Joe, your journey is so similar to mine. I remember when you were posting the ChaseGodTV videos and how I felt so aligned with what you were sharing, and then I remember seeing your video about leaving the faith last summer EXACTLY at the time that I had come to terms with my own departure from faith. In many ways, I feel as though you’ve been on this journey with me, and I cannot emphasise enough how comforting that has felt. By sharing your journey, at the point where you had faith to not having faith, I have always felt not alone. Thank you for that. I’m so grateful.
So good Joe! Thanks for sharing and for your continued transparency. You didn’t owe anyone answers. But I’m grateful for you sharing! Rooting for you always !!
(If you can please read in full) Hi Joseph! Thank you for sharing. I wish UA-cam had a voice memo option so I could share my thought with out typing it lol However, I completely relate. I grew up in the Christian faith/community and that is all I knew for a long time. At some moment in my mid/late twenties there were a lot of things I began to question and not identify with anymore about the Christian narrative. Especially the being born into sin, false humility , almost self degradation that happens. When I stopped singing in church and pursued my career in music/entertainment I felt that some people were trying to make me feel I was living my life in my full potential because I wasn’t singing in church anymore. I did not like that feeling so I distanced myself and began to seek out who I was/am. All in all, I completely relate. Thank you for sharing. I didn’t think anyone had a similar experience. Definitely inspired by your journey as an artist and how are articulate you are. 💫
1. This is soooo good. 2. The human piece is 🤌🏽 The lack of understanding (in the church) regarding this is mind boggling. 3. I honestly feel like you are where a lot of us Christians are regardless of whether or not they have left the faith. I haven’t left the faith but I reject ALOT of Christian culture. My husband and I talk about how weird and off putting reformed culture is ALL the time. 4. I feel like a lot of us are honesty just trying to hold on to the morals and values while authentically being ourselves but we also see that who we are clashes with Christian culture. There’s a gross lack of empathy, there’s hypocrisy, pride, a lot of pressure to perform, and no transparency. 5. If God is who He says He is then why are we so concerned about people having doubt, searching, etc. 6. I personally feel like God is just stripping the church down and cleaning house. Getting everyone back to the basics. Bare bones. God needs an honest and transparent church and we’re just not that. 7. You’re helping a lot of people. Christianity often times is not a safe space to express these types of concerns and feelings. Your transparency and honesty is appreciated. We’re praying for you and your journey and sending you love from this side.
@@RearviewWisdom yeeeeesssss! Curious to know what you mean when you say your deconstructing culturally? For me where it started is when i personally wrestled w the questions on the topic of “biblical grounds for divorce”.
You're spot on sis! Literally what God whispered to me in December 2019 (around my birthday) was that He was taking me back to the basics. I'm learning Him outside of the eurocentric/westernized paradigm and it has been glorious 🤗
I literally started my youtube channel so that I'd be motivated to complete the activities that I was too depressed to do. To cultivate the community I lost in life. As I try to rebuild myself as a healthier person. It’s been very hard, sorta lonely in an unexpected at but I know im on the path to begin authentic and who I am internally. Watching your vulnerability has been such a beautiful thing. I super appreciate the time you’ve taken to share your thoughts on your own journey ❤
Been watching you for years Joseph, and I check up on your socials semi regularly to see how your doing, I love you and appreciate you taking the time to have challenging convos in public
The wild thing is , the things you desire and expressing aren’t even wild or bad . You’re just looking to live a life where you’re tryna be authentic to who you feel like you are internally. People seeing that as bad thing is sooo wild. We’re intolerant in the faith. It’s a damn shame.
I also left the Christian faith and attended the PIA tour. I truly missed that “black church” culture. There’s a language that you only understand when you’re a part of that community but I have ZERO desire to return to that
I saw your other video yesterday and I loved when you mentioned that you used to pray "I don't even want the logical, studious answers, just drop some crazy faith into me". I appreciate your videos because you certainly don't owe us any explanations. And yet, you do take the time to share. If you do more videos, I would be curious if you could explain more on how your view of the person of Jesus has changed? When you were a Christian, I assume you believed he is currently alive in bodily form in heaven. Do you still believe he is a reality? And if not, what changed your mind to now believe that he actually never came back to life?
