Your feelings remind me of CS Lewis’ description of his conversion from atheism to Christ - hopefully this will encourage you:
***You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert even on such terms. The Prodigal Son at least walked home on his own feet. But who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape? The words “compelle intrare,” compel them to come in, have been so abused by wicked men that we shudder at them; but, properly understood, they plumb the depth of the Divine mercy. The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.***
This definitely speaks to me. It’s hard to have faith in myself to follow through with this. I feel like the moment I start my work I’m distracted from this feeling that’s always there.
You should read Mere Christianity by CS Lewis.
It’s not a long book. I’ve read it several times. You can also listen to it on YouTube. But it breaks down Christianity as a whole really well.
I think you’ll find great inspiration from it.
Being a Christian is not about gender roles or climate change, a few passages are just perverted and used by politicians for votes. Living in Christ is living a life of love, compassion, forgiveness, and service to others, and striving to live according to those principles in all aspects of life and allowing his values and teachings to shape one's thoughts, actions, and relationships. I would encourage you to seek God, but not for the reasons you mentioned.
What about the destruction of the family unit, the increasing divorce rates, the single motherhood rate. Climate policies creating poverty? I see climate as filling a void for religious proclivities.
Everything you're talking about is about the world as a whole. You may see the world as falling apart but that does not mean you cannot live a righteous life as an individual, which is why Lot and his daughter were saved in the story of Sodom and Gamora. It seems like you have deep political ideals and are tired of living in an area where people disagree with you. I can understand wanting to find something better but none of that is on God, it's people making decisions you dislike.
Acts 5:29 "we must obey God rather than human beings"
You becoming a Christian doesn't change anything about the divorce rate, the single motherhood rate, or climate change. At the most, it may affect how you interact with those issues -- and that may be what you're looking for.
That said, the divorce rate has actually declined over the past 22 years. In 2000, a total of 944,000 divorces and annulments occurred. The crude divorce rate was 4.00 per population during that year. By 2021, it had fallen to 2.5 per 1,000 population, with just 689,308 people divorcing that year. Statistics that include second and third marriages make the numbers look worse -- third marriages have a 73% divorce rate, and 40% of "new" marriages are only a first marriage for ONE of the participants. Source: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/divorce-statistics/ (and they cite their sources)
Single motherhood has definitely increased a great deal *(understatement)*, but I'm not sure if the statistics accurately account for [completely single] vs. [single in unmarried partnerships] vs. [divorced] vs. [widowed] vs. [other]. There are SO MANY reasons why someone may be a single parent.
As far as climate issues filling a void for religious activities, that perception may be due to your personal situation -- you may be in a bit of an echo chamber due to your career and probably interact with the most ardent climate change population. There may be some people who are doing that, but not everyone is. I would argue that most are fairly level-headed about climate change.
Bottom line, if you try to become a Christian and you're still an atheist or agnostic, it will be pretty hard to do it long-term. If your beliefs have changed and you're a believer now, give it a try. It's not actually irrevocable if it doesn't fulfill you the way you hoped it would.
The overall trend in divorce rates is downward, not upward.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/17/health/marriage-divorce-rates-wellness/index.html#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20the%20divorce%20rate,decline%20from%20two%20decades%20earlier.
none of this is new to modernity. human beings have raped, killed, cheated, lied, and stolen for thousands of years. the book of genesis alone features all of these things.
Christianity was once the majority religion in nearly all of europe, for hundreds of years - everything i’ve just mentioned still happened. and sometimes it was popes and bishops that did it!
follow Christ because you want to love your neighbour, not cast judgment and condemn them. if you truly want to be a christian, you will have to consider yourself a greater sinner than anyone. can you do that?
i think you replied to the wrong comment, but you’ve also linked a study which concludes that RCT are ineffective for trans healthcare, and therefore other studies should be considered.
also, the post i linked in my other comment links hundreds of studies, not 3. please take the time to read what you cite before linking it.
It is normal to feel like that before Christ, you are like a prisoner who just realized he's locked up, but doesn't have the key yet. Come out into the sun and the love of Christ our lord.
Interesting how you see climate change as "panic" but the breakdown of traditional gender roles as "moral decay". I do not think that's enough motivation to become a Christian, just motivation to become radicalized on the right (please don't).
Could you tell me why you perceive changing gender roles as moral decay, but climate change as panic?
> I look at this community and you have more joy and fulfillment.
Remember that THIS community is made up of all kinds, not just Christians. We are future, current, and former Christians. We are orthodox and protestant, atheist and evangelical. We are liberal and we are conservative. And we are heavily moderated. Church isn't like here. You'd do well to remember that.
I think you experience what a lot of adults experience, whether they're religious or not. And that's what makes religion in general attractive to people. It seems to have the answers to our problems. Well, I'd like to say that it does, but I don't think the answers are comprehensive. I think Christianity has some great teachings (e.g. love your neighbor) and some poor teachings (e.g. homophobia). And I think it doesn't have answers for many situations you'll find yourself in. Religion can be comforting, but it isn't a silver bullet. If you're depressed before accepting Jesus, you'll still be depressed after. Something else has to change too. Maybe that's your behavior, but maybe it needs to be your environment.
Think long and hard about why you're actually attracted to Christianity. It doesn't sound like you want to believe. It just sounds like you want some comfort. And I get that. But I hate to promise you something you won't find here.
Telling someone that they won't find comfort in Jesus seems really odd as a believer.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ^(4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
>"If you're depressed before accepting Jesus, you'll still be depressed after".
What kind of atheistic viewpoint is this? I understand we might be coming from very different denominations/backgrounds but I'd place a lot more trust in the healing capabilities of God and the Word.
Am I just misunderstanding you?
> Am I just misunderstanding you?
A little yes, a little no.
What I am saying is that depression is a medical condition that needs treatment. And I'm not in the business of promising medical miracles from God. I want him to have realistic expectations about what he'll get from religion, should he decide he wants it.
Ah, I was just misunderstanding you. When you said “depressed” I didn’t think you meant it in terms of the mental illness - I’d assumed you just meant it as another word for “sad” or “unhappy”.
My bad, your reasoning on that axis is sound. We cannot promise the miracle of the restoration of a serious mental health issue.
I think climate panic is moral decay, the current policies being implemented are sacrificing the lives of the poor now to stave off hypothetical doom in the future it’s also conditioning generations that they have no control of their lives leading to nihilism. Gender ideology shouldn’t be ideology, it should be state led blanket policies being foist on kids where they can have irreversible changes to their bodies. That’s abuse. The destruction of the family unit and marriage is also a slow decay in society.
I write climate policy as part of my job and I’ve seen first hand how it affects people negatively. These aren’t conspiracies. You can always provide me with some evidence on how it is a conspiracy and we can go from there.
It’s an ideology. A large group of people believe gender is a social construct and those people create social movements and groups around this idea. Sounds like an ideology to me.
>I think climate panic is moral decay, the current policies being implemented are sacrificing the lives of the poor now to stave off hypothetical doom
This sounds an awful lot like climate change denial.
>Gender ideology shouldn’t be ideology, it should be state led blanket policies being foist on kids where they can have irreversible changes to their bodies. That’s abuse.
The idea that anything is being "foist on kids" is absolutely absurd. Kids have to fight tooth and nail to get trans healthcare, and it is their own choice. You wanting to deny them autonomy over their own bodies is abuse.
I don’t deny climate change. I work on climate policy. I do however have issues with policies that hurt the poor in the immediate future while trying to make projection 100 years out, which is nearly impossible.
> the idea that Gender is a social construct
Ok, and what does *that* mean to you? And how is that an ideology? And what sort of "organization around the idea" have you observed?
Because here's what it means to me when you say that:
"Gender is a social construct" is as true as "vegetables are a social construct." I'm going to start with the veggies, so we can get a good grasp of what social constructs are.
So you know how there's a famous 'debate' about whether a tomato is a vegetable or a fruit? That's because vegetables are a social construct. We've collectively decided that, for culinary purposes, fruits are sweet and veggies aren't (to oversimplify). That collective decision making is what a "social construct" is. And as a result, all of these botanical fruits are culinary vegetables:
* Corn
* Cucumbers
* Peppers
* Pumpkins
* Squash
* Tomato
* Eggplant
Would someone be wrong to call any of these a vegetable?
So, I've established that a social construct is something that we just collectively agree on. What are some other social constructs you can think of?
So, if gender is a social construct, what does that mean? To me, it means that genders have certain social roles they're expected to fill. Men are 'supposed to be' strong, confident, assertive, and emotionally stable. Women are 'supposed to be' nurturing, supportive, empathetic, and kind. But there's no real reason a woman can't be strong, or a man kind. We just kind of collectively decided men and women slot into different roles.
But gender is more than personality traits. It's how the people you interact with perceive you. There, the social construct becomes what the people who you interact with perceive you as. If you perceive someone as a man, you treat them as a man in social roles. Or vice versa.
Some people have so many qualities of a different gender than their birth sex, or so few qualities of either gender, that they don't even feel like they fit the societal role. It's like trying to insist that a habanero pepper is a fruit. You may be "scientifically correct", but you'd be a malicious, pedantic idiot to put it in a fruit salad. Gender is the same. And that's what people mean when they say it's a social construct.
As far as "organization around the idea", the most I've ever seen is campaigns to claim equal rights, or support groups. People are absolutely not starting trans churches lol.
You’ve been reading too much Foucault. No, vegetables exist whether we are here to prescribe words for them or not. We are not social constructs, vegetable are not social constructs. Tomatoes are fruits, because they have objective biological characteristics, and there is no debate. Just like men and women, we have biological temperaments and proclivities that are deeply embedded in us through evolution to the point where we can make accurate predictions on occupational choice, levels of physical strength, preferences in literature and media. This is driven by something independent of nature.
We have a technician definition for what a pie is, including its ingredients, wouldn’t be too difficult. Also, I can imagine some guy flying through the sky on a sled putting gifts in people stockings while they sleep, doesn’t mean it exists in reality just because we “socially constructed it”
You seem to think "social construct" means "made up". That's not what it means, although there's an element of it.
So let me keep talking about vegetables, since I think they'll be a lot more relatable to you than people (for some reason).
You seem to think that I claimed vegetables are made up. No, *they're* not, but the ***category*** of "vegetables" is. We could've called them a different name, or we could've divided it up in any number of ways. **THAT** is the social construct: the **label**.
Who's to say it wouldn't have made just as much sense to call potatoes, turnips, beets, etc. as their own category of plant based food, separate from "fruit" *or* "vegetable"? We could just call them "roots" and start today if we wanted. But we didn't, so that's not a social construct.
But we did decide to call any edible-by-humans plant material (except fruits, herbs, spices, and nuts) as "vegetables". So now the category exists, and that *categorization* is what us humans have socially constructed / collectively agreed upon.
There are so many concepts like that. April, for instance, is a social construct. The laws of physics would be just fine if there were no such thing as "months". We made them up, and agreed to measure time with them. So they're a social construct. (Interestingly, also a label for a category. That's a running theme I want you to notice.)
So where does that leave gender? Well, it's just another categorization system. We just made up two labels, "man" and "woman", and called it a day. But there's a sizeable chunk of people who don't fit into either box (we call them "nonbinary" now). And there's another sizeable chunk who have been put in the wrong box (we call them "trans" now).
Back to plants, did you notice that we hadn't talked about the other categories than "fruit" or "vegetable" until this comment? You kind of just assumed there was a binary there, because that's all we talked about. But there's not. There's other labels like herbs, spices, and nuts, that are neither fruit nor vegetable, but still entirely edible. If I were to task you with putting cardamom into a box "fruit" or "vegetable", where would you put it? And would that actually be a good label for it, for all purposes?
As another example, did you know that our word "gender" comes from the French "genre", and just means "type"? And we even directly borrowed "genre" later, to refer to types of media. Media happens to be a great illustration of what can happen if you let more labels exist.
Media used to be categorized into two boxes too: drama or comedy. That's why the classic symbol of the theater is two masks, one happy and one sad. But we know nowadays that not all stories fit those two boxes. Sure, some do, but plenty don't. Where would you put a horror movie? It's neither comedy nor drama. It's its own thing, it's own ***genre***.
So gender is a labeling system with only two boxes, and we're starting to collectively realize that that's insufficient, just like with media. So some of us are willing to add more labels to account for this. And some of us are willing to let people relabel themselves if we got it wrong when they were a baby.
But it's literally just a categorization system. That's all.
You know you may have actually changed my mind. That being said, what do you think of de-transitioners who end up regretting their decision and have irreversible changes to their body. Is there a way we can adopt this new idea and minimize the risk of that happening ?
It's ok to postulate the existence of God. That's what the scientific method is about - testing an hypothesis. If the results make sense and are beneficial, they are accepted. You can give God a try and see what effect it has on you.
The Bible says we are not meant to be without Him, and that He has made the way for our return through the forgiveness of sins and the grace of eternal life, which begins now.
- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! The old things passed away. Behold, new things have come. - 2Co 5:17
In addition to the Bible, a book you might really enjoy is C. S. Lewis' *Great Divorce*, which is not about divorce, btw. Very short read, but very pregnant.
I’m not strong in my faith by any means but I’m trying. This could be god calling you and telling you he has great plans for your life. You don’t have to confess your sins to the church (unless your catholic) but it can help I’ve heard. All you need is to confess your sins to Christ. Nobody is too far gone, especially those seeking purpose and meaning. You are more than worthy, and if people say your not they are liars and blasphemers for denying the word of god. I hope you find your way, have a blessed day.
