Thank you for all the positive feedback, it is never easy to share my story and my truth in such a vulnerable way. I have a hard time watching/listening to my own story like this, but it is part of my healing process. Yes I was raised fundamentalist, yes I was decieved, yes I was brainwashed and taught to believe a bunch of lies, and YES, somehow I made it out of a cult and survived. The support I get from this community is precious to me. I have been rejected by some members of my own family, so your support means a lot. Thank you.
Beautiful share, so much packed in there. So helpful and appreciated! Meant what I said in comments, if you come over to Britain. From April this year after over 47 years of thinking, talking and believing, I’m OUT! 😅🎉❤
i also had hallucinations of images on my walls, as a kid. i didn't have a religious upbringing, but i was in a physically abusive situation. the more i watch these videos, the less i believe religion is basically harmless. my experience with religious people has been pretty benign.
Christa, just know that you are not alone in how crazy & extreme your indoctrination was. Actually it’s from taking the Bible literally. Your background is so similar to mine. I’ve just started to get un-indoctrinated in the past few months. Thank you for sharing your story so openly.
This sort of story is what inspired my work a few years ago. I finally just had enough of the Christian fundamentalists and this cult brainwashing. Last straw in my own deconversion was when the last fundie friend I talked to told me I "just needed to read scripture." Oh I did, and in the words of the late Hitchens, if they don't think I'm their enemy, then they don't know what an enemy is. Cheers, DCF
What you said about your thoughts after de-converting was relatable. Life is more precious and those around me mean more to me because of the fact that we don't live forever. My love for my children grew stronger than ever before. My fear of imaginary concerns are gone, and reality, although rough, is a lot easier to handle.
Tim I love that you're teaching your kids the mythology. I was at a coffee shop with my 7yr old daughter, she was thumbing through a children's Bible that was there. A man walked up and started telling her about the bible and how important Jesus is to us. My daughter just smiled at him and politely listened to him. When he left she leaned over to me and whispered "Daddy this is only mythology." ❤
People who are taught to hate themselves from early childhood cannot have a healthy love or acceptance of other people. I think this is why our culture is so sick, we are inflicting the disease on our children from birth and telling them it is normal and desirable. It takes sooo much work to come to the realization you've been poisoned.
Great video Tim! So many fall into the traps of these cults, because they may be suffering and they are seeking the truth. A truth that is not a truth, but a trap. She is so right about how we use our creative or over-active imagination that seems more real than what is. These cults DO NOT want free thinkers, individuals who think for themselves. “Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.” ― Isaac Asimov “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” - Seneca
I’ve said this before, but those that say “you were never a true Christian”, are projecting. It reflects their belief/mental state, more than yours. Remember that.
I literally just had one tell me this today. I was raised into Christianity... I agreed with the guy who said I was never a true Christian. I told him once I left Christianity I realized I was always a Buddhist and just didn't know it. It's a part of my culture. I love everything about it including the martial arts side of it. That's the one for me. Physical and mental strength training. Respect all living things.
I once asked a Christian this question: IF I successfully convert a devoit Muslim person into Christianity , do I then get to claim "they were never a TRUE Muslim"? That makes no sense to me. Now you seem to be saying that NO ONE except for Christians who never leave can be actually sincere with what they profess to believe in. This is SO arrogant.
Christa, thank you for sharing your story. I truly appreciate it and resonate with many parts of it. Thank you, Tim, for the platform your channel provides.
At 34.00 The young lady hit the nail on the head how the church used her energy but she wasn't personally satisfied..The charasmatic churches will label young ones to hold them for their use, "you're a prophet" or "you've got a healing ministry" etc..Our passions MUST NEVER BE HIJACKED BY SOMEONE ELSES AGENDA!!!!!
Yep. That’s why they try their hardest to recruit toddlers if they can and to groom them into that mess. The children never get a chance to carve out their goals, dreams, identities, and aspirations. You can’t enjoy what the world has to offer or develop a true social life without that church shit/religious shit on your shoulders. It also fucks with your mental health which is sometimes I feel most religious children (not all) grow to have severe issues after a while and have this long standing battle. They have no one to tell them it’s not real and that it’s okay to deconvert to go build the life you truly desire for yourself and seek therapy from a non-religious person who can help with religious trauma. Some resort to toxic undiagnosed personality disorders, substance abuse, or just really jacked up things. It’s a torment because I’ve seen this ruin people in my family when they felt like they had no other escape out and don’t know where to turn because you are indoctrinated with the whole ‘hell, the rapture, conspiracy theories and doomsday ending of the world’ mentality. They’ll tell these teens & children that ‘oh, god got great plans for you to become a minister’. It’s just like one big Avon party to turn others out to a MLM with false promises but it will damage you with all the bullshit. Those fake ‘prophetic stories’ or ‘dreams’ they’ll speak on members of the community to keep you scared or in fear or to control you.
I can relate to the whole demon thing too. I was plagued by really intense nightmares and dreams, and I would see things when I woke up or as I was falling asleep. Left the faith at 18, and by the time I was 30, I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy, which explains all the wild dreams/hallucinations.
Also, there is growing evidence that ADHD is brought on by childhood trauma. If parents are abusive or negligent, the brain gets rewired to be unable to focus on things that aren't related to survival. That "survival" could just be a make-believe place of daydreams that help the child (and later adult) cope with reality. Having had both trauma and ADHD symptoms, this makes perfect sense to me.
What a forthright, sincere, and well expressed testimony. I love your open honesty, Christa, and good for you for having the courage of your convictions. Tim, well done!! Your interviews are always interesting and well hosted.
I was diagnosed with ADD, inattentive type in November of this year at 42. I think it is so often missed in females, especially if they are otherwise good students as I was. Wonderful interview! It is so good to see you back Tim.
Christa story is very similar to mine. It’s sounds like we were raised around the same time. My sisters and I were born in the late 80’s early 90’s. It was like listening to my story. But my dad had a huge impact on me as far as teaching me from birth that I was a filthy sinner. When someone would die who “wasn’t saved” he would talk out loud about how sad and what idiots they were because now they’re in hell for eternity. It was traumatizing, the whole focus on the end times gave me nightmares and kept me awake at night, especially as a preteen early teen. I was terrified…and yet somehow, with all of these red flags, fears and questions I stayed in the church until my late 20’s. I feel like I waisted so my life and also started to indoctrinate my own children. We had to move away from my family because my parents at every turn would try to share these things with my kids. I, at one point, told them to stop teaching my kids about hell and my mom called me a heretic. This was my first step toward coming out to my parents. Getting away was important.
