Brandon, you are a modern incarnation of Diogenes with his lantern. You search through the darkness to shine the light on truth and become a beacon for those still wandering through it. Good work, my friend.
Have you read the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz? That was a great in between book for me. It was sort of my temporary Bible replacement. I also took to the principles of Buddhism quite a bit during that time.
My question is, has Brandon ever told a lie? I will presume that he has. My next question is, will you trust your eternity to a liar? Instead, remember that Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive." I met Christ at the age of 17 and I have what is called 'absolute assurance.' Every promise in the Bible is true, as I am 'seated in the heavenlies with Christ.' I know Him. God created you for friendship with Him. However, some people, such as Brandon, have 'prayed and prayed' to know God, but to no avail. Why is that? One thing I do know: I know that the problem is with Brandon's heart, not with Christ! Again, it is your call whether to trust a liar or to trust Christ! But do not take my word for it as I, too, have been full of lies and deceit. It is the human condition to be a proud liar. Yet, you can ask to know Christ or, if you are like Brandon, you can ask for the desire to know Him. He thinks he wanted to know Christ, but obviously did not! Jesus died on a Cross so that we may know Him. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
A major point you brought up was community and support. Like you everyone around me are believers. Being told that I am wrong about so many things and being referred to as a future prodigal son that will eventually come crawling back for forgiveness. Being told with a wide grin how I will find out how wrong I am someday and when bringing up troublesome verses I get told, “Stop saying lies from Satan!” I wonder all the time why I seem to live in Wackoville. Right is considered wrong and wrong is right. Science is demonized but talking snakes and 600 year old men building boats is just obviously right. I can’t tell family cool scientific facts without them saying, “Fingerprint of god. Such obvious design. How did it end up that way? An explosion couldn’t do that.” I hate it.
Finding community is a big one for me. Deconverting in my 70s and living in an ultra conservative town on the Canadian prairies, there is just no one here to talk to about any of my new thoughts and beliefs. The internet is my lifeline! Mindshift, The Thinking Atheist, and other sites like this keep me informed and going in the right direction. I'm so grateful for this kind of community. It seems unlikely that my situation here will ever change and if that is the case I have you guys and gals to bounce ideas off of!
For some people, the process is like flipping a switch. For others, like myself, it took years. There is no one speed or way. Mourning is a very normal thing, although saying that doesn’t make it feel better. I hope you are able to find a sense of peace in the midst of your grief.
@@CharlesPayetyeah, me as an ex-muslim immediately flipped the switch once I heard convincing arguments that the abrahamic god is not real. but that's just because I have naturally an algorithmic unemotional way of thinking, I wasn't really attached to the religion either because everyone I knew in my life who believed in it was either somewhat immoral or as young as I was. it baffled me hearing about how people thought that giving new arguments without countering my very damning to their religion arguments was actually a thing they thought works, until I discovered how attached to the religion everyone else was. however my deconstruction journey took long too, because a looooot of my values, ideals, morals, and my political alignment, all had to face the cognitive dissonance of knowing islam is not true, and had to be reevaluated along the way to relief that cognitive dissonance. also it took a long time to get rid of ritualistic habits, and internalized hate towards a lot if groups of people. deconverting is not just about being convinced god is not real, it's also about the journey to adopt a totally new world view that doesn't depend on the truth of the religion, and for ex-religious people who were raised to never have a choice about most of their world view, it is hard to learn how to become philosophically and politically and morally independant.
It's ironic that Christians claim Jesus is Lord and Savior, but he's the one who created the scenario where we're bound to follow him. He 'saves' us from sin by sacrificing himself, yet he set up the whole situation. He created the villain, and then made himself the hero of his own story.
The trinity watched Cain killing Abel. The trinity drowned most of the world so a drunk and his family could repopulate the world...instead of sacrificing "the son" at that time. If the bible was a movie, it would get 100 rotten tomatoes.
The hardest reality for me is that moment you realize you will never see the loved ones you have lost. Ones who passed are just non existent anymore. That reality is extremely hard for me.
The REALITY is Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists who are unitedly mocking, insulting, and degrading - 1. the Creator as worthless, useless, and undeserving to be honored and respected as the True and Sovereign GOD and 2. Jesus Christ too as worthless, useless, and undeserving to be honored and respected as the One given by the Creator all authority in heaven and on earth are clearly the arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth who are obviously bringing themselves nothing but their own dishonor, disgrace, shame, downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS. The TRUTH is loving, kind, respectful, and submissive persons on earth who honor and obey Jesus Christ as their loving, kind, and merciful Master and Heavenly King will definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4 but will also be hated, insulted, mocked, dishonored, and slandered by arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists. The TRUTH is the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26 are obviously NOT for arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists but ONLY for all the loving, kind, respectful, and submissive Worshippers of the Creator who died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others who are all worthy and deserving of being RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can happily and peacefully live and exist on earth forever as submissive and obedient subjects and citizens of the "KINGDOM of GOD" and fully enjoy the eternal love, kindness, goodness, compassions, generosities, favors, and blessings of the Creator and his Christ for eternity under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as the Creator's Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
I just lost my beloved brother and hearing so many people state 100% that we'll see him again, that he's in heaven, etc absolutely infuriated me. My brother is gone. It's painful and horrid, but I would rather face reality than tell myself lies based on no evidence.
I tell myself, bc matter cannot be destroyed, perhaps my mom and sister and I will be fortunate enough to share the same star or tree or wave one day. ❤
@@sillymamacita3854The claim of Atheists that the Bible is just a worthless book of lies, myths, fictions, fantasies, and fairy tales and the Unbiblical teachings and doctrines of the Pastors and Leaders of Religions about "Hellfire", "immortality of the souls", "afterlife", "Armageddon", "Trinity", "rapture", and "reincarnation" are all false, all LIES, TRICKS, and DECEPTIONS that bring nothing but dishonor, disgrace, shame, and will definitely cause the downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS of Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists. The TRUTH is loving, kind, respectful, and submissive persons on earth who honor and obey Jesus Christ as their loving, kind, and merciful Master and Heavenly King will definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4 but will also be hated, insulted, mocked, dishonored, and slandered by arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists who are unitedly mocking, insulting, slandering, and degrading - 1. the Creator as worthless, useless, and undeserving to be honored and respected as the True and Sovereign GOD and 2. Jesus Christ as worthless and useless too, and undeserving to be honored and respected as the One given by the Creator all authority in heaven and on earth The TRUTH is the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26 are obviously NOT for arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists too but ONLY for all the loving, kind, respectful, and submissive Worshippers of the Creator who died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others who are all worthy and deserving of being RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can happily and peacefully live and exist on earth forever as submissive and obedient subjects and citizens of the "KINGDOM of GOD" and fully enjoy the eternal love, kindness, goodness, compassions, generosities, favors, and blessings of the Creator and his Christ for eternity under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as the Creator's Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
It also inspires me to keep my sister and mom alive in memory while I'm still here. There's a (Jewish? Scandinavian? Polish?) proverb that says we all die twice- once when our body is done, and the second is the last time our name is spoken. This is a part of why so many people believe in passing down elder's names in their families. I think that's quite beautiful. ❤
That’s so true, especially when one’s entire identity is faith based. But the doubting of your faith, is not God testing you. It is truth trying to emerge and free you.
I disagree, it doesn't feel like one, it is one. The biggest thing that sticks out in my memory from that time is, "who even am I now?" Took years of work to get an answer that satisfied me.
@@EarnestApostate Absolutely I totally agree I went through the same thing. I wish there were more mental health resources for deconstructing people....
As an ex-Christian of 3 years and an atheist of 2, there is nothing more empowering than realizing that I am not required to have the answers. "i don't know" is my favorite response to a Christian trying to ask me a gotcha question. It shuts them down immediately, almost as if they realize the vast amount of things that they lack answers for as well. In reality, true knowledge is the collection of all human understanding and research, a database that grows at a very slow rate. There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying, "This is beyond me and so I can't answer." Those who fail to do so are called apologists.
@@areuaware6842 I agree. Many gotcha questions, especially those targeted towards science and secularism, tend to actually be uninformed and ignorant questions which will not aid in further learning. That's why "I don't know" is the best response. It's honest and it politely shuts down the malicious line of "inquiry."
For me it was an all or nothing thing. I was taught that the Bible is inerrant. When I got smart enough to realize that Adam and Eve couldn’t be true or Noah’s arc, the rest fell away very quickly. That happened when I was in college. I am now 43 and never really told my family of my unbelief. I just go along to get along.
Same here. I live in the American south and being an out and proud atheist causes more problems than it solves. I just live my life and nod along when people go off talking about their particular flavor of belief
@@KJ-qc8kq I couldn’t have said it better. I’m from the same area. Yes it can impact your life negatively to ruffle those feathers around here. You’ll be an instant pariah.
@@tandrew651 well F scripture and it’s consequences. If that’s even what you typed, I’m an engineer, not a Latin expert. Once the fear goes away, no tactic can sway you. It’s like trying to rebelieve in Santa Claus. You know better.
I was never much of a believer, so my deconversion process was not traumatic. But as someone who is part of a group that gets persecuted by religion, can I just say THANK YOU. I watch your content because I want to reduce religious harm, and I believe you are doing that.
Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus who are raising, glorifying, and exalting themselves as greater, powerful, glorious, higher, and superior than Atheists are clearly the arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth who are obviously bringing themselves nothing but their own dishonor, disgrace, shame, downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS. The BIBLE is not a worthless book of lies, myths, fictions, fantasies, and fairy tales but the "WORD of GOD" and source of the TRUTHS that - 1. Loving, kind, respectful, and submissive persons on earth who honor and obey Jesus Christ as their loving, kind, and merciful Master and Heavenly King will definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4 but will also be hated, insulted, mocked, dishonored, and slandered by arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists. 2. the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26 are obviously NOT for arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth but ONLY for all the loving, kind, respectful, and submissive Worshippers of the Creator who died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others who are all worthy and deserving of being RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can happily and peacefully live and exist on earth forever as submissive and obedient subjects and citizens of the "KINGDOM of GOD" and fully enjoy the eternal love, kindness, goodness, compassions, generosities, favors, and blessings of the Creator and his Christ for eternity under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as the Creator's Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
I struggled with doubts my entire life as a Christian. Forty odd years as a professing Christian. It just got to the point where I couldn't keep pushing the doubts away, couldn't ignore the cognitive dissonance anymore. I started to think critically, analytically, and to actually be honest with myself. And to ask whether I could be wrong, and whether what I believed was wrong. Deconversion was a long process, but the final step happened very quickly.
