has there ever been a case of a born again being converted to atheism?

[mopaul]

yes, millions, myself included. i was 16 when i was born again in a southern baptist church near st. louis. i accepted the lord jesus christ as my personal saviour, i cried, i felt a great spritual connection, i felt the rush of religiosity deeply, profoundly, and sincerely.

yet, here i am today, all these years later, a happy atheist, totally uneffected by my born again experience.

and my brother, never was too religious, and having a terrible reaction to some very strong LSD i gave him, was born again in a drug induced trance all alone at 4 a.m. out on the street. that was 33 years ago, and although he's given up all drugs, he is a total zombie for christ.


i'm living proof that there is hope for those whose minds and souls have been snatched away from them by a momentary rapturous experience. people can change, if they want to, but if they don't want to, they wont', ever.

[swag]

1. me three

[On the Road]

15. Me Four

[Stephanie]

2. there are many support groups for ex-fundamentalists

http://www.fundamentalists-anonymous.org/

MORE RESOURCES FOR RECOVERY FROM RELIGION
Helpful Links for those Leaving Fundamentalism
by Edward T. Babinski and Kenneth Nahigian
http://edwardtbabinski.us/fundamentalists/helpful_links.html
Some of the websites listed feature the testimonies of former fundamentalists which some might find interesting, or which they might like to visit in order to add their own stories. Some might like to connect their own websites to a particular "ring" listed.

Recognizing Religious Addiction
What is Religious Addiction, and what are the Symptoms?

Getting Treatment for Religious Addiction
To support individuals who have chosen to abstain, or are considering abstinence from any type of addictive behavior, (substances or activities), by teaching how to change self-defeating thinking, emotions, and actions; and to work towards long-term satisfactions and quality of life.

Rational Recovery: An Alternative to the "Twelve Steps"
http://edwardtbabinski.us/fundamentalists/alternative.html

Walk Away from Fundamentalism
This is a forum for those who have left, or considering leaving Fundamentalism
http://edwardtbabinski.us/fundamentalists/resources/walk_away_forum.html

Van Allens: Encouraging Ex-Christians
http://exchristian.com/

Articles for Women
Articles written by a woman, for women.
http://edwardtbabinski.us/fundamentalists/women.html

[seabeyond]

3. there is one on this board

she has talked about it. i dont remember who

[mopaul]

5. perhaps ladyhawk

and quite a few others too

[seabeyond]

11. it absolutely was ladyhawk

i listened to her as she did. stayed with me. last chat was surprised with atheism, but was certainly said. made me think. cause mopaul, sittin where i do i wonder. or i did lol

[MindPilot]

4. since everyone is born an atheist

only atheists can truly be "born again"

[SheepyMcSheepster]

6. count me as one of those. eom

[Dr.Phool]

9. Me too.

Another good book on the experience is "Losing Faith in Faith" by Dan Barker, and is available from the Freedom From Religion Foundation at

www.ffrf.org

He was a minister, now an atheist.

[etherealtruth]

7. Jimmy Carter's a "born again" ...

What does it matter? If you are not proselytizing (this is possible when promoting ANY philosophical view)or trying to install a theocracy (or conversely BAN religion) why would it matter?

[bperci108]

16. Jimmy.

What I like about former President Carter is that he doen't play the "religion card". If asked, he will tell you what he believes, but rather than posturing and posing, he puts his Faith into action by actually doing something constructive, not just telling everyone how "righteous" he is because he belongs to a certain religion or holds a certain opinion as is the milieu of the Identity Politics gang on the Right.

One man, bearing witness by living his religion (whatever it may be) and doing the right thing, does more good for the world than a whole SuperChurch full of the so-called "righteous".

:applause:

[etherealtruth]

17. Exactly n/t

[realFedUp]

8. We're happy for you Mo

This world needs all kinds...:-)

[demnan]

10. Sure, me too

strictly speaking I wasn't born again - I followed a standard Protestant church, but I did get myself baptized as an adult, was active in the church, sang in the choir and followed religious teaching for a few years. Let's say I tried to believe.

I finally realized I just didn't believe in it and it was a lie to participate. Even then I still loved the music.

The thing I loved about Charles and Camilla's wedding was the music. The Church of England spawned the Methodists and the music is much the same. It brings tears to my eyes today, but as much as I love the music, and can sing the hymns by heart, even including the soprano descants (when I can still reach them), I can't believe the sentiment.

[funflower]

20. Lots of people are still moved by the music

even though they've given up the orthodoxy. I heard an interview recently with Sarah Vowell (voice of Violet Incredible among other things), and she talked about her Pentecostal upbringing and how she still misses the music and how leaving that behind as really left a hole in her that has never been filled.

[Az]

12. People don't want to change

At least not such a core part of their belief. Not while they are fully in it. But for some life and their own understanding of it do not allow them to remain unchanged. Eventually these people enter into a period of crisis of faith. Their varying positions and beliefs cannot be reconciled internally. Eventually they begin looking for ways to end this indescision.