1:23:32 Yes, Tim!! This was my thinking- getting married at 21 years old!!- I needed to marry so that what I was doing was not “sin” anymore! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ How twisted?! Thankfully, I lucked out and my husband is wonderful, but MAN- to make such huge decisions in order to appease an Imaginary Friend!! 🥵
Agreed, it's crazy! If you feel like you'd be a good candidate for an interview, feel free to reach out: On FB: facebook.com/timandjuliemills/ or by email: harmonicatheist@yahoo.com
Christa was told that she would have to choose between God and her family. Is that a cult practice? Yes. And, it is also consistent with Jesus' teaching that people must forsake their families to follow him, that he came to create division in families (Matthew 10:37-39, Luke 14:25-27). The manipulation that Christa describes is embedded in the DNA of Christianity (and other cults).
yeah, either that or the family has to accept the changes.....but i think its not only a cult or belief thing....since very young i was and did certain things that i feel had to do that, on a certain level, alienated me from my family a bit. there are gradations on how to alienate or brake with my family. I didnt break with my family, they still love me but i have some viewpoints they simply dontb understand or dont agree with. However they dont stop supporting me. Still i feel somewhat alienated. To give an example. Everyone has a car in my family. My nieces, younger then i am, so, i would say, well aware of the climate problem by now, but then perhaps not, i scarcely see them, each have 2 cars in their family. (In belgium we have quite an ok public transport system, and a lot of distances you can do by bike.) Ok, they have kids. I dont. My ultimate dream is to live somewhere in a forest hut in nature or so. Beside that, I love making things and making music. Their dream is having a big house, making expensive trips and buying things. In a way you could say we have different beliefs, right? But it is percieved as a differnce in religion, what I believe in fact it is. I dont understand them, they dont understand me, but I think we need each other. I couldnt live my life without people inventing modern conveniences. On the other hand `materialistic` people cannot live without values that go beyond materialism, im sure of. (hence culture, music, art, and social structures.institutions), In a way, I feel often quite isolated from other people because of what I value, and what not. I wonder if `regular` people feel less isolated from their friends or the world. Perhaps they feel not less isolated from the world but perhaps more isolated from theirselves because they tend to behave more conformistic? I dont know which one is the happiest.
Or maybe I dont know what my nieces `true` innermost wishes are, because I never bothered asking.....so maybe they also want to live in a hut in nature!!! I was projecting from my own point of view...thats what happens when you dont keep in touch with people from diffent beliefs....you attribute things to them that dont necessarily are true.(but suit your world view)...maybe thats where mythology starts?
I find comfort in the fact that we all experienced the same stuff, once you guys mentioned adventures in odyssey it was a whole memory unlocked. Me and my mom did the Purity trip. And I had to promise her I would never make it to third base until I got married. I was even homeschooled in the church I attended along with other kids that went to the same church. Who remembers heavens gates and hells flames?? Had nightmares, still remember the nightmare I had
Hi, Alexa! Thanks for sharing that ... also, I'd love to interview you, if you're up for it! Feel free to add me on FB and reach out there: facebook.com/timandjuliemills
Joshua Harris ended up deconstructing and took all his books of the shelfs and apologized for what he wrote. People took the I kissed dating goodbye as serious as the bible, i am one of those who took it seriously until i realized how crazy that book is! Glad the author took it off the shelfs cuz its a danger for youth to read it it can be traumatizing
I live in the burbs of Seattle & my son lives in Spokane. Whenever I listen to a podcast that has connections to places I currently live, I just love it that little bit extra! Great interview Tim!
I love this interview, I love all your interviews. My experience is quite different. I was converted as an adult to Christianity, and then like the young lady you’re interviewing, Trump deconverted me.
Same over here more Christians need to know I went in that trap too and now depressed a bit because it’s hard to deprogramm and get rid of all the brainwash
Christa reminds me of my horrible experience with a Southern Baptist Church and the anger I still feel. It was only a year when I was about 21, but it has affected me all my life (I’m 85 now) and turned me into an angry atheist because of all the guilt that was laid on me during that year. But only for sins of omission, not sins of commission! Guilt is the middle name of Christianity! I am angry at myself because I was pushed and prodded to come to the front of the congregation and commit myself to Jesus and I eventually did *without feeling it*. As a result I feel like such a hypocrite!
Wow 😯. 85 years old? I may need you to talk to my 80-81 year old grandparents who’s deeply indoctrinated. They’ve been indoctrinated since the mid 70s in Christianity. They have been apart of this church called ‘the Star of David holiness’ church. My grandparents are both ‘pastors’ allegedly been under this pastor who’s like their grand wizard for years. This man controls their lives and he’s the reason they left South Florida to move to a really poor town with only 1,000 people in it and it’s in the middle of no where. They live in a mobile home and swear to ‘god’ that they’re blessed beyond and favored for being saved for eons now. They have tried to force their religion in their kids and grandparents as well. All the typical rapture doctrine, ‘prophecy’ babble, misanthropy, doomsdays cult mentality, etc. just a lot of deluded nonsense. I’m glad you woke up though and no you’re not a hypocrite. You came back to reality and woke tf up. I know it’s a really rageful process when you realize none of these religions are real and are all based around mythology or shit mankind made up on their own.
What it is I call "The God Idea" . You are not having a relationship with an actual entity. It a relationship with an IDEA. So true. This HAS to be one of the better interviews I have seen on this channel. She really articulates so many ideas so well. What a human being. I was really awestruck by her passion for life and other things. Just amazing. At 2 hours 55 minutes, she really hits home. Glad this interview went over 3 hours. It was well worth it. She could write a book and go on tour.
I absolutely love & appreciate hearing "testimonies" of deconversions. I always learn a lot &, as a recent deconvertee, I can always relate to so much of each guest's experiences & thought processes. Christa has a lot of understandable anger. I hope one day she will come to terms with it so that it doesn't take up so much of her energy. She's still pretty young (30s); I also hope that as she matures, she will allow in some gray areas. I'm trying to do the same with my family & my past. Not there yet but working on it! There will probably always be an edge to us both. Thank you again, Tim & Christa, for the interview.
I had the same realization; that Christianity is mythology and Jesus is actually a symbol of the "Higher Self". I went from being a Christian to being an atheist to experiencing a full blown spiritual awakening 7 years later. The spiritual awakening reveals the real deal...it awakens a person to the truth. It took me quite awhile to heal from the shame, guilt, and fear I took on while I was involved in the Christian cult.
One of your better interview guests. Not that any of them are poor by comparison but it's maybe a little surprising to imagine prior to viewing that a 3 hour-plus interview could remain engaging throughout. But this one was engaging; she had a lot to get off her chest, so to speak. And as the modern saying goes, "I am here for it".
Whew...3 plus hrs watched in 6 hrs 😁...and another great interview. Kudos. How you and the family situation doing? I hope you're makn' head way in this and finding some kind of comfort my man. I know it sucks...but life can suck at times. Keep on keepn' on.
There’s no Holy Spirit or angels etc. If your car breaks down on the side of the road do u call a wrecker and a mechanic or do you sit there and pray about it?? What is the most rational course of action??
Yep. They’re anti-medicine to and anti-science. No type of common sense, to put that shit aside to face reality of life. It gives them an excuse to be lazy or not truly contribute to society as well like that. I told this to a relative that once about how we are conceived but nah he claims “god blew air through your nostrils” I’m like no we got here through sexual intercourse. Then he went in rants about ‘who wakes you up in the morning’ 😂, I go one of the major systems in the brain that wakes you up is called the reticular activating system, or RAS. He goes ‘NO, god wakes us up and we always supposed to thank him’. I told him you get food poisoning you must go to the hospital immediately to get diagnosed and medicines then then he goes ‘that’s why I always pray over my food because will wipe away any germs, bacteria, or other harmful things from the food”. These people are delusional as fuck.