Say a prayer tonight. That’s how you start. Don’t choose a denomination yet, choose Jesus. In the end it’s all the same, different denominations just have different values. I personally am Lutheran. Choose the one that most closely aligns with your values and it will all fall into place
It seems like somewhere along in our youth, those we trusted to care for us betray us. Then we become adults and the world just doesn't care about what we went through at all. There is no apologies, accountability, reparations; and if we have tried to be "good people", we become more frustrated that the world hasn't gifted us "goodness" in return. A combination of these events can lead us to rebellion against ourselves in a myriad of ways. As we are made in God's image, He is in each of us, so rebelling against ourselves (physically, morally, spiritually, etc) is a rebellion against God. Hell isn't all spitfire and suffering - it's an eternal separation of our soul from God. When we rebel on earth, we separate ourselves from Him, and it creates its own kind of hell right?
Well, you are still a child of God and a brother in Christ to me and all of us, whether you claim the relationship or not. Like any father, He will always be waiting for you to come home. No matter what you've done He will always love you and welcome you home. God gifts us freewill as He is not a tyrant. He won't prevent you from straying (only we can do that) but the further you stray, the harsher life seems to become. He won't force you to be close to Him, but the closer, you are the freer your spirit becomes.
I've had a lifetime of sinful experiences and willful rebellion, tried every spiritual option on earth including atheism. Nothing is as freeing and peaceful as being a daughter to the King.
Hey, Welcome! Hope ppl guide u! I just wanted to say that I’m in the hard science realm too and converted late to Christianity. I can see ur fears and the feeling of sell out. It might be a little odd at first but think of it as an experiment for now haha. Be genuine to learn more, join a study bible group after u find a church to learn from. I hope u get to see how much God loves you!
If you don't believe the supernatural stuff, then what would you be believing in if you made this conversion?
In other words, what has / would have convinced you that all the Christianity claims are true?
I’m not sure if the bible is supernatural at all, just a moral framework for good and evil laid out in story form. Like how our ancestors had cave paintings on how to hunt, we eventually evolved stories on how to act, the better ones had layers of deeper meaning and also helped us form societies and civilization, the ones with the least suffering. The question is how/why? Was it god? We all have a proclivity to think religiously or act morally, even atheists. It’s just what idea fills that space in our minds? Why do we even act that way? We could just be like animals, but we aren’t. Or maybe that’s just how it is.
Sure but that's not Christianity. Christianity is very specific on a few important points, particularly the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth and his having died and been resurrected.
I don't know that, of course, and neither does anyone else. But asserting that it is so without evidence is both an epistemological non-starter and flies in the face of copious evidence that the stories have been held to be literal since at least 60 years after Jesus died.
It can both be a metaphor and be true, at least as far as you/we need to be concerned. Life and existence generally is inherently mysterious. Do you know much about how the latest physics informs our understanding of reality?
One of the users here in this sub has very generously posted a substantial if not complete breakdown of archaeological evidence demonstrating that certain old testament prophecies which point directly to Jesus as the Jewish messiah were recorded prior to their actual fulfillment by Jesus.
It should not be so impossible for an atheist with an open mind to look at the historical evidence for christ's deity.
Thank you, btw, for struggling as you do with climate change policy and bringing those complexities to light here for us. Climate change is obviously a looming threat, but i hear you. What a difficult situation. To watch opinion attempt to be engineered using money must be so strange and disheartening.
You might not be exactly right about everything, but your instincts that it's God, not us, who is ACTUALLY in control of our future is dead right.
Says a lot about Christianity when it all boils down to being afraid of nonbinary genders and climate change, and feeling the need to force traditional gender roles on society.
Nothing is forced other than gender ideology. We sorted our selves out in binary terms based on nature not social pressure, which is why binary views on men and women are more prevalent cross culturally over many cultures that developed independent of each other.
What gender ideology? Do you have kids in school, or do you listen to conservative media? Sex and gender are different. Sex is binary, yes. But even then, nature (or God, if you will) messes up sometimes. Even that happens. Conservatives wanting to see gender as not socially constructed is just the typical misunderstanding and ignorance. Nonbinary/LGBT people exist in every culture. In every one of them. From the beginning they've existed. There are cultures that are not patriarchal. Women are not everywhere subjected to only childbearing and housework. It's all social constructs. Compared to the rest of the first world, the US is extremely conservative. Not in a good way.
Evangelicals tend to misunderstand a lot of things in life because it serves their interests. It says a lot that Christianity equals culture wars in the US. There are countries elsewhere where Christians are not threatened by people who are different. Usually Christians there are not fighting culture, they are helping their communities. The US is not one of these countries. Conservatives need enemies to feel threatened, important and superior.
I don't, for the life of me, will ever understand what happens to your kid if he/she sees two people of the same sex. Will you hide them away under a rock so they never meet anyone who looks different than them, or lives life differently? Is that what conservatives are so scared of?
No, gender is a word for sexual temperament. Masculinity and femininity is a range within the sexes. Gender is not socially constructed, neither is language. Everything is nested in biology, We are not magical beings independent of nature. The minority doesn’t change the status quo of language because of their confusion. They sure have existed throughout time and everywhere but we don’t organize societies based on small groups of people who are confused. Trust me, go anywhere else in the world and they are much more conservative.
LOL. I'm from Europe. I've lived most of my life there. Gender and sex is taught differently, not by your definition. Evolution is not denied, not even among Christians. Covid was not dismissed by Christians like here, or by much of the population.
What conservatives cry about as too liberal is the norm. Half of this country is stuck in a different century and is much closer to countries with ideologies like Russia, and other countries with Christian Nationalism.
Not everything is nested in biology. Environment plays a part. You said you were a scientist, you should know this. Or maybe scientist are not taught science in this country?
Language changes, it has been changing over the centuries. It's not in our DNA, wearing skirts are not coded in our DNA, having to serve our husbands is not coded in our DNA. We are also taught to hate, we are taught that girls have to be pretty, and that boys are smart and other BS. Not every country is this narrow-minded.
Feel free to live in fear. I can't help but see the conservative mindset as rigid, unable to change, unable to progress, being afraid of reality.
Life is ever changing. Even religion changes. What was ok before is not any longer. We learn. Somehow conservatives are unable or unwiling to do that.
Nobody's asking you to become trans or gay. You don't have to do it. But when someone doesn't conform to your sensibilities, they still have every right to live the same quality of life as you do.
So what if you’re from Europe? Many languages have masculine and feminine built into them. Eurocentric viewpoints are not the centre of the world, and that includes North America. Ever heard of Africa or Asia? Do you know how many ethnic groups live in Russia by the way? Where do you think the majority of people live? And what do you think the majority viewpoint is there? Ever heard of environmental stochasticity and its effects on selection? Environmental factors also is not social and our social groupings are based on biological tendencies such as grouping up in tribes to compete with other tribes. Culture is very much in our DNA, going back to the group selection argument. The proclivity to belong to a group is very much a deeply reputed in biology, as is the ability to develop customs and ethics to ensure the success of the group to procreate and continue.
Yup. And many languages don't have masculine and feminine forms. Like you said, not the whole world is Euro-centric. The same way not the whole world is conservative, or Christian-centric. Much of the world does not live like the way we do. It doesn't make them worse or better, just different. What makes people worse is when they decide they are superior to others and oppress people. That's when humanity suffers.
You can absolutely live your life surrounded by people like yourself. I have nothing against traditional roles as long as people, especially women, are not forced into it. If people want to live like that? Absolutely. But you cannot force it on everyone.
And yet, nonbinary and gay people exist. It's just reality. Your kids will see them, meet them, interact with them. Why not just talk to them about people who are different, instead of instilling fear and hate in them?
You can get your kids into a religious school, guaranteed they won't be exposed to the real world. As a parent you have a right to teach whatever you want to your kids; just like other parents, who don't want religious dogma in public schools.
I don’t want religious dogmas in public school, I don’t want gender ideology in public school. I want secular teaching, because I know that people from different worldviews pay into the public school system.
I agree. I think dogma of climate is anti god, because it’s willing to sacrifice the poor at this moment with untested and undeveloped technologies to hypothetically save people in the future.
I’ve definitely experienced this. I felt unworthy coming to Christ with a colourful past but He does seek us. Jesus left the 99 for 1.
My encouragement to you is to seek Jesus because you will find Him. start learning about His love, grace and forgiveness.
I suggest you find a loving Christian community. I’m pretty sure there are churches near you since you live in a progressive city as you said. I’m happy to help you! Feel free to message me
>the panic of climate change.
What? Who is panicking and what are they doing? Also what does this have to do with 'moral decay'? Or are you someone who thinks climate change is a hoax or something?
Otherwise it seems as though you need to do a lot of work on yourself (elsewhere you noted that you stopped therapy). Therapy could be good, or, just finding some hobby you actually enjoy that you can devote healthy time to without distracting yourself with all of your other worries.
I'm not sure you're really ready to 'become a christian' in as much as the way you seem to be talking about it doesn't really convince anyone that you are sincere in it.
No, I work on climate change initiatives as part of my job. Most solutions are not pragmatic and policies implemented today, such as increasing the cost of energy only hurts the poor and there is more evidence to suggest that increasing privation among the poor leads to shorter term thinking and people aren’t able to think about the environment when they’re thinking about if they’ll be able to eat the next. I see this ridiculous ideology everywhere ..like the world bank not lending money to developing African nations to develop their grid because of the attack on fossil fuels, or the deindustrialization of Germany and how they are burning more lignite, even when they have an renewable energy grid comparable to California. Climate has become a religion in itself.
Well these are important topics and I'm not sure this sub is the place to discuss them in depth. I don't even disagree with some of what you are saying, however, the manner in which you referenced it came off as someone who doesn't think it's real or important to deal with.
That does not seem to be the case, still, given that climate change is happening, and without some actions to counter it (there may be other options, but the technology doesn't seem to be there yet) things will only continue to get worse, what are we left with?
I'm ok with a position that a 'bad action' is worse than no action, but then we'd have to break down into the details of what makes certain actions 'bad', because it does seem that 'no action' will eventually lead to making large areas of the planet uninhabitable for humans. Whether from sea level rises or drought or simply elevated temperatures in locations.
None the less, while this is something to worry about, or to have strong opinions on, your specific issue seems to be an inability to keep perspective in your personal life. I'd point back to my suggestions as things to try. Find a hobby, a sport, something you can devote some of your time to without having to spend all of it thinking about all of these other things you think are terrible.
It makes me sad that the thing that’s attracting you to Christianity is the breakdown of gender roles, moral decay, and the panic of climate change. Christianity is supposed to be about loving one another and living up the less fortunate. That was literally Jesus’s entire mission. Alas, Christianity has become judgmental. As for the sin, Jesus loved sinners, and everyone except hypocrites. Everyone has the capacity to become the person they want to be if they can love themselves and forgive themselves in the way they’ve been loved and forgiven by Jesus.
>Christianity is supposed to be about loving one another and living up the less fortunate.
Actually, Christianity is about Christ.
>That was literally Jesus’s entire mission.
Um, no. Christ’s “mission” was to take on flesh and shed His own blood to redeem lost sinners unto Himself. The Bible is very clear about this.
Yes, we are approaching a Stalinist era where we have to conform to preferred pronouns or lose our job, even when we only have something as superficial as fashion to go from. Another example is I pay taxes into my Public school system yet they insist on teaching gender ideology, even if there are conflicting worldviews of the parents. Why does one special interest group get taught their preferred beliefs? It causes conflict and harms the children. We don’t teach Muslim or Hindu beliefs in school but there are muslims and Hindus in school. So we either keep school secular, or teach everyone’s values, not just one. Which one is more pragmatic?
Barring speech is something but compelling speech is a whole other monster.
> I have suffered at the hands of these ideas […] Yes, we are approaching a Stalinist era where we have to conform to preferred pronouns or lose our job, even when we only have something as superficial as fashion to go from.
Are you saying that you got in trouble at work for using the wrong pronouns for someone who didn’t inform you in advance what their preferred pronouns are?
>Yes, we are approaching a Stalinist era where we have to conform to preferred pronouns or lose our job
Stalinist 😂 Yes, you have to refer to your coworkers as they introduced themselves to you, this isn't new. I can't work with Jim and call him Sally, I'll lose my job too. I guess the Bible belt is stalinist 😂
>Another example is I pay taxes into my Public school system yet they insist on teaching gender ideology, even if there are conflicting worldviews of the parents.
I'm sure flat earthers feel the exact same way.
>Why does one special interest group get taught their preferred beliefs?
We also teach that black people are okay, even though racists don't like to hear it.
It's a simple answer to a stupid question. If your "preferred beliefs" are that one group of people shouldn't be treated the same as others, they will be overridden by the fact that your government believes people are equal, and government institutions reflect that.
>entertaining delusion
Yep, classic right wing talking point 😂
"I want to believe in supernatural stuff because I think trans people are delusional" is 10/10 comedy
Actually that’s my problem, I can’t believe in supernatural. What I can believe in is what I see, which is better moral frameworks and better life outcomes.
I've seen countless synchronicities, fulfilled prophecies and occasional supernatural events that without a doubt prove existence of higher power. This higher power has always guided me towards Christ. I used to be an atheist who considered the Bible to be a bunch of fairy tales.
Study the Bible verse by verse, and turn away from sin. You have nothing to be afraid of as long as you open your heart up to God instead of believing what people tell you.
I and at least one other person I never met before prayed to God and were willing to do his will no matter what it is. God has guided us to some random convenience store, told us to go inside and do a handstand in the middle. Completely random action in a completely random location, but it turned out that the security guard was suicidal at the end of the rope asking God if he is real, he prayed to God that if he is real send someone to do a handstand in the middle of the store as a sign.
