www.nairaland.com/attachments/4406967_roryfenton11_jpeg5e7fb6c80995cfedca89f40d4dfdc7b4

There is nothing more liberating than simply being yourself. There is probably also nothing harder. For many across the UK struggling to leave their family's religion, this is exactly the challenge they face everyday. I know – I was one of them.

Raised Catholic in Northern Ireland, religion was never sold to me as a matter of conscience, it was a matter of identity. To lose my faith would be to lose a part of myself. So when I started to doubt my faith as a teenager and later again as a student, I tried to sweep my doubts under the carpet, embarrassed that someone might see what seemed to me a failure to believe. All I had ever known was Catholicism and I had learnt to view atheism through Catholic eyes. To be atheist, I believed, was to lose hope, to lose morality and to lose purpose. At first the realisation that I did not believe the religion of my parents was far from liberating, it felt like an illness.

So I sought a cure for my atheism. I became heavily involved in Catholic groups, attending mass twice a week and going abroad on pilgrimage. I focussed on the parts of my religion I did believe in, such as charity, and told myself that belief in the rest would surely come. I remember being on retreat, aged 19, with the intention of finally deciding that I believed in God. Looking back, it does seem incredible that I would head to the countryside with a religious group with the intention of believing in a God I wasn't sure existed. I spent the weekend reading non-stop through Catholic apologetics but yet again I could only agree with the call to be a moral person and even then felt things weren't as black and white as they were presented to me. Eventually I realised that to believe would require not a book but a leap of faith. To simply, blindly, accept what the Church said to be true. I had to believe.

But I couldn't. I couldn't because I didn't. Catholicism went against my beliefs, it went against who I was and in truth I wasn't a Catholic. This realisation was not the liberation it is for some, it was a grim acceptance. But through chance, I heard of humanism. Actually, I heard about it through a priest who was criticising it. "They arrogantly wish to live good lives without God". That sounded perfect.

It has taken three years from then to get to the stage now where I feel truly comfortable and free in not just my atheism but more importantly in my humanism, my belief in good without God. This is why I am so excited to share this. I know how difficult it can be to accept a loss of faith but I also know what it's like on the other side, to be "out" and fully yourself. I wish I could have had access to something like this as a teenager and my hope for readers is that they might be spared some of the struggle I went through.

source

CC RaphieMontella , Weah96 , SirWere , sonofluc1fer , Stephendamsoho , EyeHateGod , FearGodAndLive , LennyCool, Kevoh , Johnnydon22 , Akintom , Hardmirror , GRIMMJOE , CoolUsername , 1990news , JSoE , Etesam , Audray , Edenoscar , DeSepiero , charix , GoodMuyis , jonbellion , menxer ,

Seun , Plaetton , ilovetheline, JackBizzle, Kay17, AgentOfAllah, Ayomikun37 , hahn , sonOfLucifer , frank317 muskeeto , Decker , PastorAIO , ValentineMary , Pyrrho , braithwaite , dragonEmperor , theoneJabulani , lepasharon , cloudgoddess , ifenes , Hopefullandlord , brigance , stephenmorris , thehomer , dalaman , Ranchhoddas , CAPSLOCKED , lilbrown007 , Elohim1, Pastafarian

So when I started to doubt my faith as a teenager and later again as a student, I tried to sweep my doubts under the carpet, embarrassed that someone might see what seemed to me a failure to believe. All I had ever known was Catholicism and I had learnt to view atheism through Catholic eyes. To be atheist, I believed, was to lose hope, to lose morality and to lose purpose. At first the realisation that I did not believe the religion of my parents was far from liberating, it felt like an illness.

This captures what almost every atheist had to go through before leaving religion

On www.exchristian.net stories/deconverts like this show like every week..

winner01 after reading the thread or i guess he wouldn't

EyeHateGod:
winner01 after reading the thread or i guess he wouldn't

Who knows, winner01 might just be white

EyeHateGod:
winner01 after reading the thread or i guess he wouldn't

Ehyaa im really crying because atheism has been growing since the 15th century and still less than 10% of the worlds population today.

Catholic turned atheist
What can we do than to pray for them.

winner01:
Ehyaa im really crying because atheism has been growing since the 15th century and still less than 10% of the worlds population today.

Of course you are

Lol We didn't go around enslaving people to convert them na like Christians did abi did we? Change takes time all though the way m seeing it now it seams Atheism is spreading like wildfire right now

Catholic turned atheist
What can we do than to pray for them.

Did u just say prayer? instead of praying for him why don't you do something at least with your hands? Like maybe go to orphanage and provide them with food?

We all know prayer is Waste it can't fly Planes

winner01:
Ehyaa im really crying because atheism has been growing since the 15th century and still less than 10% of the worlds population today.

Catholic turned atheist
What can we do than to pray for them.