Another awesome conversation! Congratulations, Christa, for always questioning and finding your way out. I used to ask similar questions about many things and was often chided for that, but that never stopped me. And you are right. If people ACTUALLY READ the bible, I don't know that they'd come away thinking that this makes ANY sense whatsoever. If they're being honest with themselves, at least.
What a delightful person! Religions were invented as founding myths for tribes and civilizations. They “explained” origins, purpose destiny and how the world works. Primarily, they offered effective means of control. We have better explanations, but they still have a great deal of power. They have to be reduced to historical curiosities if we are to survive and flourish.
Oh, thank god ... er, woops! I've got some lawyer friends (believe it or not .. and I'm a retired lawyer too) who just cannot, and point blank refuse, to give up their childhood-taught fairytales. They have let go of their bibs and prams, but no amount of sense can lead them out of the dark so to speak. More of Christa, please lord (sorry, there I go again)!
Hearing god “speaking” to us is really our own voices in our heads. It’s a brain state. Your story is very well articulated, Christa. I can totally relate to your rationale for rejecting Christianity 💕🤗
Regarding the Giant's Causeway. I've been to the Irish end, the other end is in Scotland (a lot of it is under the sea). Here in Hong Kong, we have some hexagonal basalt columns that are bent! Of course, if you're a fan of the TV series Lucifer, you'll know that the whole landscape of Hell is made up of basalt columns.
Julia Sweeney said the same thing in Letting Go of God…. “Losing my faith and belief in god was the most liberating, positive and spiritual thing I ever did”
thumbs up for this open-hearted interview, both of you. The likes of it are rare in this fast speeding world....I am sort of an agnost I think....I am always interested in the world views of other people...they cannot be but an enrichment of my understanding of the world...and it can help certain (unproductive or unhealthy) views of my own being put in perspective....I was raised non confessional catholic (which was the main religion in Belgium (tiny country in Europe above France) but now most people are either complete atheist and anti Church or agnost, which means we cherish spiritual values or the idea there is more then the visual or material world or some sort of eternity, but we shed the strong Catholic heritage of authority, the Bible and most of all the idea that there is only 1 truth. We Belgians have a strong sense of `culture relativism` meaning other cultures have equally valuable values...some peopel say `in the end it all the same thing` ....(which has historical reasons)... which I think it a bit too easy but I believe there are universal things that no men can `escape` from or not take into account, which means, for me, these are the parameters for creating a meaningful life. F.I. failure and suffering are inherent to life, we all will die,, but also given this I think it would be stupid to make people suffer extra. Suffering will come across your path but it shouldnt be percieved as a sin but as simply something occurring. How you deal with it should not be a moral exercise . It can be a spirtual way. Or an emotional way (letting grief in and then go on etc). But you cannot blame a rock for being a rock.
So far atheism has been the only group I feel comfortable with. Yet I wonder, Is it possible to be an atheist and still believe that there is a power or energy source that makes everything we see happen? I mean I can’t believe that the universe and all life forms just randomly became as they are. There is life within a blade of grass. There is life in the universe which seems to go on forever. I call the source of all I see, “god”. Does that mean I can’t realistically call myself an atheist?
Absolutely! Many agnostics/atheists land in various places like that. I don't personally think of any energy in the universe as a higher "divine" power in the religious sense, but I think having an awe and wonder for the world we live in is vital to being healthy and thriving. Life is beautiful, and soaking it up apart from mythology is a wonderful part of our existence.
@ 42:34 - 42:39 great saying. I love nightmare on elm street btw. That’s how your mind is when you’re a Christian. You are asleep and not aware of anything but delusions, fear, and replaying the same shit over in your mind of the cult.
Saying the "magic prayer" is silly when looked at with hindsight. All you have to do is say these words ...... a pastor will tell you. But its regardless of the state your in, you can say the magic words to get someone on your side about something, without really believing in it yourself. You can be full of animosity or hatred, and say the words. And thats enough for christians. just say the magic words, lol. makes you start acting like a politician who just says what people want to hear.
" And Asa,in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, was diseased in his feet until his disease was exceeding great.Yet in his disease he sought not the Lord, but the physicians.( 2 Chron.16:12 ) ???
Interestingly, if you study ancient writings and stories, many of those stories are similar to Bible stories. Almost all ancient societies have a similar creation story for example. Also the story of Moses in the basket is repeated in a few ancient writings. I’m sure there are others. Once you see it, it’s hard to unsee.
A regular excuse/explanation given about other earlier or concurrent religions and beliefs that are very similar or virtually the same as what's written in the Bible is 'its the devil's doing'. That is, Satan knew what was going to happen so he took parts of the Bible, parts of the story of god and Jesus and put it into various religions but twisted it. This way it wasn't exactly the Bible story/gospel or about Yahweh/Jesus but close enough. And through that distort the message and ensnare people into false religions and eventually get people to not trust Christianity because people would be confused by all the similar religions having similar beliefs and practices that were concurrent with or predated Christianity or Judaism. A common Christian apologetic deflection response, one I heard many times, and rang so hollow.
Re the going into the mythology in order to immunise yourself from the tendency to prayer. Just a gentle note of caution here, Tim. Yes, absolutely, the more we know about the actual truth behind Christianity, the more we will debunk Christian thought patterns. However I’m not so sure that this is even where we get our impulse to pray from. I think that prayer is a kind of meditative thought pattern that can be very helpful for anyone, unbelievers included and even for an atheist. I think, certainly for myself, that it’s become a very healthy way of listening to my inner voice, a way of tuning in, as it were, to the dialogue between myself and some internalised sense of the greater good, to my best instincts for generosity, kindness, grace, love for self and other. It wouldn’t feel authentic to call the object of my prayer Lord, or even to ascribe personhood to it. Maybe it represents no more than my way of relating to and enjoying my sense of belonging within the matrix of meaning I call life. What I’m saying is that for thousands of years prayer has been an important psychological function, helping us to step back from life reflectively and know ourselves. It may be merely our internal dialogue. But let’s not underestimate this tool that enables us to hear ourselves and find peace within our understanding of life. In fact I think that to debunk religion and superstition is enabling me to cleans that internal dialogue from unhelpful interference. I would call myself a meditative humanist who derives meaning from his relationships and this includes my relationship with the universe (small ‘u’ as I wouldn’t deify anything now) and with myself within the context of all that’s good and right in life. I’m very much pro a scientific outlook, but I’m also unsatisfied with the purely rational outlook of many atheists and deconverted evangelicals. When I was a Christian I was always a heretic by being a lot more mystical in my leanings, and as I’m deconverting I’m sensing that prayer is part of being human. It’s just healthy to ask ourselves who we are praying to. For me it’s not praying to someone, but being still and listening. Within the stillness there’s room to know truth about myself and simply to be aware on a deep level to come to terms with pain and the darker side of myself and to hear a dialogue between that and the other voices that speak of hope and peace.
