How many of you were Christians before waking up?

[chicken_little]

Let me preface this post by saying that (as I have mentioned in a few older posts of mine) I have been a Christian for about 13 years. A few years ago I began to have this unsettled feeling about my faith. I felt that, due to the fact that Christianity is so old and so many people have meddled in the foundations of the religion, there was a very high chance that certain aspects of it were likely manipulated over the centuries. I never bothered to do much investigation, however, and simply let that unsettled notion digest in the back of my mind. During the past year or so I've been frequenting a number of forums and websites related to conspiracies, religions, the paranormal, and other such topics. Obviously this forum is one of them. During that time, with an open mind hungry for nothing more than the truth, thanks to the wealth of information that people share, I've slowly been seeing bits and pieces come together.

That said, during my lunch break earlier I took some time to watch Part 1 of Zeitgeist. A few years ago I probably would have walked away from watching it and dismissed it as the work of evil to be used to deter people from their Christian faith. How ironic is it that I am now one of those people. The way the movie (Part 1 at least) puts together the information presented is very simple, concise, and easy to follow. It is also very convincing. I do wonder how much of what was stated about other ancient religions is actually 100%, but the truth is that there are far too many likenesses between those religions and Christianity to go ahead and assume that they are completely false. Regardless of my scarce doubts, I cannot deny that the evidence which shows that the story of Christ in the Bible is nothing but another way of documenting the astrological procession of the Sun. To me it makes perfect sense.

While I feel a step closer to having a grasp on the truth, I also feel a growing amount of anger, disappointment, and frustration about the fact that I have been deceived for so long. I know that I can't blame any particular person(s), but it's hard not to feel this way. To think that I've given money, time, sweat, tears, and energy to this deception pisses me off. Luckily I am, by nature, not an angry person. Actually I am one of the most laid back people I know, and I'll probably feel much better when I wake up tomorrow morning.

That brings me to the reason for this post. I apologize for being so long-winded thus far, but I felt it appropriate to give some background. I was wondering if anyone else on this forum has gone through the same process of realization of the truth which resulted in a departure from Christianity? My immediate and extended family is 99% Christian. I'm married to a woman who is a Christian with a very passionate Christian family. And most of my friends and coworkers are Christians. I'm not sure what to do with this new knowledge because I fear that many people will look down on me for my decision. I do know that I can't sit back and keep this to myself. I refuse to act one way outwardly but believe something completely different inside. I'd rather live alone and free while knowing the truth than feel like I'm caged just to keep others happy.

If anyone else here has ever been through this, how did you approach the situation? What was the outcome? Any advice?

[emerald]

Here I am, one more person like u. Or u can say were on the same bus. Not the one to nowhere, but to somewhere precise. Officially I am Christian Orthodox, unofficially Im spiritual. My awakening has begun years ago, I think in the teenage years (now Im 32). Well, a nipped in the bud awakenin I may say coz after observing, people, things, situations, after reading the Bible, questions started to knock at my door. I was askin myself then I was replying to myself "Well, it was God's knowledge, he knew what to do best" and went on. A kind to say that of course. I admit -without any doubt or falseness - that this site brought lite to me. Actually this year has brought lite to me - speaking of knowledge - at least til now. I don't regret anything conn to the religious things I did in the past and I dont feel any disappointment, no reason to, but instead Im relieved that finally - somehow finally - the truth is out there. Surely theres a good supernatural power guiding us or trying hard to, as for Jesus Christ I think He existed yet, but His life and teachings as they are presented nowadays are more than 99% wrong. And for the Bible as well. The list can go on and on. There are times when I think what if God expects us to save Him, what if hes trying to reach us and he cant for the dark forces are too strong? Yes, nothing unusual, us, humankind saving God.
No need to say I feel better than before. My family - mom and sis - is also Christian Orthodox, but they arent bigot or that narrow minded. Superstitious yes, sometimes, just like me. But there are moments when I give these up. My opinion is that - unfortunately - ignorance and stupidity will reign long time from now on and not even dead, people (sheeple) wont accept the very truth. Worse for them. At least we saw the sun...

[john white]

Well, my early spirituality developed along Christian lines: not too big a shock that really! I went to sunday school as a nipper and church was part of village life, but it wasnt pushed on me: for one thing the only god my father ever worshiped was tranquility with his fishing rod, and my mother just appreciated the quiet sunday morning to get dinner on.