I wanted ask this question in the most non combative genuine way possible and you have done that. I sincerely would like to know because I want to understand
At some point I think there was a guy that you were disciplining - what do you say to him? What do you say to the people whom you've shared the gospel with?
The crazy thing is once I came to Christ I have never called myself a Christian because I don't believe in religion I believe in the authority and power of God in all of His capacities. So I completely understand your journey and figuring it out for yourself and that process it takes to get there.
I remember interacting with you Joe, right here on your channel. At the time, I was a self righteous and self hating (I'm also Black) hyper Calvinist who had no idea they were deeply traumatized. Forgive me. We are in the same spot now - imagine that. I wish you well on your journey 💟
It may have taken you a lil minute to be ready to talk about all of this but you really ready to talk now huh? Two videos in two days? I love it lol. These were some really good questions and answers. While I can understand where you’re coming from with the ant analogy, I disagree. Humanity is God’s chief creation so collectively we are the main character. I get how individually we can feel like we are insignificant ants to God at times though. I appreciate the shout out as well.
well yeah i actually kind of agree, in some sense. i think the ant analogy still works for Christians, ironically lol. i kind of alluded to it in the video. the chasm between ants and humans can be likened to humans and god. you'd need a human with the ability to speak and empathize with the ants to act on their behalf. i think you have that in the narrative of Jesus. he is the god-man condescending from heaven on behalf of humans, therefore bridging the gap. but more broadly speaking, i think it just depends on how you look at it. you say "humanity is God's chief creation", but i say "God is humanity's chief creation". from that perspective, yes, humans will naturally be the "main character" of that narrative.
i want to start by saying, thank you for answering 3/4 of my questions, 🥴. i might have pushed the envelope a bit, 😂. but i move in truth & introspection so i ask a lot of questions because i want to learn, grow & understand different mental capacities beyond my own. i’ve always felt that it’s a privilege to experience someone let alone their inner truth/reflections no matter how out of the “norm” it may seem to some or challenging it may be for the individual. & to be able to be present in a space that you created for us to approach you with our curiosities is dope for many reasons. like i stated on twitter, your transparency is infectious & appreciated & i’m thoroughly interested in seeing what else grows from this safe space, 🫶🏽💫. -rika
The explanation “tension of doubt” is so on point. I hadn’t thought of doubt in this manner. I do agree tho, alleviating a set end goal allows your curiosity to thrive more👌🏾
I love this and have always loved your vulnerability and honesty. Idk why but I feel like you're story is the untold story of the elder brother parable if he took the high road and just reflected. I also believe that if God still passionately loved him with the response he had in the Bible, I think he is way more in love with you 🥰
I always enjoyed the way you articulate yourself, your nuanced perceptions, thoughts feelings, ect. It always did something good for my cognition. Makes me want to step up my vocab but nonetheless lol If I'm not too late I would like to ask you a question. Have you ever had a personal supernatural experience or witnessed one( One that not even science can really explain) such as seen an apparition, heard a voice but no one was there, seen an inanimate object move on it's own/levitate, ect.?
When you mentioned your position on your spirituality - I already jumped to my own version of the ant scenario in my mind. Because my immediate question was, can a person claim to believe in some type of spirituality without really knowing what it is in a tangible sense/ we are so insignificant, would this even matter? We do this with other things in our life like gravity or whatever, but faith is singular in a sense since it's something you actively need to choose and shape your life around...So, all this to say lol, please do make another vid expounding on this thought process 😅
I was just gonna ask you are you open to astrology and studying more about it! Not necessarily tarot reading or palm reading but simply learning your “birth chart” and all that it entails? I’m Christian and I know it’s not necessarily biblical for us to but stumbling across certain information about it and what my chart says. I was stunned to see how aligned it is to my actual life, who I am becoming! Just food for thought since I know your more open to other conversations now! ☺️
I never really fit in with the Christians coming up I understand bro I feel like I don't fit in anywhere I'm still a Christian though just not going to church like that
Thank you for sharing all that you have. I understand wanting to move passed the Christian faith. However, just from a place of curiosity, do you still believe in god?