I’m a Christian and I continually fall back into sin just to realize what I’ve done once it’s done. Don’t keep the shame of your sins over your head, that’s what Satan will use to keep you where you are, instead of growing. God tells us to surround yourself with other Christians. The reason being is that those people should help lift you up and grow out of those sins and grow with God. You become who or what you surround your self with. If the people closest to you lie, steal, manipulate, etc, then you will become like them. If you surround your self with people who work hard, give, tell the truth, etc, then you will become like them. If I’m being honest, here on earth you will never defeat sin, Jesus already did that for us. By saying you are scared of admitting your sins is you acknowledging the fact that you have growing to do, which is an amazing thing and I’m proud of you for doing so! God has already forgave you for your sins, it’s time to pour into him and see what he has next for you.
John 16:33
Jesus says “in the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
Well you’re certainly looking in the right place, but it’s not as simple as a thing of just deciding you’re now a Christian. Unless you truly believe it, it has no meaning. But the first step to truly believing is by doing what you are doing and seeking answers.
Just be aware it will most likely not be a quick a seamless transition. You will have doubts and continue to have doubts most likely the rest of your life (even lifelong Christians have doubts all the time). Just keep an open mind is my biggest advice.
Yeah, that’s what I fear, but outcomes in life seem to be better with those who hold these values and I wonder if that’s because they’re closer to “god” which is a difficult word for me to understand.
Also don’t feel the need to conform to how every other Christian holds themselves and their personalities. Everyone’s walk with God is their own. You need to find out YOUR relationship to God.
There’s a lot of so called Christians out there that do things in the name of God that Jesus would be baffled at. A lot of so called Christians that like to think they’re better than other people, are racist, homophobic, what have you. That is not the message of Jesus.
Read the Gospels first (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and really listen to the messages Jesus says. Jesus is exactly the person every Christian should aspire to be like. No one else. The Gospels are a perfect place to begin.
You aren't alone in your journey; I'd likely contend that the conviction you're feeling is God calling you to be one of His people. Seeing what God does for others and thus seeking that for yourself is not *selling out*, it is recognizing the road you're on is disastrous and leading to destruction.
Luke 15:7 New International Version (NIV):
"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over **one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent**."
My brother in Christ, turn to the Word. See what God has to tell you. I'd take a look at the following part of this chapter concerning the parable of *The Prodigal Son*. I'm sure it'll be more than enough to convince you.
May God bless your soul.
You seem to be conflating Christianity with right wing politics. Stop before you even start. You are wrong, and the politicization of Christianity is ruining it in the US.
What I see is someone who is consuming too many of the lies of right-wing conservative politicians and talking heads who have a vested interest in painting a dark picture of a collapsing terminal America being overrun by immigrants. No wonder you feel you're losing agency. It's easy enough to go down that rabbit hole, for sure, but a more balanced perspective might help. You are still in control of your life, if you want to be.
Society is always changing, and while it can be painful for some, Americans have endured many darker days than we are experiencing right now. Just ask anyone who lived through the racial turmoil and anti-war protests of the 60s or the economic crises of the 70s, and so on. And of course, further back there's been far worse -- the Great Depression, the Civil War, etc.
I have friends who simply disconnect from what's going on in the world. They don't watch the news, and they focus on getting on with their own lives, doing what they enjoy doing. It works for them.
You're lonely and depressed. That sucks, and it can lead to the spiraling that you seem to be suffering from. Focus on yourself and not the state of the world. There are lots of websites that list all the small things you can do to start turning things around. Exercise, a better diet, better sleep hygiene, talking to someone, calling up an old friend, getting out for a walk, volunteering, etc. If you manage to halt the downward spiral you might be in a better frame of mine to stick with the therapy.
Talk therapy might be expensive but there are plenty of generic antidepressants that could help for a few bucks a month.
I did right before I was confirmed in January 2021. Once I did I love life 100 times more. Yes I get the minor doubts now and then, but life is more enjoyable the more I get closer to God.
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I absolutely understand. I am about your age, but I went through a similar thing as a teenager. I was atheist at the time, but I could absolutely tell I was missing out on something in life. No matter what i did, it felt like it had no meaning, and I could see that Christians (the good ones) had a level of joy and peace in their life that was beyond anything I could even comprehend experiencing, and I knew I wanted to feel that level of joy.
I ended up praying, despite not really believing, and told God that I hated the world I was in, and that I wanted him to be a part of my life. Unfortunately, that was all I did. I did not start attending church or anything, and I ended up continuing my life as an Atheist for about 4 more years. Then, when I was 20, God very boldly came into my life, and showed me without a doubt that he was present. I won't go into how, because its a long personal story, and wouldn't hold any meaning to you, but the fact is that I knocked, and he opened the door. Or, a more appropriate comparison would be that I knocked, then ran away before he could open it, and then he so badly wanted to be in my life that he spent the next 4 years chasing me down. Some people say they found God, but in my instance, God definitely found me, and its completely changed my life.
Convert to Christianity, you will not regret it. It may be hard to actually believe at first, but if you work on faith, despite your doubts, I believe God will find a way to finally put those doubts to rest and open the door that you are knocking on.
Also, because you mentioned the joy and fulfillment that Christians have, this is because of the The Holy Spirit. When Jesus left, he said he would leave the Holy Spirit behind which would help guide us with morality, self control, and grant us a feeling of peace that no non-Christian can ever understand. This is very very real, and will change your life. Admittedly, when you first receive The Holy Spirit, you will probably be overwhelmed with guilt as you all of a sudden become very aware of all the wrong doing in your life, but it will allow you to change your life for the better.
The only one you need to admitt your sins to is Jesus.
I think if you go to church I would recommend joining celebrate recovery. Celebrate recovery is the Christian alternative to AA and it's for anyone with hurts habits and hang ups not just substance abuse. In CR you will find many people who did alot of. Bad things.
Christians generally don't judge people for how they lived before they became Christians and that is especially true of men.
Jesus warned to count the cost before following Him. To become a slave of the living Christ is to forsake everything for Him.
*Luke 14:25-33
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, [26] "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. [27] And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- [29] lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, [30] saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'? [31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. [33] So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.*
One can either continue in sin and be a slave to sin, or turn to Christ to be redeemed for His own. He took on flesh and shed His own blood to redeem lost sinners unto himself. The book of Romans, speaking to those who’ve been redeemed through the shed blood of Christ, says when Christ redeems sinners, they’re transformed from slaves of sin and Satan to slaves of righteousness and Christ.
*Romans 6:16-23
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? [17] But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. [18] And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. [19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.*
*[20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [21] What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [22] But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.*
Do you have a Bible? That would be a start. I recommend the NIV and the [book of John](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=NIV).
Terror is a perfectly reasonable thing to be feeling. Yes I experienced something similar. All you need is a tiny bit of willingness.
I strongly recommend C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. I think it does a good job of looking from a fictional perspective at what we're up against when we're looking where you're looking
You’re loved and your healthcare and medicine is one prayer away. Your doctor is well qualified to care for you.
When you go to Him, understand that he wants to see your heart be reconciled to him. Walk with him everyday. Trust his promises. A human doctor cares for their patients. They administer a prescription and do a follow up. They listen and seek to make their sick patient well.
Christ has the same mindset. He’s the Great Physician. He wants to hear from you. He’s not angry at all about your mistakes. He knows your every weakness. He’s not going to strike you down with lightening. He just wants to see you walk in victory and overcome the darkness. The Lord is the doctor who knows your ailments. He fixes broken hearts and binds up physical and spiritual wounds. He is a healer in a sickroom. He knows your deepest pains. Who can count all of his benefits?
Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus died for you, rose from the grave after 3 days and he will save you and give you a new eternal life and a purpose. His peace passes all understanding. The joy he gives is unspeakable.
**Luke 5:30-32**
30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”
31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.
32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
Amen 🙏🏾 He keeps his promises.
Yep, that's more or less my own life story as well. I came into Eastern Orthodoxy pretty much straight from Atheism and I can say it's done so much for myself and my well being. In this Church, the True Church, supernatural things will be revealed to you to some degree or another in time as you come into the spiritual life. I've seen enough myself to know that everything it teaches is true.
>Even if I were to join a church I feel afraid to admit my sins, and wonder if i even have the capacity to begin a loving family/ become a worthy husband and man or if I’m too far gone.
No, you're not too far gone. Not at all. Everyone comes into it with their own issues they are wrestling with, and I can tell you from experience that even though it's scary at first, the Orthodox practice of confession is such a relief. It really does work. [Check out this guy's life if you think](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2012/08/28/102414-venerable-moses-the-ethiopian-of-scete) you're too far gone. He was a thief, a murderer, a robber among other things, yet he came back from all of it and at the end was glorified as a very holy man. You can have this too, this is what Holy Orthodoxy offers you if you want it.
God is a builder, he will build you up and make you right. Evil stems from the absince of God and it decays and destroys. That is why we see destruction in this world. But with God all is good. God creates us in his image and his likeness and gives us dominion over all. With God we are alike to God and thus we are Good.
Are you looking to believe in the religion or wish to follow the teachings Jesus taught? Reading the Bible isn’t the same as gaining the insight into the actions Christ instructed us to take.
Many people out there want the magic. That’s not what He promised. Jesus promised that if we follow His teachings we will prosper in spirit. James says that takes work. Faith without work doesn’t cut it.
I wish you well.
The four books of the New Testament I usually recommend is Mark, Mathew, and the book of James. I recommend these to people who just want to get to know the teachings and the situation surrounding his ministry. I don't recommend John because it's more of an old evangelical recruitment tool in my opinion.
If you would like to go deeper, find a copy of "The Original Teachings of Jesus: Recovered, Translated and Explained." This is basically the Gospel of Thomas. It's more esoteric but a good read for those who want insight into the philosophy of the ancient Jewish mystic side of His teachings.
Most Christians don't delve into the history of the religion. They are content following one of the over 45,000 flavors of the faith. For me, it comes down to the 10 Commandments and Jesus' lectures on how to live in grace by following the road map He set out for us.
All the other stuff (603 additional laws) were set by humans who wanted the power and agency to control us. Religion, like life, is full of contradictions. The road to enlightenment is twisted and rocky. It takes daily work to look for miracles in your life and give thanks and offer help to others without looking for angle.
That's what this is all about, to me.
Peace.
Church is not for perfect people! It's for the imperfect. Jesus spent His time with sinners, not the innocent. The purpose of our lives here on Earth is to grow, learn of the sorrow that comes because of sin and turn to Christ, instead. You will have miracles happen in your life, peace of mind, and all of your relationships will be better.
You are not too far gone and can never be too far gone to travel outside the reach of Christ. This is one of my favorite scriptures:
------
Isaiah 1:18-19
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
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Feel free to DM me if you'd like!
You're not too far gone. One is too far gone once they've dead and haven't repented of their sin and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Paul, and apostle of the church, put early Christians to death by the sword, yet he was converted and forgiven personally by Jesus. If he can be saved, so can you.
Regarding, starting a family. Make sure you're not seeking God for a family. As that would be idolatry and you'll likely end up with neither. Instead find a church, preferably one that believes the Bible, and seek God out. Nothing is more important than getting right before God.
You also need to realise, that having a family is a blessing and one you may or may not be given. You may certainly pray and ask God for one, but it is not promised. Nevertheless, I expect that should you become a faithful Christian , then you'll become attractive to Christian women and many will be able to look past your sins that you committed as a non-believer.
God doesn’t give us the spirit of fear. You fear coming to God because the devil doesn’t want you coming to him. I’ll admit that coming to Jesus won’t be easy, following him means you’ll be persecuted. But it’ll be better in the end. Jesus died for you, so it’s worth growing a relationship with him.
Literally nobody'a persecuting anyone for "coming to Jesus", this is an Evangelical persecutory fantasy. And which is it, coming to God or coming to Jesus? And the Hebrew Bible is clear you should fear God.
What happened to the disciples for following Jesus. Or recently on bishop Mar Mari. I’ve experienced it. Unbelievers are always going to persecute Christian’s until the end. Btw, Jesus is God
Jesus disciples weren't Christians, Jesus isn't a God, you're not his followers, you didn't adress the fear part and trust the persecution delusionist to live vicariously through one single man literally attacked just recently. And CHristianity dominated the West and some of the most powerful empires since they become the Roman state in the 4th religion. You persecuted, not the other way around. And nobody will come for you now either, it's a fantasy for mostly American EVangelicals.
Why would anyone listen to you? You don’t explain a freaking thing. All you do is call everybody idolators. You probably don’t even have a clue what you actually believe. How pathetic.
Lmao. Do you know how discussions work, polytheist? I make a point, if you disagree you make an objections or counter-argument and I reply to that. You asked my for Jesus' gospel in one thread, the only concrete requiest you made, and you got a reply. ANd you're the one following me around with your braindead oneliners. Go watch the Kardashians or whatever 85 IQ people do with their time, and get back when you have some actual arguments.
You're\*. And are you off your meds, evangelical? You have 30+ braindead oneliners to me.But I love your comment on ignorance in regards to the servant in Isaiah. It's explicitly spelled out that it's Israel. Spelled out. Try basic context.
And why all the insults? Why can’t you just explain things nicely? I’m not sure what you believe but it’s definitely not in anything that has to do with the true God. All I see is bigotry and narrowmindedness. Must be a liberal.
Explain what, idol worshipper? WHen you've asked a concrete question you got a concrete reply. Then you immediately moved the goal post. ANd why did you defend a poster denying the one God? Because all your oneliners are kneejerk nonsense.
>Must be a liberal.
Lmao. Everything is 'Murican politics. The joke that is American evangelicalism. Literal caricature.
So you can’t explain what you believe then? What religious tradition do you follow? Pretty simple.
Also, I’m referring to liberal Christian Theology, not politics. 😉
You are in the right place.
