Coming back to this all these years later has some special nostalgia, I hope you are well in these turbulent times. I still love you Sib, thanks for talking to me back then.
Thank you for sharing. This is how religion turns people into unthinking sheep. Question everything, be an individual, but play nice with others and teach your children to do the same. Your video was exceptionally well done, Beautiful. Peace.
I watched these when you first uploaded them, soon after I left Christianity myself. Your story resonates with me now as much as it did then. Thank you.
I'm waiting to see your next part. You have such a kind heart and your story really reaches the heart. I know that those who are lost, between belief and reason, will find a friend in you and your deconversion testimony. Good luck with part two. :)
Hi Prplfox. I heard your interview on Everyone's Agnostic and just watched this first part of your series. Our stories are very similar... I was actually on "work crew" at YL Saranac August 1995... I wonder if that's the time that you were there?? Anyhow, it was crazy to me to hear your recap from such a different lens now. I started college in 1996, so a bit before you (no internet to speak of yet). I also had a humanities course that treated the bible like literature, and I got the first (and maybe only) "C" of my life... I couldn't separate out my belief and things got all muddled ;) Anyhow, I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of your series. ~fellow de-converted pilgrim
I will post this on my facebook wall! This is a great start to what I'm sure will be a fantastic series, I love the visuals and the storytelling. Please DO NOT STOP!
Dude wow... just wow. You are so talented. At times I think of telling my pithy deconversion story, but man.. THIS is how its done, beautiful, eloquent, heartfelt, honest and pure. Amazing editing, writing, music (really great job since u did it all yourself) again, just... wow
I have been watching your videos over and over, and trying to find words to tell you how meaningful and beautiful and useful they are. I went through deconversion, my experience was similar, I was 22. It's been almost a decade now, and I have found that my always true seeking of a god, and meaning has worked because now I see god in everything, and I have found peace and the answers I was born seeking. It's rare to be a true seeker. it's beautiful and hard.
Thank you for sharing this! My son (under the age of 10) and i are 3 weeks into deconversion. Your sharing this has greatly helped us. Its amazing how following Jesus leads right outa the bible.
Thanks for the touching videos Prplfox - internet hugs for ya brother! Looking forward to seeing the rest of these. Glad to see you talking through this in a public forum, we need more and more of this in the world. You are doing what is needed to be done to move society forward past this blind-faith funk we're stuck in.
Dude, I feel like I have been through something very similar but my deconversion happened at 15 years old. It's so comforting to know that others have had a similar journey to that of my own. I can't thank you enough for making this.
Amazing deconversion story! Very inspirational! You're a beacon of hope for all who feel like they're trapped in a belief system that they can't stay in without lying to themselves .
Excellent!! I'm looking forward to hear more from you. Within seconds from the start of this video, I subscribed. That's how awesome your storytelling is.
First, brilliant work here in style, mood and content. But I had to say, I'm in my forties and I remember my youth pastor doing the "dirty water" lesson when I was in high school back in the eighties. I ended up going to Bible college (Moody Bible Institute) and living as a dedicated Christian for 25 years only to become an atheist two and a half years ago. Excellent for you to come out of its hole so young. Life is before you,live it well. Thanks for your work.
Your voice was deeper when you were 18. Anyway, thanks for sharing your story! This is amazing and I listen to it regularly, mainly because I forgot most of what I went through when this happened to me, and it's quite similar to yours
Hey, I appreciate this kind of stories. It takes a lot of courage to beak apart from your family and friends when they're tied by something as strong as the way they're perceiving their whole lives and the whole of reality. I know it's difficult and I appreciate everybody that went through this process of deconversion, It takes a lot of determination and painful sincerity.
and speaking of your voice, in my opinion it changed for the better. i can feel the empathy and emotion powering it. as soon as i heard you start talking for the first time i knew there was a powerful story behind it.
I found this story so compelling and inspiring. I was born and raised Catholic and stopped believing around age 10. I never went through a deconversion like yours because to me, it was like finding out Santa wasn't real or the Easter Bunny. I put no hope or love in God because I only believed in him because I was raised to. But thank you for sharing this, it's absolutely amazing.
WOW!!!! Thanks Prplfox. I'm intrigued and excited by your video. I'm sorry to use the word "excited" when the last words you spoke were being about "years of hurt" Obviously this is leading to an awakening and learning, and I am excited not only of the journey you will revel to us, but also in the in-depth and detailed way you are providing it. I see religion as deluding the people I care about, and that is why I am a strong devout atheist. I want the truth over wishing and hope.
