On God; have you switched camps?

[Desmo]

Reading the current religion thread and whilst viewing the usual arguments I was pondering if it was an argument that can't be won.
So I thought I would pose the question. What persuaded you to swap camps?
Were you an atheist who got given a great sales pitch by a JW? Perhaps you saw a miracle that to you was irrefutable proof of your new deity.
Conversely, were you a devout person who saw a different kind of light?
Interested in your experiences.

[Jasmineee]

I'm not too sure if I was ever "converted" in the first place.

[Desmo]

Well thanks for your insightful and in depth account.

[kale]

Do you want to kick it off with your experiences Desmo?

[Twigs]

I was an atheist up until about 15. I converted to christianity after being at my private school and finding peace in a way I'd never found it before.
At year 11 camp I had an "encounter" at some point sitting in a dark cave and we were all instructed to call out to God. In doing so my hands became extremely sweaty and my legs began to twitch as if something wanted me to move.
I've since thought about it and realised it was a spasm in my thighs...their was nothing there. I'm no longer a Christian as I used it as a way to find happiness after being depressed and sad for a long time.
Looking at some situations on the world inflicted on people I wonder "well if their IS a God- why does he let this happen?"
And that's what made me change my mind.

[agrid]

Never was a believer, never will be.

[Cap'n James086]

It's not really a great tale of "conversion" but I'll share my history of religious interaction.

My parents were atheists, but as far as I can remember I was never told that there is no god, it was just never brought up. In primary school I was taught the nativity as fact and there were several very Christian teachers (public school) who taught various other bits of the Bible. There was also "Supa Club" which was essentially a Bible class with games and lollies as incentive. I attended Supa Club once but I didn't really want to sit through the stories so never got into it. Up until about year 7 I believed the Bible was true and that there was a god. Some time around year 9/10 (14/15 years old) I had a bit of a think about the Bible and read some of it but ended up finding a Christian website for teens that had it written in plain English. I found it ridiculous and felt angry that I'd been told it was true by teachers at primary school. Since then I've been atheist, I think that religion is a terrible burden on humanity. I don't like to get involved in discussions on it however as I tend to offend people. I think it's foolish to believe in such stories that are so obviously made up. I've had some fun with door knockers but generally I won't speak up in a discussion until something blatantly wrong is said that I can't leave uncorrected.

Edit: For clarification: I don't believe there is a god. I acknowledge that there might be one, but since I see no evidence for one I don't believe it's there. The same way I don't believe there's a Ferrari in my garage. It's possible some millionaire has mistakenly (and quietly) switched my Lancer for his F430 but I see nothing to suggest that it's happened so I don't believe it has.

[Jasmineee]

Like Cap'n James086 it's not a great tale of conversion and as stated before I'm not too sure if I was ever "converted" in the first place.

I grew up in a Christian home and went to Sunday School (Child's version of Church with food, colour pencils, colouring in sheets, movies and memory verses) every weekend. In my adolescent years I was still doing the same thing minus "Sunday School" and I found myself being more involved; attending church camps/ conferences and weekly youth group sessions. Over time I started to ponder on the answers of my many questions such as Is there a God? Why am I taking notes in church? Why do I go to church every Sunday? Why am I eating this "bread" and drinking this "blood" every month? Where are my tithes and offerings really going? Am I just being a sheep?

I was always a back seater and refused to sit at the front; I played my handheld console and listened to my mp3. When I got my license it was then I stopped going to church on a regular basis. After a while I stopped going altogether but still went out every Sunday so it appeared I went to church. When quizzed about whether I went or which Pastor spoke I would often reply with "Why are you spying on me?"; a period of 2 years and incessant hassling passed and I decided to go back to Church.

I can recall many instances where I thought to myself if a "Christian" would ever handle a certain situation in this way; too many to describe but I'll tell a few.

One time during a Sunday morning Church worship session my friend and I as usual were seated at the back of the lecture hall (Our church at the time was hiring out the same university lecture theatre every Sunday for a number of years). The worship leader asked for people to come to the alter for prayer; after prayer or a word from the spirit they would leave. Now if you've been in this setting before you know how it usually goes (Person who is being prayed for has their hands open like they're holding an imaginary bowl and the person praying for them is usually infront/ behind with a hand hovering where ever.. Sometimes the person who is being prayed for, the "spirit" might enter them and they fall or drop to the floor and lie there or start shaking - majority of the time someone is usually behind that person to catch them). There was this one time where this man was receiving prayer and suddenly fell backwards hitting his head on the table. In the split moments afterwards I gasped in horror then starting laughing. Was it wrong as a Christian to laugh at somebody who had just injured themselves? I don't know. Probably.