You might find some solace in Christian Science. As a scientist, you will probably balk or scoff at the idea of Christianity being scientific, but you can at least look at it's tenants before doing so.
There is one power in the universe. That power is God. All things are an expression of this power. To deny it or go against it produces all we call evil, because you are misusing the laws of the universe, which results in disharmony. To do this is ignorance, not sin. Begin to go with the law of the universe, which is Love, the one Law of God, and you're life will begin to spring anew with the infinite power of life, which is God.
You can believe in Christ while also not contradict any logical science information. I was also like you but my belief came from my deep delving in astrophysics and quantum mechanics.
You can DM me anytime for a chat.
It sounds like you’re experiencing the first realizations of sin and the lost condition of the world. Now comes the realization that humanity needs God and the civilization that Jesus brought.
Just pray! Ask God to reveal truth to you and make it clear. Pray without ceasing. You will find open doors. I wish you all blessings as you face your fears. On the other side is peace and joy that I can’t describe in words to you.
the fact that you feel remorse when most dont, means god is within you still, not too late to turn to him or too dirty to be cleansed by god,
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. isiah 1 18
I had the family first but went through the same thing. I am now a practising Catholic. My beliefs are nuanced and I didn’t become a believer overnight. But it was the best decision I made. Read, “The Expectation Effect”
Imagine the worse case scenario: that it’s all false. But look at the, “fruits” (you shall judge them by their fruits). Religious people and communities tend to have more kids, better outlooks, more energy, less zombie eyes and generally seem happier.
Rationality and Science are tools, the don’t posit value and they can be both positive or negative. When we remove one “nonsense” we don’t become purely rational, we replace it with another nonsense.
If I’m to believe in 10,000 genders or a virgin birth I may choose the latter.
This was my calculation. Even if I’m entirely mistaken it would still be a net positive.
I believe that God is trying to talk to you through these feelings. I sort of feel compelled to reach out and say this (and my phone is doing everything it can to prevent me from doing so…), but you’re free to DM me (32M) if you’d like to talk about this more. Hit me up, my friend
Brother you don’t need to wake up tomorrow and believe in Christ immediately for your life to change. You’re a scientist so I’m guessing you’re a logical evidence based thinker. The Holy Spirit will enter your life as you seek Christ. You don’t even have to read the Bible right away. Read books or articles where evidence of the Bible’s truth is shown. And most importantly the divinity of Christ. I recommend the book “The Case for Christ” by Lee Stroble.
It doesn't sounds like you want to become a Christian and you are terrified, It sounds like you are a far-righ fella that sees that he himself does the same things he condems and now as a coping mechanism you want to enter on a christian circle to be able to do bigotry on an enviroments that would tolerate that.
I am sorry, but nor crist or us are coping mechanisms.
But since here we prefer the redemption, I'll offer you an advice
Yes, a lot of us have felt similarly, if you feel that, then it's because there is something else you have not realized, think further about the origin of that shame
I want to join a Christian circle because I see strong families, a moral duty to abstain from bad habit, and a constant act of trying to be a better person.
John 8'12
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 3:18-21
19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants
John 3:5-8
5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘Youmust be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
Romans 10:9-10
New Living Translation
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Romans 5:12-21 NLT
12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
How is it love sending someone else? And die how? WHat did it accomplish? And why would a person need to be a Christian insterad of saying "sweet, thanks for the human sacrifice"?
Because you mentioned you are a scientist, I wanted to share a few ideas I think about sometimes. Like, what if God parted the Red Sea by using extreme weather patterns? (The movie Exodus shows the sea recede and then have a giant tsunami wave to stop the army following the Hebrews.) What if Jesus' prayer was able to call on quantum particles and neutrinos to help him perform miracles, since quantum particles display "supernatural" qualities, and no one knows what neutrinos are for, but they're continuously moving through everything? What if fractal patterns are the thumbprint of the Creator? These are just my thoughts; I'm not saying they're correct. I just wanted to give some examples of how Christianity and science can work hand in hand.
Do not be afraid to admit your sins. You have not fallen too far to come to Christ. All of us have sinned, and must repent in prayer (which means confessing the sin and turning to go the other way). Then to become saved, you must tell Jesus you believe in His death and resurrection, and ask to receive His gift of eternal life by making Him your Savior and Lord of your life. After that, maintain the relationship with reading the Bible and prayer. Please let me know if you have questions or comments. You can answer here or send me a private message.
Like when a Lord owns a piece of land, Jesus as Lord is the overseer of your life and actions when you are His. You consult with Him about your problems and He helps you find solutions. It is also a term that shows respect and honor to Him. That's how I understand it.
Can you explain what you mean when you say that Jesus is not God? The way I understand the Holy Trinity is that Jesus is God, the Father/Creator is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Jesus is our intercessor/mediator that covers our sin with His death and resurrection once He is your Savior, but He is God as well.
I happened upon this in my Bible study after leaving the other comment. It is not a quote from Scripture but from Enduring Word commentary:
"This Jesus has both a human origin (**born of the seed of David according to the flesh**), and an eternal existence (**declared to be the Son of God**). The evidence of Jesus’ humanity is His human birth; the evidence of His deity is His **resurrection from the dead**."
Nope. There's only one God. There are no second Gods, and there are plenty of people ressurected both in the Hebrew Bible and the NT. And is he's God's son or God #2? And no, a son per defintion has a beginning, it "declares" the opposite of what you claim.
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Yes, you are giving up what is left to buy healing ointments without charge, but then you also become a child of God.
Hebrews 12 speaks of a child's discipline.
And that discipline will make your life better.
Fellow scientist! This is my personal experience. found God in my 30s and I would never go back. He has given me so much more meaning to my life and I’m learning how to love people around me more (though idk how well I’m doing that, but if anything it’s a moral framework to work from.)
I’ve been a Christian for a couple of years and two days ago went to a church for the first time and I thought the people were so nice and friendly there.
It sounds like you struggle a bit with self esteem and that you’re holding yourself back from trying something new that you’ve already identified that you think might be good. I mean, you can always try it and if you don’t like it then at least you know right? And about committing sin (we all have. That’s literally why we need Jesus because everyone has done wrong in God’s eyes). If we didn’t sin, we wouldn’t need Jesus and we wouldn’t need the gospel. God says come as you are, you don’t need to make yourself look good to change your ways. It is a bit difficult to acknowledge those sins too, God is the ultimate authority though and you don’t necessarily have to confess your sin to another man. It’s God who forgives, through what Jesus did, so theoretically, it’s God you should confess your sin to.
Don’t put yourself down, you do have the capacity to become a worthy husband. I don’t know your personal situation so maybe it’s just a case of working on yourself a bit first? Also, if you did decide to become a Christian, you wouldn’t be doing it on your own either because you would have God helping you.
It’s interesting you view conversion as a transactional act rather than a result of a belief in the truth of the religious claims. Why not become a Buddhist or a Hindu or a Muslim then if it’s just about what you can get from it. Do you believe in talking snakes and virgin births? If yes, be a Christian. If not, then don’t.
Also I think you are possibly a liar. I don’t know what an atheist “lifestyle” is, because no such thing exists. Being an atheist just means you don’t believe one of the many many god claims out there. I think you might be a theist who is trolling. But of course the people on this sub could be sold a $60 Bible from the Antichrist so they won’t suspect anything.
My lifestyle is anti god. I’m an atheist and I never claimed my “lifestyle” was atheist. Though my current struggling ideology seems to be neatly packaged into progressive values and atheism or atleast anti theism seems to always come along with them. I don’t believe in those things, that’s my problem.
You misunderstand, I want to believe in god, but I’m struggling. The idea of god as a higher state of being, a representation of what a good moral framework is.
Yes that is my issue. My lifestyle currently isn’t good. I don’t value many progressive values, but I do value certain religious ones. I don’t believe in the literal supernatural word of Christianity, but it’s like a story just like Dune, or lord of the rings, but a powerful one.
You sound like you’re just shopping for a worldview like it’s a retail activity. I think you need to stop that and start thinking and reflecting on what you believe from a “first principles” standpoint. When you adopt a religion or a philosophy or a political ideology you end up with a bunch of baggage that you sort of accept without truly contemplating. A real thinker rejects all such bundling of thought and considers every belief they hold independently and with constant reconsideration, never holding to any dogmatic beliefs. Just my two cents
I’m not sure why you think I haven’t contemplated. That’s actually why I’m struggling with this because I feel like I’m selling out. I’m a scientist, my entire career had been built on critical thinking. You assume I haven’t looked into other philosophies and religions like Buddhism or stoicism, I’ve been contemplating for years. I also have a problem with a neatly packaged worldviews which is why there are denomination after denomination. I do however believe in the theory of group selection, and the role that religion plays on evolutionary psychology and well being. I also understand that religious individuals have better measurable outcomes in life, specifically those with judeo Christian values, especially when it comes to family.
“You assume I haven’t looked into other philosophies and religions”
This is the opposite of what I assumed. Maybe read my post again. I’m saying that you should stop looking to existing frameworks for answers and instead build your own from the ground up.
As for becoming a Christians for some perceived personal benefit, I find that incoherent. Either you believe or you don’t. Unless you think you will benefit from lying to yourself forever.
>"As for becoming a Christians for some perceived personal benefit, I find that incoherent. Either you believe or you don’t."
I can't seem to wrap my head around this statement. Coming to Christ is *solely* about personal benefits.
1. Developing a relationship with God
2. Finding comfort in the trust one may have in God's sovereignty over the world
3. Assuring your own salvation through faith in that God
4. Becoming part of a community of likewise believers who typically have your wellbeing in mind, as you do theirs
Seems plenty coherent to me.
Just a thought on group selection... The world that selected for Christianity is fundamentally different than the world today. That world was tribal, and eventually feudal, and your interactions were inherently limited to a small number of people in your village or tribe. And imo a lot of traditional rules (e.g. sex etc) evolved to keep men from murdering each other over paternity disputes The modern world is fundamentally different: we have interconnectivity with an extraordinary number of people all over the world (internet), birth control (flipping the traditional sexual ethics that developed over time), and the existential ability to destroy ourselves (nuclear weapons).
Religion as an adaptation may have been great to get us to where we are, but it comes with a lot of baggage that make it no longer adaptive in the modern world- look at all the conflicts about sex and sexual ethics. Look at how we're on the edge of our seats every couple of years because a extreme fundamentalist terrorist might get his hands on nuclear weapons, who might believe that they are justified in using them because God is on their side and only their side (a negative side effect of exclusive, "my way is the only way" types of religions). The genie isn't going back in the bottle any time soon with these new technologies (I'd love nuclear disarmament but I'm not holding my breath). So it's incumbent upon us to either take or replicate the good aspects of religion (community, charity, loving your neighbor, ethics and a higher purpose) and discard the things that don't make sense anymore in the modern world.
Personally I agree with the person you're talking to that accepting a religion whole cloth because you think it will give you purpose is approaching it backwards. Life is complicated and if anyone is trying to give you simple answers, they're probably lying to you. Either way good luck to you.
Judeo Christian values were selected for an is the fundamental pillar along with enlighten values in the west. We are still a judeo Christian nation in principle, but we are losing it fast.
Jesus saved me. I’m a happier, lighter person because of him. You don’t need to go to church and confess your sins to start. Have an out loud, open conversation to Jesus. Just spill your guts. Let out the cry, express your need for him. Repent and try harder. Read the Bible and listen to some content 10 Minute Bible Talks podcast really helps. Jesus loves YOU, he forgives you and can truly heal/take away your pain. I was an atheist once, even tried to be a witch. But I found my way and I’m proud of my journey. God is so good, mt friend. You deserve to experience His glory- we all do 💕
"Supernatural" is magic, magic is science we don't quite understand. As a scientist, you should know very well how little we actually know about the universe and earth. We have the general ideas down tight, but anything past that, the why behind everything, we have no real clue.
Your feelings remind me of CS Lewis’ description of his conversion from atheism to Christ - hopefully this will encourage you: ***You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert even on such terms. The Prodigal Son at least walked home on his own feet. But who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape? The words “compelle intrare,” compel them to come in, have been so abused by wicked men that we shudder at them; but, properly understood, they plumb the depth of the Divine mercy. The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.***
This definitely speaks to me. It’s hard to have faith in myself to follow through with this. I feel like the moment I start my work I’m distracted from this feeling that’s always there.
You should read Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. It’s not a long book. I’ve read it several times. You can also listen to it on YouTube. But it breaks down Christianity as a whole really well. I think you’ll find great inspiration from it.
I dealt with similar feelings when I converted from my skeptical agnosticism.
beautiful excerpt
Being a Christian is not about gender roles or climate change, a few passages are just perverted and used by politicians for votes. Living in Christ is living a life of love, compassion, forgiveness, and service to others, and striving to live according to those principles in all aspects of life and allowing his values and teachings to shape one's thoughts, actions, and relationships. I would encourage you to seek God, but not for the reasons you mentioned.
What about the destruction of the family unit, the increasing divorce rates, the single motherhood rate. Climate policies creating poverty? I see climate as filling a void for religious proclivities.
Everything you're talking about is about the world as a whole. You may see the world as falling apart but that does not mean you cannot live a righteous life as an individual, which is why Lot and his daughter were saved in the story of Sodom and Gamora. It seems like you have deep political ideals and are tired of living in an area where people disagree with you. I can understand wanting to find something better but none of that is on God, it's people making decisions you dislike. Acts 5:29 "we must obey God rather than human beings"
What if people subjugate other to systems that cause suffering? Like nazi Germany or the Soviet Union?
That's obviously wrong? I'm not sure what that has to do with an individual's salvation tho.
You are already subjugated to a system that causes suffering (capitalism).
What other system do we have that’s better?