Just watched all 6 vids. Well done. I take it that Evid3nc3 is an inspiration. I'd like to say that your series was at least as touching as his, though where he is a bit more analytical your story has more heart. Never worry that you were weak at this time, it takes a strong person to come out from as deep as you did still breathing. Much love and respect from one who didn't have it so hard. Be well new brother.
This is a really cool video! Nice drawings. I went to youth group with my friend once and had the experience of being in an emotional crowd of praying teens lead by a youth leader. I never thought about it much from their POV because for me it was just strange and scary, so it's really enlightening to hear you describe it from the other side.
I really enjoyed this series. There're some concepts that I'd like explained, though. For you and your church, what exactly constituted "prayer," what did you do? What did it mean to "be saved"? What these words are supposed to mean changes a lot from person to person, and I think it would help when watching your series to know how you're using them.
@Prplfox You are doing an admirable job, the drawings are particularly nice. Very artistic. I myself am on my 2nd year of not telling my best friend that I'm not a Christian anymore. It really sucks having grown up with so many Christian friends and the fear of becoming ostracized from telling them is paralyzing.
I never lived through any of this. I saw it from afar in other parts of my family, but I was raised in a casually religious upbringing with a mind of my own. Stories such as yours fascinate me, how religion can grab hold of people and turn them into irrational beings bent on conversion of everyone else. I was lucky. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope that others see this and changes them as well.
I was baptised by the Holy Spirit 7 months ago and never knew God's love and forgiveness were so real until then! Take comfort in knowing that ..." he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" brother. By being a loving person, you are still doing the will of Our Father and He will continue to fill you as you give it unconditionally. For all the suffering you've endured, it did not go un-noticed. You'll see your fruits which you've sowed again! Blessings
Great series, I enjoyed hearing all of your story. It really would have helped me to have seen this when I finished high school and was on my own journey away from Christianity. You have a wonderful and kind spirit that shines through for everyone to see both with and without Christianity. Do you still ride your bike?
@andibean85 I think is often more vulnerability than judgment. As a Christian, to accept that a former Christian knew Jesus as deeply as them but decided they were wrong, is to accept that it is possible Christianity is wrong.
@Prplfox I could tell and I'm just as move by your story as I was with his. I'll be waiting for part five and when I master this Mac I might add my story as well. Peace to you, brother
Hello Purple, Thank you for the videos. Kudos and please keep up the good work! Question: your deconversion sounds a lot like that of the RUclips author, "3vid3nce" (if I spelled that correctly), do you know him? Are the parallels serendipitous? Thanks again,
From what I understand Evid3nc3 was something of an inspiration for this video series, and the two have since met in person, and are fairly good friends.
I found your original letter you sent me, and your old channel. It was right after I did my genetic gradients series and about a month before you did your first video. I did look through my sent posts but I hope whatever I responded with then was helpful.
@Shalek This made me smile because many others have told me the voice pattern is a distraction, so thank you :) I've working with a friend now on the art of voice-over
@Prplfox Very articulate....I'm beginning to watch your series. I was (& still am) devastated by 2 fundamentalist siblings 25years ago now & to this very day. Compartmentalizing is the key to the dissonance & ignore-ances they perfect, I feel sure, because there's so much one has to ignore to push this stuff. Unfortunately it is effective & creates the vicious circle that forces these folks to get their anesthesia @ church 2-3-10x/week.
Thank you so much for uploading this videos. You and FiniteAtticus both helped me to have the courage to say that I am an atheist. I spent four years studying to be a Catholic priest and now it's been almost two years since I've been an atheist. Every day I am happier with my life. Thank you.
There is overwhelming evidence and logical proofs for the existence of God and there is zero contrary evidence. Believing in the existence of God is evidence based, logical, and rational. Disbelieving in the existence of God is illogical and irrational, and believing that there is no God is outright delusional. Why would you want to be an atheist, to be illogical, irrational, and perhaps even delusional ? ?
TheCanadianLannister Evidence for the existence of God is all around us : the birds and the bees, the flowers and the trees, the fish in the seas, the far galaxies, the food that we eat, the air that we breathe, everything comprehensible and all that's incomprehensible to you and to me. In short, everything that exists. The logical proof for the existence of God is the law of cause and effects that says everything that exists is caused to exist. We call the first cause God the Creator. May the love and the peace of Jesus be with us.
