How many were non-religious, but came to Christ?

[The Good]

How many were non-religious, but came to Christ? There is a thread like this, but the other way around. I know that Zenith Darksea was once agnostic, but he saw the wisdom of Jesus' teachings. I don't remember the names of the others at the moment, but I'm sure there are quite a few of you here.

So if you were non-religious, but became a Christian, please share your testimony here. If you were a believer your whole life, also feel free to post your testimony. I will start off by giving my testimony:

Almost all my life, I've been a true believer. I of course had my moments of doubt. Everyone does, everyone is a "doubting Thomas" at some point. It's difficult for me to explain, but to put it bluntly, after all of these years, I've seen the wisdom in God's word. I've witnessed many miracles, both having to do with my family, and others. One miracle I would like to share right now, has to do with my mother's previous condition. She had Lupus all her childhood, supposedly an incurable disease, permanent, if you will. She even regularly visited doctor's offices (not just the same one either, many others), to see how her condition was. For a long time, it was the same, it never got any better. However, during her late teenage years, she once visited a doctor's office, and she was told she had no trace of ever having Lupus at all. She was healed, it was a miracle of God. I don't think that even modern science can find an explanation for this. Also, my faith grew further after watching a DVD called The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel, formerly an agnostic. That DVD basically explains how Strobel came to his faith. I recommend that for agnostics, atheists, and believers alike. There is a common misconception that once someone becomes a Christian, their life becomes easier. It's quite on the contrary to that. To be a Christian, one must take up their own cross. By this, I mean that someone should be willing and prepared to suffer persecution; insults, torture, and even death. A believer should be willing to die for following Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, the true God. Being a Christian is essentially like a test of loyalty, that does not come without it's blessings though. A Christian should never give up his faith, he or she should never be like Judas, who sold Jesus for earthly money. My advice to any believers right now, is do not give up, do not despair. You are constantly being tested by the Lord, but you will be rewarded in due time.

[Georgy Zhukov]

No offense Lucius, but I dont think your gonna get too many posters . . .

[The Good]

Thank you, I'm aware of that fact, seeing the beliefs of many here. But I figure why not? I know there's bound to be Christians here that went through the agnostic or atheistic stance at some point though. I guess you can say I too was agnostic, but that was before I even knew what such a term meant. At that time, it was more of me questioning the Bible as a whole rather than not believing it. But I managed to stay strong, through the encouragement of my parents and other mentors.

[lord o kelly]

Religious, then atheist then found god.... I guess, so yea

[Dunecat]

Well, not in the same way as you, but yes I always was non-theist ever since I was 7. Of course it was the problem of evil and hell that I couldn't reconcile. I still haven't, and I humbly disagree with the dogma of eschatology in traditional christianity, but besides that (and people's interpretation of the "homosexual" passages), I like most things about the religion, or at least find nothing wrong with them.

So when I finally found a form of christianity that didn't carry along any baggage, I was ecstatic. Now of course I'm not sure, but I humbly try to work things out and find the truth, and reconcile my own beliefs with it.

So do I still have questions that haven't been answered? Yes, but when I came across Orthodox Christianity on the net, I fell in love with it. It was what I always thought Christianity was supposed to be (sans previous grievances).

To quote G.K. Chesterton:

I did try to found a heresy of my own; and when I had put the last touches to it, I discovered that it was orthodoxy.

[Haakon]

Almost all my life, I've been a true believer. I of course had my moments of doubt. Everyone does, everyone is a "doubting Thomas" at some point

You had doubt because your rationality tried to convince you that there is no such thing as a god, magic or invisible friends. However ignorance and not logic prevailed, and you are happy with being deluded.

[Kiljan Arslan]

You had doubt because your rationality tried to convince you that there is no such thing as a god, magic or invisible friends. However ignorance and not logic prevailed, and you are happy with being deluded.

You have doubts that there is a god because your own rationality tries to convince you that the supernatural dose exist and some things can't be explained through materialism. However Ignorance and not logic prevailed and you are happy with being ignoreant.

See two can play at that game.

