No, that is not what it means. What it means is that the religious thrall was broken. I understand your need to believe that but it was precisely that attitude that made me aware of what brainwashing really is and how it works.

I have become agnostic. I have broken the hold of the cult. I hold on to those aspects of Christianity that Christ promoted because they are rational and positive but I have divorced myself from the hierarchy. I have come to understand many of the hows and the whys and, in the light of those, see myself as searching for truth rather than announcing to all who will listen that I have found it.

The only requirement to follow Christ is the willingness to do so and the sad thing is as an atheist I am probably closer to being a Christian than the majority of so called Christians on this board. And recognizing who is and who isn't a Christian isn't hard Blade. For example, someone who will refuse service to a homosexual for simply wanting to marry the one they love yet will vote for an adulterer who's shown no contrition for his sin isn't following in the path Christ laid out for them therefore isn't a Christian. This isn't a matter of 'knowing it all' but simply asking the question what would Christ do and than doing it.

As a young man, I was an ardent Christian. At age fourteen, I was leading Sunday evening services in our fundamentalist church, appointed to do so by our pastor and approved by the church board. The Bible was always at my right hand and I could provide a ready verse to answer most any question.

Then one day, I was summoned to the church in the middle of the week. I was pleased to be regarded in such manner that my presence was requested at a special meeting. Beaming with pride, I entered the sanctuary and took a seat as I was directed.

It was only moments before it became clear that my presence there had an ominous tone to it. I had been summoned, not as a valued member of the congregation but as the accused at an inquisition. I had no idea why I was there and no one was explaining anything. I had arrived in time for the sentencing.

I was summarily expelled from the church along with the entire family of a friend. The pastor's parting words to us were that God grants the power to his ministers to pray for the removal of 'thorns in his side'. I was sixteen at that time, a dedicated Christian, and I had just been threatened with Heavenly retribution for a crime I was still ignorant of having committed.

It was several days later when I finally learned of the terrible deeds I had reportedly taken part in.

My friend and another boy, also a friend, had collected several empty liquor bottles and, as a prank had placed them on the parsonage outside front stairs. When the pastor awoke in the morning and found the collection in his doorway, he was furious. He established an investigation, uncovered the part played by my co-ejectee and under pressure to disclose his partner in this crime, my friend named me.

If I was truly innocent, why was I named? Because the actual perpetrator of the crime, the coconspirator in the dastardly deed was the steady boyfriend of the minister's oldest daughter. Had my friend named him, the repercussions on that relationship would have been devastating and he didn't want that responsibility.

I eventually was allowed to rejoin the church but the experience broke my hold on religious devotion. I was then free to consider issues my previous mindset would not allow.

The general behavior of professing Christians, like too many of those posting here, was remarkably un-Christlike. They demonstrated a cavalier disregard for the admonitions of Christ to humility, temperance in all things and service to God and fellow man. They were arrogant, abrasive and discourteous to the point of being ready and willing to cast the first stone and relishing the act with a viciousness that has also become far too common here. Too many of them seem to view Christ's sacrifice as nothing more than a 'get out of Hell free card'. As long as their prayers include a mandatory mea culpa each night, they can continue their selfish and abusive behavior with abandon.

I have abandoned Christianity because it has become a jealous hag where once it was a powerful warrior of the Word. The Shepard's flock is now mostly ravenous wolves in sheep's garb, pretenders whose aim is no longer to serve God and fellow man but to chastise, abuse and belittle. They personify the Pharisee's prayer...

No, not all Christians behave poorly. The church's foundation is still solid but the structure is in serious need of renovation. Meanwhile, I continue to look for substance in this universe but find very little.

As a young man, I was an ardent Christian. At age fourteen, I was leading Sunday evening services in our fundamentalist church, appointed to do so by our pastor and approved by the church board. The Bible was always at my right hand and I could provide a ready verse to answer most any question.

Then one day, I was summoned to the church in the middle of the week. I was pleased to be regarded in such manner that my presence was requested at a special meeting. Beaming with pride, I entered the sanctuary and took a seat as I was directed.

It was only moments before it became clear that my presence there had an ominous tone to it. I had been summoned, not as a valued member of the congregation but as the accused at an inquisition. I had no idea why I was there and no one was explaining anything. I had arrived in time for the sentencing.

I was summarily expelled from the church along with the entire family of a friend. The pastor's parting words to us were that God grants the power to his ministers to pray for the removal of 'thorns in his side'. I was sixteen at that time, a dedicated Christian, and I had just been threatened with Heavenly retribution for a crime I was still ignorant of having committed.

It was several days later when I finally learned of the terrible deeds I had reportedly taken part in.

My friend and another boy, also a friend, had collected several empty liquor bottles and, as a prank had placed them on the parsonage outside front stairs. When the pastor awoke in the morning and found the collection in his doorway, he was furious. He established an investigation, uncovered the part played by my co-ejectee and under pressure to disclose his partner in this crime, my friend named me.

If I was truly innocent, why was I named? Because the actual perpetrator of the crime, the coconspirator in the dastardly deed was the steady boyfriend of the minister's oldest daughter. Had my friend named him, the repercussions on that relationship would have been devastating and he didn't want that responsibility.

I eventually was allowed to rejoin the church but the experience broke my hold on religious devotion. I was then free to consider issues my previous mindset would not allow.