Thank you sir for my freedom from this abusive belief system. I'm watching your channel since november last year and people like you, Kristi Burke, Alex O Connor, Dan Barker, Hitchens, Sam Harris, Holy Koolade helped me a lot. Greathings from Bosnia.😊
I just came to that realization that I can think thoughts and not feel guilty. I don't HAVE to forgive. And I don't HAVE to ask for forgiveness. I come to my own conclusions based on what I know. I'm free to move the way that is best for me.
Hey Brandon, I almost never comment on TH-cam videos ever, but this one really hit hard for me. I grew up Baptist Christian for my entire life. I went to the same church for my childhood into young adulthood. Almost all of my friends and family are Christian. I have been doubting my faith for the past 2 years, and it HURTS! It's an isolating feeling knowing you're one of the only people you grew up with who is experiencing deconstruction. What probably hurts the most, but also for me shows that I have valid intentions, is that my girlfriend who I love greatly and who loves me greatly cannot get married because of her conviction to being "equally yolked." I sometimes wish so much that I could go back to the faith, but in the pursuit of being honest to myself, I can't.
A timely video❤. After confessing to my wife and kids that I no longer identify myself as a Catholic, maintaining the familiar rituals and relationships have been my struggle. I still attend Mass with them once every 3 weeks, and have shared my deconversion with my best friend last nite. After Mass today, the members curiously inquired of my consistent absence with the usual background whispers. Been tough because a lot of my perceived virtues have been attributed to my mum raising me right in the eyes of my community. Another point I resonate with is I do value truth above all else, and made a pledge to follow it wherever it leads me.
oh man, you are right in the thick of it! stay strong. what better example could you be for your kids than honest! Hold on to that, be open, and keep learning and showing them your vulnerability. Proud of you!
I just attended Mass today. It felt like a sledgehammer how I could not believe in anything that was presented. My heart goes out to you. Being a former Catholic and leaving that behind is like becoming an ex-pat. It's not just leaving a religion; it's leaving a culture. I told my family that I cannot even consider myself to be a cultural Catholic after 2 decades of being a functional atheist. It's painful, but it's better to embrace who you really are than to live a lie.
What a wonderful message, Brandon. I was sorry to hear what you said near the end of your video that your decisions still affect you in a negative way. I hope you know that you are doing a great service for the global community and I hope that makes it worthwhile.
Matthew 12:36-37,John 5:28-29,1Corinthians 6:1-8.100 billion people are raised,give an account ,and then live for infinite time you may not like.There is no good explanation of this
Again. I find myself in awe of the strength that you, Kristi Burke, and the others who have started these programs have had to show. My friends are mostly non-religious people or still believe, but are not from the Fundamentalist background. My large Catholic family are all still believers, but Catholicism is not nearly the same as it was in the 50's and 60's. The Priests and parishioners just seem happy to keep the doors open as the Church attendance dwindles. But you had to put everything on the line, and the strength to do that is almost beyond my imagination. You see that you have over 50,000 followers, and we are all behind you!
Brandon, as a long time viewer, this might be your most powerful video EVER. I actually cried at parts. As a former Catholic, I lost EVERYTHING when I left my birth faith: my holidays, my family of origin, my sense of meaning. I am completely bereft of meaning despite studying psychology and philosophy. I can honestly say that your videos make me feel like chatting with the friend that I wish I had. Thank you so much. You have helped so many.
I'm glad your channel exists Brandon, I've seen & heard young Christians who are doubting their beliefs & started to think for themselves, but in the end only to remain a believer out of fear.
@@andrewwilson9183 proverbs 9:10-12 "fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom" Christianity is a religion of fear no matter how you put it. The fear of God, the fear of the devil, the fear of Hell, the fear of knowledge & countless other fears.
Brandon, love your way of explaining things! I turned 84 a couple days ago. A Christian for over 50 years which I’m told it was not statistically probable that I would become an unbeliever in my early 60’s. But it happened because I was challenged in a small Bible group. A guy in the group actually said there was mythology and contradictions in my beloved book (my infallible roadmap!). I set out to prove him wrong by the next week…as they say the rest is history. For me, without the perfect inerrant word of god, within 2-3 years my whole world of Christianity was knocked out from under me. It was eye-opening and totally freeing. Thank you so much for very adequately voicing my own experience and conclusions. Proud to be an a-theist and open to scientific ideas of evolution and creation. Life is good! 👍
I saw older people commenting here quite a few times, 75, 85, 90+, and its really nice to know that people are never too stubborn to realize the truth. Wishing you guys a happy life without the shackles of religion! I think theres a God in the way big scientist thought there can be- some force/energy in which the universe is arranged. This actually makes sense
Powerful stuff, Brandon! Talking about processing and opening up that chasm of emotions to process really hit me, definitely something I needed to hear, because even though I'm now an atheist I still have plenty of trauma to process related to that past indoctrination, and those thoughts about our whole lives switching the same way you described basketball for you and having to form them around something else is something I've been having to work through lately! I've been really trying to find purpose and meaning even though I'm so glad to be out of that abuse and to finally be free to think for myself, no longer enslaved to the cult control and some thoughts being "evil".
Got saved at 12, became an ordained/licensed preacher in 1999. Trying to deal with fear, anxiety & temper meltdowns, I started guided meditation in June & also started seeking truth. Fear, anxiety & anger are almost zero now. My husband says I have changed & is afraid that I will be doomed to hell. I can't share much with him of what I am learning or feeling right now. PS: I'll be 69 in November.
There is a whole slew of folk here that are just like you. I stopped believing at about 13,Most of the bible did not add up and when I brought this to attention I was threatened with the wrath of God. My mom stopped forcing me to go to church at about 15.... She is still a devout Catholic.
@@damzey911 The God of the New Testament is supposed to be love, but Yahweh in the Old Testament is definitely NOT. The inconsistencies continue from there. 🤷♀️
@@artbyadrienne6812Excellent thoughts, except for the fact (as Christopher Hitchens brilliantly states) that we don't get the concept of hell until "loving, peaceful Jesus" comes along. Yahweh might torture you in this life, but he left you alone in the grave. Jesus makes the crime of unbelief punishable by torture for eternity. But God is love, right?😂
I think all of us need to hear this sometimes, even those of us who have fully deconstructed. It’s that feeling of isolation and other around the ones you love most that still creep in and make you sad still. I needed this. Thanks Brandon
28:46 “One of the biggest things leaving religion taught me: I don’t know. Its one of the main differences between a believer and a non-believer. I don’t have to make guesses anymore.” I was a devout christian for 18 years. Religion indoctrinated me to be judgmental toward everyone--persons are either saved or they are not saved. For anyone who was not saved, there was something fundamentally (no pun intended) wrong with them. I was convinced I was saved, and that god therefore smiled upon me and was guiding my every step. As a result, I could not possibly make mistakes in matters of thoughts, opinions, or religious theology--and I had a ready answer for everything. My dogmatism prevented me from having any meaningful relationships with others. After de-converting, more than 40 years ago, one of the most important things that dawned on me almost immediately was that it is okay not to have answers. When questions come up, it is okay for me to simply think and say “I don’t know.” Another big thing that dawned on me almost immediately is that people are just people and I don’t need to go around judging them. This, by itself, lifted a heavy burden from my conscious, and my relationships with others became easy and so much better. And, after the religious blinders came off, I discovered that many people who never give religion a thought have better standards of decency morality that most people in the church. These thought processes that I discovered upon de-conversion had never entered my mind, and would never have entered my mind, as long as I was a christian. Starting the day I de-converted, I felt a release and sense of freedom that I had never known before. Life and relationships became so much better. I would never think of going back.
Brandon, this is exactly what I needed. I have sat at the precipice of going into a full, solo deconstruction for almost a year now, but I can feel myself almost at the point where I’m ready to jump in for real. Your channel in particular has helped keep me grounded when I feel like all I know is confusion and the inability to be right about anything. My life is much harder than it used to be, but I feel like I’m on the track I wanna be on to become the most authentic and intellectual version of myself, so thank you. You are truly a gift to this corner of the internet. Cheers!
Brandon when you said ( I know it sounds crazy but I have never met another in real life) I can totally relate to that! There's no church where we can meet weekly and talk philosophy. I love watching your videos.
At 65 yo I realized I hadn’t believed, had doubted, or was skeptical since I first learned about evolution in elementary school. I started questioning the Adam and Eve story. The cognitive dissonance was my life for so long. Now at 65 I became determined to learn the truth no matter where it led me. I already believed so much of the information I was watching and reading in these and other videos and books. It was freeing to find I was not alone in these doubts and I had a reason for my skepticism. It was confirmation.
When you are a Christian and you are serious about your faith; when you pray to god he does answer back. Everything is a message or a sign to your prayers. When you stop praying god suddenly goes silent. Not immediately, I am about 4 years of deconstructing and god still sends those little messages. But you start seeing all the decisions that you made on your own and attributed them to god guiding you
I know people who have deconstructed from their own religion to go and embrace another religion. It is a little nuts that the reason they left their previous religion also exists in the one they have currently embraced.
