A thread for former Christians.

Very interesting Zip. Can I ask what happened after that realization that led to the rough couple of years that followed? What brought you to this current state where you report that things are much better for you?

I think I was overwhelmed. My thought processes were so different and I was having a lot of synchronicities. I loved it at first, but like I said, it was a little overwhelming. So, I just dropped out for awhile. I just needed a break from it all so I found a distraction and it was not a healthy one.
Why are things better? I am more accepting of my weaknesses which is very new for me. I am learning to not expect so much of myself. I HATE making mistakes...any kind of mistake. I am very hard on myself. At 55 years old, I now have a new job in an area that I am not that familiar with...so I make a lot of mistakes.
My life lessons really sped after my awakening. Wow. Thanks for asking that question. You really made me think.

No problem, thanks for answering.

I sent you a PM.

I tried to send you a long answer to your Pm and of course it would not go through because I am not upgraded. I will work on that tomorrow.
Thanks for the PM.

Check your mailbox again....

Do you know the story of burnt sacrifice was in Sumerian text which predate the Hebrew text? Gilgamesh got out of his submarine and offered burnt offerings to the Elohim, and they ate that shit because the smell of burnt flesh was good.Later on Noah does the same, instead to a singular entity.

You bet! Then I realized if Jesus said "the Kingdom of God is within you" how can we possibly be such filth, as Christianity claims, because of "original sin"? If the Kingdom of God dwells within, we can't possibly be 'filthy' at the core.
I had a near death experience...that's how I woke up (even though by that time I'd become an atheist). But when I did give up my Christianity, I felt liberated. I no longer judged others. I no longer felt I was "special" because I had this special thing and was sorry for those who didn't. I also quit lying in the name of Jesus.
That's all with me still (more than ever), but because of the NDE my understanding has been heightened.

Got it! Thanks!

I totally agree with your original post thanks.

I experienced the same thing! I learned from Tom Campbell, My Big Toe, that I couldn't deliver what I knew like I a fire hose and that my journey to consciousness was a silent and reverent path (Neil Kramer). The journey to myself has and is quite a ride. :)

That is something I "sensed" but didn't yet KNOW till just recently. A few years ago I came across a mantra (?) that went like this:

"I am a part of My Divine Creator; therefore, I am of equal kind and quality. The only possible difference there can be is one of degree. This became a KNOWN when I read the book "Hidden Creator" by Hilton Hotema. In it he quotes from the Bible:

“Know ye not that ye (the body) are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you (your body)? If any man defiles the temple of God (the body) him (the body) shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy (being the home here on earth of the indwelling Spirit), which temple ye are.”

We have been taught since childhood to believe that we exist as separate objects, standing apart from the Creator. We think we are the observer, when the observer is actually the Creator for whom we are observing. We are the Divine Incarnate Ray of the Creator. The Creator appears on earth in the midst of its Creation in human form!

The irony is, when x-tians condemn others to hell, they are simultaneously condemning the Divine Creator (God, if you like), to hell as well, because the Divine dwells within each and every one of us!!

Bang on kiddo!! Couldn't agree with you more.

I'm not quite there yet. When I see x-tians condemning others to hell I see red!!! Not sure if I'll ever make peace with the entities that hijacked our beautiful planet and turned the people into slaves by instilling fear, shame and guilt. Fear of death; fear of hell. Shame and guilt for being a "sinner"; another one of their disgusting inventions.

Well, I can certainly understand that! And I do still get angry, but I get over it quicker. Learning the truth was also depressing, but I got over that too.

I would like to hear more about your NDE if you want to share it.

I was baptised as an infant because it was something my parents could do I. The front of the church looking elegant. We were Christmas and easter Christians. I like Christmas a lot more than easter.

By high school I knew there was no God. There is "something" and ot is blasphemous and disrespectful to anthropomorphise it.

I later tried to believe in a revealed religion. I'mjust too smart for it. nd let's face it, patriarchy isn't necessary any more. We have birth control. The state has taken the place of the tribal elders. The nuclear family messes people up psychologically. We can do without it.

Also in my fifties, I'm living the opposite reality, my return to the Church is resulting in unimaginable spiritual gifts, peace of mind, and joy :)

I understand where you are OP, I was there in my mid-thirties,
but I have to say - boy, did I have it wrong!

Jesus permitted people to curse his name because he knew his movement and memory would be hijacked by the enemy. He told his followers to beware the leaven of the Pharisees, one part leaven mixed with three parts wheat, and inflating Christianity all out of proportion. Paul, with the gospel of Luke, took over Christianity and created most of the horror and error we have seen for 2000 years.

It is perfectly understandable when people abandon a church built on lies, and when they claim to hate Jesus. When he enters the church and fights them with the sword of his mouth, you will see a side of Jesus no one told you about, and you haven't seen on Hollywood screens.

Priests in fancy robes will run like whipped dogs.