+Jackie Wu I must say that I did not want to be an atheist. I still wish that I could believe, but doing so at this point where belief makes no logical proof to me would make me a hypocrite. I got nothing against religion as I know it from the inside, and know that it is a force of good for the world. Many days I wish that I was still a believer and pursue priesthood (it is an amazing lifestyle and it did make of me a better person). I do not think that belief is irrational, but it is certainly not necessary for being a good person. I think that religions should be respected just as cultures. Religion, to my understanding, should be studied as anthropology (some priests would agree and have no shame in pointing how much Christianity benefited from merging with greek and roman cultures). To be an atheist is not to condemn religion as evil, it is to take the best it has to offer, without limiting yourself to one particular experience. Until the day belief in god seems as clear to me as his disbelief is now, I will remain to be an atheist, without trying to convert nor deconvert anyone. And don't worry, catholic theology teaches us that science is one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, so don't worry, if science shall one day prove god with the same rigor as it has proven many other concepts (gravity, relativity, Higgs Boson -much more counterintuitive concepts than God), it will do so. Peace man. ;)
Wow, I first found this deconversion series dec 2012 when I lost my faith. Wish I could say life got better, but it's still a constant struggle. The indoctrination runs so deep
in media res is one of my favorite storytelling techniques. the dots are starting to come together, though i am wondering as to the identity of your best friend that you are writing the letter to, though it may be inconsequential.
That sounds a bit like my journey out of Christianity, Amira. Social media is a great way to engage with people while you're making big decisions. But it's amazing that, when they're given an opportunity to try and (re)save you, they wouldn't/couldn't help.
sorry for the random comment, but your voice is so cute! ^_^ I'm still having trouble with my faith, but I'm open up to more truth from sources outside my church *hug interwebz*
I also deconverted from Christianity in 1989 before the advent of the Internet. A deep study of Apologetics and especially The Problem of Evil showed me that the omni-attributes of the Christian god were incompatible with what I experience in Reality.
How this resonates! Hard to share with believers who assume you are the same as they. It gets to the point where you simply cannot endure the cognitive dissonance any longer.
@OldHippieChickster It makes me so sad to hear stories like this when a loved one hurts you to protect a belief. I'm sorry, hold your heart, make some muffins, what is happening to you happens all over, you will be ok. Thank you for sharing.
Eli, have you considered making any videos about life after de-conversion? I think that the best antidote to superstition is knowledge, and teachers are the sacred guides that can empower willing students to learn, grow, think critically, seek after truth, and thrive.
Ooh that church clip brought back some memories and feelings. The overwhelming feeling being how pathetic is that behavior. It's an end to your own life and a start of just doing what God wants all of the time in all situations in all thoughts, continuously without cease. This is torture and is how someone progresses to delusional and or psychotic. A pursuit in searching for God needn't be like this.
nice vid and presentation. Only one observation that seemed to detract for me. Every statement you make ends in a question-like upward pitch. I assume it's just how you talk from where you come from but other than that it was a nice vid. Yeah, everyone has a story and as for deconversions, they all have similar themes. One is the length of time it takes to really deconvert. Years is usually the case. take care and keep rockin!
Awesome video. I can't wait for part II. P.S. I wish that I could make a video like this, but unfortunately, I never really was a Christian. Even though I did go to Youth Group and hung out with friends, I was never really that deep into religion. I never looked at Jesus the way you and many other young people did. I never shed tears or raised my arms in glory whenever the group leader talked about God and Jesus. So my Deconversion was not as profound as yours or other deconverted RUclipsrs.
tears, tears, tears....I'm so glad I came out of the brainwashing!! I'm 45 years old but watching this vid brings tears to my eyes because I remember. I remember berating myself in order to lift up 'god.' I AM worthy, so are you prplfox...so are we all. Thank you
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you on this. But you need to finish this series. Your story-telling disposition is pitch-perfect. Your empathy and experience is dead on. The quality of your video is superb, especially for it being your first channel submission. I have featured you on my channel under "Some Important Meme Sources". But let me re-emphasize: you need to finish telling this story. RUclips needs more talented, empathetic former Christians like you.