I've been a sub of this channel for some time, and at first I wasn't really sure what drew me to it so much, because I'm a life long atheist of 59 years. A lot of the things you discuss really `aren't` for me, but I find it absolutely fascinating, albeit in a somewhat morbid way, what you guys have gone or are going though. I am supremely grateful that I was not raised in an indoctrination chamber, because it was tough enough as a teenager to deal with a lot of the issues that atheists `do` have to deal with. Existential angst for one thing. Coming to terms with mortality, finding purpose in life, etc. Add the fact that walking away from that life also means probably burning quite a few bridges with people you care about, among other issues, and It's got to be a tough transition. Bottom line being, keep doing what you're doing, and I'm happy to support you in doing it!
I am a Christian has been watching you since May. I have an undiagnosed disorder. I’m losing control of my body and dizziness all day long for the past 14 months. I’ve seen so many doctors and specialists and they cannot diagnose what is happening. I’m still praying to God the Father expecting healing. I still promised to update every person that has been following my condition on my progress. I know I’m gonna receive comments that there is no God I already know that it’s coming. I just wanna say how much I appreciate you Brandon. Keep thinking - I’ll do the same and still believing on a miracle. If it happens I will let everyone know. Thank you for everyone on here.
If yhwh is not real, it doesnt mean that theres nothing. Humans simply cant know. I believe there is something, in the way some of the greatest minds like Tesla or Einstein did- God might be some kinda energy, order of how the laws of universe work, or universe and nature itself. And that you can unlock the full potential by tuning in to this energy. Probably with nice thoughts, and believing that you can achieve what you want. I hope you get better, but along with medicine/science, you need a healthy lifestyle as well. One treats the - what-, and the other treats the -why - of disease. Investigate the waters you drink(even cheap ph, tds meters will do). Same for air. Do you live in a big city with pollution, or air is good? Stop eating packaged food. Eat natural food, and a lot of vegetables and fruits. Exercise, check your neck and spine, modern life affects that. In short, keep the good things of the modern age, but throw away the bad. Then you should fix your problem much faster! Theres a lot of things that modern man forgot, which are absolutely necessary for a healthy life. Start now. And you will see improvement. Maybe this is just what you needed, and you opened the doors to your healing with your own faith. Good luck!
Brandon, in an alternate universe you would have made an excellent preacher. Well... I haven't been to a church service in decades, so I'm not the best judge of who makes a good preacher, but you have a great way with words.
@@jennasyoutubeTruly, I learnt more about the Bible from Brandon's Secular Bible Study than in 12 yrs of Catholic school, 15 yrs of Mass, and a minor in religious studies from university. That series is brilliant!
At the end is a freedom and relief. There will be an "ickyness" of what you were thinking, and the unchristian distain by your christian associations. Warm hugs through the internet.
I called upon the lord over 20 yrs ago and one member of the trinity put me on hold ever since. I will say that there has been some nice evelator music presented at times though 😝. Thanks Brandon!
When you mentioned feeling like a black sheep while/after doubting/deconstructing, that definitely hit home for me. I am now an atheist, but I deconstructed and doubted for quite a long time. My family are all Christians, so I felt like I couldn’t talk to them about my doubts and what I was going through. There is definitely a lonely feeling in that, but it is so nice that there are other ways to find people who are going through/have gone through doubt/deconstruction. While deconstruction was hard, I am so glad I went through it. I am so much happier with myself now and what my life/relationships look like now. Thank you for the videos that you make! It is always nice to hear your thoughts, and the thoughts of others in the comments, about whatever you may be talking about on any given day. :)
@@andrewwilson9183 I wouldn’t specifically say that it is the natural conclusion. That is just what I ended up coming to. Some people deconstruct their faith and end up as even more religious after the fact. Some people deconstruct their faith and end up leaving one religion to go to another one. And some people deconstruct their faith and end up on the more agnostic/atheist side of things. I didn’t start my deconstruction with the explicit goal of coming out as an atheist at the end of it all. I just deconstructed my faith because I started having so many questions about it that I couldn’t ignore. I didn’t know where I would be at the end of my questioning/deconstruction. It just so happens that I ended up as an atheist :)
13:00. I have tears streaming down my face as you talk about trying to use the teachings of scripture to address my doubt. I'm only a few weeks past this.
@@MindShift-Brandon Thankyou. I have no other choice but to move on. I have had a load of wierd stuff happen. A minor revival leading to my having a "prophetic ministry". I could do with talking this through but I now have no support network beyond my (really wonderful) wife and two adult sons.
A common Christian comeback for doubting is the devil is attacking you and placing that doubting in your head. Do they not understand that we don't believe in the devil either? Thanks Brandon for your wisdom and courage to express it.
@@MindShift-Brandon Ironically a couple of days ago that happened to me and they actually laughed at me as if I was a fool for letting the devil deceive me. Lol what a joke!
Ok but like, in this context, we're talking about people who may still hold to some notion of a supernatural evil. So "Satan will fool you" is possibly an effective rejoinder. Nothing like a bit of fearmongering to get someone to set aside doubt in favor of group adherence. Taking a step back, they probably use it and believe it to be an effective rhetorical strategy because it worked on them.
@@rainbowkrampus I agree that some random Christian acting that way but, someone that has known you for a very long time seems to be laughable to say the least.
There is a major upside to just being yourself out of yourself: You are now loved just for yourself and nothing else. Hopefully by yourself first and importantly - but also more and more by others.
It’s an interesting thing to realize how so many people are Christian when you leave it. I feel you on the community thing. I fortunately had non religious people to reach out to when I was spiraling out of my faith. Funny enough though, the most prominent person I had to pour my heart out to is a Muslim. It’s an amazing thing you’ve done creating a channel like this, with all the opportunities it has and will afford you. I suppose your gift has made room for you😂
This is such a good video, Brandon. I'm guessing it will lead to more of them focusing on the various topics you covered here. Such a caring, positive approach! Thank you.
A post in fb asked: “If Christians read the Bible to increase their faith, what do Atheists read to confirm their doubts?” My answer was the same….. “the Bible”.
100%! also not to paint too broadly, but christians i think get a lot more faith boosting from their sermons, small groups, worship nights, stories of miracles and conversions etc then they do actually reading the bible.
I had my 40th anniversary of my coming to faith in Jesus the Christ this past January 26th 2024. I had a dramatic conversion to the faith and like yourself was a diligent student of the word I consider myself a much stronger apologist than the most average Christian believer and invested many years of my life in the understanding of what I thought was the truth I have always been looked up to as the spiritual leader, amongst most all of my family, friends and peers, and now that I have begun my journey of deconstruction it is an immense responsibility and burden for me to reveal the turmoil of my walking away from the only faith that I have known. The sharing of your journey and experience has helped me navigate my own journey so I encourage you as I am able to hammer out your convictions day by day as well This life is messy and we all must navigate each day in spirit and truth as best we can Stay strong, my friend
Congrats on finding what you believe is the truth, but I must ask: what led you to Christianity besides it (likely) being the dominant faith of your culture? I have yet to see any empirical evidence presented for any particular faith.
All of this is so true. I find the “finding community” part the hardest out of all of them, as well as the “what is my purpose” part. Had to deal with everything else on the way and I’m still not fully out per se.
This is one of the best videos ever on this subject. Thank you so much. I really relate to the community part because i dont know anyone in real life that is going through this either. Thank goodness for TH-cam. Thank you for creating a community here ❤
You struck so many common cords with this one Brandon I had to make a second comment. Here in a few weeks I’m going to my 40th year Catholic class reunion and almost feels like I’m a lamb going into the lions den so your timing of this episode was fantastic.
I pretty much abruptly became atheist after reading neuroscience in the pursuit of knowledge regarding breaking habits. This was around December 2019/January 2020. Coming home from the trip where I had told the parents about my loss of belief, covid started. It was actually good timing as far as finding community, since I’m a musician and couldn’t work, I had all day to go to TH-cam and learn to actually write music. Now, four and some years later, I have a virtual office to hang out with my fellow musicians and TH-camrs, more than half of whom (in my inner circle) are also atheists. The christians in our community are there because they don’t proselytize or act judgy. The deep and constant support has made me feel more confident in “meatspace” conditions so I’m slowly building a new local community being that my prior community is all connected to the church I used to attend (they’re mostly really nice people being a new agey christian universalist one, but there’s a lot of anti science sentiment etc and people talk about spiritual stuff practically nonstop). The humanistic atheist online community is not as close to my heart as my music community, but it’s like the people at my local or at other functions where I don’t know everyone but I do feel welcomed. Thanks Brandon for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us and helping us build a neighborhood here on the Toobs. 🎉😊
As I said once to someone, you can compel my behavior, you can compel my speech, but you cannot compel my thoughts. Thank you Mindshift for this channel.
27:30 I carry Waking Up with me and pull it out when I have to wait for something/someone. It was/is something that I've used to help me ground myself to reality. The amount of time I spend in my head, thinking of things that don't really matter amazes and frustrates me. Sam has been a huge influence in helping me transition into a scary world with a healthy dose of practical guidance.
Great one, Brandon. Thank you SO much for saluting Sam Harris. Along with Hitch’s book, it was essential to me in “clarifying” my atheism. And yet Sam Harris has become a polarizing figure among atheists. What?? He blocked for all atheists/deconstructors to come. I just don’t get it. So thanks, man.
@@Cincyboy56 polarizing due to politics and other things he covers because not all atheists believe the same things in these areas. It doesn't make sense to have it affect just atheists, but I suppose a lot of his audience is.
I deconstructed at 17, and I am now 72. It was painful, but completely worth it. I no longer pretend to any such beliefs and it is such a relief. Now I, an ex-Catholic, have an atheist husband who is ex-Lutheran (the Missouri Synod kind) and four atheist children who were never taught to fear the cosmos or a boogie man. I have never wanted to be back in my belief, and I miss none of it now. In fact, I see more grace and charity in non-believers than I ever saw in believers, who tended to be judgmental and intolerant. Most of them were ignorant, too. They knew almost nothing of the Bible, the catechism, the apologia, the philosophical and historical bases for everything in the Christian religions I was ever involved with. When I started to read Church history and Christian apologetics, in my early teens (12-13) I saw how thin was the foundation I had been ingrained in. The truth is far better, and Science never asks me to just believe because someone says to. It is rigorous and convincing. I am so grateful for the the brain and the time to follow my questions. My family is free of superstitions.
