Libby Anne hits it out of the park with her most recent response to the old adage of "You were never really a Christian".
I responded to my critics once with a very raw and angry answer. Granted, my critics weren't questioning my former Christian faith, but they were wondering why I was so adamant in chasing down and making an example of religious abusers.
Libby Anne brings my thoughts to the most common dismissal of my de-conversion:
That would be correct, if and only if, I based every single one of my reasons for leaving the faith on my abuse, rendered to me at the hands of those that were supposed to love me - who happened to call themselves Christians. I cannot have any other opinions, facts that I have uncovered, or anything else that might have contributed to the journey.
This, of course, is a false premise. Religious abuse EXPOSED the lies and hypocrisy of religion to me and was a beginning catalyst. But, after it lit the fuse, I became more aware of everything I accepted, because I had always accepted it, and began to deconstruct every bit of my life. No longer would I become beholden to a system - a way of life - where I was expected to think and behave a certain way without airing out every last one of my misgivings - like the Bereans in the days of the Apostle Paul.
I can hear the detractors now:
Go ahead. Feel better about yourself. I'm fine. And if you really care to know why I'm not a Christian anymore, I'll fill you in on a little secret.
I hated getting my lazy ass out of bed every Sunday morning. Not going to church has enabled me to sleep more on the weekends.
Now theologically pretzelify THAT one for a while. I'll give you a cue card for starters: Sleeping is a sin.
I responded to my critics once with a very raw and angry answer. Granted, my critics weren't questioning my former Christian faith, but they were wondering why I was so adamant in chasing down and making an example of religious abusers.
Libby Anne brings my thoughts to the most common dismissal of my de-conversion:
You only left Christianity because people who weren't good Christians, hurt you.
That would be correct, if and only if, I based every single one of my reasons for leaving the faith on my abuse, rendered to me at the hands of those that were supposed to love me - who happened to call themselves Christians. I cannot have any other opinions, facts that I have uncovered, or anything else that might have contributed to the journey.
This, of course, is a false premise. Religious abuse EXPOSED the lies and hypocrisy of religion to me and was a beginning catalyst. But, after it lit the fuse, I became more aware of everything I accepted, because I had always accepted it, and began to deconstruct every bit of my life. No longer would I become beholden to a system - a way of life - where I was expected to think and behave a certain way without airing out every last one of my misgivings - like the Bereans in the days of the Apostle Paul.
I can hear the detractors now:
Well, Sir Incongruous Circumcision *cough *cough...I MEAN Circumspection, you must understand that the catalyst you claim began your journey out of the faith, actually CLOUDED your mind from revealed truth. Furthermore, Paul was congratulating the Bereans for testing everything and accepting his message! - which you clearly have rejected. So...we claim misuse of Scripture, a hardened heart, and well...you might have never been a Christian anyway. Thus, we feel better about ourselves and can blindly move forward without worrying about thinking getting in the way.
Go ahead. Feel better about yourself. I'm fine. And if you really care to know why I'm not a Christian anymore, I'll fill you in on a little secret.
I hated getting my lazy ass out of bed every Sunday morning. Not going to church has enabled me to sleep more on the weekends.
Now theologically pretzelify THAT one for a while. I'll give you a cue card for starters: Sleeping is a sin.