@JimDeferio I will not debate you. I will let the story speak for itself. In the same way, with your words, you have already spoken for yourself and how very real this problem of Christianity is, and why these videos need to be made. You cannot have a meaningful conversation about this until you are willing to admit that you don't know.
Mainly @ JimDeferio I think when people say that someone was not born again or the right type of "Christian," they are just being ignorant. How do you know the level of Christian one is? If there is a "god," like the one that Christians talk about, he would be the only one to know...so why would so many Christians count themselves the judge of such things? @Prplfox- Good for you for not engaging in his type of craziness.
Oh, I know that. I just WANTED so badly to believe because the people, on the surface, seemed like such a close community. Boy were my first impressions WRONG. Thanks for the research suggestion, I'll definitely look it up!
Ha! This was me, growing up and in high school, I had started prayer clubs and was stead fast in wanting to become a minister, I was even going to get my own "Cell Group" and start teaching other kids in my area. Now Im free of all that BS but your right, its a tough road to unlearn and ignore all the propaganda you are fed when young. Evangelical Non-Denominational Christian, I was once one too and what a fanatical bunch they are. I am happier now as an atheist than I ever was as a believer.
@MarkoIK85 I can't really explain what happened to my voice. It changed while deconverting. I would love to understand it better someday. The reasons for my deconverting I start to talk about in Part 3 and hope to explain more fully as the series continues.
I'm curious, Prplfox, when you spoke with your professor, did you act the way Jim's acting towards you? Did you think the same things? Did you have the same sort of attitude?
I am a "Statistical" Christian in my country, wich means I am de facto an atheist. I cannot put myself in your position, but I find your story touching though. I cant Imagine you being the guy from the end of the clip :o. What happened to your voice?? I am also not quite sure what was your reason for deconversion, but I think whatever it is, it is not that which really matters... Sometimes one can never know even what is he thinking!!
I encourage everyone to watch this video without being swayed by emotion, but focusing on his words and his arguments. Don't watch the video; just listen to the audio.
There are some examples at 6:18 of the form prayer took in the groups I was involved in. To be "saved" meant to accept Christ as the sacrifice for your sin and to become a new creation, living in relationship with him. I agree with you that when I use terms like "Christian" I am not including all possible meanings of that word. I am speaking from and to the evangelical nondenominational form of Christianity, which shares many elements with broad protestant and fundamentalist groups.
For anyone out there who is questioning your faith, and/possibly de-converting - my advice is, be patient with yourself. No need to slap an official label on yourself right away (though that may well happen at some point, and that's ok). You don't necessarily need to tell Christian friends/family that you are questioning, or maybe no longer believe enough of the main points. It's hard to generalize, because every situation is different, and everyone's life is different. Truth should never fear investigation.
Coming back to this all these years later has some special nostalgia, I hope you are well in these turbulent times. I still love you Sib, thanks for talking to me back then.
Thanks for telling the story of your deconversion. I'll watch all of these videos. I recently deconverted and hope to tell my story someday.
I watched this from beginning to end. I'm not an emotional person. I balled like a baby. Thank you so much for making this series.
Thank you for sharing. This is how religion turns people into unthinking sheep. Question everything, be an individual, but play nice with others and teach your children to do the same. Your video was exceptionally well done, Beautiful. Peace.
Still one of the most sincere de conversion stories on RUclips . Hope your doing ok.
I watched these when you first uploaded them, soon after I left Christianity myself. Your story resonates with me now as much as it did then. Thank you.
I'm waiting to see your next part. You have such a kind heart and your story really reaches the heart. I know that those who are lost, between belief and reason, will find a friend in you and your deconversion testimony. Good luck with part two. :)
Hi Prplfox. I heard your interview on Everyone's Agnostic and just watched this first part of your series. Our stories are very similar... I was actually on "work crew" at YL Saranac August 1995... I wonder if that's the time that you were there?? Anyhow, it was crazy to me to hear your recap from such a different lens now. I started college in 1996, so a bit before you (no internet to speak of yet). I also had a humanities course that treated the bible like literature, and I got the first (and maybe only) "C" of my life... I couldn't separate out my belief and things got all muddled ;) Anyhow, I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of your series. ~fellow de-converted pilgrim
I will post this on my facebook wall! This is a great start to what I'm sure will be a fantastic series, I love the visuals and the storytelling. Please DO NOT STOP!
