Deconversion from Christianity (or any other religion)...

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   secretmemoirposted 13 years ago

   I was raised pentecostal christian, and my deconversion has taken place over many years.  My parents think I am going to hell.  I have a very shallow relationship with them, as their be all end all is their belief in God.  I get preachy emails from my mother occasionally.  I've told her many times not to preach at me.
   
   What was your deconversion like and how open are you about it to family/friends?  How do they treat you?

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      dutchman1951posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      mine was similar, but with older friends , and it is still going on now some.
      
      emails, rescue attempts etc.... some of it fun to watch, some of it frustrating.
      
      I think they see you as freeer when you do that,  and it un-settles them because they can not describe you, figure you out, place you or what you are. People need to do that for some reason. fear i guess, control their world around them.
      
      It is out side their relm of the brainwashing they have. My friends are begining to see me as freeier though and they are comming to see that I am still growing at 59, even though I am Older and honestly, some have admited I sure seem happier. I still have a bit to go also, we all do.
      
      I guess times heals them, or they disaper confused, but either way you are free.

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         secretmemoirposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         yes, I feel freer and happier.  I've finally been brave enough to put ex-christian/agnostic athiest on my FB profile (which might be unsettling for the christians on there that haven't known me in recent years, or have been concerned about my 'backsliding'

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            dutchman1951posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            backsliding to them, walking upright to you, stand strong, it will come.

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         secretmemoirposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I read a testimony by someone that likened the awful feelings when first deconverting to throwing up - feel awful for a bit but then much better.   I thought it was an excellent analogy.  I don't feel completely free of it all yet, but am getting there

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   earnestshubposted 13 years ago

   I am not surprised the relationship with your parents was shallow. Religion has less than nothing to do with love.
   Religion says "You can be loved if....."
   
   Love is never a conditional thing.
   Most religionists are void of love as with love they would have to see the cruelty and fear their religion is based on.

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      Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Is deconversion as a result of reasoned debate concerning the religion's scriptures or as a result of being disillusioned with the religion's organised religious bodies?
      
      For example, I left my church because I didn't fit in to its culture or agree with much of its party line interpretation of the bible. However, I have not walked away from what I understand the nature of God to be.

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         secretmemoirposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I left the church nearly 20 years ago, and in a gradual process also abandoned my former believe in god (as I opened my mind and considered other things).  This does not mean I have become promiscious, a murderer or anything like that

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            secretmemoirposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            so for me it was disillusionment first because of the hypocrisy of the people, and then 2 using rational thinking

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   earnestshubposted 13 years ago

   It was two main things for me. By becoming aware of the hypocrisy in religion and by studying the bible for 2 years in 3 languages and then reading the quoran.
   
   What I recognised is that no man or woman could obey such psychotic instructions and retain a sane outlook.

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      secretmemoirposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Did you believe in god at one stage, earnest?

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         earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yes I did. Religiously!

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            secretmemoirposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            what was the turning point(s) for you?  We're you brought up in a religious family?  My nutty mother is the hardest to deal with

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               earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Yes, mum was convent educated and full of fire and brimstone.
               My real indoctrination began when I worked with a christian I admired for his brain. He knew his bible so well he was involved in inter-church debates at a very authoritative level.
               
               I became an active member of that debating team after 2 years full time study in Greek, Hebrew and English translations.
               
               I went on to study psychology and have been reading in psychology for a very long time.
               
               I re-discovered religiosity as a mental device of control and an outlet for psychological abnormal behaviour such as megalomania evident when a religionist makes threats using his god to do the threatening. Thanks for asking.

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                  secretmemoirposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  thanks for sharing

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