A beautiful lady who had a heavy time of a psychological damaging upbringing in this world view’s indoctrination. Can relate! 😢😅 I’m from Northern Ireland (near giant’s causeway) and live in Scotland 🏴 so if you do come visit, reach out so I can meet up and show you some beautiful places. Thank you for this genuine share. Love the advice of reading the Bible, that was my main exit after reading it throughout at least twice through in the latter two years of my Christian life. (🙋♀️believe I have undiagnosed ADHD)
Hi Tim (or anyone else) do you have any interviews with people who are ex-Christians but are either agnostic or believe in some sort or creator/force? I am not an atheist but am no longer Christian and would love to see interviews with non-atheist ex-Christians. I enjoy and respect the atheist perspective but due to personal experiences outside of Christianity as well as readings from people like Eckhart Tolle, I can’t identify with the atheist perspective. I am open to pantheists, Buddhists, or those like me who are not concerned with having a cohesive belief system Anyway I have ADHD and am from the PNW so I really enjoyed this interview!
1:05 You mean Jesus' analogy Gehenna. Jesus says Hell is a place of torment like that burning trash dump. Sheol means the grave and is referenced in the old testament. So hell is in the Bible. Whether it's real is another story.
It is, but not in the way Christian’s think of it. The Hebrews didn’t believe in an afterlife or a soul, so to them Gehenna was just the place where bodies were dumped when they didn’t get a proper burial. The first person to postulate a hell was Plato in his ‘republic’ in 400 BCE, from there it made its way into the later books of the Old Testament before being used as a control tool by Christians.
@@curbroadshow I've been a skeptic most of my life and I consider this all just food for thought. Recently I have been attending a church run by two Biblical scholars. In Mat. 28 claims Hell can destroy both body and soul. I know Christianity is extremely hellenized today. I totally agree that it's all a very effective means of controlling sheep.
It's interesting what she says about her mother's Catholicism. In Mexico and South America Catholicism is heavily syncretistic. There's a lot of superstition and pagan beliefs mixed in with the Catholicism. It's like this all over the Hispanic world. Now there is a growth of evangelicalism and Pentecostalism in these countries too. I can see how the same kind of fervor I can see how the same kind of spirituality gets mixed up in that as well.
I too lost my faith because of Trump and how the evangelical church supported him. I couldn't understand and thought his supporters had been brainwashed. This lead me into researching cults which then lead me to podcasts that brought to light problems of the bible.
I left the church seeing how they reacted to Obama and the lies they spread and hate they showed. I left God after seeing the hypoChristians vote for Trump. That was the real revelation for me. Exposed them for who they really are under their “Christian” mask.
My mother put her Religious state on me as well.I would get in trouble in school and then my mom's would say you got the devil in you..She would go get this oil that has been prayed over by I don't know who and I'd be like the devil? Good thing I didn't really care I just would be like yo mom's bugging.They we're always so extra in church..STAY STRONG..
Christianity deeply impacts your view of the world, others ans yourself and has personally caused me a great deal of trauma... Its literally affected my life in every aspect and has kept me from being a normal person living a life that i enjoy innthe present moment because im afraid of devils and demons and going to hell and all that. When you see the contradictions and vague and abusive nature of it along with the stories that have obvious mythology written all over it, you can confidently write it off as poison... Nothing good can come from a religion that says you need to believe this and do this and love me or im going to burn you for eternity in a place called hell. Thatd not a religion of love, its just the opposite.
Doctors nowadays in general are very good with visible and measurable diseases. However, whatever concerns the mind you have to be very careful of what diagnosis or doctor to trust. Not that they re not of any help. But the mind-sector is far more sensitive to the personal bias of the doctor or, for that matter, the society and its dominant values that the medical profession is enshrined in. If its a doctor with a broad mind and firm life experience he or she is likely to help you well. But it damn sure is a good idea to put your doctor to the test and ask some sound, well-thought questions before letting him or her `mess` with your mind or describe you pills. Healthy criticism is not a nice extra thing. It might save your live and those you love. No person at the end of his live i think will say, O, i did so well, i did this and this because the other told me so. Because, what a difference would you have made on this planet?
The multiple rededications🙄 this was partly cuz churches like to count their "converts" ... my pastor dad would feel like it was "successful" to have conversions n rededications. Smh
When I was 16, I remembered thinking about god knowing every hair on my head, angels and demons watching me at all times and god knowing my every thought. Try taking a shower with this god and all his beings watching you. Big brother on steroids.🤢
I don't know why evolution scares people, I think it's beautiful. Knowing that I'm part of Earth's nature is a good feeling, why would anyone want to deny that. When I see my cat or an insect or a tree I see a cousin, not some manufactured object placed there for my benefit. In Christian terms it's like going back to the garden of Eden.
Yes! I long ago decided to read the bible, start to finish, with no one to tell me what it REALLY means. It's a horrible collection of myth and cruelty. It's a contradictory, divisive, ridiculous book of gaslighting and outright lies.
o. no. Girl, you dont have AHD. youre just smart and use your brain. Other people who dont use theur brain are astouned meeting people who do. solution? Calling it AHD. The world isnt perfect, alas. But there definitely isnt anything wrong with you (at least what would require a medical label of this sort)
Thank you for all the positive feedback, it is never easy to share my story and my truth in such a vulnerable way. I have a hard time watching/listening to my own story like this, but it is part of my healing process. Yes I was raised fundamentalist, yes I was decieved, yes I was brainwashed and taught to believe a bunch of lies, and YES, somehow I made it out of a cult and survived. The support I get from this community is precious to me. I have been rejected by some members of my own family, so your support means a lot. Thank you.
Beautiful share, so much packed in there. So helpful and appreciated!
Meant what I said in comments, if you come over to Britain.
From April this year after over 47 years of thinking, talking and believing, I’m OUT! 😅🎉❤
i also had hallucinations of images on my walls, as a kid. i didn't have a religious upbringing, but i was in a physically abusive situation. the more i watch these videos, the less i believe religion is basically harmless. my experience with religious people has been pretty benign.
Christa, just know that you are not alone in how crazy & extreme your indoctrination was. Actually it’s from taking the Bible literally. Your background is so similar to mine. I’ve just started to get un-indoctrinated in the past few months. Thank you for sharing your story so openly.
This sort of story is what inspired my work a few years ago. I finally just had enough of the Christian fundamentalists and this cult brainwashing. Last straw in my own deconversion was when the last fundie friend I talked to told me I "just needed to read scripture." Oh I did, and in the words of the late Hitchens, if they don't think I'm their enemy, then they don't know what an enemy is. Cheers, DCF
What you said about your thoughts after de-converting was relatable. Life is more precious and those around me mean more to me because of the fact that we don't live forever. My love for my children grew stronger than ever before.
My fear of imaginary concerns are gone, and reality, although rough, is a lot easier to handle.
Tim I love that you're teaching your kids the mythology. I was at a coffee shop with my 7yr old daughter, she was thumbing through a children's Bible that was there. A man walked up and started telling her about the bible and how important Jesus is to us. My daughter just smiled at him and politely listened to him. When he left she leaned over to me and whispered "Daddy this is only mythology." ❤
That's awesome!! Feel free to reach out if you want to consider collaborating! --Tim
Great job parenting. I wish I would have done the same.🙌🏿
Allowing children to fully believe that their worst, most horrific fears are true is abuse.