Thank you, Brandon, for putting together yet another helpful video. One of my hobbies I've engaged in (a.k.a. been obsessed with) is curating music playlists. In the past (when I was a Christian), I would "pepper" my playlists with Christian music (right alongside secular songs). When I started deconstructing (almost a year ago), I started creating playlists that echoed my journey. It is so funny that you used the term "face the music" today (couple of times). That is the theme of all my pl's. I have created 9 pl's. For example "FTM Cognitive Dissonance". I realize that nobody else will ever hear them, the creation of them has been cathartic for me. Most of the themes came from subjects explored by you (and other TH-camrs / critical thinkers). Thanks for lighting the way for so many of us!
At 19 years old I left Aruba and went to the Netherlands to study chemistry. That really help me deconstruct. Almost every one I met there were atheist or kept their faith to themselves.
Reading the whole Bible should be a prerequisite to joining Christianity. It’s quite insane that we are pushed to convert based on a feeling or a single sermon.
@@TonyLambregtsMaybe that is the reason they don’t want you to read it first. People that read the first few books would be like, “This is quite bizarre, never mind. Let’s not do this”
@@BluStarGalaxy Famously, the catholic church did not want the book translated into any, for the time, modern languages. A large part of that had to do with wanting a monopoly on access to the book. But there were definitely people who recognized that there would be problems with everyone being able to read the whole thing for themselves. That sort of paternalistic attitude largely persists in the catholic church to this day.
Thank You Brandon for this video 📹! Much needed information that you are providing 🙌 and very Helpful for me and for other like - minded people to get through this
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” - Bertrand Russell
Really thank you for these lessons about deconstruction you teach us through your personal anecdotes. They resonate so deeply with me and I would bet many other listeners too. I hope you'll be doing more of those videos soon because I would need them in my life rn. Not having, as you put it, the ritualistic side of religious life anymore, nor the community, because that chapter of life is now closed despite sometimes wanting so badly to return to that life even though you would not want to go back to it resonates so deeply with me. It truly sucks sometimes, especially right now.
I agree with you, that Brandon resonates quite well with me too. The communal (albeit I’m rather introverted and can be reclusive at times) aspect and feeling like there’s something larger than me, alongside others, is something that religion does have a leg up on. May you continue to find comfort and feeling less alone here with the rest of us following along what Brandon shares!
The religious deconstruction process is toughest for fundamentalists of any of the three Abrahamic faiths. I began my de-conversion process several years ago, and as a fundamentalist, it was extremely painful not only for me, but for my family and friends also, who were distraught that my eternal destiny was either the eternal flames of hell, or at the very least, the eventual annihilation of my soul on the day of judgement. I still have about 50% of all the religious texts that I ever bought; having sold the first half about 6 years ago, thinking I would keep the remainder for future reference when talking with people who are still within my former religious communities, but cognitive dissonance is so incredibly strong with most of them, that nothing I say will have much of an affect. So, I'm getting ready to sell the rest, but might keep a few of them just in case one of my former coreligionists wants to talk. So, what I'm trying to say is, trust yourself / your critical thinking side of you brain, and just take it one step at a time, because you've already made it over the biggest hurdle, which was allowing your frontal lobs to access those nagging doubts that you've probably suppressed for years, because those doctrines and doctrines you learned have zero verifiable evidence to support them.
I encouraged a friend to start attending church a few years ago, he changed drastically for the better and I became a hero to his family for saving him and his marriage. He and them are confused now that I have stopped attending church, not really sure how to approach it because I don't want him to revert to his old ways.
Yes it wasn't easy , from a Muslim Salafist to an Atheist it was a logical and critical fight against the most sweet feelings, years of little steps, but my revenge is done I have five smart daughters who are better oriented and prepared than me, they are humanists and free ❤❤❤
Excellent video, Brandon! I especially love the point about the freedom of having your own thoughts! It probably sounds silly to someone who didn’t grow up in the church ( to the extent that we did), but it’s seriously a revelation to realize that you are free to think…
This is going to be a really helpful resource for generations of questioning minds to come, Brandon. Your presentation was neutral enough to appeal to those in any of several stages in their journey of coming into their own intellectually. For the record, I think you would make a great counselor, as your ethos seems centered around a non-dogmatic and flexible approach to mental health and intellectual wellbeing grounded in the sensitivities of experience.
Wow! You hit the nail on the head with what it feels like to leave an identity. I still go to church because it is comfortable, despite being at a fairly late stage of doubt. Most of the people I know don't even know that I've gone through doubts (other than a few very close friends and family). I'm a people-pleaser, so it's actually really easy for me to hide it. I've called myself a cultural Christian for almost a year because I still find a lot of value (probably status quo and comfort) in the church even though I would no longer consider myself a believer. It's not because I think think the church is perfect, because it's definitely not, but it's comfortable to me. But yeah, identity is interesting. I was the good child who read my Bible to the point of memorizing several chapters and giving sermons on those verses. I considered myself a sort of spiritual leader in both high school and college. What is my identity now? (Watching apologetics debates on both sides with every spare moment I have, lol). As I'm writing this, I think that I should probably get other hobbies, but here I am... 😅
Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus who are raising, glorifying, and exalting themselves as greater, powerful, glorious, higher, and superior than Atheists are clearly the arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth who are obviously bringing themselves nothing but their own dishonor, disgrace, shame, downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS. The BIBLE is not a worthless book of lies, myths, fictions, fantasies, and fairy tales but the "WORD of GOD" and source of the TRUTHS that - 1. Loving, kind, respectful, and submissive persons on earth who honor and obey Jesus Christ as their loving, kind, and merciful Master and Heavenly King will definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4 but will also be hated, insulted, mocked, dishonored, and slandered by arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists. 2. the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26 are obviously NOT for arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth but ONLY for all the loving, kind, respectful, and submissive Worshippers of the Creator who died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others who are all worthy and deserving of being RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can happily and peacefully live and exist on earth forever as submissive and obedient subjects and citizens of the "KINGDOM of GOD" and fully enjoy the eternal love, kindness, goodness, compassions, generosities, favors, and blessings of the Creator and his Christ for eternity under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as the Creator's Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
31:45 I will say, in this grand experiment called life, and what you’ve created here, has been a reprieve for me personally. I’ve shared before, that something about your presentation, outlook, and quest for knowledge has clicked something in my brain and heart, and appreciate that fact, let alone finding your channel. Reading and commenting/replying to you and others here has satiated a fair bit of that social and communal need for me, and gives talking points between me and my long time partner, and a time or two with my dad (minister’s son and missionary kid, was in Japan in the ‘60s-‘70s). In a way, I wish my paternal grandpa was still alive, where he and I could talk about this sort of stuff, since he went through a doubting period prior to becoming a minister (his father, my great-grandfather was also a Minister and missionary, earning awards from the emperor of Japan, despite being American). Editing to add 32:18 I would easily start a local Atheist church branch of Atheist church of Whatever (TM)
@@MindShift-Brandonis much appreciated, and grateful it’s helping you connect more/satiate some desires of yours, let alone us here watching. Looking forward to all the other new videos that’ll come out, and enjoyed the first book in your post-cannon series
Thank you so much for this. This is not the first time that I am deconstructing the catholic faith. I stip believing and then I jeep having “floating” episodes, and I go back. When I quit going to church, I usually block all the believers. This time, I thought I could tell two of my “friends”; and I did, separately. I texted them that I was having big doubts. I wrote to one if them that we could talk about it, but I just don’t feel like it now. I have not contacted her again; and nother did she. I said I was having doubts especially because of all the abuse. She said that’s why I must stay close to the one that can heal. I replied I don’t even think he exists. She replied; there must be some small signs? I did not reply. There are some signs that can be just coincidences. But the systematic abuse; if God is ever powerful… And why does Mary keep “appearing” but never mentions to stop the pedophilia? Makes NO sense.
makes no sense indeed. also the very fact that a believer needs to see small signs aka coincidences instead of being able to actually know is pretty telling.
@@MindShift-Brandonforgot to mention she is an Opus Dei supernumerary. I have been a cooperator in 2008 but broke it off in 2009. Been a synpathizer on and off. Last time, went back to church after I separated from an abusive man and adter the death of my 19 year old cat. So I was back at church when my mom passed away suddenly. Being single, no kids, no brothers/sisters, it felt reassuring. But now the abuses… the last straw was finding out that a French priest who used to help the homeless abused wen for 50 years. L’abbé Pierre if you want to look it up. My mom was not a practising catholic. But she admired him. I feel so betrayed by the church. But I am doing good, healing slowly.
Thank you for this video. Your content (especially your Secular Bible Study series) has been a large part of my deconstruction and deconversion. I was raised a Fundamentalist-Seventh Day Adventist, and you brought up verses and theology in SBS that I realize I had previously brushed over, or manipulated to fit my theology. In fact, you've inspired me to do my own outreach on this, as I haven't been able to find much examination of SDA theology that isn't just more mainstream Christians dissecting only the SDA *specific* doctrine. Again, thank you for this video in specific, and your channel in general. I really appreciate that you blend both compassion and honesty in your approach, pointing out the (sometimes quite obvious) problems in Christian ideas without calling people stupid for believing it, pointing out the emotions/psychology that lead to or support them.
So true! I don’t care what the sociologists say about the rise of the nones, and the growing number of atheists; while true, I’m here to say that being an atheist remains a lonely business.