The general behavior of professing Christians, like too many of those posting here, was remarkably un-Christlike. They demonstrated a cavalier disregard for the admonitions of Christ to humility, temperance in all things and service to God and fellow man. They were arrogant, abrasive and discourteous to the point of being ready and willing to cast the first stone and relishing the act with a viciousness that has also become far too common here. Too many of them seem to view Christ's sacrifice as nothing more than a 'get out of Hell free card'. As long as their prayers include a mandatory mea culpa each night, they can continue their selfish and abusive behavior with abandon.

I have abandoned Christianity because it has become a jealous hag where once it was a powerful warrior of the Word. The Shepard's flock is now mostly ravenous wolves in sheep's garb, pretenders whose aim is no longer to serve God and fellow man but to chastise, abuse and belittle. They personify the Pharisee's prayer...

No, not all Christians behave poorly. The church's foundation is still solid but the structure is in serious need of renovation. Meanwhile, I continue to look for substance in this universe but find very little.

A very interesting story. It could even be true. I have no idea. I have found that the most Christian hating Atheists I have ever come across are people who grew up in overbearing religious circumstances. So maybe it is true. Then there are those of us who had crazy religious grandparents that caused us to reject God for a while. However, then life happens and eventually you find your way back. You find a different Church, another way.

What I never did was go over to the anti Christian, anti American Left wing idiots. Just like the most anti Communists are former Communists, the most fervent anti Christians are former Christians. We hope they those former Christians find their way back. I guess life hasn't happened to them yet.

I luv to talk to atheists. When I finish with the numbers and how all this is fit together, they walkaway ' scratching their heads' in wonderment.
7 colors in rainbow; 7 notes on musical scale, 7 oceans, 7 continents, 7 days in week, to name but 5
I don't even explain how in the development of a fetus in the womb certain things are completed in multiples of 7 or how a woman's system changes
based on 7. eg. 2 x 7 = 14 years they can conceive. 4 X 7 days they have a cleansing cycle or 7 x 7 years = age 49 and Menopause sets in.
I don't go into the days it takes for chickens, ducks or geese to had in their shells, all multiples of the number 7...

Then I ask:" Is this ALL mere ' coincidence ' or was there an ' intelligent design"?
A ' Great Spirit ' aka GOD.
It's fun (:-))

Religion - all religions - are (ab)used to control their followers' lives. The original purpose of religion, to get together to worship The Creator is lost, and forgotten. In the Roman Catholic Church, the pope is interfering in politics today, something never dreamed of only a few years ago. Like everything man-made, religion is deteriorating to the point of irrelevance. Look at islam. A vile and hateful excuse to rape, pillage and murder.
Personally, I refuse to attend any kind of religious ceremony, but I do believe in a greater Deity. And I still respect others for their beliefs, because that is a God-given right. I hope I'm wrong, but I've seen no reason to change my way of thinking.

As a young man, I was an ardent Christian. At age fourteen, I was leading Sunday evening services in our fundamentalist church, appointed to do so by our pastor and approved by the church board. The Bible was always at my right hand and I could provide a ready verse to answer most any question.

Then one day, I was summoned to the church in the middle of the week. I was pleased to be regarded in such manner that my presence was requested at a special meeting. Beaming with pride, I entered the sanctuary and took a seat as I was directed.

It was only moments before it became clear that my presence there had an ominous tone to it. I had been summoned, not as a valued member of the congregation but as the accused at an inquisition. I had no idea why I was there and no one was explaining anything. I had arrived in time for the sentencing.

I was summarily expelled from the church along with the entire family of a friend. The pastor's parting words to us were that God grants the power to his ministers to pray for the removal of 'thorns in his side'. I was sixteen at that time, a dedicated Christian, and I had just been threatened with Heavenly retribution for a crime I was still ignorant of having committed.

It was several days later when I finally learned of the terrible deeds I had reportedly taken part in.

My friend and another boy, also a friend, had collected several empty liquor bottles and, as a prank had placed them on the parsonage outside front stairs. When the pastor awoke in the morning and found the collection in his doorway, he was furious. He established an investigation, uncovered the part played by my co-ejectee and under pressure to disclose his partner in this crime, my friend named me.

If I was truly innocent, why was I named? Because the actual perpetrator of the crime, the coconspirator in the dastardly deed was the steady boyfriend of the minister's oldest daughter. Had my friend named him, the repercussions on that relationship would have been devastating and he didn't want that responsibility.

I eventually was allowed to rejoin the church but the experience broke my hold on religious devotion. I was then free to consider issues my previous mindset would not allow.

The general behavior of professing Christians, like too many of those posting here, was remarkably un-Christlike. They demonstrated a cavalier disregard for the admonitions of Christ to humility, temperance in all things and service to God and fellow man. They were arrogant, abrasive and discourteous to the point of being ready and willing to cast the first stone and relishing the act with a viciousness that has also become far too common here. Too many of them seem to view Christ's sacrifice as nothing more than a 'get out of Hell free card'. As long as their prayers include a mandatory mea culpa each night, they can continue their selfish and abusive behavior with abandon.

I have abandoned Christianity because it has become a jealous hag where once it was a powerful warrior of the Word. The Shepard's flock is now mostly ravenous wolves in sheep's garb, pretenders whose aim is no longer to serve God and fellow man but to chastise, abuse and belittle. They personify the Pharisee's prayer...

No, not all Christians behave poorly. The church's foundation is still solid but the structure is in serious need of renovation. Meanwhile, I continue to look for substance in this universe but find very little.