Dude wow... just wow. You are so talented. At times I think of telling my pithy deconversion story, but man.. THIS is how its done, beautiful, eloquent, heartfelt, honest and pure. Amazing editing, writing, music (really great job since u did it all yourself) again, just... wow
I have been watching your videos over and over, and trying to find words to tell you how meaningful and beautiful and useful they are. I went through deconversion, my experience was similar, I was 22. It's been almost a decade now, and I have found that my always true seeking of a god, and meaning has worked because now I see god in everything, and I have found peace and the answers I was born seeking. It's rare to be a true seeker. it's beautiful and hard.
Thank you for sharing this! My son (under the age of 10) and i are 3 weeks into deconversion. Your sharing this has greatly helped us. Its amazing how following Jesus leads right outa the bible.
Thanks for the touching videos Prplfox - internet hugs for ya brother! Looking forward to seeing the rest of these. Glad to see you talking through this in a public forum, we need more and more of this in the world. You are doing what is needed to be done to move society forward past this blind-faith funk we're stuck in.
Deconverted in my teens a decade ago, and still processing it. It's great what you're doing.
Dude, I feel like I have been through something very similar but my deconversion happened at 15 years old. It's so comforting to know that others have had a similar journey to that of my own. I can't thank you enough for making this.
Amazing deconversion story! Very inspirational! You're a beacon of hope for all who feel like they're trapped in a belief system that they can't stay in without lying to themselves .
Excellent!! I'm looking forward to hear more from you. Within seconds from the start of this video, I subscribed. That's how awesome your storytelling is.
cannot tell you how much this meant to me. thank you SO much for sharing your story. unbelievably similar to my own.
THANK YOU.
First, brilliant work here in style, mood and content. But I had to say, I'm in my forties and I remember my youth pastor doing the "dirty water" lesson when I was in high school back in the eighties. I ended up going to Bible college (Moody Bible Institute) and living as a dedicated Christian for 25 years only to become an atheist two and a half years ago. Excellent for you to come out of its hole so young. Life is before you,live it well. Thanks for your work.
Your voice was deeper when you were 18. Anyway, thanks for sharing your story! This is amazing and I listen to it regularly, mainly because I forgot most of what I went through when this happened to me, and it's quite similar to yours
Hey, I appreciate this kind of stories. It takes a lot of courage to beak apart from your family and friends when they're tied by something as strong as the way they're perceiving their whole lives and the whole of reality. I know it's difficult and I appreciate everybody that went through this process of deconversion, It takes a lot of determination and painful sincerity.
and speaking of your voice, in my opinion it changed for the better. i can feel the empathy and emotion powering it. as soon as i heard you start talking for the first time i knew there was a powerful story behind it.
I found this story so compelling and inspiring. I was born and raised Catholic and stopped believing around age 10. I never went through a deconversion like yours because to me, it was like finding out Santa wasn't real or the Easter Bunny. I put no hope or love in God because I only believed in him because I was raised to. But thank you for sharing this, it's absolutely amazing.
WOW!!!! Thanks Prplfox. I'm intrigued and excited by your video. I'm sorry to use the word "excited" when the last words you spoke were being about "years of hurt" Obviously this is leading to an awakening and learning, and I am excited not only of the journey you will revel to us, but also in the in-depth and detailed way you are providing it. I see religion as deluding the people I care about, and that is why I am a strong devout atheist. I want the truth over wishing and hope.
You are an excellent artist, and storyteller for that matter!
I have to admit I visit youtube every single day hoping that you have posted the next part. I can't stand this waiting!
Just watched all 6 vids. Well done. I take it that Evid3nc3 is an inspiration. I'd like to say that your series was at least as touching as his, though where he is a bit more analytical your story has more heart.
Never worry that you were weak at this time, it takes a strong person to come out from as deep as you did still breathing. Much love and respect from one who didn't have it so hard. Be well new brother.
This is a really cool video! Nice drawings.
I went to youth group with my friend once and had the experience of being in an emotional crowd of praying teens lead by a youth leader. I never thought about it much from their POV because for me it was just strange and scary, so it's really enlightening to hear you describe it from the other side.
Wow. What a powerful start to your deconversion story. Onto part 2! :)
Extremely well done loved the whole series could not stop watching.
Just watched all the parts of this. Thank you so much for sharing. I've walked the same path. Love and peace!
I really enjoyed this series.
There're some concepts that I'd like explained, though. For you and your church, what exactly constituted "prayer," what did you do? What did it mean to "be saved"?