Why so generous today? It's no longer 2%?

BodyKiss:


Why so generous today? It's no longer 2%?

So you dont know that 2% is less than 10%

I just helped you include deists, agnostics etc na

All these conversion stories have elements of humanism in them. It was beautifully expressed by Akdegreat in his wonderful story. I wish there were more humanists.

winner01:
So you dont know that 2% is less than 10%

I just helped you include deists, agnostics etc na

Of course, he doesn't know.

DeSepiero:
All these conversion stories have elements of humanism in them. It was beautifully expressed by Akdegreat in his wonderful story. I wish there were more humanists.

secular humanism.

winner01:
So you dont know that 2% is less than 10%

I just helped you include deists, agnostics etc na

no worry nah una plenty pass
If you dont belong to any of this you're also part of the 2%
Catholic Church- 1,166 million
*. Latin Church- 1,149 million
*. Catholic Charismatic Renewal- 160 million
*. Personal Ordinariate for former Anglicans- 0.005 million
*. Eastern Catholic Churches- 17 million
*. Alexandrian Rite
*. Ethiopian Catholic Church- 0.2 million
*. Coptic Catholic Church- 0.2 million
*. Antiochene Rite
*. Maronite Catholic Church- 3.1 million
*. Syro-Malankara Catholic Church- 0.4 million
*. Syriac Catholic Church- 0.1 million
*. Armenian Rite
*. Armenian Catholic Church- 0.4 million

Breakaway Catholic Churches- 28 million
*. Philippine Independent Church- 6 million
*. Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association- 5 million
*. Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church- 5 million
*. Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church- 2 million
*. Old Catholic Church- 0.1 million
*. Polish National Catholic Church- 0.025 million
*. Apostolic Catholic Church- 0.005 million

Baptist churches- 75-105 million
*. Southern Baptist Convention- 15.7 million
*. National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.- 8.5 million
*. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.- 3.1 million
*. Nigerian Baptist Convention- 2.5 million
*. Progressive National Baptist Convention- 2.5 million
*. Baptist General Convention of Texas- 2.3 million
*. Baptist Union of Uganda- 1.5 million
*. American Baptist Churches USA- 1.4 million
*. Brazilian Baptist Convention- 1.3 million
*. Baptist Bible Fellowship International- 1.2 million
*. Baptist Community of the Congo River- 1 million
*. National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A.- 1 million

Lutheranism- 70-90 million
*. Evangelical Church in Germany- 24.5 million
*. Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus- 7.9 million
*. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania- 6.5 million
*. Church of Sweden- 6.3 million
*. United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India- 4.5 million
*. Batak Christian Protestant Church- 4.5 million
Nondenominational evangelicalism- 80 million
*. Calvary Chapel- 25 million
*. Born Again Movement- 3 million
*. Association of Vineyard Churches- 15 million
*. Christian and Missionary Alliance- 4 million
*. Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)- 1.2 million
*. African initiatedProtestant churches - 60 million
*. Zion Christian Church- 15 million
*. Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim- 10 million
*. Kimbanguist Church- 5.5 million
*. Church of the Lord (Aladura)- 3.6 million
*. Council of African Instituted Churches- 3 million
*. Church of Christ Light of the Holy Spirit- 1.4 million
*. African Church of the Holy Spirit- 0.7 million
*. African Israel Church Nineveh- 0.5 million
*. Seventh-day Adventist Church- 18.1 million
*. New Apostolic Church- 10 million

i didnt even include mountain of fire an co

DeSepiero:
All these conversion stories have elements of humanism in them. It was beautifully expressed by Akdegreat in his wonderful story. I wish there were more humanists.

Akdegreat did not claim to be an atheist.

Edenoscar:


no worry nah una plenty pass
If you dont belong to any of this you're also part of the 2%
Catholic Church- 1,166 million
*. Latin Church- 1,149 million
*. Catholic Charismatic Renewal- 160 million
*. Personal Ordinariate for former Anglicans- 0.005 million
*. Eastern Catholic Churches- 17 million
*. Alexandrian Rite
*. Ethiopian Catholic Church- 0.2 million
*. Coptic Catholic Church- 0.2 million
*. Antiochene Rite
*. Maronite Catholic Church- 3.1 million
*. Syro-Malankara Catholic Church- 0.4 million
*. Syriac Catholic Church- 0.1 million
*. Armenian Rite
*. Armenian Catholic Church- 0.4 million

Breakaway Catholic Churches- 28 million
*. Philippine Independent Church- 6 million
*. Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association- 5 million
*. Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church- 5 million
*. Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church- 2 million
*. Old Catholic Church- 0.1 million
*. Polish National Catholic Church- 0.025 million
*. Apostolic Catholic Church- 0.005 million