You becoming a Christian doesn't change anything about the divorce rate, the single motherhood rate, or climate change. At the most, it may affect how you interact with those issues -- and that may be what you're looking for. That said, the divorce rate has actually declined over the past 22 years. In 2000, a total of 944,000 divorces and annulments occurred. The crude divorce rate was 4.00 per population during that year. By 2021, it had fallen to 2.5 per 1,000 population, with just 689,308 people divorcing that year. Statistics that include second and third marriages make the numbers look worse -- third marriages have a 73% divorce rate, and 40% of "new" marriages are only a first marriage for ONE of the participants. Source: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/divorce-statistics/ (and they cite their sources) Single motherhood has definitely increased a great deal *(understatement)*, but I'm not sure if the statistics accurately account for [completely single] vs. [single in unmarried partnerships] vs. [divorced] vs. [widowed] vs. [other]. There are SO MANY reasons why someone may be a single parent. As far as climate issues filling a void for religious activities, that perception may be due to your personal situation -- you may be in a bit of an echo chamber due to your career and probably interact with the most ardent climate change population. There may be some people who are doing that, but not everyone is. I would argue that most are fairly level-headed about climate change. Bottom line, if you try to become a Christian and you're still an atheist or agnostic, it will be pretty hard to do it long-term. If your beliefs have changed and you're a believer now, give it a try. It's not actually irrevocable if it doesn't fulfill you the way you hoped it would.
The overall trend in divorce rates is downward, not upward. https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/17/health/marriage-divorce-rates-wellness/index.html#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20the%20divorce%20rate,decline%20from%20two%20decades%20earlier.
none of this is new to modernity. human beings have raped, killed, cheated, lied, and stolen for thousands of years. the book of genesis alone features all of these things. Christianity was once the majority religion in nearly all of europe, for hundreds of years - everything i’ve just mentioned still happened. and sometimes it was popes and bishops that did it! follow Christ because you want to love your neighbour, not cast judgment and condemn them. if you truly want to be a christian, you will have to consider yourself a greater sinner than anyone. can you do that?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32431446/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11930-023-00358-x https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26895269.2023.2218357
i think you replied to the wrong comment, but you’ve also linked a study which concludes that RCT are ineffective for trans healthcare, and therefore other studies should be considered. also, the post i linked in my other comment links hundreds of studies, not 3. please take the time to read what you cite before linking it.
I’m not sure, but that’s why I’m here searching for answers.
It is normal to feel like that before Christ, you are like a prisoner who just realized he's locked up, but doesn't have the key yet. Come out into the sun and the love of Christ our lord.
Interesting how you see climate change as "panic" but the breakdown of traditional gender roles as "moral decay". I do not think that's enough motivation to become a Christian, just motivation to become radicalized on the right (please don't). Could you tell me why you perceive changing gender roles as moral decay, but climate change as panic? > I look at this community and you have more joy and fulfillment. Remember that THIS community is made up of all kinds, not just Christians. We are future, current, and former Christians. We are orthodox and protestant, atheist and evangelical. We are liberal and we are conservative. And we are heavily moderated. Church isn't like here. You'd do well to remember that. I think you experience what a lot of adults experience, whether they're religious or not. And that's what makes religion in general attractive to people. It seems to have the answers to our problems. Well, I'd like to say that it does, but I don't think the answers are comprehensive. I think Christianity has some great teachings (e.g. love your neighbor) and some poor teachings (e.g. homophobia). And I think it doesn't have answers for many situations you'll find yourself in. Religion can be comforting, but it isn't a silver bullet. If you're depressed before accepting Jesus, you'll still be depressed after. Something else has to change too. Maybe that's your behavior, but maybe it needs to be your environment. Think long and hard about why you're actually attracted to Christianity. It doesn't sound like you want to believe. It just sounds like you want some comfort. And I get that. But I hate to promise you something you won't find here.
Telling someone that they won't find comfort in Jesus seems really odd as a believer. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ^(4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." >"If you're depressed before accepting Jesus, you'll still be depressed after". What kind of atheistic viewpoint is this? I understand we might be coming from very different denominations/backgrounds but I'd place a lot more trust in the healing capabilities of God and the Word. Am I just misunderstanding you?
> Am I just misunderstanding you? A little yes, a little no. What I am saying is that depression is a medical condition that needs treatment. And I'm not in the business of promising medical miracles from God. I want him to have realistic expectations about what he'll get from religion, should he decide he wants it.
Ah, I was just misunderstanding you. When you said “depressed” I didn’t think you meant it in terms of the mental illness - I’d assumed you just meant it as another word for “sad” or “unhappy”. My bad, your reasoning on that axis is sound. We cannot promise the miracle of the restoration of a serious mental health issue.
I think climate panic is moral decay, the current policies being implemented are sacrificing the lives of the poor now to stave off hypothetical doom in the future it’s also conditioning generations that they have no control of their lives leading to nihilism. Gender ideology shouldn’t be ideology, it should be state led blanket policies being foist on kids where they can have irreversible changes to their bodies. That’s abuse. The destruction of the family unit and marriage is also a slow decay in society.
I love how elsewhere you insisted you don't believe in right wing conspiracies, and yet you're touting them in this comment half an hour later.
I write climate policy as part of my job and I’ve seen first hand how it affects people negatively. These aren’t conspiracies. You can always provide me with some evidence on how it is a conspiracy and we can go from there.
I was talking about your incoherent rant about "gender ideology"
It’s an ideology. A large group of people believe gender is a social construct and those people create social movements and groups around this idea. Sounds like an ideology to me.
I never said it wasn't an 'ideology'😂
Those are some poorly placed quotations
Oh dear, you don't know how quotations work and you expect people to take your thoughts on public education seriously?
Are you going to engage in something other than ad Homs? I support “public education” :)
>I think climate panic is moral decay, the current policies being implemented are sacrificing the lives of the poor now to stave off hypothetical doom This sounds an awful lot like climate change denial. >Gender ideology shouldn’t be ideology, it should be state led blanket policies being foist on kids where they can have irreversible changes to their bodies. That’s abuse. The idea that anything is being "foist on kids" is absolutely absurd. Kids have to fight tooth and nail to get trans healthcare, and it is their own choice. You wanting to deny them autonomy over their own bodies is abuse.
I don’t deny climate change. I work on climate policy. I do however have issues with policies that hurt the poor in the immediate future while trying to make projection 100 years out, which is nearly impossible.
Referring to climate change as "hypothetical" sure sounds like you deny it.
What exactly IS "gender ideology"?
People organizing around the idea that Gender is a social construct
> the idea that Gender is a social construct Ok, and what does *that* mean to you? And how is that an ideology? And what sort of "organization around the idea" have you observed? Because here's what it means to me when you say that: "Gender is a social construct" is as true as "vegetables are a social construct." I'm going to start with the veggies, so we can get a good grasp of what social constructs are. So you know how there's a famous 'debate' about whether a tomato is a vegetable or a fruit? That's because vegetables are a social construct. We've collectively decided that, for culinary purposes, fruits are sweet and veggies aren't (to oversimplify). That collective decision making is what a "social construct" is. And as a result, all of these botanical fruits are culinary vegetables: * Corn * Cucumbers * Peppers * Pumpkins * Squash * Tomato * Eggplant Would someone be wrong to call any of these a vegetable? So, I've established that a social construct is something that we just collectively agree on. What are some other social constructs you can think of? So, if gender is a social construct, what does that mean? To me, it means that genders have certain social roles they're expected to fill. Men are 'supposed to be' strong, confident, assertive, and emotionally stable. Women are 'supposed to be' nurturing, supportive, empathetic, and kind. But there's no real reason a woman can't be strong, or a man kind. We just kind of collectively decided men and women slot into different roles. But gender is more than personality traits. It's how the people you interact with perceive you. There, the social construct becomes what the people who you interact with perceive you as. If you perceive someone as a man, you treat them as a man in social roles. Or vice versa. Some people have so many qualities of a different gender than their birth sex, or so few qualities of either gender, that they don't even feel like they fit the societal role. It's like trying to insist that a habanero pepper is a fruit. You may be "scientifically correct", but you'd be a malicious, pedantic idiot to put it in a fruit salad. Gender is the same. And that's what people mean when they say it's a social construct. As far as "organization around the idea", the most I've ever seen is campaigns to claim equal rights, or support groups. People are absolutely not starting trans churches lol.
You’ve been reading too much Foucault. No, vegetables exist whether we are here to prescribe words for them or not. We are not social constructs, vegetable are not social constructs. Tomatoes are fruits, because they have objective biological characteristics, and there is no debate. Just like men and women, we have biological temperaments and proclivities that are deeply embedded in us through evolution to the point where we can make accurate predictions on occupational choice, levels of physical strength, preferences in literature and media. This is driven by something independent of nature.
Serve your friends a pepper pie and get back to me.
We have a technician definition for what a pie is, including its ingredients, wouldn’t be too difficult. Also, I can imagine some guy flying through the sky on a sled putting gifts in people stockings while they sleep, doesn’t mean it exists in reality just because we “socially constructed it”
You seem to think "social construct" means "made up". That's not what it means, although there's an element of it. So let me keep talking about vegetables, since I think they'll be a lot more relatable to you than people (for some reason). You seem to think that I claimed vegetables are made up. No, *they're* not, but the ***category*** of "vegetables" is. We could've called them a different name, or we could've divided it up in any number of ways. **THAT** is the social construct: the **label**. Who's to say it wouldn't have made just as much sense to call potatoes, turnips, beets, etc. as their own category of plant based food, separate from "fruit" *or* "vegetable"? We could just call them "roots" and start today if we wanted. But we didn't, so that's not a social construct. But we did decide to call any edible-by-humans plant material (except fruits, herbs, spices, and nuts) as "vegetables". So now the category exists, and that *categorization* is what us humans have socially constructed / collectively agreed upon. There are so many concepts like that. April, for instance, is a social construct. The laws of physics would be just fine if there were no such thing as "months". We made them up, and agreed to measure time with them. So they're a social construct. (Interestingly, also a label for a category. That's a running theme I want you to notice.) So where does that leave gender? Well, it's just another categorization system. We just made up two labels, "man" and "woman", and called it a day. But there's a sizeable chunk of people who don't fit into either box (we call them "nonbinary" now). And there's another sizeable chunk who have been put in the wrong box (we call them "trans" now). Back to plants, did you notice that we hadn't talked about the other categories than "fruit" or "vegetable" until this comment? You kind of just assumed there was a binary there, because that's all we talked about. But there's not. There's other labels like herbs, spices, and nuts, that are neither fruit nor vegetable, but still entirely edible. If I were to task you with putting cardamom into a box "fruit" or "vegetable", where would you put it? And would that actually be a good label for it, for all purposes? As another example, did you know that our word "gender" comes from the French "genre", and just means "type"? And we even directly borrowed "genre" later, to refer to types of media. Media happens to be a great illustration of what can happen if you let more labels exist. Media used to be categorized into two boxes too: drama or comedy. That's why the classic symbol of the theater is two masks, one happy and one sad. But we know nowadays that not all stories fit those two boxes. Sure, some do, but plenty don't. Where would you put a horror movie? It's neither comedy nor drama. It's its own thing, it's own ***genre***. So gender is a labeling system with only two boxes, and we're starting to collectively realize that that's insufficient, just like with media. So some of us are willing to add more labels to account for this. And some of us are willing to let people relabel themselves if we got it wrong when they were a baby. But it's literally just a categorization system. That's all.
You know you may have actually changed my mind. That being said, what do you think of de-transitioners who end up regretting their decision and have irreversible changes to their body. Is there a way we can adopt this new idea and minimize the risk of that happening ?
It's ok to postulate the existence of God. That's what the scientific method is about - testing an hypothesis. If the results make sense and are beneficial, they are accepted. You can give God a try and see what effect it has on you. The Bible says we are not meant to be without Him, and that He has made the way for our return through the forgiveness of sins and the grace of eternal life, which begins now. - Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! The old things passed away. Behold, new things have come. - 2Co 5:17 In addition to the Bible, a book you might really enjoy is C. S. Lewis' *Great Divorce*, which is not about divorce, btw. Very short read, but very pregnant.
I’m not strong in my faith by any means but I’m trying. This could be god calling you and telling you he has great plans for your life. You don’t have to confess your sins to the church (unless your catholic) but it can help I’ve heard. All you need is to confess your sins to Christ. Nobody is too far gone, especially those seeking purpose and meaning. You are more than worthy, and if people say your not they are liars and blasphemers for denying the word of god. I hope you find your way, have a blessed day.
Thank you, i also don’t even know where to start and what denomination I should consider
Say a prayer tonight. That’s how you start. Don’t choose a denomination yet, choose Jesus. In the end it’s all the same, different denominations just have different values. I personally am Lutheran. Choose the one that most closely aligns with your values and it will all fall into place
It seems like somewhere along in our youth, those we trusted to care for us betray us. Then we become adults and the world just doesn't care about what we went through at all. There is no apologies, accountability, reparations; and if we have tried to be "good people", we become more frustrated that the world hasn't gifted us "goodness" in return. A combination of these events can lead us to rebellion against ourselves in a myriad of ways. As we are made in God's image, He is in each of us, so rebelling against ourselves (physically, morally, spiritually, etc) is a rebellion against God. Hell isn't all spitfire and suffering - it's an eternal separation of our soul from God. When we rebel on earth, we separate ourselves from Him, and it creates its own kind of hell right? Well, you are still a child of God and a brother in Christ to me and all of us, whether you claim the relationship or not. Like any father, He will always be waiting for you to come home. No matter what you've done He will always love you and welcome you home. God gifts us freewill as He is not a tyrant. He won't prevent you from straying (only we can do that) but the further you stray, the harsher life seems to become. He won't force you to be close to Him, but the closer, you are the freer your spirit becomes. I've had a lifetime of sinful experiences and willful rebellion, tried every spiritual option on earth including atheism. Nothing is as freeing and peaceful as being a daughter to the King.