@@MindShift-Brandon I really mean it, man. I'm not as smart as you but everything you say and the way you explain everything is exactly how I feel deep inside. It's hard because although I'm an adult, I am too empathetic of what my family thinks of me. if they truly knew what I "believe". I just don't want to disappoint or start any arguments so I just agree and essentially play along with it all. It really does hurt when my grandpa says before death basically, "you know why I love you? Because you're my only grandson that isn't a f**got." And my mother constantly comparing me to Jesus. It can be so mentally exhausting
I lately figured out which points led to my faith disappearing slowly and me realizing that there wasn't any faith left. 1. We talked about the question of evil in religion class. 2. I was thinking about how I (and other people) spent time and energy in church, that could potentially be used to make the world a better place. 3. I started to notice that I felt worse after youth group, because the messages kind of supported a way of thinking that one could never be good enough. 4. I was (still) am very upset about animals having to suffer for food etc. and noticed that the christians around me did not care more than others about this suffering (my impression was they cared even less). At the point I realized my faith had fully disappeared, I was not happy about that, but since I found your (nd other) videos, having lost my faith feels right, logical and freeing.
I lost my faith 6 or 7 years ago and I don't think I've become a worse person. I still care about being a good person. Not being religious also helps for my (future) job of being a social worker i think.
@andrewwilson9183 besides i didn't say that this was the objective standard, I was not looking for a discussion. I'm really happy with my life, it's gotten sooo much better. I'm sure enough in my standpoint. Empathy is enough for me for knowing that i don't want others to suffer. If you're looking for answers, Brandon and other people here have really good answers.
@@e.we. So you left Christianity because you didn’t understand its morality, the nature of God, and because it’s inconvenient. A better trajectory would be you comparing natural theology to Christian theology and comparing them to see what doesn’t add up.
Black sheep here! Thanks for this, man. Especially the desire to seek a new label, or have like-minded community. The Bible belt is hard, but thankfully, my believing friends are genuine. Atheist friends may or may not come later. Thanks for your channel -- it does help.
I deconstructed when I was messed about by my church leaders repeatedly avoiding answering the question "which verse do you use to show that the bible is The Word of God." There isn't one anywhere in the bible but I can think of three that define that Jesus is the word. I fasted for 40 days because I was so conflicted by the c**p response to a genuine question coming from my reading the bible from cover to cover many times. So hard to work through all this.
@@MindShift-Brandon Doubly so when I know that without the structure that the church instilled I would have deliberately overdosed due to PTSD. I changed overnight. I can't dismiss that. Three zealous decades as a worship leader later...
when Brandon cautions about going strictly to believers to help figure things out, in my experience he is right. We need input from all aspects and we don't get that from faith based discussions of believers. I went to a place of quiet, finally to sort out the info I took from believers, non-believers, philosophers, and more. Many many walks alone through fields and woods, watching people from a distance to better understand what being human is, what love is, putting on a magnifying glass to learn what has value in life, connecting on that real human level with loved ones. Best to you!!
You hit the nail on the head for me. My main loss with leaving religion is that loss of community. I've actually contemplated finding a very liberal church where I could pretend to believe just so I could find a community for me and my family. I don't think I would but, I've thought it. My whole family do still believe and I dread the moment of prayer before family dinners. What do I do with my hands!? Haha. Lucky my wife is also a non-believer, so at least we have each other but, it is the hardest struggle that loss of community.
I love this channel and I love that you provide support for people like us. I am also in an area where I’m surrounded by believers for the most part and it can be very isolating.
It's been years and I only recently got to a place where the "tags" don't catch me. By tags I mean the hell fear, that nano-second hesitation, of saying "atheist" out loud.
Hoping this video provides some level of comfort and help for those in the in-between!
Brandon, you are a modern incarnation of Diogenes with his lantern. You search through the darkness to shine the light on truth and become a beacon for those still wandering through it. Good work, my friend.
@@rokkitserjunwhat a kind and cool comparison. Thanks so much!
Have you read the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz? That was a great in between book for me. It was sort of my temporary Bible replacement. I also took to the principles of Buddhism quite a bit during that time.
My question is, has Brandon ever told a lie? I will presume that he has. My next question is, will you trust your eternity to a liar? Instead, remember that Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive." I met Christ at the age of 17 and I have what is called 'absolute assurance.' Every promise in the Bible is true, as I am 'seated in the heavenlies with Christ.' I know Him. God created you for friendship with Him.
However, some people, such as Brandon, have 'prayed and prayed' to know God, but to no avail. Why is that? One thing I do know: I know that the problem is with Brandon's heart, not with Christ! Again, it is your call whether to trust a liar or to trust Christ! But do not take my word for it as I, too, have been full of lies and deceit. It is the human condition to be a proud liar. Yet, you can ask to know Christ or, if you are like Brandon, you can ask for the desire to know Him. He thinks he wanted to know Christ, but obviously did not!
Jesus died on a Cross so that we may know Him. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
A major point you brought up was community and support. Like you everyone around me are believers. Being told that I am wrong about so many things and being referred to as a future prodigal son that will eventually come crawling back for forgiveness. Being told with a wide grin how I will find out how wrong I am someday and when bringing up troublesome verses I get told, “Stop saying lies from Satan!” I wonder all the time why I seem to live in Wackoville. Right is considered wrong and wrong is right. Science is demonized but talking snakes and 600 year old men building boats is just obviously right. I can’t tell family cool scientific facts without them saying, “Fingerprint of god. Such obvious design. How did it end up that way? An explosion couldn’t do that.” I hate it.
Finding community is a big one for me. Deconverting in my 70s and living in an ultra conservative town on the Canadian prairies, there is just no one here to talk to about any of my new thoughts and beliefs. The internet is my lifeline! Mindshift, The Thinking Atheist, and other sites like this keep me informed and going in the right direction. I'm so grateful for this kind of community. It seems unlikely that my situation here will ever change and if that is the case I have you guys and gals to bounce ideas off of!
Thats a hard one for sure. Glad to have you here though.
Very true friend. Stay strong. If you need someone to talk too. I'm free
@@Ashy_Slashy3 Thank you! That's good to know.
I’m from Canada too if you ever want to talk.
@@Ashy_Slashy3😎👍
Losing my faith has been like a process of mourning. I have been stuck in the middle of this process for months now.
Thanks for the video.
For some people, the process is like flipping a switch. For others, like myself, it took years. There is no one speed or way. Mourning is a very normal thing, although saying that doesn’t make it feel better.
I hope you are able to find a sense of peace in the midst of your grief.
@@CharlesPayetyeah, me as an ex-muslim immediately flipped the switch once I heard convincing arguments that the abrahamic god is not real.
but that's just because I have naturally an algorithmic unemotional way of thinking, I wasn't really attached to the religion either because everyone I knew in my life who believed in it was either somewhat immoral or as young as I was.
it baffled me hearing about how people thought that giving new arguments without countering my very damning to their religion arguments was actually a thing they thought works, until I discovered how attached to the religion everyone else was.
however my deconstruction journey took long too, because a looooot of my values, ideals, morals, and my political alignment, all had to face the cognitive dissonance of knowing islam is not true, and had to be reevaluated along the way to relief that cognitive dissonance.
also it took a long time to get rid of ritualistic habits, and internalized hate towards a lot if groups of people.
deconverting is not just about being convinced god is not real, it's also about the journey to adopt a totally new world view that doesn't depend on the truth of the religion, and for ex-religious people who were raised to never have a choice about most of their world view, it is hard to learn how to become philosophically and politically and morally independant.
@@EmeraldCraft0 beautifully and eloquently stated. Thank you!
It's ironic that Christians claim Jesus is Lord and Savior, but he's the one who created the scenario where we're bound to follow him. He 'saves' us from sin by sacrificing himself, yet he set up the whole situation. He created the villain, and then made himself the hero of his own story.
Spiritual or emotional racketeering.
A major issue!
Yep
Sacrifing yourself to yourself is some of the craziest things about the christian god
When I realized God is essentially Syndrome from the Incredibles, it made it a whole lot easier
The trinity watched Cain killing Abel. The trinity drowned most of the world so a drunk and his family could repopulate the world...instead of sacrificing "the son" at that time. If the bible was a movie, it would get 100 rotten tomatoes.
The hardest reality for me is that moment you realize you will never see the loved ones you have lost. Ones who passed are just non existent anymore. That reality is extremely hard for me.
The REALITY
is
Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists
who
are unitedly mocking, insulting, and degrading -
1. the Creator as worthless, useless, and undeserving to be honored and respected as the True and Sovereign GOD
and
2. Jesus Christ too as worthless, useless, and undeserving to be honored and respected as the One given by the Creator all authority in heaven and on earth
are
clearly the arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth
who
are obviously bringing themselves nothing but their own dishonor, disgrace, shame, downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS.
The TRUTH
is
loving, kind, respectful, and submissive persons on earth
who
honor and obey Jesus Christ as their loving, kind, and merciful Master and Heavenly King
will
definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4
but
will also be hated, insulted, mocked, dishonored, and slandered by arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists.
The TRUTH
is
the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26
are
obviously NOT for arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists
but
ONLY for all the loving, kind, respectful, and submissive Worshippers of the Creator
who
died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others
who
are all worthy and deserving of being RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can happily and peacefully live and exist on earth forever as
submissive and obedient subjects and citizens of the "KINGDOM of GOD"
and fully enjoy the eternal love, kindness, goodness, compassions, generosities, favors, and blessings of the Creator and his Christ for eternity
under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as the Creator's Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
I just lost my beloved brother and hearing so many people state 100% that we'll see him again, that he's in heaven, etc absolutely infuriated me. My brother is gone. It's painful and horrid, but I would rather face reality than tell myself lies based on no evidence.
I tell myself, bc matter cannot be destroyed, perhaps my mom and sister and I will be fortunate enough to share the same star or tree or wave one day. ❤
@@sillymamacita3854The claim of Atheists that the Bible is just a worthless book of lies, myths, fictions, fantasies, and fairy tales
and
the Unbiblical teachings and doctrines of the Pastors and Leaders of Religions about
"Hellfire", "immortality of the souls", "afterlife", "Armageddon", "Trinity", "rapture", and "reincarnation"
are
all false, all LIES, TRICKS, and DECEPTIONS
that
bring nothing but dishonor, disgrace, shame, and will definitely cause the downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS
of
Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists.
