (if christians had suicide bombers she would be one) and she despised me for being a child with such a strong atheist opinion.

CameronPoe wrote:

Bell wrote:

we all came about by chance

Nope. We all came about by reasons as yet unexplained due to our still developing knowledge of science and the world around us. We may never know.

I have always been of the opinion that the most miniscule change in history would have led to any of us not being born.  Like my great great grandfather not being arsed to go and get the paper one morning and staying in instead, would mean that I ultimately would never have been born.  If you think, we are all unfathomably lucky to be here.  Anyhoo, we digress.

ATG wrote:

Therefor, I would say some here think they don't, but don't really know yet because they have never prayed in desperation.

That's it really, desperation. The one thing that can turn a man toward religion. When nobody else can help you, only god is left. So people turn to him. In other words, religion becomes a necessity for some. A last resort if you will.

So maybe it's not evident in this forum full of kids but that's how religions survive.

I was born poor white trash... just kidding. (can you name that movie?)

I was born into a semi "Creaster" Lutheran family (went to church on Christmas and Easter like everyone else).  As I grew into my teens, all semblance of religious worship had ceased.  With the death of my dad when i was 16, I suppose I matured a little and began to think of things as they really were, instead of what typical adolescents consider things.  I didn't have any religious epiphanies or revelations after his death, nor did I submit to or entertain any religious belief structure or habit.  Rather I was quite wild and promiscuous earning several immoral titles of my friends, proudly.

By age 19, on my own, doing what I thought other 19 year olds do, I eventually started paying attention to feelings regarding "life's questions."  By paying attention to them (I know now they were the Holy Ghost), and through some very miraculous measures, I ran into someone who shared some very sacred, personal stories he had experienced as a mormon missionary in Spain.  Wanting such experiences for myself, but without being Mormon, i asked how to do such a "mission?"  He laughed and said, start slow by talking to missionaries.  Well,  I tracked them down, met with them, and 21 days later I was mormon.  Why, do you ask?  Because the missionaries taught me some things, then invited me (not my pastor, not my mom, not my peers..but me) to ask God if the things they shared were true.  I didn't know if I knew how to pray or not so they kinda showed me:  "Address the person you're talking to...however you wish to call him, 'God' 'Father' etc; then just ask him..and pay attention to what you hear and feel..."  and that's about it.  I took a few days to think about it, was a little nervous because I believed I'd get an answer...which might mean I'd have to behave good and act like some mormon friends I have had..

Well, I did what I committed to doing, and asked.  the rest is history.  I've since gone on a mission of my own, saw the same process I went through happen for hundreds of people I met and likewise challenged to find out for themselves, i even taught and baptized my wife!  Pretty fun stuff.

Last edited by IRONCHEF (2008-04-16 17:15:30)

Was forced to go to church when I was 7. Never liked it because church is very repetitive. Finally when I had the say so I just stopped going at 16. The only reason I did not rebel sooner is because church gave out free food.

mikkel wrote:

That pretty much sums up my beliefs. I was baptised at infancy, but never brought up religiously. The church really lost a lot of punch around here while I was growing up, and I recently left the church because the church tax bothered me. Religion is really only evident here by the churches and the church tax.

Church Tax?

Man, that sucks.

SenorToenails wrote:

mikkel wrote:

That pretty much sums up my beliefs. I was baptised at infancy, but never brought up religiously. The church really lost a lot of punch around here while I was growing up, and I recently left the church because the church tax bothered me. Religion is really only evident here by the churches and the church tax.

Church Tax?

Man, that sucks.

Coincidentally, I'm at the tax office right now, so I can tell you exactly how much it is. 0,8% off of your income, compunded with other income taxes. That would've been $60 for me this month.

not me, but if i where it would be to get into some hot dirty christian girls panties

Marconius wrote:

Once someone begins freethinking or becomes on Atheist, it is very VERY rare for them to close their mind again and only accept one form of faith/belief.

I dispute the underlying premise of that statement.

Look up "Lee Strobel" if you want to hear an interesting atheist to christian story.  He set out to prove Christianity wrong, but ended up becomming a believer.  (He was also a pastor at my church, some time ago.)

Vub wrote:

What's amazing though, is that even though this widespread view that religion is a creation for those who need it is not right with God, He stills helps you when you reach the low point in your life and turn to Him. He doesn't neglect you just because you've neglected Him.

Or so the fiction goes.

IF your god does not agree with the idea of religion being a creation of man, then why did he create people with that idea? Or does he lack the qualities of omnipotence and omnipresence?