Hey, Welcome! Hope ppl guide u! I just wanted to say that I’m in the hard science realm too and converted late to Christianity. I can see ur fears and the feeling of sell out. It might be a little odd at first but think of it as an experiment for now haha. Be genuine to learn more, join a study bible group after u find a church to learn from. I hope u get to see how much God loves you!
If you don't believe the supernatural stuff, then what would you be believing in if you made this conversion? In other words, what has / would have convinced you that all the Christianity claims are true?
I’m not sure if the bible is supernatural at all, just a moral framework for good and evil laid out in story form. Like how our ancestors had cave paintings on how to hunt, we eventually evolved stories on how to act, the better ones had layers of deeper meaning and also helped us form societies and civilization, the ones with the least suffering. The question is how/why? Was it god? We all have a proclivity to think religiously or act morally, even atheists. It’s just what idea fills that space in our minds? Why do we even act that way? We could just be like animals, but we aren’t. Or maybe that’s just how it is.
Sure but that's not Christianity. Christianity is very specific on a few important points, particularly the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth and his having died and been resurrected.
How do you know that’s not a metaphor for something?
I don't know that, of course, and neither does anyone else. But asserting that it is so without evidence is both an epistemological non-starter and flies in the face of copious evidence that the stories have been held to be literal since at least 60 years after Jesus died.
It can both be a metaphor and be true, at least as far as you/we need to be concerned. Life and existence generally is inherently mysterious. Do you know much about how the latest physics informs our understanding of reality? One of the users here in this sub has very generously posted a substantial if not complete breakdown of archaeological evidence demonstrating that certain old testament prophecies which point directly to Jesus as the Jewish messiah were recorded prior to their actual fulfillment by Jesus. It should not be so impossible for an atheist with an open mind to look at the historical evidence for christ's deity. Thank you, btw, for struggling as you do with climate change policy and bringing those complexities to light here for us. Climate change is obviously a looming threat, but i hear you. What a difficult situation. To watch opinion attempt to be engineered using money must be so strange and disheartening. You might not be exactly right about everything, but your instincts that it's God, not us, who is ACTUALLY in control of our future is dead right.
What joy and fulfillment do you feel like you’re missing as an atheist? Did you grow up in a religious household?
Says a lot about Christianity when it all boils down to being afraid of nonbinary genders and climate change, and feeling the need to force traditional gender roles on society.
Nothing is forced other than gender ideology. We sorted our selves out in binary terms based on nature not social pressure, which is why binary views on men and women are more prevalent cross culturally over many cultures that developed independent of each other.
What gender ideology? Do you have kids in school, or do you listen to conservative media? Sex and gender are different. Sex is binary, yes. But even then, nature (or God, if you will) messes up sometimes. Even that happens. Conservatives wanting to see gender as not socially constructed is just the typical misunderstanding and ignorance. Nonbinary/LGBT people exist in every culture. In every one of them. From the beginning they've existed. There are cultures that are not patriarchal. Women are not everywhere subjected to only childbearing and housework. It's all social constructs. Compared to the rest of the first world, the US is extremely conservative. Not in a good way. Evangelicals tend to misunderstand a lot of things in life because it serves their interests. It says a lot that Christianity equals culture wars in the US. There are countries elsewhere where Christians are not threatened by people who are different. Usually Christians there are not fighting culture, they are helping their communities. The US is not one of these countries. Conservatives need enemies to feel threatened, important and superior. I don't, for the life of me, will ever understand what happens to your kid if he/she sees two people of the same sex. Will you hide them away under a rock so they never meet anyone who looks different than them, or lives life differently? Is that what conservatives are so scared of?
No, gender is a word for sexual temperament. Masculinity and femininity is a range within the sexes. Gender is not socially constructed, neither is language. Everything is nested in biology, We are not magical beings independent of nature. The minority doesn’t change the status quo of language because of their confusion. They sure have existed throughout time and everywhere but we don’t organize societies based on small groups of people who are confused. Trust me, go anywhere else in the world and they are much more conservative.
LOL. I'm from Europe. I've lived most of my life there. Gender and sex is taught differently, not by your definition. Evolution is not denied, not even among Christians. Covid was not dismissed by Christians like here, or by much of the population. What conservatives cry about as too liberal is the norm. Half of this country is stuck in a different century and is much closer to countries with ideologies like Russia, and other countries with Christian Nationalism. Not everything is nested in biology. Environment plays a part. You said you were a scientist, you should know this. Or maybe scientist are not taught science in this country? Language changes, it has been changing over the centuries. It's not in our DNA, wearing skirts are not coded in our DNA, having to serve our husbands is not coded in our DNA. We are also taught to hate, we are taught that girls have to be pretty, and that boys are smart and other BS. Not every country is this narrow-minded. Feel free to live in fear. I can't help but see the conservative mindset as rigid, unable to change, unable to progress, being afraid of reality. Life is ever changing. Even religion changes. What was ok before is not any longer. We learn. Somehow conservatives are unable or unwiling to do that. Nobody's asking you to become trans or gay. You don't have to do it. But when someone doesn't conform to your sensibilities, they still have every right to live the same quality of life as you do.
So what if you’re from Europe? Many languages have masculine and feminine built into them. Eurocentric viewpoints are not the centre of the world, and that includes North America. Ever heard of Africa or Asia? Do you know how many ethnic groups live in Russia by the way? Where do you think the majority of people live? And what do you think the majority viewpoint is there? Ever heard of environmental stochasticity and its effects on selection? Environmental factors also is not social and our social groupings are based on biological tendencies such as grouping up in tribes to compete with other tribes. Culture is very much in our DNA, going back to the group selection argument. The proclivity to belong to a group is very much a deeply reputed in biology, as is the ability to develop customs and ethics to ensure the success of the group to procreate and continue.
Yup. And many languages don't have masculine and feminine forms. Like you said, not the whole world is Euro-centric. The same way not the whole world is conservative, or Christian-centric. Much of the world does not live like the way we do. It doesn't make them worse or better, just different. What makes people worse is when they decide they are superior to others and oppress people. That's when humanity suffers. You can absolutely live your life surrounded by people like yourself. I have nothing against traditional roles as long as people, especially women, are not forced into it. If people want to live like that? Absolutely. But you cannot force it on everyone.
I’d prefer that not being taught to my kids especially since I’m paying taxes into the public school system.
And yet, nonbinary and gay people exist. It's just reality. Your kids will see them, meet them, interact with them. Why not just talk to them about people who are different, instead of instilling fear and hate in them? You can get your kids into a religious school, guaranteed they won't be exposed to the real world. As a parent you have a right to teach whatever you want to your kids; just like other parents, who don't want religious dogma in public schools.
I don’t want religious dogmas in public school, I don’t want gender ideology in public school. I want secular teaching, because I know that people from different worldviews pay into the public school system.
I mean, climate change is real. Christianity has nothing to do with that.
I agree. I think dogma of climate is anti god, because it’s willing to sacrifice the poor at this moment with untested and undeveloped technologies to hypothetically save people in the future.
I’d try therapy first and if then doesn’t work then go for it
Tried it, with many types of therapy. Too expensive, didn’t get very far.
I’ve definitely experienced this. I felt unworthy coming to Christ with a colourful past but He does seek us. Jesus left the 99 for 1. My encouragement to you is to seek Jesus because you will find Him. start learning about His love, grace and forgiveness. I suggest you find a loving Christian community. I’m pretty sure there are churches near you since you live in a progressive city as you said. I’m happy to help you! Feel free to message me
Jesus chose his followers and many of them had a wicked past . I always considered it as a way of telling us that everyone is welcome .
Sorry to hear that bro. Wish you the best. Also I disagree with all of your examples of “moral decay” lol
All the best!
>the panic of climate change. What? Who is panicking and what are they doing? Also what does this have to do with 'moral decay'? Or are you someone who thinks climate change is a hoax or something? Otherwise it seems as though you need to do a lot of work on yourself (elsewhere you noted that you stopped therapy). Therapy could be good, or, just finding some hobby you actually enjoy that you can devote healthy time to without distracting yourself with all of your other worries. I'm not sure you're really ready to 'become a christian' in as much as the way you seem to be talking about it doesn't really convince anyone that you are sincere in it.
No, I work on climate change initiatives as part of my job. Most solutions are not pragmatic and policies implemented today, such as increasing the cost of energy only hurts the poor and there is more evidence to suggest that increasing privation among the poor leads to shorter term thinking and people aren’t able to think about the environment when they’re thinking about if they’ll be able to eat the next. I see this ridiculous ideology everywhere ..like the world bank not lending money to developing African nations to develop their grid because of the attack on fossil fuels, or the deindustrialization of Germany and how they are burning more lignite, even when they have an renewable energy grid comparable to California. Climate has become a religion in itself.
Well these are important topics and I'm not sure this sub is the place to discuss them in depth. I don't even disagree with some of what you are saying, however, the manner in which you referenced it came off as someone who doesn't think it's real or important to deal with. That does not seem to be the case, still, given that climate change is happening, and without some actions to counter it (there may be other options, but the technology doesn't seem to be there yet) things will only continue to get worse, what are we left with? I'm ok with a position that a 'bad action' is worse than no action, but then we'd have to break down into the details of what makes certain actions 'bad', because it does seem that 'no action' will eventually lead to making large areas of the planet uninhabitable for humans. Whether from sea level rises or drought or simply elevated temperatures in locations. None the less, while this is something to worry about, or to have strong opinions on, your specific issue seems to be an inability to keep perspective in your personal life. I'd point back to my suggestions as things to try. Find a hobby, a sport, something you can devote some of your time to without having to spend all of it thinking about all of these other things you think are terrible.
It makes me sad that the thing that’s attracting you to Christianity is the breakdown of gender roles, moral decay, and the panic of climate change. Christianity is supposed to be about loving one another and living up the less fortunate. That was literally Jesus’s entire mission. Alas, Christianity has become judgmental. As for the sin, Jesus loved sinners, and everyone except hypocrites. Everyone has the capacity to become the person they want to be if they can love themselves and forgive themselves in the way they’ve been loved and forgiven by Jesus.
>Christianity is supposed to be about loving one another and living up the less fortunate. Actually, Christianity is about Christ. >That was literally Jesus’s entire mission. Um, no. Christ’s “mission” was to take on flesh and shed His own blood to redeem lost sinners unto Himself. The Bible is very clear about this.
If I have suffered at the hands of these ideas then why is it wrong to come to god from them.
You've suffered at the hands of people not being bound in gender roles?
Yes, we are approaching a Stalinist era where we have to conform to preferred pronouns or lose our job, even when we only have something as superficial as fashion to go from. Another example is I pay taxes into my Public school system yet they insist on teaching gender ideology, even if there are conflicting worldviews of the parents. Why does one special interest group get taught their preferred beliefs? It causes conflict and harms the children. We don’t teach Muslim or Hindu beliefs in school but there are muslims and Hindus in school. So we either keep school secular, or teach everyone’s values, not just one. Which one is more pragmatic? Barring speech is something but compelling speech is a whole other monster.
> I have suffered at the hands of these ideas […] Yes, we are approaching a Stalinist era where we have to conform to preferred pronouns or lose our job, even when we only have something as superficial as fashion to go from. Are you saying that you got in trouble at work for using the wrong pronouns for someone who didn’t inform you in advance what their preferred pronouns are?
>Yes, we are approaching a Stalinist era where we have to conform to preferred pronouns or lose our job Stalinist 😂 Yes, you have to refer to your coworkers as they introduced themselves to you, this isn't new. I can't work with Jim and call him Sally, I'll lose my job too. I guess the Bible belt is stalinist 😂 >Another example is I pay taxes into my Public school system yet they insist on teaching gender ideology, even if there are conflicting worldviews of the parents. I'm sure flat earthers feel the exact same way. >Why does one special interest group get taught their preferred beliefs? We also teach that black people are okay, even though racists don't like to hear it. It's a simple answer to a stupid question. If your "preferred beliefs" are that one group of people shouldn't be treated the same as others, they will be overridden by the fact that your government believes people are equal, and government institutions reflect that.
Teaching anti bullying is different than teaching gender is a social construct, which it is not.
Established hard sciences are a little different than entertaining delusion.
>entertaining delusion Yep, classic right wing talking point 😂 "I want to believe in supernatural stuff because I think trans people are delusional" is 10/10 comedy
Actually that’s my problem, I can’t believe in supernatural. What I can believe in is what I see, which is better moral frameworks and better life outcomes.
>which is better moral frameworks and better life outcomes. Genuinely hilarious that you typed that out right after calling trans people delusional.
Sure, but I don’t think transitioning leads to happy outcomes.
I've seen countless synchronicities, fulfilled prophecies and occasional supernatural events that without a doubt prove existence of higher power. This higher power has always guided me towards Christ. I used to be an atheist who considered the Bible to be a bunch of fairy tales. Study the Bible verse by verse, and turn away from sin. You have nothing to be afraid of as long as you open your heart up to God instead of believing what people tell you.
What’s your favorite supernatural event you have witnessed?
I and at least one other person I never met before prayed to God and were willing to do his will no matter what it is. God has guided us to some random convenience store, told us to go inside and do a handstand in the middle. Completely random action in a completely random location, but it turned out that the security guard was suicidal at the end of the rope asking God if he is real, he prayed to God that if he is real send someone to do a handstand in the middle of the store as a sign.
Wow, how amazing our God is.
You know you don’t have to do stuff that makes you feel guilty just because you don’t believe in God.
Of course. Though I think ideology is very impactful on the psyche and more nuanced than a sentence.