This is so true and amazing you escaped!
Yes, but so is raising them without an absolute morality firmly grounded in reality.
@@nonyadamnbusiness9887 Agreed. And you don't need any God or gods for that if you know what you're doing.
People who are taught to hate themselves from early childhood cannot have a healthy love or acceptance of other people. I think this is why our culture is so sick, we are inflicting the disease on our children from birth and telling them it is normal and desirable. It takes sooo much work to come to the realization you've been poisoned.
"Question everything you've learned. Dismiss what insults your Soul" - Walt Whitman
Great video Tim! So many fall into the traps of these cults, because they may be suffering and they are seeking the truth. A truth that is not a truth, but a trap. She is so right about how we use our creative or over-active imagination that seems more real than what is. These cults DO NOT want free thinkers, individuals who think for themselves.
“Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.” ― Isaac Asimov
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” - Seneca
Christa was wonderful to listen to…very articulate, kind, thoughtful woman!
She is clear, articulate, and sincere. And as a host you demonstrate your empathy throughout, but most especially in giving her room to speak.
I thought the same thing and made the same observation of Tim.
She may repeat some things twice or trice, but it is worth watching the 3h. Two intelligent and strong people. It feels supportive to me.
you know the world or people around you is/are fucked up when you ask normal logical questions and get punished by it
I’ve said this before, but those that say “you were never a true Christian”, are projecting. It reflects their belief/mental state, more than yours.
Remember that.
I literally just had one tell me this today. I was raised into Christianity... I agreed with the guy who said I was never a true Christian. I told him once I left Christianity I realized I was always a Buddhist and just didn't know it. It's a part of my culture. I love everything about it including the martial arts side of it. That's the one for me. Physical and mental strength training. Respect all living things.
I once asked a Christian this question: IF I successfully convert a devoit Muslim person into Christianity , do I then get to claim "they were never a TRUE Muslim"? That makes no sense to me. Now you seem to be saying that NO ONE except for Christians who never leave can be actually sincere with what they profess to believe in. This is SO arrogant.
Christa, thank you for sharing your story. I truly appreciate it and resonate with many parts of it. Thank you, Tim, for the platform your channel provides.
This is my favorite interview you've put out so far! Christa spitting facts!
At 34.00 The young lady hit the nail on the head how the church used her energy but she wasn't personally satisfied..The charasmatic churches will label young ones to hold them for their use, "you're a prophet" or "you've got a healing ministry" etc..Our passions MUST NEVER BE HIJACKED BY SOMEONE ELSES AGENDA!!!!!
Yep. That’s why they try their hardest to recruit toddlers if they can and to groom them into that mess. The children never get a chance to carve out their goals, dreams, identities, and aspirations. You can’t enjoy what the world has to offer or develop a true social life without that church shit/religious shit on your shoulders.
It also fucks with your mental health which is sometimes I feel most religious children (not all) grow to have severe issues after a while and have this long standing battle. They have no one to tell them it’s not real and that it’s okay to deconvert to go build the life you truly desire for yourself and seek therapy from a non-religious person who can help with religious trauma.
Some resort to toxic undiagnosed personality disorders, substance abuse, or just really jacked up things. It’s a torment because I’ve seen this ruin people in my family when they felt like they had no other escape out and don’t know where to turn because you are indoctrinated with the whole ‘hell, the rapture, conspiracy theories and doomsday ending of the world’ mentality.
They’ll tell these teens & children that ‘oh, god got great plans for you to become a minister’. It’s just like one big Avon party to turn others out to a MLM with false promises but it will damage you with all the bullshit. Those fake ‘prophetic stories’ or ‘dreams’ they’ll speak on members of the community to keep you scared or in fear or to control you.
Excellent channel! So helpful for so many people!
Totally agree 👍
Yay! You're back. I was worried for you, not seeing anything for a while.
Now I'll go listen to the interview.
Thanks, the last few weeks have been a bit of a nightmare. Trying hard to catch up.
I can relate to the whole demon thing too. I was plagued by really intense nightmares and dreams, and I would see things when I woke up or as I was falling asleep. Left the faith at 18, and by the time I was 30, I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy, which explains all the wild dreams/hallucinations.
2:31:54 The use of emotional music is crazy. Been saying this for a while.
Also, there is growing evidence that ADHD is brought on by childhood trauma. If parents are abusive or negligent, the brain gets rewired to be unable to focus on things that aren't related to survival. That "survival" could just be a make-believe place of daydreams that help the child (and later adult) cope with reality. Having had both trauma and ADHD symptoms, this makes perfect sense to me.
What a forthright, sincere, and well expressed testimony. I love your open honesty, Christa, and good for you for having the courage of your convictions. Tim, well done!! Your interviews are always interesting and well hosted.
I was diagnosed with ADD, inattentive type in November of this year at 42. I think it is so often missed in females, especially if they are otherwise good students as I was. Wonderful interview! It is so good to see you back Tim.
Christa’s the best. Really enjoyed the whole talk. I was in the local church/witness lee cult in 70s.
Christa story is very similar to mine. It’s sounds like we were raised around the same time. My sisters and I were born in the late 80’s early 90’s. It was like listening to my story. But my dad had a huge impact on me as far as teaching me from birth that I was a filthy sinner. When someone would die who “wasn’t saved” he would talk out loud about how sad and what idiots they were because now they’re in hell for eternity. It was traumatizing, the whole focus on the end times gave me nightmares and kept me awake at night, especially as a preteen early teen. I was terrified…and yet somehow, with all of these red flags, fears and questions I stayed in the church until my late 20’s. I feel like I waisted so my life and also started to indoctrinate my own children. We had to move away from my family because my parents at every turn would try to share these things with my kids. I, at one point, told them to stop teaching my kids about hell and my mom called me a heretic. This was my first step toward coming out to my parents. Getting away was important.
Brilliant and spot on. I hope she keeps speaking out.
1:23:32 Yes, Tim!! This was my thinking- getting married at 21 years old!!- I needed to marry so that what I was doing was not “sin” anymore! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ How twisted?! Thankfully, I lucked out and my husband is wonderful, but MAN- to make such huge decisions in order to appease an Imaginary Friend!! 🥵
Agreed, it's crazy! If you feel like you'd be a good candidate for an interview, feel free to reach out:
On FB: facebook.com/timandjuliemills/
or by email: harmonicatheist@yahoo.com
Tim, your guests are awesome! I can’t wait to finish this tomorrow.