Another time during one Sunday morning I was out and about on the university's grounds with 3 other individuals. Their was a man who didn't like smoking out in the open and would sneak away and smoke; one time we followed him. We came out from hiding and caught him; he ran after the 2 males and starting chucking little rocks at them. Was it wrong for them to provoke him? I don't know but it was damn funny to watch at the time.

[D'Artagnan]

Yes. I was a 'Christian', went to church and a religious school. Growing up and seeing the flip-flop attitude and disregard for the very scriptures taught to me, I decided to search for some answers. And whilst I believe there is more to the universe than either side can answer, I can live with the science view of 'we don't know' vs the church view of 'God is the answer'...

I continue my search for answers but I'll ask for them, I don't need someone telling me their view IS the answer.

[tonka128]

I was bought up very “fundamental” christian... think sorta baptist without the funny scarfs, and then a bit “deeper” (church 4 times a week, no TV, no radio,no alcohol... sheltered)

I never really rebelled early, got to my 20's and drifted away.(with the fairies? Lots of drinking /drugs /rebelling)

Got pretty good at doing depression mid 20's and ended up moving back in with parents while I sorted my life out... and ended up back at church for a while..

It never really felt right to me and I always felt more like a visitor..

Early 30's (back on my own feet and away from the church by choice) I decided to do a lot of research and training around the mind and how it works, which also led me into things like NLP/ Hypnosis /Quantam Physics etc...

There are also some pretty eye opening documentaries out there once you get in the space to be able to watch them openly...

For me its still an ongoing process, and I feel like even little things like the last thread help me get more clarity..

Now if you were to ask me.. I dont subscribe to any of the “gods” out there. I am not athiest, I do believe there is some higher order, I am comfortable with the tag “the universe” things are connected in a way we dont see yet or can explain...

so its been a fairly intense ride..

It also gave me a fairly sensitive “religious radar” - I feel the sermon coming before the person even gets in first gear!!!

Edit: oh and no fuckin swearing!!

[chew]

We were raised as most were in my childhood era in W.A. as christians, became a confirmed catholic at 11 years old or thereabouts. It was about this time our parents advised we were old enough to form our own views and we had push bikes. Never went near church again except for the odd wedding and funeral. Mum remains a little more churchy than Dad but neither are regular Church goers. Always seemed like a major suck session to me. If there is a deity, I doubt it wants us grovelling to it.

I always find it laughable that our society is supposedly based on Judeo-Christian beliefs yet I see little evidence of this in day to day life, unless I missed the bit about everyman for themselves. I do respect other peoples choices and have seen the good that comes from a belief system based on religion as well as the downside.

As stated in the other thread, I think we all know what is right and wrong and if there is an afterlife I'll deal with it if I get there. In the meantime dont be an arsehole.

[NanoBear]

my primary school had religious education classed that bordered on brain-washing, but at that age if the teachers said it, I was willing to believe it. It was also backed up by my hyper-religious grandparents. No one really converted me to atheism, I just started to question the logic and believability of Christianity for myself by the time I got to about 10 years old. Once I started thinking logically about it, it just made no sense to me.

[Ken Oath]

Was a good little Catholic, altar boy etc.

But what changed it all??? A Catholic education, best cure for Catholicism, (read religion) ever invented.

[Jamathi]

There has to be an Italian God, as Ducati , MV Agusta, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Megghelli are just awsome.
Plus finally the poof Valentino Rossi has been exposed as a tool of a bike rider and his BUMMIBANDIT take me anyway but straight boy assistant as a BS hairdresser/stylist!
AMEN!

[Brougham]

Wtf....?

[RRossi]

python.jpg

Yep

Judean People's Front to the People's Front of Judea



RR

[Captain Starfish]

Don't ever change, meneer...

[Fastgirl]

There has to be an Italian God, as Ducati , MV Agusta, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Megghelli are just awsome.
Plus finally the poof Valentino Rossi has been exposed as a tool of a bike rider and his BUMMIBANDIT take me anyway but straight boy assistant as a BS hairdresser/stylist!
AMEN!

huh.

[Desmo]

Do you want to kick it off with your experiences Desmo?

I am not and never have bee a pious man, I was more interested in other's stories.
I was hoping we would have some converts to religion chime in, I wanted to hear about some miracles.

[dr00]

my dad has always been religious and used to read us bible stories as bed time stories etc. but he always made it clear that it was a choice for us to make and never had us christened or anything. i dont even think i was 10 when i started asking how dinosaurs fit into the whole seven days of creation thing. i got some wishy washy answer about days not being days or something and that was the first little crack in the dam wall. at a very young age it was quite clear to me that the bible was complete nonsense but i still thought there must be some kind of higher being because... there just had to be. as i learned more about science that belief disappeared pretty quickly as well.

im agnostic though not atheist. my mind is always open...