Brother Joseph, i just want to let you know I will support you regardless of what faith you are or whatever path you take with your faith. personally, I think you left CHRISTIANITY for one of three reasons, Reason 1. maybe someone in the church wronged you, Reason 2. maybe its lifestyle choice, Reason 3 maybe you have outgrown the routine of what a Christian is or what society sees a Christian as, because you said you still prayed, but don't mind me i am just speculating, all i care about as online/internet fan of yours, is your wellbeing and that your safe and just happy and making music love from London bye Joseph
I’m not understanding why you’re speculating as to why he left when he’s taking time to make videos to address it. Are his answers insufficient ? If anyone had insight as to why he left, surely it would be him right? Let this man tell his truth without adding or taking away from it.
@@theycallmetrice Latrice bye ‘ I am not speculating with bad intentions ‘ I am just voicing my thoughts ‘ at the end of day Joseph did announce his departure from Christianity publicly ‘and I am pretty sure he knew what will come with that ‘ what I commented was out of love and understanding because being a Christian is not easy at times
@@navynavy7306 I’m trying to find love and understanding in “I think you left for one of three reasons”. True love and understanding would be allowing him to tell his reasoning in his own time and accepting whatever he tells you. Are you really trying to understand if you’re speculating instead of listening? How is it not bad intentions when you blatantly disregarded his explanations, made speculations and then tried to blame it on “he made his departure public so he knew what would come with that”? That doesn’t scream good intentions. Ma’am/Sir, do better. Respectfully.
i’m with latrice on this. i’m making whole 45 minute videos. and i literally just said in the first vid how people just been making up stuff about me rather than letting me be human and speak for myself.
@@flightsfeelings and that’s okay’ I just want to let you know that I wasn’t trying to offend you or cause a back & forth or come across the way Latrice is painting me out to be right now ‘ but sending you my apologies
The bit about the ant in Texas resonates so deep. If I had to oversimplify my deconstruction “answer” it be exactly that, I don’t really concern myself with the conversation anymore. Evolving out of a faith based identity, conversations about god are optional and that choice feels so free to me. Also, as a long long long time viewer of your online spaces, the through line of your story from when I began to now has been so seamless. I believed you then and I believe you now. I’m so happy to see you’ve found that congruence within yourself. Thank you for always sharing, authentically. 🫶🏾
![[the christian] god and absolute morality](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/na0B8Mfj7EQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![[the christian] god and absolute morality](/img/tr.png)
“Don’t betray yourself in trying to get rid of your past.” Something I wish I knew sooner. So many gems in this vid.
It feels good to not be alone in the space that I’m in. Thanks for being vulnerable and transparent.
Beyond grateful for your transparency
I have so much respect for you. Thank you for being free and honest.
I truly appreciate your honesty and thank you for sharing your journey with us.
I just want to give him a hug…I honestly do, he just looks very emotionally exhausted and I know that look because I’ve had it myself before💖
Joe, your journey is so similar to mine. I remember when you were posting the ChaseGodTV videos and how I felt so aligned with what you were sharing, and then I remember seeing your video about leaving the faith last summer EXACTLY at the time that I had come to terms with my own departure from faith. In many ways, I feel as though you’ve been on this journey with me, and I cannot emphasise enough how comforting that has felt. By sharing your journey, at the point where you had faith to not having faith, I have always felt not alone. Thank you for that. I’m so grateful.
So good Joe! Thanks for sharing and for your continued transparency. You didn’t owe anyone answers. But I’m grateful for you sharing! Rooting for you always !!