The TRUTH
is
loving, kind, respectful, and submissive persons on earth
who
honor and obey Jesus Christ as their loving, kind, and merciful Master and Heavenly King
will
definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4
but
will also be hated, insulted, mocked, dishonored, and slandered by arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists
who
are unitedly mocking, insulting, slandering, and degrading -
1. the Creator as worthless, useless, and undeserving to be honored and respected as the True and Sovereign GOD
and
2. Jesus Christ as worthless and useless too, and undeserving to be honored and respected as the One given by the Creator all authority in heaven and on earth
The TRUTH
is
the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26
are
obviously NOT for arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists too
but
ONLY for all the loving, kind, respectful, and submissive Worshippers of the Creator
who
died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others
who
are all worthy and deserving of being RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can happily and peacefully live and exist on earth forever as
submissive and obedient subjects and citizens of the "KINGDOM of GOD"
and fully enjoy the eternal love, kindness, goodness, compassions, generosities, favors, and blessings of the Creator and his Christ for eternity
under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as the Creator's Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
It also inspires me to keep my sister and mom alive in memory while I'm still here. There's a (Jewish? Scandinavian? Polish?) proverb that says we all die twice- once when our body is done, and the second is the last time our name is spoken. This is a part of why so many people believe in passing down elder's names in their families. I think that's quite beautiful. ❤
Just shows how useful the Internet is. Everyone can find (or create) a whole network of people who share your interests.
I love your channel, btw!
Indeed, and thanks!
“Doubting feels like an identity crisis.” So true.
That’s so true, especially when one’s entire identity is faith based. But the doubting of your faith, is not God testing you. It is truth trying to emerge and free you.
For me it was both. Having an identity in Christ means you don't feel like you have an identity in the first place
I disagree, it doesn't feel like one, it is one.
The biggest thing that sticks out in my memory from that time is, "who even am I now?"
Took years of work to get an answer that satisfied me.
@@EarnestApostate Absolutely I totally agree I went through the same thing. I wish there were more mental health resources for deconstructing people....
As an ex-Christian of 3 years and an atheist of 2, there is nothing more empowering than realizing that I am not required to have the answers. "i don't know" is my favorite response to a Christian trying to ask me a gotcha question. It shuts them down immediately, almost as if they realize the vast amount of things that they lack answers for as well. In reality, true knowledge is the collection of all human understanding and research, a database that grows at a very slow rate. There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying, "This is beyond me and so I can't answer." Those who fail to do so are called apologists.
"I don't know" is sooooo liberating!
Love that
Yeah... Like they KNOW EVERYTHING!!! Hypocrites!
There are no gotcha questions.
@@areuaware6842 I agree. Many gotcha questions, especially those targeted towards science and secularism, tend to actually be uninformed and ignorant questions which will not aid in further learning. That's why "I don't know" is the best response. It's honest and it politely shuts down the malicious line of "inquiry."
I dusted off junior high cello and now I'm in two community orchestras. It's my world now.
What is your cello's drug of choice? 🙃
oh thats very cool!
That's wonderful 😅
You were preaching to me. I feel like such a hypocrit during worship.
Thank you!
For me it was an all or nothing thing. I was taught that the Bible is inerrant. When I got smart enough to realize that Adam and Eve couldn’t be true or Noah’s arc, the rest fell away very quickly. That happened when I was in college. I am now 43 and never really told my family of my unbelief. I just go along to get along.
Same here. I live in the American south and being an out and proud atheist causes more problems than it solves. I just live my life and nod along when people go off talking about their particular flavor of belief
@@KJ-qc8kq I couldn’t have said it better. I’m from the same area. Yes it can impact your life negatively to ruffle those feathers around here. You’ll be an instant pariah.
Sola scriptura and it's consequences ...
@@tandrew651 well F scripture and it’s consequences. If that’s even what you typed, I’m an engineer, not a Latin expert. Once the fear goes away, no tactic can sway you. It’s like trying to rebelieve in Santa Claus. You know better.
@@tandrew651 so I looked up sola scriptura. I think I more understand your comment.
I was never much of a believer, so my deconversion process was not traumatic. But as someone who is part of a group that gets persecuted by religion, can I just say THANK YOU. I watch your content because I want to reduce religious harm, and I believe you are doing that.
Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus
who
are raising, glorifying, and exalting themselves as greater, powerful, glorious, higher, and superior than Atheists
are
clearly the arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth
who
are obviously bringing themselves nothing but their own dishonor, disgrace, shame, downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS.
The BIBLE
is not a worthless book of lies, myths, fictions, fantasies, and fairy tales
but the "WORD of GOD" and source of the TRUTHS that -
1. Loving, kind, respectful, and submissive persons on earth
who
honor and obey Jesus Christ as their loving, kind, and merciful Master and Heavenly King
will
definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4
but
will also be hated, insulted, mocked, dishonored, and slandered by arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists.
2. the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26
are
obviously NOT for arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth
but
ONLY for all the loving, kind, respectful, and submissive Worshippers of the Creator
who
died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others
who
are all worthy and deserving of being RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can happily and peacefully live and exist on earth forever as
submissive and obedient subjects and citizens of the "KINGDOM of GOD"
and fully enjoy the eternal love, kindness, goodness, compassions, generosities, favors, and blessings of the Creator and his Christ for eternity
under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as the Creator's Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
Appreciate that. Thanks for the kind encouragement
I struggled with doubts my entire life as a Christian. Forty odd years as a professing Christian. It just got to the point where I couldn't keep pushing the doubts away, couldn't ignore the cognitive dissonance anymore.
I started to think critically, analytically, and to actually be honest with myself.
And to ask whether I could be wrong, and whether what I believed was wrong.
Deconversion was a long process, but the final step happened very quickly.
Thanks for sharing!
👍🏼 I relate to that
"couldn't ignore the cognitive dissonance anymore" oh yeah! 🙂
Warm hugs through the internet. The world is a better place with another person who owns their own thoughts.
Thank you sir for my freedom from this abusive belief system. I'm watching your channel since november last year and people like you, Kristi Burke, Alex O Connor, Dan Barker, Hitchens, Sam Harris, Holy Koolade helped me a lot. Greathings from Bosnia.😊
Christianity may have problems, but I wouldn’t call it abusive.
Thanks for putting me in such good company!
@@andrewwilson9183 The particular flavor my parents were into was definitely abusive.
@@andrewwilson9183 "love me or go to hell" is at least a little bit abusive.
@@viceanterra3
Well if God is the embodiment of Goodness, then to willfully reject God would be miserable
I just came to that realization that I can think thoughts and not feel guilty. I don't HAVE to forgive. And I don't HAVE to ask for forgiveness. I come to my own conclusions based on what I know. I'm free to move the way that is best for me.
freedom of thought is one of the worst things religion takes from us.
Hey Brandon, I almost never comment on TH-cam videos ever, but this one really hit hard for me. I grew up Baptist Christian for my entire life. I went to the same church for my childhood into young adulthood. Almost all of my friends and family are Christian. I have been doubting my faith for the past 2 years, and it HURTS! It's an isolating feeling knowing you're one of the only people you grew up with who is experiencing deconstruction. What probably hurts the most, but also for me shows that I have valid intentions, is that my girlfriend who I love greatly and who loves me greatly cannot get married because of her conviction to being "equally yolked." I sometimes wish so much that I could go back to the faith, but in the pursuit of being honest to myself, I can't.
A timely video❤. After confessing to my wife and kids that I no longer identify myself as a Catholic, maintaining the familiar rituals and relationships have been my struggle. I still attend Mass with them once every 3 weeks, and have shared my deconversion with my best friend last nite. After Mass today, the members curiously inquired of my consistent absence with the usual background whispers. Been tough because a lot of my perceived virtues have been attributed to my mum raising me right in the eyes of my community. Another point I resonate with is I do value truth above all else, and made a pledge to follow it wherever it leads me.
oh man, you are right in the thick of it! stay strong. what better example could you be for your kids than honest! Hold on to that, be open, and keep learning and showing them your vulnerability. Proud of you!
Not to be insensitive but you are the dog returning to his vomit.
Spit out Abrahamism and its evil false god and don't look back.
I just attended Mass today. It felt like a sledgehammer how I could not believe in anything that was presented. My heart goes out to you. Being a former Catholic and leaving that behind is like becoming an ex-pat. It's not just leaving a religion; it's leaving a culture. I told my family that I cannot even consider myself to be a cultural Catholic after 2 decades of being a functional atheist. It's painful, but it's better to embrace who you really are than to live a lie.
What a wonderful message, Brandon. I was sorry to hear what you said near the end of your video that your decisions still affect you in a negative way. I hope you know that you are doing a great service for the global community and I hope that makes it worthwhile.
Matthew 12:36-37,John 5:28-29,1Corinthians 6:1-8.100 billion people are raised,give an account ,and then live for infinite time you may not like.There is no good explanation of this
Thanks for that!
Again. I find myself in awe of the strength that you, Kristi Burke, and the others who have started these programs have had to show. My friends are mostly non-religious people or still believe, but are not from the Fundamentalist background. My large Catholic family are all still believers, but Catholicism is not nearly the same as it was in the 50's and 60's. The Priests and parishioners just seem happy to keep the doors open as the Church attendance dwindles. But you had to put everything on the line, and the strength to do that is almost beyond my imagination. You see that you have over 50,000 followers, and we are all behind you!
Means a lot. Thanks!
“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.”
Voltaire
Brandon, as a long time viewer, this might be your most powerful video EVER. I actually cried at parts. As a former Catholic, I lost EVERYTHING when I left my birth faith: my holidays, my family of origin, my sense of meaning. I am completely bereft of meaning despite studying psychology and philosophy. I can honestly say that your videos make me feel like chatting with the friend that I wish I had. Thank you so much. You have helped so many.
Thank you for this kindness!
I'm glad your channel exists Brandon, I've seen & heard young Christians who are doubting their beliefs & started to think for themselves, but in the end only to remain a believer out of fear.