Christa was told that she would have to choose between God and her family. Is that a cult practice? Yes. And, it is also consistent with Jesus' teaching that people must forsake their families to follow him, that he came to create division in families (Matthew 10:37-39, Luke 14:25-27). The manipulation that Christa describes is embedded in the DNA of Christianity (and other cults).
yeah, either that or the family has to accept the changes.....but i think its not only a cult or belief thing....since very young i was and did certain things that i feel had to do that, on a certain level, alienated me from my family a bit. there are gradations on how to alienate or brake with my family. I didnt break with my family, they still love me but i have some viewpoints they simply dontb understand or dont agree with. However they dont stop supporting me. Still i feel somewhat alienated. To give an example. Everyone has a car in my family. My nieces, younger then i am, so, i would say, well aware of the climate problem by now, but then perhaps not, i scarcely see them, each have 2 cars in their family. (In belgium we have quite an ok public transport system, and a lot of distances you can do by bike.) Ok, they have kids. I dont. My ultimate dream is to live somewhere in a forest hut in nature or so. Beside that, I love making things and making music. Their dream is having a big house, making expensive trips and buying things. In a way you could say we have different beliefs, right? But it is percieved as a differnce in religion, what I believe in fact it is. I dont understand them, they dont understand me, but I think we need each other. I couldnt live my life without people inventing modern conveniences. On the other hand `materialistic` people cannot live without values that go beyond materialism, im sure of. (hence culture, music, art, and social structures.institutions), In a way, I feel often quite isolated from other people because of what I value, and what not. I wonder if `regular` people feel less isolated from their friends or the world. Perhaps they feel not less isolated from the world but perhaps more isolated from theirselves because they tend to behave more conformistic? I dont know which one is the happiest.
Or maybe I dont know what my nieces `true` innermost wishes are, because I never bothered asking.....so maybe they also want to live in a hut in nature!!! I was projecting from my own point of view...thats what happens when you dont keep in touch with people from diffent beliefs....you attribute things to them that dont necessarily are true.(but suit your world view)...maybe thats where mythology starts?
🙂it's no longer a compliment to be called a "person of faith"
Christa, your childhood was so similar to mine.
Thank you for sharing your story!
And thank you, Tim.
I find comfort in the fact that we all experienced the same stuff, once you guys mentioned adventures in odyssey it was a whole memory unlocked. Me and my mom did the Purity trip. And I had to promise her I would never make it to third base until I got married. I was even homeschooled in the church I attended along with other kids that went to the same church. Who remembers heavens gates and hells flames?? Had nightmares, still remember the nightmare I had
Hi, Alexa! Thanks for sharing that ... also, I'd love to interview you, if you're up for it!
Feel free to add me on FB and reach out there:
facebook.com/timandjuliemills
Glad you’re back Tim !
Joshua Harris ended up deconstructing and took all his books of the shelfs and apologized for what he wrote. People took the I kissed dating goodbye as serious as the bible, i am one of those who took it seriously until i realized how crazy that book is! Glad the author took it off the shelfs cuz its a danger for youth to read it it can be traumatizing
I live in the burbs of Seattle & my son lives in Spokane. Whenever I listen to a podcast that has connections to places I currently live, I just love it that little bit extra! Great interview Tim!
Very good and interesting video. So glad to see you back. Was worried about you.
Thank you very much ... trying hard to catch up.
I love this interview, I love all your interviews. My experience is quite different. I was converted as an adult to Christianity, and then like the young lady you’re interviewing, Trump deconverted me.
If you feel like you'd be a good candidate for an interview, feel free to reach out! facebook.com/harmonictim
Same over here more Christians need to know I went in that trap too and now depressed a bit because it’s hard to deprogramm and get rid of all the brainwash
Exactly right, manipulation is built into the structure. Mostly with fear tactics 😢😮😅
Christa reminds me of my horrible experience with a Southern Baptist Church and the anger I still feel. It was only a year when I was about 21, but it has affected me all my life (I’m 85 now) and turned me into an angry atheist because of all the guilt that was laid on me during that year. But only for sins of omission, not sins of commission! Guilt is the middle name of Christianity! I am angry at myself because I was pushed and prodded to come to the front of the congregation and commit myself to Jesus and I eventually did *without feeling it*. As a result I feel like such a hypocrite!
Wow 😯. 85 years old? I may need you to talk to my 80-81 year old grandparents who’s deeply indoctrinated. They’ve been indoctrinated since the mid 70s in Christianity. They have been apart of this church called ‘the Star of David holiness’ church. My grandparents are both ‘pastors’ allegedly been under this pastor who’s like their grand wizard for years. This man controls their lives and he’s the reason they left South Florida to move to a really poor town with only 1,000 people in it and it’s in the middle of no where. They live in a mobile home and swear to ‘god’ that they’re blessed beyond and favored for being saved for eons now.
They have tried to force their religion in their kids and grandparents as well. All the typical rapture doctrine, ‘prophecy’ babble, misanthropy, doomsdays cult mentality, etc. just a lot of deluded nonsense.
I’m glad you woke up though and no you’re not a hypocrite. You came back to reality and woke tf up. I know it’s a really rageful process when you realize none of these religions are real and are all based around mythology or shit mankind made up on their own.
What it is I call "The God Idea" . You are not having a relationship with an actual entity. It a relationship with an IDEA. So true. This HAS to be one of the better interviews I have seen on this channel. She really articulates so many ideas so well. What a human being. I was really awestruck by her passion for life and other things. Just amazing. At 2 hours 55 minutes, she really hits home. Glad this interview went over 3 hours. It was well worth it. She could write a book and go on tour.
I love Christa's perspective.
I absolutely love & appreciate hearing "testimonies" of deconversions. I always learn a lot &, as a recent deconvertee, I can always relate to so much of each guest's experiences & thought processes. Christa has a lot of understandable anger. I hope one day she will come to terms with it so that it doesn't take up so much of her energy. She's still pretty young (30s); I also hope that as she matures, she will allow in some gray areas. I'm trying to do the same with my family & my past. Not there yet but working on it! There will probably always be an edge to us both. Thank you again, Tim & Christa, for the interview.
Yes, they use young people who is passionate and exploits them to do free labor.
Good to see you again. Sorry about the Covid!!! Be well!
I had the same realization; that Christianity is mythology and Jesus is actually a symbol of the "Higher Self". I went from being a Christian to being an atheist to experiencing a full blown spiritual awakening 7 years later. The spiritual awakening reveals the real deal...it awakens a person to the truth. It took me quite awhile to heal from the shame, guilt, and fear I took on while I was involved in the Christian cult.
I’m in the Seattle area. It would be awesome to connect. Just such a brilliant conversation.
This is wonderful story I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. Good job❤
Dobson was Focus on the Family. The Moral Majority was Jerry Falwell.
One of your better interview guests. Not that any of them are poor by comparison but it's maybe a little surprising to imagine prior to viewing that a 3 hour-plus interview could remain engaging throughout. But this one was engaging; she had a lot to get off her chest, so to speak. And as the modern saying goes, "I am here for it".
I watched the whole talk. Thank you so much.
Whew...3 plus hrs watched in 6 hrs 😁...and another great interview. Kudos. How you and the family situation doing? I hope you're makn' head way in this and finding some kind of comfort my man. I know it sucks...but life can suck at times. Keep on keepn' on.
There’s no Holy Spirit or angels etc. If your car breaks down on the side of the road do u call a wrecker and a mechanic or do you sit there and pray about it?? What is the most rational course of action??
Yep. They’re anti-medicine to and anti-science. No type of common sense, to put that shit aside to face reality of life. It gives them an excuse to be lazy or not truly contribute to society as well like that. I told this to a relative that once about how we are conceived but nah he claims “god blew air through your nostrils” I’m like no we got here through sexual intercourse. Then he went in rants about ‘who wakes you up in the morning’ 😂, I go one of the major systems in the brain that wakes you up is called the reticular activating system, or RAS. He goes ‘NO, god wakes us up and we always supposed to thank him’.
