Well....I have to come out this Easter as a non-church goer

[Sweetdeath]

I love the term never-theist as well.

Never been a believer either, except having to sit down and listen to my dad rant about how great Jesus is, I can't feel as you feel .

Well, none of us can, because we aren't you. We aren't Ray from the Dc universe, shrinking ourselves down to explore your brain through the ear canal.

I suppose my thoughts are basically to take things slow. If you try to yank away, you might have a bad time. Maybe compare this to an ex-addict of gambling or smoking. You may associate church with fond memories. But know there is so much more to life than routinely going to a stale building with a bunch of judgy people whom tell you how to think.

I don't know. Like I said, I can't understand your feelings exactly, but if you're serious. HAF has a pretty good support system.

Also, I feel like Asmo will get you cold turkey. I think he's the most hard core never theist of us all.

[Asmodean]

EDIT: I like the term never-theist I can see myself using that a lot.

Yes, sort of proud of it meself 

[Amicale]

EDIT: I like the term never-theist I can see myself using that a lot.

Yes, sort of proud of it meself 

I like the term for you guys. Seems to fit well!

Ex-theist is fine for me.

The Living After Faith podcast, as well as The Thinking Atheist podcast have both helped me more than I can tell you, as the guys who run each respective show were hardcore Christians and walked away from it. Hearing their experiences, and the experiences of their callers, has been a huge help to me. Just wanted to toss these out there. I won't link to their sites here on HAF, as they're other online communities, but listening to these two shows over the last year or two has helped a lot heal, really. First and foremost, the "you're not alone" feeling hit me hard.

[Stevil]

I just hate being the one who's fallen off the wagon.

Off the wagon of make believe?
Surely you are too old to play make believe.

I'd rather be normal

Hang on, atheist's aren't normal?
There are at least a couple of normal atheists on this forum.
In my country at least 1/3 of people are atheists that's well over 1 million, there are bound to be a few normal ones.


PS. Just because you don't believe in the Christian god nor Jesus it doesn't mean the Easter Bunny can't drop off some yummy chocolate Easter eggs.

[Tank]

I just hate being the one who's fallen off the wagon.

Off the wagon of make believe?
Surely you are too old to play make believe.

Nobody is too old to play make believe!
You just change the story line 

Tank - You receive a warning for a blatant derail! - Tank

[Amicale]

I just hate being the one who's fallen off the wagon.

Off the wagon of make believe?
Surely you are too old to play make believe.

Nobody is too old to play make believe!
You just change the story line  

Tank - You receive a warning for a blatant derail! - Tank

  He's so good he warns himself!

Anyhow, Asherah, I hope that this weekend goes as well for you as possible. I'll be thinking of you! *hugs*

[Asherah]

I'd rather be normal

Hang on, atheist's aren't normal?
There are at least a couple of normal atheists on this forum.
In my country at least 1/3 of people are atheists that's well over 1 million, there are bound to be a few normal ones.

Well....when I said "normal" I meant in my world. Most of the people around me are Chrisitian. I was using normal to describe what most people do or believe around me.

[Stevil]

Well....when I said "normal" I meant in my world. Most of the people around me are Chrisitian. I was using normal to describe what most people do or believe around me.

Just because you live in a cultish society, it doesn't mean that cultish behaviour is normal.

What's normal anyways?
"normal" is boring, dare to be different.
You are a unique and special individual like the rest of us, just be yourself.

[xSilverPhinx]

IMo the desire for community is completely normal. Perceptions may change however.

[Sweetdeath]

I'd rather be normal

Hang on, atheist's aren't normal?
There are at least a couple of normal atheists on this forum.
In my country at least 1/3 of people are atheists that's well over 1 million, there are bound to be a few normal ones.

Well....when I said "normal" I meant in my world. Most of the people around me are Chrisitian. I was using normal to describe what most people do or believe around me.

Pity them because they're  brain washed.

[Whitney]

I think leaving religions puts many people in the grief stages where they must come to terms with a loss.  Hopefully your family is being supportive by not giving you a hard time about it.  If you need someone to talk to in person see if there is a Recovering from Religion group near you; they don't push people attending towards any certain path it's just a place where it's safe to be honest about how you feel about religion. http://recoveringfromreligion.org/

Personally I can just wish you the best because my situation was different so I have no real advice.

[Asherah]

Well....when I said "normal" I meant in my world. Most of the people around me are Chrisitian. I was using normal to describe what most people do or believe around me.

Just because you live in a cultish society, it doesn't mean that cultish behaviour is normal.

What's normal anyways?
"normal" is boring, dare to be different.
You are a unique and special individual like the rest of us, just be yourself.

I will be different! Today I feel a lot better about me! I'm not down in the dumps anymore. I feel more settled with who I am. And, I just try to think about how I would want my kids to live and I would want them to be authentic. I wouldn't want them to live a certain way because that's what's expected of them. I would want them to live by their convictions. So, I'm going to do that.

The only really really scarey thing is how to tell my kids what I think. They still believe in Jesus. My daughter reminds us to pray at dinner and she's only three. I feel really sad for them. But, also, glad that they will have a chance to live a secular life and have a mom (and dad) who will support them in whichever way they may choose to go.

So, going to church tomorrow. I have to say that being there is somewhat of a comfort, but it also gets under my skin. All the delusional people worshiping Jesus. That's sounds so mean to say, but that's what I see. And, I do feel sad for them. And, I feel angry that this myth has been around for so long and at that people just swallow it without much thought about the truth of the claims made by the religion.

My family is having lunch tomorrow afternoon and I found out that a friend, whom I invited, asked to bring one of her friends. And......she's an atheist! Not that we'll talk about it or anything, but it's nice to know I'm really not going to be the only unbeliever there!

[Asherah]

Anyhow, Asherah, I hope that this weekend goes as well for you as possible. I'll be thinking of you! *hugs*

Thanks!

[Asherah]

Yup, you finally reach the moment when you have to come out of the closet.  It's not easy, it feels insecure and scary and exposed.  But you're doing the right thing and the dust will settle down soon enough.

We're here for you.  All the best, Asherah.

Thanks OldGit. It's comforting to know that things will settle down. My mom wants to talk more with me about why I don't believe. So, that'll be an interesting conversation. She's pretty smart and interesting to talk to. She used to be really convincing when she would talk about why she believes. But, not anymore. Still, it'll be a good conversation when it happens.

[Firebird]

I'm glad to hear that this little community has given you some of the support you need. It was easy for me to become an atheist, considering that most of my family consists of non-believers. It is a much more difficult thing to proclaim your beliefs in your situation. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you, but I have so much respect and admiration for people such as yourself who stand up for your beliefs, as difficult as it may be in that environment. Just remember that you are not alone.