I'm a former Christian pastor who gradually came to the realization that both what I was taught and what I was teaching to others was fraudulent, however well-intended.

My sense of responsibility to my "flock" led me to resign and, eventually, leave the area.

I've been kicking around on various boards since the late 1990's and stopped in here to see what was going on.

 

Zakath wrote:

I'm a former Christian pastor who gradually came to the realization that both what I was taught and what I was teaching to others was fraudulent, however well-intended.

My sense of responsibility to my "flock" led me to resign and, eventually, leave the area.

I've been kicking around on various boards since the late 1990's and stopped in here to see what was going on.

 

Don't kick yourself over your mistake, just be happy that you escaped it before you spent your entire life wasted on it.  And to the Christians reading this, we do understand the "well intended" intent of believers of all labels. But in all that what we do here is not out of hate. It is more of a blunt wake up call.

Without being a pastor myself, but having been religious at one point, we can identify with your plight. And many of us who are out still live with and or love people who still believe. We are capable of loving people who utter claims we might call absurd.

Did you leave the area because of threats? Or was it merely you needing to start fresh?

I would say that if someone here however unlikely, if they suddenly said " I changed my position and do believe in a god" we might say, "WHAT THE FUCK?" But unlike theists we wouldn't threaten them.

I am lucky enough to live in an area where even the most fundy of believers don't chase people out of town. I even worked on my past job with some wonderful people who were students at Liberty U, Jerry Falwell's college. I simply thought they were full of shit on their god claims just like I would be if they claimed Allah or Thor. I can like and even love someone without agreeing with everything that comes out of their mouths.

Hope that wasn't too harsh a welcome, but considering where you say you've been, I bet this is a breath of fresh air compared to what you have dealt with.

Welcome to the Dark Side Luke.

 

 

Brian37 wrote:

Zakath wrote:

I'm a former Christian pastor who gradually came to the realization that both what I was taught and what I was teaching to others was fraudulent, however well-intended.

My sense of responsibility to my "flock" led me to resign and, eventually, leave the area.

I've been kicking around on various boards since the late 1990's and stopped in here to see what was going on.

 

Don't kick yourself over your mistake, just be happy that you escaped it before you spent your entire life wasted on it.  And to the Christians reading this, we do understand the "well intended" intent of believers of all labels. But in all that what we do here is not out of hate. It is more of a blunt wake up call.

Without being a pastor myself, but having been religious at one point, we can identify with your plight. And many of us who are out still live with and or love people who still believe. We are capable of loving people who utter claims we might call absurd.

Did you leave the area because of threats? Or was it merely you needing to start fresh?

I would say that if someone here however unlikely, if they suddenly said " I changed my position and do believe in a god" we might say, "WHAT THE FUCK?" But unlike theists we wouldn't threaten them.

I am lucky enough to live in an area where even the most fundy of believers don't chase people out of town. I even worked on my past job with some wonderful people who were students at Liberty U, Jerry Falwell's college. I simply thought they were full of shit on their god claims just like I would be if they claimed Allah or Thor. I can like and even love someone without agreeing with everything that comes out of their mouths.

Hope that wasn't too harsh a welcome, but considering where you say you've been, I bet this is a breath of fresh air compared to what you have dealt with.

Welcome to the Dark Side Luke.

 

 

Brian,

 

I left the area to get a fresh start, though my wife and I returned about ten years later; after the kids were grown and gone. Things have changed quite a bit here. Have made contact with a handful of former parishoners, but we now seem to have little in common...

 

My poor daughter is taking a counseling course from Liberty. She still considers herself a practicing Christian, but is apalled by some of the things they're trying to push as "effective" counseling techniques. Been there and done that, threw out the t-shirt.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome, Palpatine.