New from USA!!

[Atheistvistor916]

Hello all! I'm a Jewish-born atheist who is curious what Christians believe, how different Christians view different topics, and so on. This sounds like a fun place to ask my questions to Christians. You can ask me anything you want.

[micah719]

Hi!

Do you like beards?

[mattfivefour]

HI. Welcome to RF. Don 't mind Micah. He's our resident German comic. (And we all know how absolutely hilarious the Germans are.)


BTW, thank you for your honesty about your religious beliefs. May I ask that your make sure you understand our rules: Board Rules & Guidelines for Posting ? This is not an open board. It is a type of church and while we do permit questions and scriptural discussion, we do not permit anti-Christian or critical posts. There are lots of Christian sites that do; just not this one.

[Atheistvistor916]

Thanks! Yes and no. My facial hair always grows out faster then others but I have it off. It would only take a week or 2 for me to have a full beard.

[micah719]

If you've been blessed with healthy beard growth, go ahead and let it flourish. I see a trend starting up soon, it's good to get ahead of the crowd!

Don't mind Matt, he's our resident Canadian. From Canadia. You know, like Mexico, only north.

I was born a Belgian in Germany but raised in Australia. Now I'm just confused. I do love the Jewish people though, that's for sure, a rare thing around this part of the world.

What is the status of your parents' faith? (eg liberal, reformed, orthodox, Messianic, etc). Do you observe Passover?

[Atheistvistor916]

Isn't Messianic a Christian denomination? I do not know? They are themselves really. secular Christian Jews. Yes, my parents are Jewish like me but by faith Christian. What is funny is that they are secular. I guess you can use that word. They never been to church without me. when I was a teen I was a Christian and brought my mom to the church I went to when i was younger.

[micah719]

Why did you stop claining to be Christian?

[Atheistvistor916]

There are a number of reasons. I was depressed, I self injured myself, No one at church socialized with me or saw me as a friend, etc. Day by day I was losing my faith because I couldn't find happiness or support. It took awhile for me to decide I will be happy as an atheist. I know there were many like me in my life.

[mattfivefour]

Out of curiosity, what was the denomination or group with which your parents associated?

[Atheistvistor916]

All kinds really. I didn't have one church I just went to. I recall Seventh Day, Church of Christ, Baptist, Trinity churches, etc. Many similar in how they preached and what they did during services.

[mattfivefour]

Well, no wonder nobody socialized with you in church! You must have always been the new kid, given that you went to so many churches! That is so sad. True fellowship is one of the wonderful things about being part of a good church assembly.

So, from everything you have written in this thread, it would seem that you were looking to Christianity for some sort of validation or social acceptance and just didn't find it there.

[anath]

Welcome to RF, glad you are here

[Atheistvistor916]

Thanks for welcoming me. Well different churches had different things to offer me. At the Seventh Day church there was a weekly lecture about the End Times and the Antichrist. Different churches were smaller and some had youth groups. I'm still friends with one youth pastor named Luke. He is cool and I would like to see him tomorrow if they have youth meetings in the afternoon.

[IamPJ]

Welcome to the forum Atheistvisitor. I hope you will have your questions answered here.

[Carl]

There are a number of reasons. I was depressed, I self injured myself, No one at church socialized with me or saw me as a friend, etc. Day by day I was losing my faith because I couldn't find happiness or support. It took awhile for me to decide I will be happy as an atheist. I know there were many like me in my life.

You have run into one of the main problems with Christians - - they are people to! I went to a picnic put on by a large church. There were hundreds of people there. I was basically a stranger. I went up to a number of the group leaders and started conversations. But as soon as i stopped going to them and talk I was ignored. People just have their own cliques that they involve themselves with, and ignore anyone else. Another time I took my wheelchair bound father-in-law to a church picnic. I would take my father-in-law to talk with a group of men from my church. When I would leave to get a coffee for us the men would drift off and leave my Father-in-law alone.

My point is that I don't have to be like others. I don't have to treat others like they treat me. I don't have to let other's actions affect my relationship with God. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Bible is full of scriptures about how men let God down. Just like the people in your churches let you down.

[SonSeeker]

Welcome to RF, I hope you find the answers you're looking for.

[livin_in_the_Son]

Yes, welcome to RF.

[LivnForChrist]

[king'sbloomingrose]

to RF!

[Atheistvistor916]

Thanks for welcoming me guys.