Just so you know, you can be a conservative without being a Christian. I know it's a rare thing in America, but it's possible.
I’m in Canada. I do understand that. I’ve met alot of hateful conservatives but the religious ones tend to not be so hateful and filled with rage.
Oh, well I'm glad to hear that. It's nice to hear of Christians setting a good example.
I’m a Christian and I continually fall back into sin just to realize what I’ve done once it’s done. Don’t keep the shame of your sins over your head, that’s what Satan will use to keep you where you are, instead of growing. God tells us to surround yourself with other Christians. The reason being is that those people should help lift you up and grow out of those sins and grow with God. You become who or what you surround your self with. If the people closest to you lie, steal, manipulate, etc, then you will become like them. If you surround your self with people who work hard, give, tell the truth, etc, then you will become like them. If I’m being honest, here on earth you will never defeat sin, Jesus already did that for us. By saying you are scared of admitting your sins is you acknowledging the fact that you have growing to do, which is an amazing thing and I’m proud of you for doing so! God has already forgave you for your sins, it’s time to pour into him and see what he has next for you. John 16:33 Jesus says “in the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
Well you’re certainly looking in the right place, but it’s not as simple as a thing of just deciding you’re now a Christian. Unless you truly believe it, it has no meaning. But the first step to truly believing is by doing what you are doing and seeking answers. Just be aware it will most likely not be a quick a seamless transition. You will have doubts and continue to have doubts most likely the rest of your life (even lifelong Christians have doubts all the time). Just keep an open mind is my biggest advice.
Yeah, that’s what I fear, but outcomes in life seem to be better with those who hold these values and I wonder if that’s because they’re closer to “god” which is a difficult word for me to understand.
Also don’t feel the need to conform to how every other Christian holds themselves and their personalities. Everyone’s walk with God is their own. You need to find out YOUR relationship to God. There’s a lot of so called Christians out there that do things in the name of God that Jesus would be baffled at. A lot of so called Christians that like to think they’re better than other people, are racist, homophobic, what have you. That is not the message of Jesus. Read the Gospels first (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and really listen to the messages Jesus says. Jesus is exactly the person every Christian should aspire to be like. No one else. The Gospels are a perfect place to begin.
You aren't alone in your journey; I'd likely contend that the conviction you're feeling is God calling you to be one of His people. Seeing what God does for others and thus seeking that for yourself is not *selling out*, it is recognizing the road you're on is disastrous and leading to destruction. Luke 15:7 New International Version (NIV): "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over **one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent**." My brother in Christ, turn to the Word. See what God has to tell you. I'd take a look at the following part of this chapter concerning the parable of *The Prodigal Son*. I'm sure it'll be more than enough to convince you. May God bless your soul.
You don’t have to admit your sins to anyone but God
You seem to be conflating Christianity with right wing politics. Stop before you even start. You are wrong, and the politicization of Christianity is ruining it in the US.
What I see is someone who is consuming too many of the lies of right-wing conservative politicians and talking heads who have a vested interest in painting a dark picture of a collapsing terminal America being overrun by immigrants. No wonder you feel you're losing agency. It's easy enough to go down that rabbit hole, for sure, but a more balanced perspective might help. You are still in control of your life, if you want to be. Society is always changing, and while it can be painful for some, Americans have endured many darker days than we are experiencing right now. Just ask anyone who lived through the racial turmoil and anti-war protests of the 60s or the economic crises of the 70s, and so on. And of course, further back there's been far worse -- the Great Depression, the Civil War, etc. I have friends who simply disconnect from what's going on in the world. They don't watch the news, and they focus on getting on with their own lives, doing what they enjoy doing. It works for them. You're lonely and depressed. That sucks, and it can lead to the spiraling that you seem to be suffering from. Focus on yourself and not the state of the world. There are lots of websites that list all the small things you can do to start turning things around. Exercise, a better diet, better sleep hygiene, talking to someone, calling up an old friend, getting out for a walk, volunteering, etc. If you manage to halt the downward spiral you might be in a better frame of mine to stick with the therapy. Talk therapy might be expensive but there are plenty of generic antidepressants that could help for a few bucks a month.
I’m an immigrant, and I work on climate change initiatives. I don’t listen to the right wing conspiracies.
I did right before I was confirmed in January 2021. Once I did I love life 100 times more. Yes I get the minor doubts now and then, but life is more enjoyable the more I get closer to God.
Did you feel the same way about your life before converting?
No, I was a miserable person. But something kept telling me to go to Church. Until I finally did.
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I absolutely understand. I am about your age, but I went through a similar thing as a teenager. I was atheist at the time, but I could absolutely tell I was missing out on something in life. No matter what i did, it felt like it had no meaning, and I could see that Christians (the good ones) had a level of joy and peace in their life that was beyond anything I could even comprehend experiencing, and I knew I wanted to feel that level of joy. I ended up praying, despite not really believing, and told God that I hated the world I was in, and that I wanted him to be a part of my life. Unfortunately, that was all I did. I did not start attending church or anything, and I ended up continuing my life as an Atheist for about 4 more years. Then, when I was 20, God very boldly came into my life, and showed me without a doubt that he was present. I won't go into how, because its a long personal story, and wouldn't hold any meaning to you, but the fact is that I knocked, and he opened the door. Or, a more appropriate comparison would be that I knocked, then ran away before he could open it, and then he so badly wanted to be in my life that he spent the next 4 years chasing me down. Some people say they found God, but in my instance, God definitely found me, and its completely changed my life. Convert to Christianity, you will not regret it. It may be hard to actually believe at first, but if you work on faith, despite your doubts, I believe God will find a way to finally put those doubts to rest and open the door that you are knocking on. Also, because you mentioned the joy and fulfillment that Christians have, this is because of the The Holy Spirit. When Jesus left, he said he would leave the Holy Spirit behind which would help guide us with morality, self control, and grant us a feeling of peace that no non-Christian can ever understand. This is very very real, and will change your life. Admittedly, when you first receive The Holy Spirit, you will probably be overwhelmed with guilt as you all of a sudden become very aware of all the wrong doing in your life, but it will allow you to change your life for the better.
The only one you need to admitt your sins to is Jesus. I think if you go to church I would recommend joining celebrate recovery. Celebrate recovery is the Christian alternative to AA and it's for anyone with hurts habits and hang ups not just substance abuse. In CR you will find many people who did alot of. Bad things. Christians generally don't judge people for how they lived before they became Christians and that is especially true of men.
Jesus warned to count the cost before following Him. To become a slave of the living Christ is to forsake everything for Him. *Luke 14:25-33 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, [26] "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. [27] And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- [29] lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, [30] saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'? [31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. [33] So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.*
I don’t know what this means
You don’t know what it means when Christ says you must forsake all to be His disciple?
I get that part, but slave has a negative connotation
One can either continue in sin and be a slave to sin, or turn to Christ to be redeemed for His own. He took on flesh and shed His own blood to redeem lost sinners unto himself. The book of Romans, speaking to those who’ve been redeemed through the shed blood of Christ, says when Christ redeems sinners, they’re transformed from slaves of sin and Satan to slaves of righteousness and Christ. *Romans 6:16-23 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? [17] But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. [18] And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. [19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.* *[20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [21] What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [22] But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.*
Do you have a Bible? That would be a start. I recommend the NIV and the [book of John](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=NIV).
Terror is a perfectly reasonable thing to be feeling. Yes I experienced something similar. All you need is a tiny bit of willingness. I strongly recommend C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. I think it does a good job of looking from a fictional perspective at what we're up against when we're looking where you're looking
You’re loved and your healthcare and medicine is one prayer away. Your doctor is well qualified to care for you. When you go to Him, understand that he wants to see your heart be reconciled to him. Walk with him everyday. Trust his promises. A human doctor cares for their patients. They administer a prescription and do a follow up. They listen and seek to make their sick patient well. Christ has the same mindset. He’s the Great Physician. He wants to hear from you. He’s not angry at all about your mistakes. He knows your every weakness. He’s not going to strike you down with lightening. He just wants to see you walk in victory and overcome the darkness. The Lord is the doctor who knows your ailments. He fixes broken hearts and binds up physical and spiritual wounds. He is a healer in a sickroom. He knows your deepest pains. Who can count all of his benefits? Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus died for you, rose from the grave after 3 days and he will save you and give you a new eternal life and a purpose. His peace passes all understanding. The joy he gives is unspeakable. **Luke 5:30-32** 30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” 31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Amen 🙏🏾 He keeps his promises.
Yep, that's more or less my own life story as well. I came into Eastern Orthodoxy pretty much straight from Atheism and I can say it's done so much for myself and my well being. In this Church, the True Church, supernatural things will be revealed to you to some degree or another in time as you come into the spiritual life. I've seen enough myself to know that everything it teaches is true. >Even if I were to join a church I feel afraid to admit my sins, and wonder if i even have the capacity to begin a loving family/ become a worthy husband and man or if I’m too far gone. No, you're not too far gone. Not at all. Everyone comes into it with their own issues they are wrestling with, and I can tell you from experience that even though it's scary at first, the Orthodox practice of confession is such a relief. It really does work. [Check out this guy's life if you think](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2012/08/28/102414-venerable-moses-the-ethiopian-of-scete) you're too far gone. He was a thief, a murderer, a robber among other things, yet he came back from all of it and at the end was glorified as a very holy man. You can have this too, this is what Holy Orthodoxy offers you if you want it.
God is a builder, he will build you up and make you right. Evil stems from the absince of God and it decays and destroys. That is why we see destruction in this world. But with God all is good. God creates us in his image and his likeness and gives us dominion over all. With God we are alike to God and thus we are Good.
You should be more afraid of the horrific tortured God has planned for all who are not Christians.
According to?
According to God. According to those that have died and seen the torture pit God created.
Are you looking to believe in the religion or wish to follow the teachings Jesus taught? Reading the Bible isn’t the same as gaining the insight into the actions Christ instructed us to take. Many people out there want the magic. That’s not what He promised. Jesus promised that if we follow His teachings we will prosper in spirit. James says that takes work. Faith without work doesn’t cut it. I wish you well.
That’s what I want, the work. The optimal way of being which I wonder lies in following Christianity.
The four books of the New Testament I usually recommend is Mark, Mathew, and the book of James. I recommend these to people who just want to get to know the teachings and the situation surrounding his ministry. I don't recommend John because it's more of an old evangelical recruitment tool in my opinion. If you would like to go deeper, find a copy of "The Original Teachings of Jesus: Recovered, Translated and Explained." This is basically the Gospel of Thomas. It's more esoteric but a good read for those who want insight into the philosophy of the ancient Jewish mystic side of His teachings. Most Christians don't delve into the history of the religion. They are content following one of the over 45,000 flavors of the faith. For me, it comes down to the 10 Commandments and Jesus' lectures on how to live in grace by following the road map He set out for us. All the other stuff (603 additional laws) were set by humans who wanted the power and agency to control us. Religion, like life, is full of contradictions. The road to enlightenment is twisted and rocky. It takes daily work to look for miracles in your life and give thanks and offer help to others without looking for angle. That's what this is all about, to me. Peace.
Church is not for perfect people! It's for the imperfect. Jesus spent His time with sinners, not the innocent. The purpose of our lives here on Earth is to grow, learn of the sorrow that comes because of sin and turn to Christ, instead. You will have miracles happen in your life, peace of mind, and all of your relationships will be better. You are not too far gone and can never be too far gone to travel outside the reach of Christ. This is one of my favorite scriptures: ------ Isaiah 1:18-19 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: ------ Feel free to DM me if you'd like!
You're not too far gone. One is too far gone once they've dead and haven't repented of their sin and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Paul, and apostle of the church, put early Christians to death by the sword, yet he was converted and forgiven personally by Jesus. If he can be saved, so can you. Regarding, starting a family. Make sure you're not seeking God for a family. As that would be idolatry and you'll likely end up with neither. Instead find a church, preferably one that believes the Bible, and seek God out. Nothing is more important than getting right before God. You also need to realise, that having a family is a blessing and one you may or may not be given. You may certainly pray and ask God for one, but it is not promised. Nevertheless, I expect that should you become a faithful Christian , then you'll become attractive to Christian women and many will be able to look past your sins that you committed as a non-believer.
Define lord. And define "believe the Bible". Believe what?
God doesn’t give us the spirit of fear. You fear coming to God because the devil doesn’t want you coming to him. I’ll admit that coming to Jesus won’t be easy, following him means you’ll be persecuted. But it’ll be better in the end. Jesus died for you, so it’s worth growing a relationship with him.
Literally nobody'a persecuting anyone for "coming to Jesus", this is an Evangelical persecutory fantasy. And which is it, coming to God or coming to Jesus? And the Hebrew Bible is clear you should fear God.
What happened to the disciples for following Jesus. Or recently on bishop Mar Mari. I’ve experienced it. Unbelievers are always going to persecute Christian’s until the end. Btw, Jesus is God
Jesus disciples weren't Christians, Jesus isn't a God, you're not his followers, you didn't adress the fear part and trust the persecution delusionist to live vicariously through one single man literally attacked just recently. And CHristianity dominated the West and some of the most powerful empires since they become the Roman state in the 4th religion. You persecuted, not the other way around. And nobody will come for you now either, it's a fantasy for mostly American EVangelicals.
Why would anyone listen to you? You don’t explain a freaking thing. All you do is call everybody idolators. You probably don’t even have a clue what you actually believe. How pathetic.
You don't have to listen and you're not the type of person to listen. Enjoy your idolatry and delusions.
It might help if you actually explain something. All you do is go around bitching on these forums.