What I have found is that this lifetime is a solo journey and each person will accordingly follow his/her own individualized path. The one that is best tailored and suited for the needs of that individual. What is beneficial for one is not necessarily going to be beneficial for another - and vice versa. So it's ideal that everyone follows what works best for them and acknowledge and appreciate that others will be doing the same.

That's an odd thing to say. It is my understanding before patriarchy forced its way onto the people, women were well versed in the art of birth control. They were the care givers (doctors of the day), not men. Once the patriarch system took over, they stripped the women of their role as doctors/nurses/care givers/healers, and placed it in the hands of men. It was after that that women began suffering and dying during childbirth. The art of healing with herbs was another thing that became lost to the European Indigenous Peoples thanks to the madness of the State/Church/Patriarchy.

But of course!

It's best if we follow our own individual conscience,
in my case, I was too caught up in a self-as-god paradigm to listen to my conscience with enough attention.
There is a right and a wrong, that is not negotiable, even as we blunder along on our individualized paths.

So you went back to being threatened with hell and torture and doom and handing all you money over to fat greedy blackmailing pastors?

So how has OP got it wrong??

Actually, no, there is NOT a "right and/or wrong" way to have your individual experience. If that were so, then there would be no such thing as free will. Remember, opposites are identical in nature, only different in degree.

I'm actually speaking of morality, not a way of having an experience.

Sure. I had a heart attack in 2007 at the age of 58. Flat lined three times. It happened the first time I flat lined. I was in the ambulance, the EMT said they were going to stablize me before going. Then everything went pitch black. It was like I'd just came into existence...no memory of anything. I wondered "what?" but not in English but the essence of the meaning of the word. Then I saw blue sky and plants/trees forming in front of me from my left. I felt love and welcome from the plants and a connection of some kind. Then I noticed a state of being I'd never experienced...a state of being "whole" and it felt wonderful. I felt like I'd never experienced that feeling even though I didn't remember anything. Then as the plants and blue sky formed in front of me I knew there was something wonderful beyond them. I started to go, but I couldn't move so I looked down at my feet. Instead of seeing my feet I was looking into a vast space (possibly infinity?). It was kind of like looking into space but it wasn't black...it was a misty grey/blue with lines and arcs and way in the distance an enormous barely visible sphere. I didn't get a chance to look all around. I looked down again and saw what looked like a cross between bubbles and a t.v. screen (crazy! but I'm pretty sure these were all my lives, of which there were many). One flashed and I knew it was this life. I felt a feeling in my chest that was like the heart attack, but it didn't hurt. I remembered this life and knew I had to return. I said (in English) "Oh, no" (because I didn't want to leave that place). As soon as I said it I knew I had no choice. I opened my eyes and looked at the EMT and thought to myself "dog gone it...why'd you have to bring me back from that place?" and then he said "Got him! Let's Go" and the ambulance sped off. The intense pain was back but it meant nothing to me.
What I came away with is that unconditional love is the most important thing there is and it doesn't matter what you "believe" or don't believe. What's important is what's inside. I guess I should tell you I was born and raised a Christian, gave it up in late 20's/early 30's and became an atheist in my 40's. But I still practiced (and still do) the Golden Rule because it's a decent way to live.
But anyway, I still avoid Christianity/religion like the plague. It's almost laughable...but really it's sad...the way some people go on about Christianity and they don't even have a clue. But it doesn't matter...what's inside is what's important.

Thank you!!! Beautiful! I loved the plants and trees and that you felt love from them. I appreciate you for sharing that.

Hi Zip, it's the yellow brick man here. Sorr y for the disappearance but I was banned for some reason . Still am at home, but I am on the road now, so I can get through,

Love the other posters who are on a similar path as our own.

I believe that the creator's truth will be found in the creator's creation. Look around at all that IS and see what is true about it....what are the universal laws, what does GOD bless and curse?

The only way to get any insight into the nature of the creator observation without AND WITHIN.

What seems to violate the conscience of humans universally? The creator planted that in our psyche, and if it offends us universally, then it must offend GOD as well..

Look beyond culture, age, religions etc...to the very heart of humanity and learn how we are like our Creator.

Theses revelations will show us the face of an otherwise unknowable GOD.

Very well said!!

To find the Creator, all we have to do is seek the Created, and that is all around us and within us.

“Know ye not that ye (the body) are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you (your body)?..... " 1 Cor. 3:16

We have been taught since childhood to believe that we exist as separate objects, standing apart from the Creator. We think we are the observer, when the observer is actually the Creator for whom we are observing. We are the Divine Incarnate Ray of the Creator. The Creator appears on earth in the midst of its Creation in human form. That includes every single one of us.

Indeed. Look at the innocence of a child and you will see the heart of GOD. THE UNCONDITIONAL love of a dog and see the heart of GOD. The wisdom of a balanced life and the law of karma to see the justice of GOD. and so on...

The creator is to be found by those who know where to seek...