Atheism : Love it or Leave it? - Part 2

[muertevilla]

*raises hand* former atheist here.

 

[redhawk23]

If you don't mind me asking what tradition do you follow currently?

 

[muertevilla]

Faith in Jesus Christ

 

[Bubonic]

When did you become an atheist, how long did it last, what was your reasoning, and what turned you to Jesus, apart from being in Austin Texas.

 

[muertevilla]

I had been an atheist since I was about 10 or 11. I am 30 now. It lasted up until September of last year when I became aware of God's love for me. As far as Austin goes, this is a very liberal place. It is hard to talk about Jesus outside of a church here. I lived for a short while in Portland, OR where I was in a band with a couple of guys who were Christian and a very good friend of mine was also a Christian kept in touch with me while I was away. They never judged me or felt the need to point out my faults or anything. I, much like the typical atheist, had an "I live a more moral life that most Christians do anyway" mentality about life during that time. It wasn't until one Friday night in September, about a year and a half after I moved back to Austin from Portland, when my good friend's dad invited me over to their house after she had moved away to go to bible college that I began my new walk. It was a home group bible study and I honestly went not because I "felt a calling" or some sort of spiritual tugging at my soul... I was just tired of spending money on booze Friday nights and needed a break. And I figured since I already befriended Christians before, this wouldn't be so bad. Also, as an atheist, I also felt it important for me to study the bible a lot more. It made me feel like I had the opposing team's playbook. The study was on God's love. There was one question and one statement that really unlocked my way of thinking. The question was "Have you ever experienced the love of God through someone?" I automatically thought of my Portland band mates Jason and Vlad and my good friend Leah. The statement was "There are those people who are aware of the love of God... and those who are unaware"
Taking a sort of philosophical approach to that statement I really meditated on it and it made sense to me. It wasn't so much about believing or not believing... Once I based it on awareness it led me to different avenues that I had never gone down before. It piqued my interest further and I began to read more and more of the bible and the word of God really began to take root in my life and really change things. What some people don't realize, though, is that the awakening of the holy spirit in me didn't magically make my life perfect. 3 months after I became saved I underwent gallbladder surgery. It sucked, but not as much as 2 months after that when I was diagnosed with cancer. During that time, also, I was ridiculed at work and abandoned by a lot of my friends. It was honestly a true test of my faith. But God is a god of restoration and renewal. During the recovery period of my 2nd surgery, my brother and father reconciled an absence of communication and hugged for the first time in 7 years. My father also became saved and is now more a part of my life than he ever was before. This is just a fraction of the work that has begun to move in me. I don't know all the answers, nor will I claim to have them, but... as a former atheist I have to say that my way of thinking was from a place of ignorance. It is very hard for a man to learn scripture and not feel something stir in them. Every man has a God shaped void which cannot be filled by any created thing but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.
Sorry this is so long.. its not really a short answer.

 

[muertevilla]

BTW, I quoted Blaise Pascal at the end. I could never come up with a gem like that lol.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I guess simply not having a religion could count as atheism.

 

[Kurosawa]

I guess simply not having a religion could count as atheism.

Not necessarily. Some people do not subscribe to any established religion but do believe there is some sort of higher power.

The obvious answer, of course, is that there is but one real God: money.

Me, I like the idea of there being a higher power but I don't know if there is one. I guess I'm agnostic but I'm not hostile towards religion or religious people or atheists either.

But yea, the single most important factor in the world period is money.

 

[Thundercrack85]

That's deism. Deism is essentially the belief in some sort of higher power. As opposed to theism, which is organized religion.

Atheism is generally defined as the rejection of religion. The term was used by religious people in ancient Greece to refer to people who (allegedly) rejected the gods. It was a pejorative. It's always been a loaded term.

But yes, money pretty much guides all humans.

 

[Bubonic]

I had been an atheist since I was about 10 or 11. I am 30 now. It lasted up until September of last year when I became aware of God's love for me.