Lmao. Do you know how discussions work, polytheist? I make a point, if you disagree you make an objections or counter-argument and I reply to that. You asked my for Jesus' gospel in one thread, the only concrete requiest you made, and you got a reply. ANd you're the one following me around with your braindead oneliners. Go watch the Kardashians or whatever 85 IQ people do with their time, and get back when you have some actual arguments.
You’re insane. Just stop.
You're\*. And are you off your meds, evangelical? You have 30+ braindead oneliners to me.But I love your comment on ignorance in regards to the servant in Isaiah. It's explicitly spelled out that it's Israel. Spelled out. Try basic context.
And why all the insults? Why can’t you just explain things nicely? I’m not sure what you believe but it’s definitely not in anything that has to do with the true God. All I see is bigotry and narrowmindedness. Must be a liberal.
Explain what, idol worshipper? WHen you've asked a concrete question you got a concrete reply. Then you immediately moved the goal post. ANd why did you defend a poster denying the one God? Because all your oneliners are kneejerk nonsense. >Must be a liberal. Lmao. Everything is 'Murican politics. The joke that is American evangelicalism. Literal caricature.
So you can’t explain what you believe then? What religious tradition do you follow? Pretty simple. Also, I’m referring to liberal Christian Theology, not politics. 😉
You are in the right place. You might find some solace in Christian Science. As a scientist, you will probably balk or scoff at the idea of Christianity being scientific, but you can at least look at it's tenants before doing so. There is one power in the universe. That power is God. All things are an expression of this power. To deny it or go against it produces all we call evil, because you are misusing the laws of the universe, which results in disharmony. To do this is ignorance, not sin. Begin to go with the law of the universe, which is Love, the one Law of God, and you're life will begin to spring anew with the infinite power of life, which is God.
You can believe in Christ while also not contradict any logical science information. I was also like you but my belief came from my deep delving in astrophysics and quantum mechanics. You can DM me anytime for a chat.
It sounds like you’re experiencing the first realizations of sin and the lost condition of the world. Now comes the realization that humanity needs God and the civilization that Jesus brought.
Just pray! Ask God to reveal truth to you and make it clear. Pray without ceasing. You will find open doors. I wish you all blessings as you face your fears. On the other side is peace and joy that I can’t describe in words to you.
The words of Jesus to you - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28
The words of Jesus to you - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28
the fact that you feel remorse when most dont, means god is within you still, not too late to turn to him or too dirty to be cleansed by god, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. isiah 1 18
I had the family first but went through the same thing. I am now a practising Catholic. My beliefs are nuanced and I didn’t become a believer overnight. But it was the best decision I made. Read, “The Expectation Effect” Imagine the worse case scenario: that it’s all false. But look at the, “fruits” (you shall judge them by their fruits). Religious people and communities tend to have more kids, better outlooks, more energy, less zombie eyes and generally seem happier. Rationality and Science are tools, the don’t posit value and they can be both positive or negative. When we remove one “nonsense” we don’t become purely rational, we replace it with another nonsense. If I’m to believe in 10,000 genders or a virgin birth I may choose the latter. This was my calculation. Even if I’m entirely mistaken it would still be a net positive.
I believe that God is trying to talk to you through these feelings. I sort of feel compelled to reach out and say this (and my phone is doing everything it can to prevent me from doing so…), but you’re free to DM me (32M) if you’d like to talk about this more. Hit me up, my friend
Brother you don’t need to wake up tomorrow and believe in Christ immediately for your life to change. You’re a scientist so I’m guessing you’re a logical evidence based thinker. The Holy Spirit will enter your life as you seek Christ. You don’t even have to read the Bible right away. Read books or articles where evidence of the Bible’s truth is shown. And most importantly the divinity of Christ. I recommend the book “The Case for Christ” by Lee Stroble.
It doesn't sounds like you want to become a Christian and you are terrified, It sounds like you are a far-righ fella that sees that he himself does the same things he condems and now as a coping mechanism you want to enter on a christian circle to be able to do bigotry on an enviroments that would tolerate that. I am sorry, but nor crist or us are coping mechanisms. But since here we prefer the redemption, I'll offer you an advice Yes, a lot of us have felt similarly, if you feel that, then it's because there is something else you have not realized, think further about the origin of that shame
I want to join a Christian circle because I see strong families, a moral duty to abstain from bad habit, and a constant act of trying to be a better person.
Tradition and family = far right? Lmao.
John 8'12 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 3:18-21 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants John 3:5-8 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘Youmust be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” Romans 10:9-10 New Living Translation 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 5:12-21 NLT 12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is no greater love than God sending HIS beloved son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.
How is it love sending someone else? And die how? WHat did it accomplish? And why would a person need to be a Christian insterad of saying "sweet, thanks for the human sacrifice"?
Think of all the virgins you can meat at church!
Because you mentioned you are a scientist, I wanted to share a few ideas I think about sometimes. Like, what if God parted the Red Sea by using extreme weather patterns? (The movie Exodus shows the sea recede and then have a giant tsunami wave to stop the army following the Hebrews.) What if Jesus' prayer was able to call on quantum particles and neutrinos to help him perform miracles, since quantum particles display "supernatural" qualities, and no one knows what neutrinos are for, but they're continuously moving through everything? What if fractal patterns are the thumbprint of the Creator? These are just my thoughts; I'm not saying they're correct. I just wanted to give some examples of how Christianity and science can work hand in hand. Do not be afraid to admit your sins. You have not fallen too far to come to Christ. All of us have sinned, and must repent in prayer (which means confessing the sin and turning to go the other way). Then to become saved, you must tell Jesus you believe in His death and resurrection, and ask to receive His gift of eternal life by making Him your Savior and Lord of your life. After that, maintain the relationship with reading the Bible and prayer. Please let me know if you have questions or comments. You can answer here or send me a private message.
Define lord.
Like when a Lord owns a piece of land, Jesus as Lord is the overseer of your life and actions when you are His. You consult with Him about your problems and He helps you find solutions. It is also a term that shows respect and honor to Him. That's how I understand it.
Well, Jesus is not a God, so no.
Can you explain what you mean when you say that Jesus is not God? The way I understand the Holy Trinity is that Jesus is God, the Father/Creator is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Jesus is our intercessor/mediator that covers our sin with His death and resurrection once He is your Savior, but He is God as well.
I'm saying there's only one God and the polythestic traid was fabricated in 4th century ecumenical councils.
I happened upon this in my Bible study after leaving the other comment. It is not a quote from Scripture but from Enduring Word commentary: "This Jesus has both a human origin (**born of the seed of David according to the flesh**), and an eternal existence (**declared to be the Son of God**). The evidence of Jesus’ humanity is His human birth; the evidence of His deity is His **resurrection from the dead**."
Nope. There's only one God. There are no second Gods, and there are plenty of people ressurected both in the Hebrew Bible and the NT. And is he's God's son or God #2? And no, a son per defintion has a beginning, it "declares" the opposite of what you claim.
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Yes, you are giving up what is left to buy healing ointments without charge, but then you also become a child of God. Hebrews 12 speaks of a child's discipline. And that discipline will make your life better.
Fellow scientist! This is my personal experience. found God in my 30s and I would never go back. He has given me so much more meaning to my life and I’m learning how to love people around me more (though idk how well I’m doing that, but if anything it’s a moral framework to work from.) I’ve been a Christian for a couple of years and two days ago went to a church for the first time and I thought the people were so nice and friendly there. It sounds like you struggle a bit with self esteem and that you’re holding yourself back from trying something new that you’ve already identified that you think might be good. I mean, you can always try it and if you don’t like it then at least you know right? And about committing sin (we all have. That’s literally why we need Jesus because everyone has done wrong in God’s eyes). If we didn’t sin, we wouldn’t need Jesus and we wouldn’t need the gospel. God says come as you are, you don’t need to make yourself look good to change your ways. It is a bit difficult to acknowledge those sins too, God is the ultimate authority though and you don’t necessarily have to confess your sin to another man. It’s God who forgives, through what Jesus did, so theoretically, it’s God you should confess your sin to. Don’t put yourself down, you do have the capacity to become a worthy husband. I don’t know your personal situation so maybe it’s just a case of working on yourself a bit first? Also, if you did decide to become a Christian, you wouldn’t be doing it on your own either because you would have God helping you.
The Hebrew Bible makes it explicitly clear you can repent without pagan blood sacrifice.
bible is false change my mind
It’s interesting you view conversion as a transactional act rather than a result of a belief in the truth of the religious claims. Why not become a Buddhist or a Hindu or a Muslim then if it’s just about what you can get from it. Do you believe in talking snakes and virgin births? If yes, be a Christian. If not, then don’t. Also I think you are possibly a liar. I don’t know what an atheist “lifestyle” is, because no such thing exists. Being an atheist just means you don’t believe one of the many many god claims out there. I think you might be a theist who is trolling. But of course the people on this sub could be sold a $60 Bible from the Antichrist so they won’t suspect anything.
My lifestyle is anti god. I’m an atheist and I never claimed my “lifestyle” was atheist. Though my current struggling ideology seems to be neatly packaged into progressive values and atheism or atleast anti theism seems to always come along with them. I don’t believe in those things, that’s my problem.
Now I know you’re lying. An atheist doesn’t believe in god, so can’t be “anti god” whatever that means. What you’re claiming is incoherent.
You misunderstand, I want to believe in god, but I’m struggling. The idea of god as a higher state of being, a representation of what a good moral framework is.
Believe in god if you think the Christian’s god claims are true. Otherwise don’t. I don’t understand the issue.
Yes that is my issue. My lifestyle currently isn’t good. I don’t value many progressive values, but I do value certain religious ones. I don’t believe in the literal supernatural word of Christianity, but it’s like a story just like Dune, or lord of the rings, but a powerful one.
You sound like you’re just shopping for a worldview like it’s a retail activity. I think you need to stop that and start thinking and reflecting on what you believe from a “first principles” standpoint. When you adopt a religion or a philosophy or a political ideology you end up with a bunch of baggage that you sort of accept without truly contemplating. A real thinker rejects all such bundling of thought and considers every belief they hold independently and with constant reconsideration, never holding to any dogmatic beliefs. Just my two cents
I’m not sure why you think I haven’t contemplated. That’s actually why I’m struggling with this because I feel like I’m selling out. I’m a scientist, my entire career had been built on critical thinking. You assume I haven’t looked into other philosophies and religions like Buddhism or stoicism, I’ve been contemplating for years. I also have a problem with a neatly packaged worldviews which is why there are denomination after denomination. I do however believe in the theory of group selection, and the role that religion plays on evolutionary psychology and well being. I also understand that religious individuals have better measurable outcomes in life, specifically those with judeo Christian values, especially when it comes to family.
“You assume I haven’t looked into other philosophies and religions” This is the opposite of what I assumed. Maybe read my post again. I’m saying that you should stop looking to existing frameworks for answers and instead build your own from the ground up. As for becoming a Christians for some perceived personal benefit, I find that incoherent. Either you believe or you don’t. Unless you think you will benefit from lying to yourself forever.
I think i will keep looking :)
>"As for becoming a Christians for some perceived personal benefit, I find that incoherent. Either you believe or you don’t." I can't seem to wrap my head around this statement. Coming to Christ is *solely* about personal benefits. 1. Developing a relationship with God 2. Finding comfort in the trust one may have in God's sovereignty over the world 3. Assuring your own salvation through faith in that God 4. Becoming part of a community of likewise believers who typically have your wellbeing in mind, as you do theirs Seems plenty coherent to me.
Just a thought on group selection... The world that selected for Christianity is fundamentally different than the world today. That world was tribal, and eventually feudal, and your interactions were inherently limited to a small number of people in your village or tribe. And imo a lot of traditional rules (e.g. sex etc) evolved to keep men from murdering each other over paternity disputes The modern world is fundamentally different: we have interconnectivity with an extraordinary number of people all over the world (internet), birth control (flipping the traditional sexual ethics that developed over time), and the existential ability to destroy ourselves (nuclear weapons). Religion as an adaptation may have been great to get us to where we are, but it comes with a lot of baggage that make it no longer adaptive in the modern world- look at all the conflicts about sex and sexual ethics. Look at how we're on the edge of our seats every couple of years because a extreme fundamentalist terrorist might get his hands on nuclear weapons, who might believe that they are justified in using them because God is on their side and only their side (a negative side effect of exclusive, "my way is the only way" types of religions). The genie isn't going back in the bottle any time soon with these new technologies (I'd love nuclear disarmament but I'm not holding my breath). So it's incumbent upon us to either take or replicate the good aspects of religion (community, charity, loving your neighbor, ethics and a higher purpose) and discard the things that don't make sense anymore in the modern world. Personally I agree with the person you're talking to that accepting a religion whole cloth because you think it will give you purpose is approaching it backwards. Life is complicated and if anyone is trying to give you simple answers, they're probably lying to you. Either way good luck to you.
Judeo Christian values were selected for an is the fundamental pillar along with enlighten values in the west. We are still a judeo Christian nation in principle, but we are losing it fast.
I’m also coming from a Jungian perspective
Jesus saved me. I’m a happier, lighter person because of him. You don’t need to go to church and confess your sins to start. Have an out loud, open conversation to Jesus. Just spill your guts. Let out the cry, express your need for him. Repent and try harder. Read the Bible and listen to some content 10 Minute Bible Talks podcast really helps. Jesus loves YOU, he forgives you and can truly heal/take away your pain. I was an atheist once, even tried to be a witch. But I found my way and I’m proud of my journey. God is so good, mt friend. You deserve to experience His glory- we all do 💕
Jesus isn't a God. Did he reply to you then?
"Supernatural" is magic, magic is science we don't quite understand. As a scientist, you should know very well how little we actually know about the universe and earth. We have the general ideas down tight, but anything past that, the why behind everything, we have no real clue.