(If you can please read in full) Hi Joseph! Thank you for sharing. I wish UA-cam had a voice memo option so I could share my thought with out typing it lol
However, I completely relate. I grew up in the Christian faith/community and that is all I knew for a long time. At some moment in my mid/late twenties there were a lot of things I began to question and not identify with anymore about the Christian narrative. Especially the being born into sin, false humility , almost self degradation that happens.
When I stopped singing in church and pursued my career in music/entertainment I felt that some people were trying to make me feel I was living my life in my full potential because I wasn’t singing in church anymore. I did not like that feeling so I distanced myself and began to seek out who I was/am.
All in all, I completely relate. Thank you for sharing. I didn’t think anyone had a similar experience. Definitely inspired by your journey as an artist and how are articulate you are. 💫
1. This is soooo good. 2. The human piece is 🤌🏽 The lack of understanding (in the church) regarding this is mind boggling. 3. I honestly feel like you are where a lot of us Christians are regardless of whether or not they have left the faith. I haven’t left the faith but I reject ALOT of Christian culture. My husband and I talk about how weird and off putting reformed culture is ALL the time. 4. I feel like a lot of us are honesty just trying to hold on to the morals and values while authentically being ourselves but we also see that who we are clashes with Christian culture. There’s a gross lack of empathy, there’s hypocrisy, pride, a lot of pressure to perform, and no transparency. 5. If God is who He says He is then why are we so concerned about people having doubt, searching, etc. 6. I personally feel like God is just stripping the church down and cleaning house. Getting everyone back to the basics. Bare bones. God needs an honest and transparent church and we’re just not that. 7. You’re helping a lot of people. Christianity often times is not a safe space to express these types of concerns and feelings. Your transparency and honesty is appreciated. We’re praying for you and your journey and sending you love from this side.
Wow sis you just said a whole lot! 👏🏾👏🏾
@@RearviewWisdom dang yes to this as well!!! 👏🏾it’s so validating to see these types of comments
@@RearviewWisdom yeeeeesssss! Curious to know what you mean when you say your deconstructing culturally?
For me where it started is when i personally wrestled w the questions on the topic of “biblical grounds for divorce”.
You're spot on sis! Literally what God whispered to me in December 2019 (around my birthday) was that He was taking me back to the basics. I'm learning Him outside of the eurocentric/westernized paradigm and it has been glorious 🤗
I literally started my youtube channel so that I'd be motivated to complete the activities that I was too depressed to do. To cultivate the community I lost in life. As I try to rebuild myself as a healthier person. It’s been very hard, sorta lonely in an unexpected at but I know im on the path to begin authentic and who I am internally.
Watching your vulnerability has been such a beautiful thing. I super appreciate the time you’ve taken to share your thoughts on your own journey ❤
Praying for you Joe. Thats all I know to do.
Been watching you for years Joseph, and I check up on your socials semi regularly to see how your doing, I love you and appreciate you taking the time to have challenging convos in public
The wild thing is , the things you desire and expressing aren’t even wild or bad . You’re just looking to live a life where you’re tryna be authentic to who you feel like you are internally. People seeing that as bad thing is sooo wild. We’re intolerant in the faith. It’s a damn shame.
Your experience fascinates me as a Christian ❤️ Joe
The way you explained the tension of doubt 🤯🤯
Appreciate the story telling of your journey. It’s been helping me figuring out my struggles appreciate it much love to you 🤝🏾
I also left the Christian faith and attended the PIA tour. I truly missed that “black church” culture. There’s a language that you only understand when you’re a part of that community but I have ZERO desire to return to that
Thank you for sharing Joseph, you touched my heart with this.
Thanks for sharing Joseph! Christian here but your simple honesty and sincerity really touched my heart.
I saw your other video yesterday and I loved when you mentioned that you used to pray "I don't even want the logical, studious answers, just drop some crazy faith into me". I appreciate your videos because you certainly don't owe us any explanations. And yet, you do take the time to share.