As far as Austin goes, this is a very liberal place. It is hard to talk about Jesus outside of a church here. I lived for a short while in Portland, OR where I was in a band with a couple of guys who were Christian and a very good friend of mine was also a Christian kept in touch with me while I was away. They never judged me or felt the need to point out my faults or anything. I, much like the typical atheist, had an "I live a more moral life that most Christians do anyway" mentality about life during that time.

It wasn't until one Friday night in September, about a year and a half after I moved back to Austin from Portland, when my good friend's dad invited me over to their house after she had moved away to go to bible college that I began my new walk. It was a home group bible study and I honestly went not because I "felt a calling" or some sort of spiritual tugging at my soul... I was just tired of spending money on booze Friday nights and needed a break. And I figured since I already befriended Christians before, this wouldn't be so bad.

Also, as an atheist, I also felt it important for me to study the bible a lot more. It made me feel like I had the opposing team's playbook. The study was on God's love. There was one question and one statement that really unlocked my way of thinking. The question was "Have you ever experienced the love of God through someone?" I automatically thought of my Portland band mates Jason and Vlad and my good friend Leah. The statement was "There are those people who are aware of the love of God... and those who are unaware" Taking a sort of philosophical approach to that statement I really meditated on it and it made sense to me. It wasn't so much about believing or not believing... Once I based it on awareness it led me to different avenues that I had never gone down before. It piqued my interest further and I began to read more and more of the bible and the word of God really began to take root in my life and really change things.

What some people don't realize, though, is that the awakening of the holy spirit in me didn't magically make my life perfect. 3 months after I became saved I underwent gallbladder surgery. It sucked, but not as much as 2 months after that when I was diagnosed with cancer. During that time, also, I was ridiculed at work and abandoned by a lot of my friends. It was honestly a true test of my faith. But God is a god of restoration and renewal. During the recovery period of my 2nd surgery, my brother and father reconciled an absence of communication and hugged for the first time in 7 years. My father also became saved and is now more a part of my life than he ever was before. This is just a fraction of the work that has begun to move in me.

I don't know all the answers, nor will I claim to have them, but... as a former atheist I have to say that my way of thinking was from a place of ignorance. It is very hard for a man to learn scripture and not feel something stir in them. Every man has a God shaped void which cannot be filled by any created thing but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.

Sorry this is so long.. its not really a short answer.

Thank you for taking the time to share, and I'm happy things have worked out for you.

 

[the amazing fro]

Holy ****, if the afterlife is a neverending shroom trip I never want to die!

You'd love it really

I had been an atheist since I was about 10 or 11. I am 30 now. It lasted up until September of last year when I became aware of God's love for me. As far as Austin goes, this is a very liberal place. It is hard to talk about Jesus outside of a church here. I lived for a short while in Portland, OR where I was in a band with a couple of guys who were Christian and a very good friend of mine was also a Christian kept in touch with me while I was away. They never judged me or felt the need to point out my faults or anything. I, much like the typical atheist, had an "I live a more moral life that most Christians do anyway" mentality about life during that time. It wasn't until one Friday night in September, about a year and a half after I moved back to Austin from Portland, when my good friend's dad invited me over to their house after she had moved away to go to bible college that I began my new walk. It was a home group bible study and I honestly went not because I "felt a calling" or some sort of spiritual tugging at my soul... I was just tired of spending money on booze Friday nights and needed a break. And I figured since I already befriended Christians before, this wouldn't be so bad. Also, as an atheist, I also felt it important for me to study the bible a lot more. It made me feel like I had the opposing team's playbook. The study was on God's love. There was one question and one statement that really unlocked my way of thinking. The question was "Have you ever experienced the love of God through someone?" I automatically thought of my Portland band mates Jason and Vlad and my good friend Leah. The statement was "There are those people who are aware of the love of God... and those who are unaware"
Taking a sort of philosophical approach to that statement I really meditated on it and it made sense to me. It wasn't so much about believing or not believing... Once I based it on awareness it led me to different avenues that I had never gone down before. It piqued my interest further and I began to read more and more of the bible and the word of God really began to take root in my life and really change things. What some people don't realize, though, is that the awakening of the holy spirit in me didn't magically make my life perfect. 3 months after I became saved I underwent gallbladder surgery. It sucked, but not as much as 2 months after that when I was diagnosed with cancer. During that time, also, I was ridiculed at work and abandoned by a lot of my friends. It was honestly a true test of my faith. But God is a god of restoration and renewal. During the recovery period of my 2nd surgery, my brother and father reconciled an absence of communication and hugged for the first time in 7 years. My father also became saved and is now more a part of my life than he ever was before. This is just a fraction of the work that has begun to move in me. I don't know all the answers, nor will I claim to have them, but... as a former atheist I have to say that my way of thinking was from a place of ignorance. It is very hard for a man to learn scripture and not feel something stir in them. Every man has a God shaped void which cannot be filled by any created thing but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.
Sorry this is so long.. its not really a short answer.

