Hello!

[T. E. Smith]

Hello everyone! To introduce myself, I'm an atheist teen living in. Kentucky. I'd been confidently religious (Baptist) up until nearly my sixteenth birthday, when my process of deconversion, which took roughly a year, began. Despite my religious beliefs, I still hold a lot of respect for the Bible and also, as best I can, for Christians even though I've had a lot of bad experiences. Looking forward to interacting with everyone!

 

[hawkman]

Welcome to the forum T. E. Smith . Glad you found us .

 

[evenifigoalone]

Hi fren!

 

[stovebolts]

Hello everyone! To introduce myself, I'm an atheist teen living in. Kentucky. I'd been confidently religious (Baptist) up until nearly my sixteenth birthday, when my process of deconversion, which took roughly a year, began. Despite my religious beliefs, I still hold a lot of respect for the Bible and also, as best I can, for Christians even though I've had a lot of bad experiences. Looking forward to interacting with everyone!

Hello and welcome. Glad your here!

 

[Vinny37]

It's easy to slip into atheism, especially if the theism side of the fence proves disappointing. When I was getting into my teens, I wished I could argue myself out of Christianity which I had entered into somewhere between years 5-7. I've still never found any convincing reason to switch sides, though, and disappointments and let-downs exist both sides of the fence. May you enjoy your interaction on this site.

 

[T. E. Smith]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

Christianity which I had entered into somewhere between years 5-7

I never can remember having accepted Christ or entering faith, I just always had it from my parents (until I was sixteen). Some Christians will tell me that that means I was never a Christian. I consider those Christians extremely arrogant to think they can say that.

 

[eddif]

Welcome.

I noticed you jumped into reading the Bible. Observing creation is a source of information. Look at Romans 1:20

eddif

 

[Niblo]

Hello everyone! To introduce myself, I'm an atheist teen living in. Kentucky. I'd been confidently religious (Baptist) up until nearly my sixteenth birthday, when my process of deconversion, which took roughly a year, began. Despite my religious beliefs, I still hold a lot of respect for the Bible and also, as best I can, for Christians even though I've had a lot of bad experiences. Looking forward to interacting with everyone!

Welcome to the Forum. Hope you have a fruitful - and enjoyable - stay.

 

[for_his_glory]

Hi T. E. Smith and welcome to CF and glad to have you with us

 

[evenifigoalone]

You got any hobbies?

 

[T. E. Smith]

You got any hobbies?

Well I do a lot of computer programming, writing poetry, and reading SF novels

 

[Vinny37]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

I never can remember having accepted Christ or entering faith, I just always had it from my parents (until I was sixteen). Some Christians will tell me that that means I was never a Christian. I consider those Christians extremely arrogant to think they can say that.

I liken conversion to friendship, to the extent that sometimes it's friendship at first meeting, and sometimes it is so slowly grown into that you can't put a finger on 'entrance'. On the other hand, some are merely Churchians (a good), without entering the inner circle (Christian), the better. Ideally we should be both. I would be hesitant to pontificate one way or the other as to whether your former included the latter, and I merely put the theoretical options. That data is internal, IMO.

Personally I was little of a churchian until early teens, at which stage my dormant Christian status restarted.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

I liken conversion to friendship, to the extent that sometimes it's friendship at first meeting, and sometimes it is so slowly grown into that you can't put a finger on 'entrance'. On the other hand, some are merely Churchians (a good), without entering the inner circle (Christian), the better. Ideally we should be both. I would be hesitant to pontificate one way or the other as to whether your former included the latter, and I merely put the theoretical options. That data is internal, IMO.

Personally I was little of a churchian until early teens, at which stage my dormant Christian status restarted.

I actually would say conversion and the subsequent years are most like a parent child relationship. I experienced God reparenting me and became my father and still is. Since I am his servant and recognize his authority over my life, the friend role does not fit. If He honors me by calling me his friend, well, according to the Bible and the truth I’ve seen, that is His call alone. He determines who He feels are His friends although the standard is known.

 

[T. E. Smith]

I actually would say conversion and the subsequent years are most like a parent child relationship. I experienced God reparenting me and became my father and still is. Since I am his servant and recognize his authority over my life, the friend role does not fit. If He honors me by calling me his friend, well, according to the Bible and the truth I’ve seen, that is His call alone. He determines who He feels are His friends although the standard is known.

1 Corinthians 3:9: "For we are God's co-workers."

Every relationship parallels that with God. In the Bible, God is compared to a husband, and Israel/the church to the bride. God is also a parent, and we're his children. God is also our master (lord and master same word in Greek, and Paul often calls himself a slave of God). And God is also our co-worker, since Christians work with him in sharing the gospel.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

1 Corinthians 3:9: "For we are God's co-workers."

This is where I am pushed to be a bit critical of my fellow Christians but I think you’ll identify what kind I mean. This likely cannot be said of those who have a Christianity where they assume they are always on the receiving end. There are those who think and teach that all God wants is to spend time with them, bless them, make their lives better. They are not co-laborers with God as they don’t labor at all. Theirs is a “free grace” relieving them of all labor.

Every relationship parallels that with God. In the Bible, God is compared to a husband, and Israel/the church to the bride.

To a manner of speaking.

God is also a parent, and we're his children. God is also our master (lord and master same word in Greek, and Paul often calls himself a slave of God). And God is also our co-worker, since Christians work with him in sharing the gospel.

Jesus called him Father and I think he’s the best example of how that relationship ought to be so I’m sticking with that.

 

[T. E. Smith]

This is where I am pushed to be a bit critical of my fellow Christians but I think you’ll identify what kind I mean. This likely cannot be said of those who have a Christianity where they assume they are always on the receiving end. There are those who think and teach that all God wants is to spend time with them, bless them, make their lives better. They are not co-laborers with God as they don’t labor at all. Theirs is a “free grace” relieving them of all labor.

That is the underlying root of Calvinism, Christians who want God to do everything for them.

Jesus called him Father and I think he’s the best example of how that relationship ought to be so I’m sticking with that.

Yes and Christians are said to be his brothers.

To a manner of speaking.

The comparison fills the Tanakh and the New Testament.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

That is the underlying root of Calvinism, Christians who want God to do everything for them.

Correct, even pick them out for Heaven before they’re born.

Yes and Christians are said to be his brothers.

They are also servants although that term is not popular anymore. Today’s christian’s like “friend” or “brother” or any word making them equal.

The comparison fills the Tanakh and the New Testament.

Words used to describe that relationship fall short to some degree and they in no way limit it to the normal human experience. The heart of any real relationship with God stands entirely upon our degree of obedience. This is obedience of a kind only seen in parent offspring not spouse nor friend nor sibling. It is an aspect necessary for the other interactions with God.

 

[JLB]

1 Corinthians 3:9: "For we are God's co-workers."

Every relationship parallels that with God. In the Bible, God is compared to a husband, and Israel/the church to the bride. God is also a parent, and we're his children. God is also our master (lord and master same word in Greek, and Paul often calls himself a slave of God). And God is also our co-worker, since Christians work with him in sharing the gospel.

Are you sure you are not a Christian?


Welcome, and I’m glad you found us.





JLB

 

[T. E. Smith]

Are you sure you are not a Christian?


Welcome, and I’m glad you found us.





JLB

I'm not, but I know a good bit of biblical theology.

 

[T. E. Smith]

Welcome.

I noticed you jumped into reading the Bible. Observing creation is a source of information. Look at Romans 1:20

eddif

Yes for a short time I was a deist and thought I could learn about God through creation. That was until I learned of evolution's truth.