I never conned anybody.
When I was seven years old I got saved in my parents’ house because they were Christians and wanted me to be one. I attended Bostonia Christian Elementary School for grades 1-6, then Christian Junior High School for grades 7-8 and Christian High School. All this to say I was indoctrinated and Christianity was the only truth and the only option. It was the litmus test that I was taught to use against everything else I’d encounter in life.
In college I started a Christian ministry not under a church or denomination, but just to minister to people in AOL chat rooms that needed prayer and counseling. I liked encouraging them, so I started a website and posted scriptures and devotions. Eventually I incorporated it as a 501(c)3, religious, non-profit corporation and sent weekly devotional messages to thousands of people around the world. I also developed a large website full of resources and Bible-based information and cleaned the beach.
It wasn’t until after my marriage that I stopped believing and identifying as a Christian. I understood that closely following biblical principles doesn’t work and opens one up to be manipulated. Actually following the Bible left me vulnerable to Christians that weren’t actually following the Bible.
I used to say the provable claims in the Bible authenticate the unprovable claims, but I don’t believe that anymore because it’s foolish and runs counter to what we see and know. In fact, nobody should ask anybody to believe anything.
I simply don’t think Jesus is god. Jesus never said he was god. The Jews that were looking for a Messiah and knew the Old Testament scriptures better than anybody else said Jesus is not god or Christ. I don’t believe in Jesus’ resurrection and most of the Bible too.
The gospels are written like a college freshman’s persuasive speech. If you put the four gospels together they are the size of a novella not even a novel. Not to mention the Bible chronicles and excuses genocide which is sickening.
The Bible is a terrible book. People should stop reading the Bible. We should destroy as many Bibles as we can too.
When my mom died in 2017 she was obese and a firm believer in Jesus Christ. She’d say she’s getting a new body in heaven too. This is one way the Bible lets people down in this life.
When people think they’re being accountable to god they don’t worry about being accountable to humans. However, people should be more concerned with the people they can see instead of beings they can’t see. Religion messes up a lot of people, but people don’t always realize it or expose it. In fact, religious people hide deconversions and spend money to convert people.
I don’t know who was lying in church, but I wasn’t. I haven’t been to church since 2011 too. I used to say the only reason I’d go to church again would be to preach on the pastor’s sins.
I identified as a Christian from age 7-37, so the last decade I’ve identified as a general theist, deist or agnostic. I don’t make any positive claims about any gods now. I don’t have any religious beliefs. When it comes to god and creation I believe in the god of the gaps so to speak. I don’t know if there’s a god or gods, but if they exist I don’t think they’re interested in a personal relationship and that’s ok with me. Perhaps they have other expectations or don’t exist. One thing is certain. God doesn’t have any pronouns if god exists.
Good luck.