Baptist churches- 75-105 million
*. Southern Baptist Convention- 15.7 million
*. National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.- 8.5 million
*. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.- 3.1 million
*. Nigerian Baptist Convention- 2.5 million
*. Progressive National Baptist Convention- 2.5 million
*. Baptist General Convention of Texas- 2.3 million
*. Baptist Union of Uganda- 1.5 million
*. American Baptist Churches USA- 1.4 million
*. Brazilian Baptist Convention- 1.3 million
*. Baptist Bible Fellowship International- 1.2 million
*. Baptist Community of the Congo River- 1 million
*. National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A.- 1 million

Lutheranism- 70-90 million
*. Evangelical Church in Germany- 24.5 million
*. Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus- 7.9 million
*. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania- 6.5 million
*. Church of Sweden- 6.3 million
*. United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India- 4.5 million
*. Batak Christian Protestant Church- 4.5 million
Nondenominational evangelicalism- 80 million
*. Calvary Chapel- 25 million
*. Born Again Movement- 3 million
*. Association of Vineyard Churches- 15 million
*. Christian and Missionary Alliance- 4 million
*. Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)- 1.2 million
*. African initiatedProtestant churches - 60 million
*. Zion Christian Church- 15 million
*. Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim- 10 million
*. Kimbanguist Church- 5.5 million
*. Church of the Lord (Aladura)- 3.6 million
*. Council of African Instituted Churches- 3 million
*. Church of Christ Light of the Holy Spirit- 1.4 million
*. African Church of the Holy Spirit- 0.7 million
*. African Israel Church Nineveh- 0.5 million
*. Seventh-day Adventist Church- 18.1 million
*. New Apostolic Church- 10 million

i didnt even include mountain of fire an co

I really don't get the point

Edenoscar:


no worry nah una plenty pass
If you dont belong to any of this you're also part of the 2%
Catholic Church- 1,166 million
*. Latin Church- 1,149 million
*. Catholic Charismatic Renewal- 160 million
*. Personal Ordinariate for former Anglicans- 0.005 million
*. Eastern Catholic Churches- 17 million
*. Alexandrian Rite
*. Ethiopian Catholic Church- 0.2 million
*. Coptic Catholic Church- 0.2 million
*. Antiochene Rite
*. Maronite Catholic Church- 3.1 million
*. Syro-Malankara Catholic Church- 0.4 million
*. Syriac Catholic Church- 0.1 million
*. Armenian Rite
*. Armenian Catholic Church- 0.4 million

Breakaway Catholic Churches- 28 million
*. Philippine Independent Church- 6 million
*. Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association- 5 million
*. Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church- 5 million
*. Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church- 2 million
*. Old Catholic Church- 0.1 million
*. Polish National Catholic Church- 0.025 million
*. Apostolic Catholic Church- 0.005 million

Baptist churches- 75-105 million
*. Southern Baptist Convention- 15.7 million
*. National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.- 8.5 million
*. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.- 3.1 million
*. Nigerian Baptist Convention- 2.5 million
*. Progressive National Baptist Convention- 2.5 million
*. Baptist General Convention of Texas- 2.3 million
*. Baptist Union of Uganda- 1.5 million
*. American Baptist Churches USA- 1.4 million
*. Brazilian Baptist Convention- 1.3 million
*. Baptist Bible Fellowship International- 1.2 million
*. Baptist Community of the Congo River- 1 million
*. National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A.- 1 million

Lutheranism- 70-90 million
*. Evangelical Church in Germany- 24.5 million
*. Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus- 7.9 million
*. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania- 6.5 million
*. Church of Sweden- 6.3 million
*. United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India- 4.5 million
*. Batak Christian Protestant Church- 4.5 million
Nondenominational evangelicalism- 80 million
*. Calvary Chapel- 25 million
*. Born Again Movement- 3 million
*. Association of Vineyard Churches- 15 million
*. Christian and Missionary Alliance- 4 million
*. Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)- 1.2 million
*. African initiatedProtestant churches - 60 million
*. Zion Christian Church- 15 million
*. Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim- 10 million
*. Kimbanguist Church- 5.5 million
*. Church of the Lord (Aladura)- 3.6 million
*. Council of African Instituted Churches- 3 million
*. Church of Christ Light of the Holy Spirit- 1.4 million
*. African Church of the Holy Spirit- 0.7 million
*. African Israel Church Nineveh- 0.5 million
*. Seventh-day Adventist Church- 18.1 million
*. New Apostolic Church- 10 million

i didnt even include mountain of fire an co

lol and they aaaaaaall broke out from the catholic church. It's only rational for Catholics to think that they are all preaching heresy. But wait oo if God is speaking to all his people why would he divide them like this na Someone commented the other time that christians should change their church to deeper life. I've seen one christian tell his fellow christian that he'll go to hell cuz he was in a different denomination. Nawa sha. Nawa