I told him you get food poisoning you must go to the hospital immediately to get diagnosed and medicines then then he goes ‘that’s why I always pray over my food because will wipe away any germs, bacteria, or other harmful things from the food”. These people are delusional as fuck.
I would do both, 😅
Another awesome conversation! Congratulations, Christa, for always questioning and finding your way out.
I used to ask similar questions about many things and was often chided for that, but that never stopped me. And you are right. If people ACTUALLY READ the bible, I don't know that they'd come away thinking that this makes ANY sense whatsoever. If they're being honest with themselves, at least.
I loved the entire interview. I had many similar experiences. Keep up the fight for truth.
What a delightful person! Religions were invented as founding myths for tribes and civilizations. They “explained” origins, purpose destiny and how the world works. Primarily, they offered effective means of control. We have better explanations, but they still have a great deal of power. They have to be reduced to historical curiosities if we are to survive and flourish.
Oh, thank god ... er, woops! I've got some lawyer friends (believe it or not .. and I'm a retired lawyer too) who just cannot, and point blank refuse, to give up their childhood-taught fairytales. They have let go of their bibs and prams, but no amount of sense can lead them out of the dark so to speak. More of Christa, please lord (sorry, there I go again)!
Hearing god “speaking” to us is really our own voices in our heads. It’s a brain state. Your story is very well articulated, Christa. I can totally relate to your rationale for rejecting Christianity 💕🤗
This is a really good interview
I can relate to every single thing she says.
Regarding the Giant's Causeway. I've been to the Irish end, the other end is in Scotland (a lot of it is under the sea). Here in Hong Kong, we have some hexagonal basalt columns that are bent!
Of course, if you're a fan of the TV series Lucifer, you'll know that the whole landscape of Hell is made up of basalt columns.
How can one NOT cherry-pick the Bible, when it's full of errors and contradictions?
Julia Sweeney said the same thing in Letting Go of God…. “Losing my faith and belief in god was the most liberating, positive and spiritual thing I ever did”
thumbs up for this open-hearted interview, both of you. The likes of it are rare in this fast speeding world....I am sort of an agnost I think....I am always interested in the world views of other people...they cannot be but an enrichment of my understanding of the world...and it can help certain (unproductive or unhealthy) views of my own being put in perspective....I was raised non confessional catholic (which was the main religion in Belgium (tiny country in Europe above France) but now most people are either complete atheist and anti Church or agnost, which means we cherish spiritual values or the idea there is more then the visual or material world or some sort of eternity, but we shed the strong Catholic heritage of authority, the Bible and most of all the idea that there is only 1 truth. We Belgians have a strong sense of `culture relativism` meaning other cultures have equally valuable values...some peopel say `in the end it all the same thing` ....(which has historical reasons)... which I think it a bit too easy but I believe there are universal things that no men can `escape` from or not take into account, which means, for me, these are the parameters for creating a meaningful life. F.I. failure and suffering are inherent to life, we all will die,, but also given this I think it would be stupid to make people suffer extra. Suffering will come across your path but it shouldnt be percieved as a sin but as simply something occurring. How you deal with it should not be a moral exercise . It can be a spirtual way. Or an emotional way (letting grief in and then go on etc). But you cannot blame a rock for being a rock.
great video !
Useful for friends and family who still believe:
“The Anti-Christian Book: Truth is Anti-Christian. The Bible tells Enormous Lies about God.”
Great talk. Very interesting lady
So far atheism has been the only group I feel comfortable with. Yet I wonder, Is it possible to be an atheist and still believe that there is a power or energy source that makes everything we see happen? I mean I can’t believe that the universe and all life forms just randomly became as they are. There is life within a blade of grass. There is life in the universe which seems to go on forever. I call the source of all I see, “god”. Does that mean I can’t realistically call myself an atheist?
Absolutely! Many agnostics/atheists land in various places like that. I don't personally think of any energy in the universe as a higher "divine" power in the religious sense, but I think having an awe and wonder for the world we live in is vital to being healthy and thriving. Life is beautiful, and soaking it up apart from mythology is a wonderful part of our existence.
@ 42:34 - 42:39 great saying. I love nightmare on elm street btw. That’s how your mind is when you’re a Christian. You are asleep and not aware of anything but delusions, fear, and replaying the same shit over in your mind of the cult.
Hi, Sabrina! Thanks for your comments ... feel free to reach out if you'd like to consider an interview!
facebook.com/timandjuliemills
Saying the "magic prayer" is silly when looked at with hindsight. All you have to do is say these words ...... a pastor will tell you. But its regardless of the state your in, you can say the magic words to get someone on your side about something, without really believing in it yourself. You can be full of animosity or hatred, and say the words. And thats enough for christians. just say the magic words, lol. makes you start acting like a politician who just says what people want to hear.
To think that "Christian incantation" or "magic words" is not even mentioned as such in the NT..🤔
" And Asa,in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, was diseased in his feet until his disease was exceeding great.Yet in his disease he sought not the Lord, but the physicians.( 2 Chron.16:12 ) ???
Ex-Vineyard cult member here. Totally relate to this conversation.
Interestingly, if you study ancient writings and stories, many of those stories are similar to Bible stories. Almost all ancient societies have a similar creation story for example. Also the story of Moses in the basket is repeated in a few ancient writings. I’m sure there are others. Once you see it, it’s hard to unsee.
Jesus may have never even existed as a historical figure. He may just be a figure of mythology
A regular excuse/explanation given about other earlier or concurrent religions and beliefs that are very similar or virtually the same as what's written in the Bible is 'its the devil's doing'. That is, Satan knew what was going to happen so he took parts of the Bible, parts of the story of god and Jesus and put it into various religions but twisted it. This way it wasn't exactly the Bible story/gospel or about Yahweh/Jesus but close enough. And through that distort the message and ensnare people into false religions and eventually get people to not trust Christianity because people would be confused by all the similar religions having similar beliefs and practices that were concurrent with or predated Christianity or Judaism. A common Christian apologetic deflection response, one I heard many times, and rang so hollow.
Re the going into the mythology in order to immunise yourself from the tendency to prayer.
Just a gentle note of caution here, Tim.
Yes, absolutely, the more we know about the actual truth behind Christianity, the more we will debunk Christian thought patterns. However I’m not so sure that this is even where we get our impulse to pray from. I think that prayer is a kind of meditative thought pattern that can be very helpful for anyone, unbelievers included and even for an atheist. I think, certainly for myself, that it’s become a very healthy way of listening to my inner voice, a way of tuning in, as it were, to the dialogue between myself and some internalised sense of the greater good, to my best instincts for generosity, kindness, grace, love for self and other. It wouldn’t feel authentic to call the object of my prayer Lord, or even to ascribe personhood to it. Maybe it represents no more than my way of relating to and enjoying my sense of belonging within the matrix of meaning I call life.
What I’m saying is that for thousands of years prayer has been an important psychological function, helping us to step back from life reflectively and know ourselves. It may be merely our internal dialogue. But let’s not underestimate this tool that enables us to hear ourselves and find peace within our understanding of life.
