Ex Christians

[thau]

Thank God, I thought no one else noticed how he assumed so much about Satanism then turned around and said that.

I receive my knowledge and understanding about Satan and his many variations from the one and only God who created him and all things. I do not have any need or desire to seek out the devil himself to see what he’s all about. You act as though only those who practice some form of Satanism can know anything about that evil creature? I can assure you that Catholic exorcisms are very real and the devil is very manifest in that room. The documentation of eye witnesses to those events alone should be quite enough to make a sane person go blanch with fear.

Who says that God/Satan doesn't hold us accountable for our actions? I think that if someone is a jerk, that by virtue of people's nature someone will get even with them. We all have to live with the consequences of our actions, and I think those consequences are the way that we are held accountable.

Quite honestly, I have little idea where you are coming from or where you are headed? You tell us some things but avoid going deeper. I do not know what kind of “satan” you serve, what you believe about the after life, where you think you will be, and what it will be like, and why you would ever want to be such a brave traveler as that? So given the fact I do not know enough, from what I do know I think you are trying to impress yourself or someone else by endeavoring in a dangerous game risking eternal fates.

 

[jasonwill2]

I receive my knowledge and understanding about Satan and his many variations from the one and only God who created him and all things.

I don't believe that Satan was created, being in many ways synonymous with the first cause.

I do not have any need or desire to seek out the devil himself to see what he’s all about. You act as though only those who practice some form of Satanism can know anything about that evil creature?

Who said he was evil? I don't think that. Neutral I believe actually, both to humans and in general. Also anyone who studies it knows that "Satan" started out as just a title. Him being evil didn't develop until Christianity (actually it wasn't a 'him' until Christianity either but multiple persons and angels working for Yahweh), even Judaism doesn't think it always equals evil.

I can assure you that Catholic exorcisms are very real and the devil is very manifest in that room. The documentation of eye witnesses to those events alone should be quite enough to make a sane person go blanch with fear.

Luckily I don't believe you, nor the eye witnesses. Besides, who says it was Satan doing it anyway? Dogma doesn't answer the question that perhaps there are more than two sides. There are thousands of competing sides in my opinion, all spirits and gods out for themselves.

Quite honestly, I have little idea where you are coming from or where you are headed? You tell us some things but avoid going deeper. I do not know what kind of “satan” you serve, what you believe about the after life, where you think you will be, and what it will be like, and why you would ever want to be such a brave traveler as that?

I already said I don't believe in Hell. If you want something more specific:

http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2993751-post30.html

Though I don't think I have the new, heavily revised and much simpler chart up yet. I'm still debating in my mind if I regret adding the last point in the last article though.

So given the fact I do not know enough, from what I do know I think you are trying to impress yourself or someone else by endeavoring in a dangerous game risking eternal fates.

Quite honestly, and I have no doubt about this belief, I do not believe in Hell. I do not think there is any danger because when I say "Satan" I am not talking about the "Satan" that you are. They have some overlap, but are otherwise completely different ideas. I also do not need to impress anyone, that isn't my intention. I've been involved in Satanism for over a year and a half now, and I don't see any signs of leaving anytime soon.

 

[Curious George]

correct me if I am wrong please,

But Satanists in general chose "Satan" because of the power that the word was given by the Christian religion and as a representation of denouncing Christian beliefs which are considered by Satanists to be restrictive, shameful, and instill weakness.

In that religion, which has many circles, the groups who still hold true to the original dogma set forth by the religion believe in being "good" and "strong" by their own definition. They just see good and strong differently than most conventional religions. Concepts such as turning the other cheek are turned on end although there is still room for forgiveness.

 

[jasonwill2]

correct me if I am wrong please,

But Satanists in general chose "Satan" because of the power that the word was given by the Christian religion and as a representation of denouncing Christian beliefs which are considered by Satanists to be restrictive, shameful, and instill weakness.

I wouldn't say so from my experience.