I too have seen people just turn back to religion out of fear. its tragic to witness. and thank you.
@@MindShift-Brandon it's sad really, most of them are good people that are living in fear cause of this religion.
@@sauron69447
In Christianity, fear does not save
@@andrewwilson9183 proverbs 9:10-12 "fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom" Christianity is a religion of fear no matter how you put it. The fear of God, the fear of the devil, the fear of Hell, the fear of knowledge & countless other fears.
Brandon, love your way of explaining things! I turned 84 a couple days ago. A Christian for over 50 years which I’m told it was not statistically probable that I would become an unbeliever in my early 60’s. But it happened because I was challenged in a small Bible group. A guy in the group actually said there was mythology and contradictions in my beloved book (my infallible roadmap!). I set out to prove him wrong by the next week…as they say the rest is history.
For me, without the perfect inerrant word of god, within 2-3 years my whole world of Christianity was knocked out from under me. It was eye-opening and totally freeing.
Thank you so much for very adequately voicing my own experience and conclusions. Proud to be an a-theist and open to scientific ideas of evolution and creation. Life is good! 👍
I'm 76 and deconverted in the last couple of years. We 'old dogs really CAN learn new tricks.
I saw older people commenting here quite a few times, 75, 85, 90+, and its really nice to know that people are never too stubborn to realize the truth.
Wishing you guys a happy life without the shackles of religion! I think theres a God in the way big scientist thought there can be- some force/energy in which the universe is arranged. This actually makes sense
Thanks so much h for this wonderful comment. Cheers!
Powerful stuff, Brandon! Talking about processing and opening up that chasm of emotions to process really hit me, definitely something I needed to hear, because even though I'm now an atheist I still have plenty of trauma to process related to that past indoctrination, and those thoughts about our whole lives switching the same way you described basketball for you and having to form them around something else is something I've been having to work through lately!
I've been really trying to find purpose and meaning even though I'm so glad to be out of that abuse and to finally be free to think for myself, no longer enslaved to the cult control and some thoughts being "evil".
Thank you. Appreciate this comment!
I love you brother and if it wasn't because of your channel my deconstruction would have been so much harder. I appreciate you bro. Thank you
Got saved at 12, became an ordained/licensed preacher in 1999. Trying to deal with fear, anxiety & temper meltdowns, I started guided meditation in June & also started seeking truth. Fear, anxiety & anger are almost zero now. My husband says I have changed & is afraid that I will be doomed to hell. I can't share much with him of what I am learning or feeling right now. PS: I'll be 69 in November.
There is a whole slew of folk here that are just like you. I stopped believing at about 13,Most of the bible did not add up and when I brought this to attention I was threatened with the wrath of God. My mom stopped forcing me to go to church at about 15.... She is still a devout Catholic.
@@damzey911 The God of the New Testament is supposed to be love, but Yahweh in the Old Testament is definitely NOT. The inconsistencies continue from there. 🤷♀️
@@artbyadrienne6812Excellent thoughts, except for the fact (as Christopher Hitchens brilliantly states) that we don't get the concept of hell until "loving, peaceful Jesus" comes along. Yahweh might torture you in this life, but he left you alone in the grave. Jesus makes the crime of unbelief punishable by torture for eternity.
But God is love, right?😂
Today the community is on social media, tomorrow we will be neighbors.
I think all of us need to hear this sometimes, even those of us who have fully deconstructed. It’s that feeling of isolation and other around the ones you love most that still creep in and make you sad still. I needed this. Thanks Brandon
Thanks for that, yes i titled it for those doubting, but i still get a good deal of help from being reminded of these things also.
Hope you had a wonderful family vacation Brandon. You are awesome man.
I did indeed and thanks so much!
28:46 “One of the biggest things leaving religion taught me: I don’t know. Its one of the main differences between a believer and a non-believer. I don’t have to make guesses anymore.”
I was a devout christian for 18 years. Religion indoctrinated me to be judgmental toward everyone--persons are either saved or they are not saved. For anyone who was not saved, there was something fundamentally (no pun intended) wrong with them. I was convinced I was saved, and that god therefore smiled upon me and was guiding my every step. As a result, I could not possibly make mistakes in matters of thoughts, opinions, or religious theology--and I had a ready answer for everything. My dogmatism prevented me from having any meaningful relationships with others.
After de-converting, more than 40 years ago, one of the most important things that dawned on me almost immediately was that it is okay not to have answers. When questions come up, it is okay for me to simply think and say “I don’t know.” Another big thing that dawned on me almost immediately is that people are just people and I don’t need to go around judging them. This, by itself, lifted a heavy burden from my conscious, and my relationships with others became easy and so much better. And, after the religious blinders came off, I discovered that many people who never give religion a thought have better standards of decency morality that most people in the church. These thought processes that I discovered upon de-conversion had never entered my mind, and would never have entered my mind, as long as I was a christian.
Starting the day I de-converted, I felt a release and sense of freedom that I had never known before. Life and relationships became so much better. I would never think of going back.
2 magical words I have come to cherish. Thank you
Brandon, this is exactly what I needed. I have sat at the precipice of going into a full, solo deconstruction for almost a year now, but I can feel myself almost at the point where I’m ready to jump in for real. Your channel in particular has helped keep me grounded when I feel like all I know is confusion and the inability to be right about anything. My life is much harder than it used to be, but I feel like I’m on the track I wanna be on to become the most authentic and intellectual version of myself, so thank you. You are truly a gift to this corner of the internet. Cheers!
Cheers indeed my man. Heres to a more authentic life ahead!
Brandon when you said ( I know it sounds crazy but I have never met another in real life) I can totally relate to that! There's no church where we can meet weekly and talk philosophy. I love watching your videos.
Atheist*
Appreciate that!
Sunday sermons by Brandon are back baby!!!!
Lol. Thanks for being here!
At 65 yo I realized I hadn’t believed, had doubted, or was skeptical since I first learned about evolution in elementary school. I started questioning the Adam and Eve story. The cognitive dissonance was my life for so long. Now at 65 I became determined to learn the truth no matter where it led me. I already believed so much of the information I was watching and reading in these and other videos and books. It
was freeing to find I was not alone in these doubts and I had a reason for my skepticism. It was confirmation.
When you are a Christian and you are serious about your faith; when you pray to god he does answer back. Everything is a message or a sign to your prayers. When you stop praying god suddenly goes silent. Not immediately, I am about 4 years of deconstructing and god still sends those little messages. But you start seeing all the decisions that you made on your own and attributed them to god guiding you
Yes! Very much so. We stop tricking ourselves
I know people who have deconstructed from their own religion to go and embrace another religion. It is a little nuts that the reason they left their previous religion also exists in the one they have currently embraced.
For sure. Some people initially seem to just not be able to leave belief
Example?
This is the compassionate, affirming voice that I wish I had when I was deconstructing. Thank you.
Thats the goal. Thank you!
I've been a sub of this channel for some time, and at first I wasn't really sure what drew me to it so much, because I'm a life long atheist of 59 years. A lot of the things you discuss really `aren't` for me, but I find it absolutely fascinating, albeit in a somewhat morbid way, what you guys have gone or are going though.
I am supremely grateful that I was not raised in an indoctrination chamber, because it was tough enough as a teenager to deal with a lot of the issues that atheists `do` have to deal with. Existential angst for one thing. Coming to terms with mortality, finding purpose in life, etc. Add the fact that walking away from that life also means probably burning quite a few bridges with people you care about, among other issues, and It's got to be a tough transition.
Bottom line being, keep doing what you're doing, and I'm happy to support you in doing it!
I am a Christian has been watching you since May. I have an undiagnosed disorder. I’m losing control of my body and dizziness all day long for the past 14 months. I’ve seen so many doctors and specialists and they cannot diagnose what is happening. I’m still praying to God the Father expecting healing. I still promised to update every person that has been following my condition on my progress. I know I’m gonna receive comments that there is no God I already know that it’s coming. I just wanna say how much I appreciate you Brandon. Keep thinking - I’ll do the same and still believing on a miracle. If it happens I will let everyone know. Thank you for everyone on here.
I am very sorry to hear about your struggle. I dont believe any miracle is coming but i do hope you find an answer.
If yhwh is not real, it doesnt mean that theres nothing. Humans simply cant know. I believe there is something, in the way some of the greatest minds like Tesla or Einstein did- God might be some kinda energy, order of how the laws of universe work, or universe and nature itself. And that you can unlock the full potential by tuning in to this energy. Probably with nice thoughts, and believing that you can achieve what you want.
I hope you get better, but along with medicine/science, you need a healthy lifestyle as well.
One treats the - what-, and the other treats the -why - of disease.
Investigate the waters you drink(even cheap ph, tds meters will do). Same for air. Do you live in a big city with pollution, or air is good? Stop eating packaged food. Eat natural food, and a lot of vegetables and fruits. Exercise, check your neck and spine, modern life affects that.
In short, keep the good things of the modern age, but throw away the bad. Then you should fix your problem much faster! Theres a lot of things that modern man forgot, which are absolutely necessary for a healthy life.
Start now. And you will see improvement. Maybe this is just what you needed, and you opened the doors to your healing with your own faith. Good luck!
Brandon, in an alternate universe you would have made an excellent preacher. Well... I haven't been to a church service in decades, so I'm not the best judge of who makes a good preacher, but you have a great way with words.
Ha! Appreciate that
I second this!
@@jennasyoutubeTruly, I learnt more about the Bible from Brandon's Secular Bible Study than in 12 yrs of Catholic school, 15 yrs of Mass, and a minor in religious studies from university. That series is brilliant!
Deconstructed ❌️
Belief ❌️
In the thick of it ✅️
Hope this helps!
Bro stop
At the end is a freedom and relief. There will be an "ickyness" of what you were thinking, and the unchristian distain by your christian associations.
Warm hugs through the internet.