What these words are supposed to mean changes a lot from person to person, and I think it would help when watching your series to know how you're using them.
@Prplfox You are doing an admirable job, the drawings are particularly nice. Very artistic. I myself am on my 2nd year of not telling my best friend that I'm not a Christian anymore. It really sucks having grown up with so many Christian friends and the fear of becoming ostracized from telling them is paralyzing.
this is beautiful...
I am not a christian but your voice brings tears to my eyes.
Find happiness wherever you can, don't let anyone bring you down.
Why does google+ keep removing my likes? Oh well I get to go through and like them all again.
I never lived through any of this. I saw it from afar in other parts of my family, but I was raised in a casually religious upbringing with a mind of my own. Stories such as yours fascinate me, how religion can grab hold of people and turn them into irrational beings bent on conversion of everyone else. I was lucky. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope that others see this and changes them as well.
This is very beautifully done.
You're so awesome for making this. Wish I was this brave.
Watched this again...it's just sooo good! I love every minute. You are amazin!
I was baptised by the Holy Spirit 7 months ago and never knew God's love and forgiveness were so real until then! Take comfort in knowing that ..." he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" brother. By being a loving person, you are still doing the will of Our Father and He will continue to fill you as you give it unconditionally. For all the suffering you've endured, it did not go un-noticed. You'll see your fruits which you've sowed again! Blessings
Great series, I enjoyed hearing all of your story. It really would have helped me to have seen this when I finished high school and was on my own journey away from Christianity. You have a wonderful and kind spirit that shines through for everyone to see both with and without Christianity. Do you still ride your bike?
I have to rewatch this!!! It’s amazing still!
@Futureplanet Everyone hurts, the important part of this is the message I hope comes through it, thank you for this
@andibean85 I think is often more vulnerability than judgment. As a Christian, to accept that a former Christian knew Jesus as deeply as them but decided they were wrong, is to accept that it is possible Christianity is wrong.
A real standout video. I would love to have some of my Christian friends see it. I'm eager to hear more!
Great intro. This reminds me of my Jesus loving highschool and college days. I will be watching the rest of the series.
Wow, Thank you so much. Looking forward to everything else you post.
With all my heart and everything i hold in any value i thank you for doing this for the good of yourself and mankind
Thank you for sharing!
Beautifully done.
@Prplfox I could tell and I'm just as move by your story as I was with his. I'll be waiting for part five and when I master this Mac I might add my story as well. Peace to you, brother
Very touching, thanks for sharing, hope to see more from you.
Hello Purple,
Thank you for the videos. Kudos and please keep up the good work!
Question: your deconversion sounds a lot like that of the RUclips author, "3vid3nce" (if I spelled that correctly), do you know him? Are the parallels serendipitous?
Thanks again,
I've read a large number of deconversion stories and there tends to be certain common threads in the stories.
From what I understand Evid3nc3 was something of an inspiration for this video series, and the two have since met in person, and are fairly good friends.
I found your original letter you sent me, and your old channel. It was right after I did my genetic gradients series and about a month before you did your first video. I did look through my sent posts but I hope whatever I responded with then was helpful.
Brave film. It is exceptional to hear this kind of story. Thanks.
beautiful story! amazing video. i am now going to watch it all the way through
Thank you for sharing. I look forward to the rest of your story. :)
@Shalek This made me smile because many others have told me the voice pattern is a distraction, so thank you :) I've working with a friend now on the art of voice-over
@Prplfox Very articulate....I'm beginning to watch your series. I was (& still am) devastated by 2 fundamentalist siblings 25years ago now & to this very day. Compartmentalizing is the key to the dissonance & ignore-ances they perfect, I feel sure, because there's so much one has to ignore to push this stuff. Unfortunately it is effective & creates the vicious circle that forces these folks to get their anesthesia @ church 2-3-10x/week.
Thank you so much for uploading this videos. You and FiniteAtticus both helped me to have the courage to say that I am an atheist. I spent four years studying to be a Catholic priest and now it's been almost two years since I've been an atheist. Every day I am happier with my life. Thank you.
There is overwhelming evidence and logical proofs for the existence of God and there is zero contrary evidence. Believing in the existence of God is evidence based, logical, and rational. Disbelieving in the existence of God is illogical and irrational, and believing that there is no God is outright delusional. Why would you want to be an atheist, to be illogical, irrational, and perhaps even delusional ? ?