In that religion, which has many circles, the groups who still hold true to the original dogma set forth by the religion believe in being "good" and "strong" by their own definition.

What dogma? There are so many.

They just see good and strong differently than most conventional religions. Concepts such as turning the other cheek are turned on end although there is still room for forgiveness.

That really depends.


-=--==--=

Try these links:

The varieties of theistic ("traditional") Satanism

Theistic Satanism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ok... I swear I'm tired of not being able to find new sites. I had to fall back on wikipedia again. I can't recall any of the more obscure sites. I'm starting my own site as soon as possible -.-

 

[Curious George]

I wouldn't say so from my experience.

What dogma? There are so many.

That really depends.


-=--==--=

Try these links:

The varieties of theistic ("traditional") Satanism

Theistic Satanism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ok... I swear I'm tired of not being able to find new sites. I had to fall back on wikipedia again. I can't recall any of the more obscure sites. I'm starting my own site as soon as possible -.-

Thank you

 

[Jacksnyte]

Here are two of my favourite variations of Satanism:

Satanic Reds

LUCIFER, CHURCH LUCIFER

 

[InfidelRiot]

So I've read a couple of posts about people claiming to be "ex christians" and I'm curious as to what they mean exactly.

I was born, baptized, and raised Roman Catholic. The family believed in God, but we stopped going to church when I was in elementary school.

Fast forward to high school. I met a friend whom I told I was gay, and she was fine with it. She invited me to church. I went. I became a Pentacostal in to appease her idea that I could fight my homosexuality. One day, the pastor of the church invited me to the front and said that I needed help in fighting the demons that were plaguing me. I looked over at her and knew that she was the problem.

I did not leave the church and my faith because of her. Rather, while in college I discovered Robert Green Ingersoll. It was his writings that made me think and realize how religion is merely a con.

 

[1robin]

I was born, baptized, and raised Roman Catholic. The family believed in God, but we stopped going to church when I was in elementary school.

Fast forward to high school. I met a friend whom I told I was gay, and she was fine with it. She invited me to church. I went. I became a Pentacostal in to appease her idea that I could fight my homosexuality. One day, the pastor of the church invited me to the front and said that I needed help in fighting the demons that were plaguing me. I looked over at her and knew that she was the problem.

I did not leave the church and my faith because of her. Rather, while in college I discovered Robert Green Ingersoll. It was his writings that made me think and realize how religion is merely a con.

There is nothing here that matches with what the bible clearly states as to what makes someone a Christian. That requires a new birth and in no way does belonging to a church, professions of faith, even water baptism, reading the bible, being good or any other act substitute for the born agian event. Keep in mind I am not saying anything moral about you just what the bible clearly says about becomeing a Christian.

 

[waitasec]

There is nothing here that matches with what the bible clearly states as to what makes someone a Christian. That requires a new birth and in no way does belonging to a church, professions of faith, even water baptism, reading the bible, being good or any other act substitute for the born agian event. Keep in mind I am not saying anything moral about you just what the bible clearly says about becomeing a Christian.

that's funny...the bible doesn't clearly state anything

 

[9Westy9]

There is nothing here that matches with what the bible clearly states as to what makes someone a Christian. That requires a new birth and in no way does belonging to a church, professions of faith, even water baptism, reading the bible, being good or any other act substitute for the born agian event. Keep in mind I am not saying anything moral about you just what the bible clearly says about becomeing a Christian.

and how do we determine a person has gone through a "new birth"?

 

[9Westy9]

that's funny...the bible doesn't clearly state anything

I wanted to frubal this. Unfortunately, I am unable

 

[1robin]

and how do we determine a person has gone through a "new birth"?

Because the experience matches the description and implications given in the bible. The fact a specific road map leads someone to have a decribed experience means no other explenation is a candidate. The experience is only accessable to that individual and God, by design in my opinion, as such it can't be evaluated by another. That is why I sad that nothing described in that post was what the bible says salvation is, and I did not say that that person was or was not a Christian because the experience missing from his post is not accessable to me. To say after that experience makes one a Christian that they no longer believe is to deny that which made the premise true. It is a strange claim to me.