In fact I think that to debunk religion and superstition is enabling me to cleans that internal dialogue from unhelpful interference. I would call myself a meditative humanist who derives meaning from his relationships and this includes my relationship with the universe (small ‘u’ as I wouldn’t deify anything now) and with myself within the context of all that’s good and right in life.
I’m very much pro a scientific outlook, but I’m also unsatisfied with the purely rational outlook of many atheists and deconverted evangelicals. When I was a Christian I was always a heretic by being a lot more mystical in my leanings, and as I’m deconverting I’m sensing that prayer is part of being human. It’s just healthy to ask ourselves who we are praying to. For me it’s not praying to someone, but being still and listening. Within the stillness there’s room to know truth about myself and simply to be aware on a deep level to come to terms with pain and the darker side of myself and to hear a dialogue between that and the other voices that speak of hope and peace.
You really didn't think that the preachers were cherry picking the Bible?
This is my favorite
god...here parents just left...???? how must that feel...
Kids book for comparative mythology great idea Tim! 😀
Who in their right minds can follow a religion that says they are nothing. You're helpless, you're nothing but dust. Sounds abusive to me
A beautiful lady who had a heavy time of a psychological damaging upbringing in this world view’s indoctrination.
Can relate! 😢😅
I’m from Northern Ireland (near giant’s causeway) and live in Scotland 🏴 so if you do come visit, reach out so I can meet up and show you some beautiful places.
Thank you for this genuine share.
Love the advice of reading the Bible, that was my main exit after reading it throughout at least twice through in the latter two years of my Christian life.
(🙋♀️believe I have undiagnosed ADHD)
Hi Tim (or anyone else) do you have any interviews with people who are ex-Christians but are either agnostic or believe in some sort or creator/force? I am not an atheist but am no longer Christian and would love to see interviews with non-atheist ex-Christians. I enjoy and respect the atheist perspective but due to personal experiences outside of Christianity as well as readings from people like Eckhart Tolle, I can’t identify with the atheist perspective. I am open to pantheists, Buddhists, or those like me who are not concerned with having a cohesive belief system
Anyway I have ADHD and am from the PNW so I really enjoyed this interview!
1:05 You mean Jesus' analogy Gehenna. Jesus says Hell is a place of torment like that burning trash dump. Sheol means the grave and is referenced in the old testament. So hell is in the Bible. Whether it's real is another story.
It is, but not in the way Christian’s think of it. The Hebrews didn’t believe in an afterlife or a soul, so to them Gehenna was just the place where bodies were dumped when they didn’t get a proper burial.
The first person to postulate a hell was Plato in his ‘republic’ in 400 BCE, from there it made its way into the later books of the Old Testament before being used as a control tool by Christians.
@@curbroadshow I've been a skeptic most of my life and I consider this all just food for thought. Recently I have been attending a church run by two Biblical scholars. In Mat. 28 claims Hell can destroy both body and soul. I know Christianity is extremely hellenized today. I totally agree that it's all a very effective means of controlling sheep.
It's interesting what she says about her mother's Catholicism. In Mexico and South America Catholicism is heavily syncretistic. There's a lot of superstition and pagan beliefs mixed in with the Catholicism. It's like this all over the Hispanic world. Now there is a growth of evangelicalism and Pentecostalism in these countries too. I can see how the same kind of fervor I can see how the same kind of spirituality gets mixed up in that as well.
I thank God we are set free from the belief of God....LOL.
2:00 -- Just show her the cover of Led Zeppelin's Houses Of The Holy LP :)
I too lost my faith because of Trump and how the evangelical church supported him. I couldn't understand and thought his supporters had been brainwashed. This lead me into researching cults which then lead me to podcasts that brought to light problems of the bible.
I left the church seeing how they reacted to Obama and the lies they spread and hate they showed. I left God after seeing the hypoChristians vote for Trump. That was the real revelation for me. Exposed them for who they really are under their “Christian” mask.
@@russe130 I thank my lucky stars for Biden...I like having a president and a democracy rather than an idiot dictator wanna be!
My mother put her Religious state on me as well.I would get in trouble in school and then my mom's would say you got the devil in you..She would go get this oil that has been prayed over by I don't know who and I'd be like the devil? Good thing I didn't really care I just would be like yo mom's bugging.They we're always so extra in church..STAY STRONG..
Christianity deeply impacts your view of the world, others ans yourself and has personally caused me a great deal of trauma... Its literally affected my life in every aspect and has kept me from being a normal person living a life that i enjoy innthe present moment because im afraid of devils and demons and going to hell and all that. When you see the contradictions and vague and abusive nature of it along with the stories that have obvious mythology written all over it, you can confidently write it off as poison... Nothing good can come from a religion that says you need to believe this and do this and love me or im going to burn you for eternity in a place called hell. Thatd not a religion of love, its just the opposite.
I grew up in the same area!
Doctors nowadays in general are very good with visible and measurable diseases. However, whatever concerns the mind you have to be very careful of what diagnosis or doctor to trust. Not that they re not of any help. But the mind-sector is far more sensitive to the personal bias of the doctor or, for that matter, the society and its dominant values that the medical profession is enshrined in. If its a doctor with a broad mind and firm life experience he or she is likely to help you well. But it damn sure is a good idea to put your doctor to the test and ask some sound, well-thought questions before letting him or her `mess` with your mind or describe you pills. Healthy criticism is not a nice extra thing. It might save your live and those you love. No person at the end of his live i think will say, O, i did so well, i did this and this because the other told me so. Because, what a difference would you have made on this planet?
A lot of charismatic churches are getting into grave soaking and trying to raise people from the dead. it's very sad
Maybe if she thinks about it, she'll realize that following Jesus doesn't require any particular theology. He left us only one commandment.
The multiple rededications🙄 this was partly cuz churches like to count their "converts" ... my pastor dad would feel like it was "successful" to have conversions n rededications. Smh
When I was 16, I remembered thinking about god knowing every hair on my head, angels and demons watching me at all times and god knowing my every thought.
Try taking a shower with this god and all his beings watching you. Big brother on steroids.🤢
I don't know why evolution scares people, I think it's beautiful. Knowing that I'm part of Earth's nature is a good feeling, why would anyone want to deny that. When I see my cat or an insect or a tree I see a cousin, not some manufactured object placed there for my benefit. In Christian terms it's like going back to the garden of Eden.
Well said!
Yes! I long ago decided to read the bible, start to finish, with no one to tell me what it REALLY means. It's a horrible collection of myth and cruelty. It's a contradictory, divisive, ridiculous book of gaslighting and outright lies.
Don't forget the snake said so,I've seen a lot of snakes in my 79 yrs and none of them ever spoke,and they tell kids that BS.
Good u werent medicated for adhd. Christa
Hah. My mom STILL listens to AiO
o. no. Girl, you dont have AHD. youre just smart and use your brain. Other people who dont use theur brain are astouned meeting people who do. solution? Calling it AHD. The world isnt perfect, alas. But there definitely isnt anything wrong with you (at least what would require a medical label of this sort)
It’s all BS folks and it’s going away fast!