Jackie Wu what's the point of your comment if you don't provide evidence for your positive claims?
TheCanadianLannister Evidence for the existence of God is all around us : the birds and the bees, the flowers and the trees, the fish in the seas, the far galaxies, the food that we eat, the air that we breathe, everything comprehensible and all that's incomprehensible to you and to me. In short, everything that exists. The logical proof for the existence of God is the law of cause and effects that says everything that exists is caused to exist. We call the first cause God the Creator.
May the love and the peace of Jesus be with us.
Jackie Wu if we are going to follow that logic, then what caused God?
+Jackie Wu I must say that I did not want to be an atheist. I still wish that I could believe, but doing so at this point where belief makes no logical proof to me would make me a hypocrite. I got nothing against religion as I know it from the inside, and know that it is a force of good for the world. Many days I wish that I was still a believer and pursue priesthood (it is an amazing lifestyle and it did make of me a better person). I do not think that belief is irrational, but it is certainly not necessary for being a good person. I think that religions should be respected just as cultures. Religion, to my understanding, should be studied as anthropology (some priests would agree and have no shame in pointing how much Christianity benefited from merging with greek and roman cultures).
To be an atheist is not to condemn religion as evil, it is to take the best it has to offer, without limiting yourself to one particular experience.
Until the day belief in god seems as clear to me as his disbelief is now, I will remain to be an atheist, without trying to convert nor deconvert anyone. And don't worry, catholic theology teaches us that science is one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, so don't worry, if science shall one day prove god with the same rigor as it has proven many other concepts (gravity, relativity, Higgs Boson -much more counterintuitive concepts than God), it will do so.
Peace man. ;)
Wow, I first found this deconversion series dec 2012 when I lost my faith. Wish I could say life got better, but it's still a constant struggle. The indoctrination runs so deep
in media res is one of my favorite storytelling techniques. the dots are starting to come together, though i am wondering as to the identity of your best friend that you are writing the letter to, though it may be inconsequential.
That sounds a bit like my journey out of Christianity, Amira. Social media is a great way to engage with people while you're making big decisions. But it's amazing that, when they're given an opportunity to try and (re)save you, they wouldn't/couldn't help.
Holy Crap, this is amazing. I love deconversion stories! Former Mormon here...it's amazing how similar our stories can be.
sorry for the random comment, but your voice is so cute! ^_^
I'm still having trouble with my faith, but I'm open up to more truth from sources outside my church *hug interwebz*
I also deconverted from Christianity in 1989 before the advent of the Internet. A deep study of Apologetics and especially The Problem of Evil showed me that the omni-attributes of the Christian god were incompatible with what I experience in Reality.
Thanks to you I found the courage to tell myself that I am an atheist. It's been 5 years and I could not be happier. Thank you are a personal hero.
How this resonates! Hard to share with believers who assume you are the same as they. It gets to the point where you simply cannot endure the cognitive dissonance any longer.
Fascinating (hi)story! Please, do continue this series!
@nerdlass I'm still going through the process of forming the next part, thank you for your encouragement, that is my hope with these videos.
@OldHippieChickster It makes me so sad to hear stories like this when a loved one hurts you to protect a belief. I'm sorry, hold your heart, make some muffins, what is happening to you happens all over, you will be ok. Thank you for sharing.
Eli, have you considered making any videos about life after de-conversion? I think that the best antidote to superstition is knowledge, and teachers are the sacred guides that can empower willing students to learn, grow, think critically, seek after truth, and thrive.
Thanks for uploading
I was raised as a Catholic now an Atheist and I find myself tearing up at this video
Ooh that church clip brought back some memories and feelings. The overwhelming feeling being how pathetic is that behavior. It's an end to your own life and a start of just doing what God wants all of the time in all situations in all thoughts, continuously without cease. This is torture and is how someone progresses to delusional and or psychotic.
A pursuit in searching for God needn't be like this.
It really is amazing how stories connect across very different religious groups. That is something I didn't know until I started making videos.
nice vid and presentation. Only one observation that seemed to detract for me. Every statement you make ends in a question-like upward pitch. I assume it's just how you talk from where you come from but other than that it was a nice vid. Yeah, everyone has a story and as for deconversions, they all have similar themes. One is the length of time it takes to really deconvert. Years is usually the case. take care and keep rockin!
Awesome video. I can't wait for part II.