 

[9Westy9]

Because the experience matches the description and implications given in the bible. The fact a specific road map leads someone to have a decribed experience means no other explenation is a candidate. The experience is only accessable to that individual and God, by design in my opinion, as such it can't be evaluated by another. That is why I sad that nothing described in that post was what the bible says salvation is, and I did not say that that person was or was not a Christian because the experience missing from his post is not accessable to me. To say after that experience makes one a Christian that they no longer believe is to deny that which made the premise true. It is a strange claim to me.

so then, what experience do people who have a new birth have? Just list a few

 

[1robin]

so then, what experience do people who have a new birth have? Just list a few

The guilt of many years of built up sin is removed, depression associated with loss is removed or lessened, the chains of habitual sins are broken, the Holy Sprit comes to live in our heart, the fear of death is removed or lessened, the concience is quickened (for lack of a better word), there are many other aspects that can't be described etc......... There are sites I have used in preparring papers people have asked me to write that are mainly just recollections of the event by hundreds of people. Since I know you are looking for something to arbitrarily nit-pick (and that is ok by me, but wouldn't matter if it wasn't) I won't get any more detailed here westy.

 

[9Westy9]

The guilt of many years of built up sin is removed, depression associated with loss is removed or lessened, the chains of habitual sins are broken, the Holy Sprit comes to live in our heart, the fear of death is removed or lessened, the concience is quickened (for lack of a better word), there are many other aspects that can't be described etc......... There are sites I have used in preparring papers people have asked me to write that are mainly just recollections of the event by hundreds of people. Since I know you are looking for something to arbitrarily nit-pick (and that is ok by me, but wouldn't matter if it wasn't) I won't get any more detailed here westy.

well based on the ones you listed there I think it's safe to say that I went through "new birth" when I was a Christian.

 

[1robin]

well based on the ones you listed there I think it's safe to say that I went through "new birth" when I was a Christian.

Well what the heck? I was all geared up for some kind of unjustified dismissal of the issue and this is what I got instead. Ok, let me get this straight. God showed up in the spiritual form of Christ and gave you this life altering, never again the same, momentous experience gained by faith in what the bible claims and now you no longer believe he exists. Keep in mind I think this is techinacally possible but about the most irrational thing I know of or could even invent. It is the equivalent of being sick and having faith medicine will cure you and so you take it and it does cure you only to decide later that doctors and medicine do not exist. What am I missing here?

 

[9Westy9]

Well what the heck? I was all geared up for some kind of unjustified dismissal of the issue and this is what I got instead.

I'm full of surprises

Ok, let me get this straight. God showed up in the spiritual form of Christ and gave you this life altering, never again the same, momentous experience gained by faith in what the bible claims and now you no longer believe he exists.

define "spiritual form". Plus everything you just mentioned above was not mentioned in your previous post.

 

[1robin]

I'm full of surprises

Apparently.

define "spiritual form". Plus everything you just mentioned above was not mentioned in your previous post.

Spiritual form is a form of "person" that has no material substance but has reason, mind, and is capable of influencing the environment. You asked my what it felt like or consisted of in one post and then I stated how it happens in the other. Of course they are not the same, the first is what happens and the second is how, the why occured over two thousand years ago.

 

[9Westy9]

Spiritual form is a form of "person" that has no material substance but has reason, mind, and is capable of influencing the environment.

So it's sort of like a supernatural experience. Like interacting with a ghost or something?

 

[1robin]

So it's sort of like a supernatural experience. Like interacting with a ghost or something?

I see you have lost none of your tenacity. It is not like it is a supernatural experience. I do not believe in ghosts. Demons yes, but the felt like part would be the opposite. If you claim to have had this experience why all the questions? I think I smell an ineffective trap in the near future.