[Valentin the II]

Stop acting like an abnoxious brat Haakon.
I know you really want to tell everyone how cool and superior you are by being an atheist, but please, spare us the embarasment.
IMO you make atheists/agnostics look bad (so ****ing stop it!).

And no I haven't converted and am not planing to, religion seems like to mutch of a hustle for little to 0 gain.

[Kiljan Arslan]

Stop acting like an abnoxious brat Haakon.
I know you really want to tell everyone how cool and superior you are by being an atheist, but please, spare us the embarasment.
IMO you make atheists/agnostics look bad (so ****ing stop it!).

And no I haven't converted and am not planing to, religion seems like to mutch of a hustle for little to 0 gain.

Thankyou Valetin remind me to rep you in April when I can give rep again!

[Haakon]

Hay guyz look at me, I'm anrgy at the internet poster and because of my own short comings I'm unable to present a logical argument so I post a pointless picture instead lolz

[Garbarsardar]

You had doubt because your rationality tried to convince you that there is no such thing as a god, magic or invisible friends. However ignorance and not logic prevailed, and you are happy with being deluded.

I bet this argument completely won over the OP.

I wouldn't say ignorance, I'd say cognitive dissonance.

A Festinger fanboy? Who would have thought of it? Actually you are right and that is why Haakon's argument above is pointless.

[Haakon]

I bet this argument completely won over the OP.

Are you under the assumption I care?
Care to point out anything thats wrong with my argument? It's simply a static observation.

[Garbarsardar]

Are you under the assumption I care?
Care to point out anything thats wrong with my argument? It's simply a static observation.

No, I just thought it was unnecessarily "heated". Maybe I am overreacting. Never mind...

[Dayman]

A Festinger fanboy? Who would have thought of it? Actually you are right and that is why Haakon's argument above is pointless.

My best friend is a psych/philosophy major and told me a bit about it.

[ombudsman]

Originally Posted by a angry Haakon insulting Orange Soda, in quite a silly way

Hay guyz look at me, I'm anrgy at the internet poster and because of my own short comings I'm unable to present a logical argument so I post a pointless picture instead lolz

there, just wanted to straight that out.

[Dayman]

The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel, formerly an agnostic.

I've read that book. His logic is laughable at best. (It may have been the Case for faith, but it was the same author)

I recall the chapter "Proof of the Resurrection". His proof was that it was written in the Bible. He also claimed that "It was well documented in the Bible, many people read the Bible."

Oh, and I read it while I was a Christian and I could see the poverty of his argument.

It's quite on the contrary to that.

Actually, it's a lot easier to be religious. Ignorance is bliss.

It took me 5 years to shrug off my indoctrination, that's a lot harder (mentally) than anything you've done, LJ.

I mean that someone should be willing and prepared to suffer persecution; insults, torture, and even death.

You live in the US, do you not?

If anyone is doing the persecuting, it's the fundamentalist crusade against gay rights.

You had doubt because your rationality tried to convince you that there is no such thing as a god, magic or invisible friends. However ignorance and not logic prevailed, and you are happy with being deluded.

I wouldn't say ignorance, I'd say cognitive dissonance.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

I've read that book. His logic is laughable at best. (It may have been the Case for faith, but it was the same author)

Either way, Strobel's stuff is terrible. He pretends he's some kind of objective sceptic, but he only "interviews" the most conservative of fundies and he gives them a free pass on stuff that any real sceptic would slam them on. Garbage apologetics like Strobel's dumb posturing only convinces the ignorant and reassures those who long since switched off their brains. He's an idiot preaching to a choir of idiots.

[King of Kings]

I was a strong atheist once, but eventually I came over the other side and became a Catholic. It didnt happen straight away it was just bits at a time I begain to believe more and more.

I respect people and there views probaly like most people here, but I will argue if other people dont respect mind or other peoples of my faiths religion.

[Zenith Darksea]

Ah yes, the good old "religious people are stupid" argument. How many times have I heard it, I wonder? Not only does it not win people over, it's not even true. Believe it or not, some religious people do have half a brain.

[Haakon]

*Gah dp*