If you do more videos, I would be curious if you could explain more on how your view of the person of Jesus has changed? When you were a Christian, I assume you believed he is currently alive in bodily form in heaven. Do you still believe he is a reality? And if not, what changed your mind to now believe that he actually never came back to life?
I wanted ask this question in the most non combative genuine way possible and you have done that. I sincerely would like to know because I want to understand
Just glad to see you happy again. There was a time when you seemed really troubled and constricted. But you're expanding now. 😊
Lighting, setup, and editing still clear.
At some point I think there was a guy that you were disciplining - what do you say to him? What do you say to the people whom you've shared the gospel with?
Thank you joseph. Broke my heart in a good way. Opening my eyes to things. Your therapist sounds so lovely. X
Broke my heart because I've definitely been the cause of this toxic Christianity culture that oversimplifies peoples journeys
Thank you for this, Joe 🤍
The crazy thing is once I came to Christ I have never called myself a Christian because I don't believe in religion I believe in the authority and power of God in all of His capacities. So I completely understand your journey and figuring it out for yourself and that process it takes to get there.
I remember interacting with you Joe, right here on your channel. At the time, I was a self righteous and self hating (I'm also Black) hyper Calvinist who had no idea they were deeply traumatized. Forgive me. We are in the same spot now - imagine that. I wish you well on your journey 💟
It may have taken you a lil minute to be ready to talk about all of this but you really ready to talk now huh? Two videos in two days? I love it lol. These were some really good questions and answers. While I can understand where you’re coming from with the ant analogy, I disagree. Humanity is God’s chief creation so collectively we are the main character. I get how individually we can feel like we are insignificant ants to God at times though. I appreciate the shout out as well.
well yeah i actually kind of agree, in some sense. i think the ant analogy still works for Christians, ironically lol. i kind of alluded to it in the video. the chasm between ants and humans can be likened to humans and god. you'd need a human with the ability to speak and empathize with the ants to act on their behalf. i think you have that in the narrative of Jesus. he is the god-man condescending from heaven on behalf of humans, therefore bridging the gap. but more broadly speaking, i think it just depends on how you look at it. you say "humanity is God's chief creation", but i say "God is humanity's chief creation". from that perspective, yes, humans will naturally be the "main character" of that narrative.
I still love me some Joseph Solomon🤍. Hi Joe👋🏾, glad to see that you are well.
i want to start by saying, thank you for answering 3/4 of my questions, 🥴. i might have pushed the envelope a bit, 😂. but i move in truth & introspection so i ask a lot of questions because i want to learn, grow & understand different mental capacities beyond my own. i’ve always felt that it’s a privilege to experience someone let alone their inner truth/reflections no matter how out of the “norm” it may seem to some or challenging it may be for the individual. & to be able to be present in a space that you created for us to approach you with our curiosities is dope for many reasons. like i stated on twitter, your transparency is infectious & appreciated & i’m thoroughly interested in seeing what else grows from this safe space, 🫶🏽💫.
-rika
The explanation “tension of doubt” is so on point. I hadn’t thought of doubt in this manner. I do agree tho, alleviating a set end goal allows your curiosity to thrive more👌🏾
I love this and have always loved your vulnerability and honesty. Idk why but I feel like you're story is the untold story of the elder brother parable if he took the high road and just reflected. I also believe that if God still passionately loved him with the response he had in the Bible, I think he is way more in love with you 🥰
Aw man this comment started off so promising and interesting, then ended off so preachy.
Hey Joseph! Would you consider your deconversion more of an intellectual or emotional/practical flavor?
I always enjoyed the way you articulate yourself, your nuanced perceptions, thoughts feelings, ect. It always did something good for my cognition. Makes me want to step up my vocab but nonetheless lol If I'm not too late I would like to ask you a question. Have you ever had a personal supernatural experience or witnessed one( One that not even science can really explain) such as seen an apparition, heard a voice but no one was there, seen an inanimate object move on it's own/levitate, ect.?