It is not pleasant letting go of beliefs. But many report that once they have shed their beliefs it is a relief. It is freedom. Its the journey that can be painful.

[nashville_brook]

13. east tennessee dispatch:

when i was in high school i moved from a very secular cocoa beach to upper east tennessee where i had my first experiences with born again people. i stayed in the area for 15 years, thru college and after. many of my friends were from "born-again" families, went to "christian" schools, etc.

as they grew up they evolved their faith -- i'm not saying that i know anyone who became atheistic -- it's difficult to be totally atheistic living in the mountains. i would say most evolved their faith into something more humane, kind.

many friends got very into ecological issues and now live off the grid. some got into therapy and are now practicing therapists. some got into doing bands and venting their angst via performance.

there's a thread, tho -- having the childhood experience of growing up in fear for their soul -- they have largely remained connected to issues of soul. not in a religious way -- but in a humane way. i guess what i'm saying is you never get over it, you always live in relation to it and it's up to the person to decide how to react.

one sidebar: i had one friend in college. when he first started hanging out with us he had the largest collection of Petra cassettes you could ever imagine. he was a charming, funny guy and became a talented songwriter and performer. but he was from a very reliously conservative household (divorced mother who looked to the church after her husband left her).

years later, after we moved away he was arrested for trafficing in child pornography and caught in a motel with a 6-year old. he had apparently asked a prostitute to set up the meeting. he was going to take picture of her. the hooker turned him in and the police and media showed up. he spent 6 years in prison where he re-affirmed his born-again faith and blamed all the pedophilia on getting lost from the church. who here believes that line? his pedophilia, repressed sexuality, early experiences of molestation were most likely part of his experience in the chuch. not from being in a very visible music scene. BUT, there you go -- makes for a great sermon, doesn't it?

[AutumnMist]

14. I Think Spiritual Experiences

can happen at any time and they can happen in way's that aren't necessarily Christian. When we listen to ourselves and what we want to do, amazing things can come of it. I think the label of being a Christian, Buddhist, etc, has been exhausted and exploited beyond belief. Much good can be found when we look to a higher source and we find something that we believe in and then follow it. Political or spiritual. In my own opinion our own higher callings should be used for growth and happiness in a positive way. Not used for negative on either side for judgment. We all have had many who have told us that there is no higher power or that there is one higher power. But I think the highest power that we have as individuals is what we hold true in our souls. And that changes from person to person. I don't think however that it's always black and white and that we should take one path or another. Maybe we should see with new eyes.....and see how we can embrace all people. The beating of the dead religious horse is getting old. Lets find some new paths to explore. :)

[burn the bush]

18. I met a wiccan follower who had once been a priest n/t

[thecai]

19. Sure! Back-Sliding Is Not Uncommon...

...but you end up being seven times worse than before you were saved. Matt. 12:43-45.

[LeftyMom]

21. Congrats on you sixhundred and sixty-sixth post!

I'm pretty sure you get bonus points for doing it on a thread about religion. Judgement of others and a bible reference should get your the triple word score. ;)

/wierd sense of humor

[thecai]

23. Who Is Judging, Besides YOU?

A question was asked about back-sliding, I responded with a scripture, how is that "judging"? Looks like YOU were judging ME.

[LeftyMom]

24. The question was about former born agains becoming atheist

and phrased in a fairly neutral way. You went from there to "backsliding" a much more loaded term (it's also used when people in recovery return to thier addiction, but it doesn't really have a positive use that I know of) and claiming that those people would be "seven times worse" than they were previously.

Considering that you implied that these indivuduals were bad before they became born agains, and that they would be many times worse after leaving thier former faiths, I don't think it's a stretch to see judgement in your post.

[thecai]

25. Everyone Is "Bad"

"our righteousness is as filthy rags to The Lord". Isaiah 64:6. If they weren't "bad before they became born agains", why would they need to be born again? It's a cleansing, and an act of faith.
I don't believe everyone who reads and responds to these threads are here for flaming and baiting. Some readers may be interested in real answers. If there is a problem with me quoting scripture in answer to these questions about believing and unbelieving, please post "Christian responses prohibited" or something. Then I'll know the threads are pure flamebait rather than genuine questions or concerns.

[ChickMagic]

22. Me, me, me.

I'm embarrased by what I used to do as a Talibornagain. I was young and foolish.

[onager]

26. Sure. Lots of us...

Here's the blog of a friend from another board. She calls her blog "Ex-Fundie:"

http://exfundie.blogspot.com/

I'm another fairly good example.

[Dervill Crow]

27. I know two.

And I'm not atheist, but I went from atheist to born again to born again and again pagan.

[minkyboodle]

28. former LDS here

my dad bought the door to door religion thing 100% when I was 4-5. Was raised in the LDS church, but ever since I can remember, I thought everything was a bit kooky. Left at age 14 and had to deal with a bishop and a stake president trying to get me to stay. Never regretted it. Do I count :) (Hell I did some time at AM seminary in high school I've got to count ;)