I went to baptist church in my early teens 14/15 becuase I was attracted to the joyful energy, but as my awareness of global politics began to expand I found such apparently good people being part of such an evil system too much of a paradox.. then I went down the consciousness expansion route until I encountered Icke when I was in the Greens aged 19, and obviously I've followed his journey with interest whilst having my own, which led me to direct knowing

In recent years I've become much more sympathetic to religion, which I've tried, however poorly, to reflect in my recent posting here

Info like Astro-Theology, or the facts of events like the Council of Nicea, or the Gnostic gospels/nad hammadi texts, can appear very challenging to Christians and be destructive to their faith, but really they are not: they offer a great expansion of the mystery and many more ways to appreciate the message of Christ regardless of whether or not Christ existed. I'ver also found a great deal of insight into CHristianity beneath the layer of pagan symbol blending and astrotheology by studying the Koran and the life of mohammed, plus Sufism, Bahai's and so on

I sympathise greatly with truth seekers trying to maintain a Christian identity, even though I push them in debate, but ultimately I know that all religions are attempts to lay down a map leading the seeker to experiance the true reality. If we could but acknowledge this potential in all religions whilst recognising one's own chosen religion does not need to be perfect, and objectively, with the passage of time, probably isnt, a great deal of religous strife would be dissapated and the possibility of humans united in a diversity of god consciousness could become manifest: thats not a bad dream to hold

That brings me to the reason for this post. I apologize for being so long-winded thus far, but I felt it appropriate to give some background. I was wondering if anyone else on this forum has gone through the same process of realization of the truth which resulted in a departure from Christianity? My immediate and extended family is 99% Christian. I'm married to a woman who is a Christian with a very passionate Christian family. And most of my friends and coworkers are Christians. I'm not sure what to do with this new knowledge because I fear that many people will look down on me for my decision. I do know that I can't sit back and keep this to myself. I refuse to act one way outwardly but believe something completely different inside. I'd rather live alone and free while knowing the truth than feel like I'm caged just to keep others happy.

If anyone else here has ever been through this, how did you approach the situation? What was the outcome? Any advice?

Its a classic bind: theres only one course of action if you want your life to be founded on truth: to thine own self be true!

Its indisputable that theres a great deal of risk of loss in your situation: loss of community respect, loss of relationship and so on.. and precious little comfort, in that anyone seeking truth has to keep seeking or accept a life based on illusion becuase one could not find the way to go further. Boy I've been there, and I dont know any long time truthseekers who havn't had to risk losing everything at some time or another, and many who did: but would never change a thing, becuase without that journey, they could not be themselves today

I'd say fill yourself with consciousness, the best you know, work to become the best version of you you can be, find and hold the divine love in your heart: then whatever happens, and however turbulent the journey will be, it cannot help but come right in the end, and all those who love you will certainly forgive you for expressing your right to be you: if they do not, they only loved their idea of you, and you must take the higher path anyway, even if its steeper

Again:

To thy own self be true

Thy heart is My home, sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation: cleanse it for My manifestation

[hagbard_celine]

I'm from a Catholic family and "lapsed" when it became impossible to reconcile my faith with the new information I was discovering.

[james777]

I myself have circled this 'forrest' for quite some time. You've probally read some of my posts before, or maybe not, but I can clearly be called a 'christian'. I can accept this fact that the world calls me christian and looks down on me for it because I also understand the true messages in the words of 'Jesus Christ'. I don't expect everyone to understand or to be on the same 'spiritual' level of me and I do understand people's objections to religion. I myself am not a supporter of organized religion, not because I think it would lead me down the wrong path or control me, but because I've found it to be too 'political' and untrustworthy.

The main thing is to understand who 'you' really are, 'your' purpose here and to understand your 'power' and 'authority'. Jesus speaks of many things that are absolutely TRUE and he gives us a very Godly perspective on things, because he is God himself. I think understanding him and what his message truly was/is can and will help you understand what waking up is all about. I'm more awake now than ever before and I believe that 95% of christians are still sleeping as well.

[lumukanda]

my parents never forced me to go to church, but at school it was rammed down my throat, and for a while i was a good christian, but it didn't take long before i saw the hypocrisy in action, messages like love your brother were very much absent in apartheid south africa, that was my first reason for abandoning that, and later as a saw how the church had manipulated the west, and how the myth of jesus was really just a new version of mithras, buddha, baldr, bacchus and a a host of other 'special' people and saw the true symbolism, i suppose i can never go back to that state of blind faith in something i know to be untrue.

[cruise4]

I was brought up as a Catholic, had the schools, alter boys, nuns as teachers, the lot. Didn't buy into the worship thing really.

I have always had an issue with the word Christian. I believe in God, whatever that means, so Agnostic (?). It has always been obvious to me that Religion had serious problems and was hypocritical.

I watched Zeitgeist and it confirmed the re-writing, at the very least, of the bible and the Jesus story being suspect. Revelations is a fairly powerful re-enforcement of 'believe in Christ'.

Zeitgeist and what it says is not necessarily proof against Jesus, although very suggestive. Doesn't change my belief in God at all.

And thats where I am now.

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

I believe if you follow this doctrine, the rest won't matter.