The trojan horse friendship analogy, whew that's real. It's an experience I felt especially within college ministries.
lol alllll of em
When you mentioned your position on your spirituality - I already jumped to my own version of the ant scenario in my mind. Because my immediate question was, can a person claim to believe in some type of spirituality without really knowing what it is in a tangible sense/ we are so insignificant, would this even matter? We do this with other things in our life like gravity or whatever, but faith is singular in a sense since it's something you actively need to choose and shape your life around...So, all this to say lol, please do make another vid expounding on this thought process 😅
I was just gonna ask you are you open to astrology and studying more about it! Not necessarily tarot reading or palm reading but simply learning your “birth chart” and all that it entails? I’m Christian and I know it’s not necessarily biblical for us to but stumbling across certain information about it and what my chart says. I was stunned to see how aligned it is to my actual life, who I am becoming! Just food for thought since I know your more open to other conversations now! ☺️
Hey Joseph. Your last video was insightful. Can you make a video focusing on why you chose to leave Christianity? Im curious to hear your reasoning.
i’ll get around to it. lol
I never really fit in with the Christians coming up I understand bro I feel like I don't fit in anywhere I'm still a Christian though just not going to church like that
25:22 this still sounds like an agenda rather than pure curiosity. As if your questions come from a place of expectation ..
explain my agenda
Thank you for sharing all that you have. I understand wanting to move passed the Christian faith. However, just from a place of curiosity, do you still believe in god?
i answered that in this video.
Will you continue to put out gospel worship music?
May Yahuah bless you & your beautiful family beloved. #AGTTMH
nah
did you get a degree in philosophy ?
you speak like a philosopher
nah. just kind of a philosophy enthusiast.
Interesting 🤔
As a Christian, I'm kind of with you in your "ant" analog.
Brother Joseph, i just want to let you know I will support you regardless of what faith you are or whatever path you take with your faith. personally, I think you left CHRISTIANITY for one of three reasons, Reason 1. maybe someone in the church wronged you, Reason 2. maybe its lifestyle choice, Reason 3 maybe you have outgrown the routine of what a Christian is or what society sees a Christian as, because you said you still prayed, but don't mind me i am just speculating, all i care about as online/internet fan of yours, is your wellbeing and that your safe and just happy and making music love from London bye Joseph
I’m not understanding why you’re speculating as to why he left when he’s taking time to make videos to address it. Are his answers insufficient ? If anyone had insight as to why he left, surely it would be him right? Let this man tell his truth without adding or taking away from it.
@@theycallmetrice Latrice bye ‘ I am not speculating with bad intentions ‘ I am just voicing my thoughts ‘ at the end of day Joseph did announce his departure from Christianity publicly ‘and I am pretty sure he knew what will come with that ‘ what I commented was out of love and understanding because being a Christian is not easy at times
@@navynavy7306 I’m trying to find love and understanding in “I think you left for one of three reasons”. True love and understanding would be allowing him to tell his reasoning in his own time and accepting whatever he tells you. Are you really trying to understand if you’re speculating instead of listening? How is it not bad intentions when you blatantly disregarded his explanations, made speculations and then tried to blame it on “he made his departure public so he knew what would come with that”? That doesn’t scream good intentions. Ma’am/Sir, do better. Respectfully.
i’m with latrice on this. i’m making whole 45 minute videos. and i literally just said in the first vid how people just been making up stuff about me rather than letting me be human and speak for myself.
@@flightsfeelings and that’s okay’ I just want to let you know that I wasn’t trying to offend you or cause a back & forth or come across the way Latrice is painting me out to be right now ‘ but sending you my apologies
The bit about the ant in Texas resonates so deep. If I had to oversimplify my deconstruction “answer” it be exactly that, I don’t really concern myself with the conversation anymore. Evolving out of a faith based identity, conversations about god are optional and that choice feels so free to me.
Also, as a long long long time viewer of your online spaces, the through line of your story from when I began to now has been so seamless. I believed you then and I believe you now. I’m so happy to see you’ve found that congruence within yourself. Thank you for always sharing, authentically. 🫶🏾