P.S. I wish that I could make a video like this, but unfortunately, I never really was a Christian. Even though I did go to Youth Group and hung out with friends, I was never really that deep into religion. I never looked at Jesus the way you and many other young people did. I never shed tears or raised my arms in glory whenever the group leader talked about God and Jesus. So my Deconversion was not as profound as yours or other deconverted RUclipsrs.
Were you inspired by Evid3nc3? Glad you were able to put your story out here
Prplfox: You are a great story teller. I feel that I know you....
Thanks
tears, tears, tears....I'm so glad I came out of the brainwashing!! I'm 45 years old but watching this vid brings tears to my eyes because I remember. I remember berating myself in order to lift up 'god.'
I AM worthy, so are you prplfox...so are we all.
Thank you
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you on this. But you need to finish this series. Your story-telling disposition is pitch-perfect. Your empathy and experience is dead on. The quality of your video is superb, especially for it being your first channel submission. I have featured you on my channel under "Some Important Meme Sources". But let me re-emphasize: you need to finish telling this story. RUclips needs more talented, empathetic former Christians like you.
@JimDeferio I will not debate you. I will let the story speak for itself. In the same way, with your words, you have already spoken for yourself and how very real this problem of Christianity is, and why these videos need to be made. You cannot have a meaningful conversation about this until you are willing to admit that you don't know.
"It is ok to not be a Christian." ...awesome...thank you!
Mainly @ JimDeferio
I think when people say that someone was not born again or the right type of "Christian," they are just being ignorant. How do you know the level of Christian one is? If there is a "god," like the one that Christians talk about, he would be the only one to know...so why would so many Christians count themselves the judge of such things?
@Prplfox- Good for you for not engaging in his type of craziness.
Oh, I know that. I just WANTED so badly to believe because the people, on the surface, seemed like such a close community. Boy were my first impressions WRONG. Thanks for the research suggestion, I'll definitely look it up!
Please hurry and post the second video so I can pass it on to some very lost people in my life. Thank you
Ha! This was me, growing up and in high school, I had started prayer clubs and was stead fast in wanting to become a minister, I was even going to get my own "Cell Group" and start teaching other kids in my area. Now Im free of all that BS but your right, its a tough road to unlearn and ignore all the propaganda you are fed when young. Evangelical Non-Denominational Christian, I was once one too and what a fanatical bunch they are. I am happier now as an atheist than I ever was as a believer.
Please continue.
You have to find it by yourself. Very well done.
@UnitedKingdomify Going through that footage was deeply unsettling to me as well, thank you for your words
That church with all the people "praying" into the microphone looked a bit scary. I feel for you.
@timlintimlin You are articulating what moves making this series. Thank you
@MarkoIK85 I can't really explain what happened to my voice. It changed while deconverting. I would love to understand it better someday. The reasons for my deconverting I start to talk about in Part 3 and hope to explain more fully as the series continues.
I'm curious, Prplfox, when you spoke with your professor, did you act the way Jim's acting towards you? Did you think the same things? Did you have the same sort of attitude?
I think your video clip at 8:14 is the only video ive seen where it shows someone before they deconverted from Christianity.
I am a "Statistical" Christian in my country, wich means I am de facto an atheist. I cannot put myself in your position, but I find your story touching though. I cant Imagine you being the guy from the end of the clip :o. What happened to your voice?? I am also not quite sure what was your reason for deconversion, but I think whatever it is, it is not that which really matters... Sometimes one can never know even what is he thinking!!
I encourage everyone to watch this video without being swayed by emotion, but focusing on his words and his arguments. Don't watch the video; just listen to the audio.
There are some examples at 6:18 of the form prayer took in the groups I was involved in. To be "saved" meant to accept Christ as the sacrifice for your sin and to become a new creation, living in relationship with him. I agree with you that when I use terms like "Christian" I am not including all possible meanings of that word. I am speaking from and to the evangelical nondenominational form of Christianity, which shares many elements with broad protestant and fundamentalist groups.
For anyone out there who is questioning your faith, and/possibly de-converting - my advice is, be patient with yourself. No need to slap an official label on yourself right away (though that may well happen at some point, and that's ok). You don't necessarily need to tell Christian friends/family that you are questioning, or maybe no longer believe enough of the main points.
It's hard to generalize, because every situation is different, and everyone's life is different.
Truth should never fear investigation.