Thanks for sharing dude. Reminds me of my own situation. Good luck with your recovery.

 

[muertevilla]

Thanks fro and Bubonic. It was my pleasure sharing.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

It's always good to hear the other side of people going from atheism to theism. I'm glad your happy with it, even if I do disagree, tell me, which denomination of Christianity do you subscribe to?

 

[Manic]

*raises hand* former atheist here.

I guess you saw the sign
And it opened up your eyes
You saw the sign





What? It's never a bad time to quote Ace of Base.

 

[Groot]

I believe in the power of Groot.

 

[Calvin]

I guess you saw the sign
And it opened up your eyes
You saw the sign





What? It's never a bad time to quote Ace of Base.

I would definitely throw my belief towards Ace of Base a million times before throwing it towards some unfounded deity. At least I've heard Ace of Base on the radio and at least I know they're awesome. More solid than religion, at least as far as observable evidence goes. Man I love Ace of Base.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

I believe in the power of Groot.

You've never felt the forgiveness of the llama

 

[Venomfan]

it was really awesome reading that conversion story and then nobody attacking his beliefs but thanking him for sharing. good to see that sort of thing in here

 

[redhawk23]

Bump.

So I don't know if any of you guys have ever heard of Harvard's Humanist Chaplancy, but despite it's near oxymornic state, it does in fact exist.

Humanism while not synonomous with Atheism does incoporate atheistic ideas.

Anyways the the Humanis Chaplancy each year gives out a lifetime achievment award in Cultural Humanism, to people they believe have done good in promoting Humanism in popular culture in a positive way. In years past the award has gone to the likes of Joss Whedon (who gave pretty much the greatest acceptance speech I've ever heard) and to the Mythbusters.

This year though the award is being given to Seth McFarlane. While the award is really not all that well known, and I guess ultimately meaningless overall, McFarlane winning just does not sit well with me. The winners in years past have been writers and entertainers who have promoted the value of Humanist and atheist philosophies and scientific inquiry. McFarlane though has made a career not of necessarily promoting these philosophies but rather ripping on others for cheap humor. Dis-respecting other peoples faiths is counterproductive, adds nothing of worth to the conversation, and I'm really quite suprised that they have chosen McFarlane for recognition.

 

[Calvin]

Bump.

So I don't know if any of you guys have ever heard of Harvard's Humanist Chaplancy, but despite it's near oxymornic state, it does in fact exist.

Humanism while not synonomous with Atheism does incoporate atheistic ideas.

Anyways the the Humanis Chaplancy each year gives out a lifetime achievment award in Cultural Humanism, to people they believe have done good in promoting Humanism in popular culture in a positive way. In years past the award has gone to the likes of Joss Whedon (who gave pretty much the greatest acceptance speech I've ever heard) and to the Mythbusters.

This year though the award is being given to Seth McFarlane. While the award is really not all that well known, and I guess ultimately meaningless overall, McFarlane winning just does not sit well with me. The winners in years past have been writers and entertainers who have promoted the value of Humanist and atheist philosophies and scientific inquiry. McFarlane though has made a career not of necessarily promoting these philosophies but rather ripping on others for cheap humor. Dis-respecting other peoples faiths is counterproductive, adds nothing of worth to the conversation, and I'm really quite suprised that they have chosen McFarlane for recognition.