KingEbukaNaija:


I really don't get the point

does he belong to any of the numerous denominations listed if not then he's also part of the 2% minority

jonbellion:
lol and they aaaaaaall broke out from the catholic church. It's only rational for Catholics to think that they are all preaching heresy. But wait oo if God is speaking to all his people why would he divide them like this na Someone commented the other time that christians should change their church to deeper life. I've seen one christian tell his fellow christian that he'll go to hell cuz he was in a different denomination. Nawa sha. Nawa

they claim you have nothing to lose when you worship God,lets even agree chriatianity is the right religion which of the numerous denomination is the right one since they all have different beliefs and doctrines,and they all claim that God speaks to them and only them

Edenoscar:

does he belong to any of the numerous denominations listed if not then he's also part of the 2% minority

You really don't have a point . They are all Christians , constituting 32 percent of the world's population , while the remaining > 48 percent belong to other religions . Atheists and their ilks (agnostics et al ) are just close to 15-18 percent or even way much lower like winner said . And those who say there is no God with certitude are an infinitesimal percent of the world's population .

Let's take a quick test , on the scale of 1-10 how certain are you there is no God ?

KingEbukaNaija:


You really don't have a point . They are all Christians , constituting 32 percent of the world's population , while the remaining > 48 percent belong to other religions . Atheists and their ilks (agnostics et al ) are just close to 15-18 percent or even way much lower like winner said . And those who say there is no God with certitude are an infinitesimal percent of the world's population .

Let's take a quick test , on the scale of 1-10 how certain are you there is no God ?

They are all Christians but Christians follow Christ in over 33,000 different ways and can't agree on most teachings in the bible? Talk about confusion

hahn:


They are all Christians but Christians follow Christ in over 33,000 different ways and can't agree on most teachings in the bible? Talk about confusion

brother....you havent seen confusion in christianity yet..
They are like 5 & 6

winner01:
So you dont know that 2% is less than 10%

I just helped you include deists, agnostics etc na

Lying has become second nature to you. Here is what you posted.

Ehyaa im really crying because atheism has been growing since the 15th century and still less than 10% of the worlds population today.

2% is less than 10%, so is 9.99%. You can deceive yourself and hide behind logical fallacy all you want, it won't stop the reality that atheism is spreading.

Anyone who can read between the lines will see that reality is creeping into your head. You no longer stand by your 2%. That's a good start.

hahn:


They are all Christians but Christians follow Christ in over 33,000 different ways and can't agree on most teachings in the bible? Talk about confusion

Confusion ? Do you think their differing views about Christ will preclude them from going to heaven ? God wants you to worship Him in truth and in spirit and he assents to true religion which is helping the poor and doing good to people .

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

And of course

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The bible exhorts us to avoid schisms and have a consensus on exegesis on all biblical texts .

1 Corinthians 1:10
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

KingEbukaNaija:


You really don't have a point . They are all Christians , constituting 32 percent of the world's population , while the remaining > 48 percent belong to other religions . Atheists and their ilks (agnostics et al ) are just close to 15-18 percent or even way much lower like winner said . And those who say there is no God with certitude are an infinitesimal percent of the world's population .

Let's take a quick test , on the scale of 1-10 how certain are you there is no God ?

you really dont understand my point do you?

Edenoscar:

you really dont understand my point do you?

You really don't have a point .

So answer my question , on the scale of 1-10 how certain are you God does not exist .

ColdHardTruth is winner01's epigone - fact .

Op your going to burn in hell and God is going to enjoy the smell of you being barbecued.
While i will be in heaven literally doing nothing,and sing Parises to God,even do human created ability to sing

KingEbukaNaija:


You really don't have a point .

So answer my question , on the scale of 1-10 how certain are you God does not exist .

some one is reconsidering .

GRIMMJOE:
some one is reconsidering .

Reconsidering what ? How

KingEbukaNaija:


Reconsidering what ? How

You see people like winner may have discovered the truth,buth won't come clean because of established pride.

#Just saying though

KingEbukaNaija:


Confusion ? Do you think their differing views about Christ will preclude them from going to heaven ? God wants you to worship Him in truth and in spirit and he assents to true religion which is helping the poor and doing good to people .

Same with Allah and Vishnu. Well, following Christ is not the only criteria for entering heaven. Some Christians even believe that weavons reduce your chances. So, you might believe in Jesus but still end up in hell for fixing brazilian hair.

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

By unspotted, what does it mean?

And of course

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Is killing in the name of Jesus also allowed? Like the crusades, spanish inquisition and also killing of witches and wizards in the name of Christ

The bible exhorts us to avoid schisms and have a consensus on exegesis on all biblical texts .

1 Corinthians 1:10
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Did this command come before or after the 33,000 denominations were formed?