I like the Mythbusters pick, those guys are pretty cool, but I second the thumbs down for McFarlane. Good voice actor, but his comedy is making america dumber.

 

[Manic]

MacFarlane got an award? For what, making Brian an idiotic atheist in Family Guy?

When I say Brian is an "idiotic" atheist, I mean that he's a fictional character who claims to be an atheist in a fictional environment in which proof of God's existence is readily available. When God goes to your bowling alley and you've had dinner with Jesus, it's time to drink the kool-aid.

There's nothing wrong with atheism in real life, but it's just profoundly stupid in some fictional scenarios.

 

[WildcatNC]

That's deism. Deism is essentially the belief in some sort of higher power. As opposed to theism, which is organized religion.

Atheism is generally defined as the rejection of religion. The term was used by religious people in ancient Greece to refer to people who (allegedly) rejected the gods. It was a pejorative. It's always been a loaded term.

But yes, money pretty much guides all humans.

Yea. I'm pretty much a Deist. I'm the spiritual but not religious type.

I do have a disdain for organized religion for the most part though and am a big science guy.

 

[DBryan]

I had been an atheist since I was about 10 or 11. I am 30 now. It lasted up until September of last year when I became aware of God's love for me. As far as Austin goes, this is a very liberal place. It is hard to talk about Jesus outside of a church here. I lived for a short while in Portland, OR where I was in a band with a couple of guys who were Christian and a very good friend of mine was also a Christian kept in touch with me while I was away. They never judged me or felt the need to point out my faults or anything. I, much like the typical atheist, had an "I live a more moral life that most Christians do anyway" mentality about life during that time. It wasn't until one Friday night in September, about a year and a half after I moved back to Austin from Portland, when my good friend's dad invited me over to their house after she had moved away to go to bible college that I began my new walk. It was a home group bible study and I honestly went not because I "felt a calling" or some sort of spiritual tugging at my soul... I was just tired of spending money on booze Friday nights and needed a break. And I figured since I already befriended Christians before, this wouldn't be so bad. Also, as an atheist, I also felt it important for me to study the bible a lot more. It made me feel like I had the opposing team's playbook. The study was on God's love. There was one question and one statement that really unlocked my way of thinking. The question was "Have you ever experienced the love of God through someone?" I automatically thought of my Portland band mates Jason and Vlad and my good friend Leah. The statement was "There are those people who are aware of the love of God... and those who are unaware"
Taking a sort of philosophical approach to that statement I really meditated on it and it made sense to me. It wasn't so much about believing or not believing... Once I based it on awareness it led me to different avenues that I had never gone down before. It piqued my interest further and I began to read more and more of the bible and the word of God really began to take root in my life and really change things. What some people don't realize, though, is that the awakening of the holy spirit in me didn't magically make my life perfect. 3 months after I became saved I underwent gallbladder surgery. It sucked, but not as much as 2 months after that when I was diagnosed with cancer. During that time, also, I was ridiculed at work and abandoned by a lot of my friends. It was honestly a true test of my faith. But God is a god of restoration and renewal. During the recovery period of my 2nd surgery, my brother and father reconciled an absence of communication and hugged for the first time in 7 years. My father also became saved and is now more a part of my life than he ever was before. This is just a fraction of the work that has begun to move in me. I don't know all the answers, nor will I claim to have them, but... as a former atheist I have to say that my way of thinking was from a place of ignorance. It is very hard for a man to learn scripture and not feel something stir in them. Every man has a God shaped void which cannot be filled by any created thing but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.
Sorry this is so long.. its not really a short answer.

There's a couple of ways this story can be taken.

No offense, but it just really, REALLY sounds like you're very suggestable.

 

[redhawk23]

I have basically no problem if other find solace in faith, but what infuriates me is when people assume or even try to tell me that I have an emptiness in mylife, that I am somehow not whole because I do not follow the same ideologies as them. Its such crap.

 

[chaseter]

That is stupid. I hate people that push their religion down your throat and I hate people that tell me that having faith is stupid or a waste of time. If only everyone just left everyone alone.