✨into da thick of it- o✨
Whatever the outcome, just be honest with yourself and continue to ask questions and seek truth
Could have cried the whole way through this one. It really can be hard. Thank you for all you do!
My pleasure! Thanks for being here
I called upon the lord over 20 yrs ago and one member of the trinity put me on hold ever since. I will say that there has been some nice evelator music presented at times though 😝. Thanks Brandon!
lol, thanks!
When you mentioned feeling like a black sheep while/after doubting/deconstructing, that definitely hit home for me. I am now an atheist, but I deconstructed and doubted for quite a long time. My family are all Christians, so I felt like I couldn’t talk to them about my doubts and what I was going through. There is definitely a lonely feeling in that, but it is so nice that there are other ways to find people who are going through/have gone through doubt/deconstruction.
While deconstruction was hard, I am so glad I went through it. I am so much happier with myself now and what my life/relationships look like now.
Thank you for the videos that you make! It is always nice to hear your thoughts, and the thoughts of others in the comments, about whatever you may be talking about on any given day. :)
And thanks to you for sharing and contributing to the conversation!
@@jz-meister5343 why is atheism the natural conclusion of leaving Christianity?
@@andrewwilson9183 I wouldn’t specifically say that it is the natural conclusion. That is just what I ended up coming to. Some people deconstruct their faith and end up as even more religious after the fact. Some people deconstruct their faith and end up leaving one religion to go to another one. And some people deconstruct their faith and end up on the more agnostic/atheist side of things.
I didn’t start my deconstruction with the explicit goal of coming out as an atheist at the end of it all. I just deconstructed my faith because I started having so many questions about it that I couldn’t ignore. I didn’t know where I would be at the end of my questioning/deconstruction. It just so happens that I ended up as an atheist :)
@@jz-meister5343 I see
@@andrewwilson9183How did you arrive at that conclusion?
13:00. I have tears streaming down my face as you talk about trying to use the teachings of scripture to address my doubt. I'm only a few weeks past this.
Oh man. Sorry it’s yet so raw! Keep learning and keep going!
@@MindShift-Brandon Thankyou. I have no other choice but to move on. I have had a load of wierd stuff happen. A minor revival leading to my having a "prophetic ministry". I could do with talking this through but I now have no support network beyond my (really wonderful) wife and two adult sons.
Warm hugs through the internet. The world is a better place with another person who owns their own thought !
Hang in there man. It can be very challenging. I deconverted back in 2020 and the first year is rough but things gradually get better.
@@BluStarGalaxy I'm the wrong side of sixty and have some serious health issues so I hope it's not too gradual!
Good advice. Patience with yourself is essential! ❤️
A common Christian comeback for doubting is the devil is attacking you and placing that doubting in your head. Do they not understand that we don't believe in the devil either? Thanks Brandon for your wisdom and courage to express it.
Appreciate that!
@@MindShift-Brandon Ironically a couple of days ago that happened to me and they actually laughed at me as if I was a fool for letting the devil deceive me. Lol what a joke!
Ok but like, in this context, we're talking about people who may still hold to some notion of a supernatural evil. So "Satan will fool you" is possibly an effective rejoinder. Nothing like a bit of fearmongering to get someone to set aside doubt in favor of group adherence.
Taking a step back, they probably use it and believe it to be an effective rhetorical strategy because it worked on them.
So how do christians know that "god" isnt actually satan deceiving them
How do u know when its satan or god speaking thru your inner voice ?
@@rainbowkrampus I agree that some random Christian acting that way but, someone that has known you for a very long time seems to be laughable to say the least.
There is a major upside to just being yourself out of yourself: You are now loved just for yourself and nothing else. Hopefully by yourself first and importantly - but also more and more by others.
100%!
It’s an interesting thing to realize how so many people are Christian when you leave it. I feel you on the community thing. I fortunately had non religious people to reach out to when I was spiraling out of my faith. Funny enough though, the most prominent person I had to pour my heart out to is a Muslim.
It’s an amazing thing you’ve done creating a channel like this, with all the opportunities it has and will afford you. I suppose your gift has made room for you😂
thanks for the encouragement!
This is such a good video, Brandon. I'm guessing it will lead to more of them focusing on the various topics you covered here. Such a caring, positive approach! Thank you.
Thanks, Maggie!
A post in fb asked: “If Christians read the Bible to increase their faith, what do Atheists read to confirm their doubts?” My answer was the same….. “the Bible”.
💯👍👍
Satan's book.
100%! also not to paint too broadly, but christians i think get a lot more faith boosting from their sermons, small groups, worship nights, stories of miracles and conversions etc then they do actually reading the bible.
@@MindShift-Brandon The lie requires continuous shoring up.
@@StevenMyers-wx6du depends on how you read it
Great job, Brandon. So well done.
many thanks!
I had my 40th anniversary of my coming to faith in Jesus the Christ this past January 26th 2024.
I had a dramatic conversion to the faith and like yourself was a diligent student of the word
I consider myself a much stronger apologist than the most average Christian believer and invested many years of my life in the understanding of what I thought was the truth
I have always been looked up to as the spiritual leader, amongst most all of my family, friends and peers, and now that I have begun my journey of deconstruction it is an immense responsibility and burden for me to reveal the turmoil of my walking away from the only faith that I have known.
The sharing of your journey and experience has helped me navigate my own journey so I encourage you as I am able to hammer out your convictions day by day as well
This life is messy and we all must navigate each day in spirit and truth as best we can
Stay strong, my friend
Congrats on finding what you believe is the truth, but I must ask: what led you to Christianity besides it (likely) being the dominant faith of your culture? I have yet to see any empirical evidence presented for any particular faith.
All of this is so true. I find the “finding community” part the hardest out of all of them, as well as the “what is my purpose” part. Had to deal with everything else on the way and I’m still not fully out per se.
This is one of the best videos ever on this subject. Thank you so much. I really relate to the community part because i dont know anyone in real life that is going through this either. Thank goodness for TH-cam. Thank you for creating a community here ❤
You struck so many common cords with this one Brandon I had to make a second comment. Here in a few weeks I’m going to my 40th year Catholic class reunion and almost feels like I’m a lamb going into the lions den so your timing of this episode was fantastic.
oh man, good luck! report back.
Such an absolutely fantastic show Brandon this is why I started listening to you because I related so well to your story thank you thank you thank you
Always my pleasure, Jeff!
I pretty much abruptly became atheist after reading neuroscience in the pursuit of knowledge regarding breaking habits. This was around December 2019/January 2020. Coming home from the trip where I had told the parents about my loss of belief, covid started. It was actually good timing as far as finding community, since I’m a musician and couldn’t work, I had all day to go to TH-cam and learn to actually write music. Now, four and some years later, I have a virtual office to hang out with my fellow musicians and TH-camrs, more than half of whom (in my inner circle) are also atheists. The christians in our community are there because they don’t proselytize or act judgy. The deep and constant support has made me feel more confident in “meatspace” conditions so I’m slowly building a new local community being that my prior community is all connected to the church I used to attend (they’re mostly really nice people being a new agey christian universalist one, but there’s a lot of anti science sentiment etc and people talk about spiritual stuff practically nonstop). The humanistic atheist online community is not as close to my heart as my music community, but it’s like the people at my local or at other functions where I don’t know everyone but I do feel welcomed. Thanks Brandon for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us and helping us build a neighborhood here on the Toobs. 🎉😊
As I said once to someone, you can compel my behavior, you can compel my speech, but you cannot compel my thoughts. Thank you Mindshift for this channel.
Agreed and thanks!
That community aspect is real. For me, also the routine of it. I can't tell you how much your Sunday videos have filled that gap for me.
Glad to be a part of it for you!
27:30 I carry Waking Up with me and pull it out when I have to wait for something/someone. It was/is something that I've used to help me ground myself to reality. The amount of time I spend in my head, thinking of things that don't really matter amazes and frustrates me. Sam has been a huge influence in helping me transition into a scary world with a healthy dose of practical guidance.
Well said!
Great one, Brandon. Thank you SO much for saluting Sam Harris. Along with Hitch’s book, it was essential to me in “clarifying” my atheism. And yet Sam Harris has become a polarizing figure among atheists. What?? He blocked for all atheists/deconstructors to come. I just don’t get it. So thanks, man.
@@Cincyboy56 polarizing due to politics and other things he covers because not all atheists believe the same things in these areas. It doesn't make sense to have it affect just atheists, but I suppose a lot of his audience is.
I deconstructed at 17, and I am now 72. It was painful, but completely worth it. I no longer pretend to any such beliefs and it is such a relief. Now I, an ex-Catholic, have an atheist husband who is ex-Lutheran (the Missouri Synod kind) and four atheist children who were never taught to fear the cosmos or a boogie man. I have never wanted to be back in my belief, and I miss none of it now. In fact, I see more grace and charity in non-believers than I ever saw in believers, who tended to be judgmental and intolerant. Most of them were ignorant, too. They knew almost nothing of the Bible, the catechism, the apologia, the philosophical and historical bases for everything in the Christian religions I was ever involved with. When I started to read Church history and Christian apologetics, in my early teens (12-13) I saw how thin was the foundation I had been ingrained in. The truth is far better, and Science never asks me to just believe because someone says to. It is rigorous and convincing. I am so grateful for the the brain and the time to follow my questions. My family is free of superstitions.
Love this!
@sallypursell1284 Have you read the Quran?
This is a great video. I wish you had made it a couple of years earlier. I hope this helps a lot of people.
thank you for that! just trying to make the videos i would have needed myself to save a lot of issues.
Thank you, Brandon, for putting together yet another helpful video. One of my hobbies I've engaged in (a.k.a. been obsessed with) is curating music playlists. In the past (when I was a Christian), I would "pepper" my playlists with Christian music (right alongside secular songs). When I started deconstructing (almost a year ago), I started creating playlists that echoed my journey. It is so funny that you used the term "face the music" today (couple of times). That is the theme of all my pl's. I have created 9 pl's. For example "FTM Cognitive Dissonance". I realize that nobody else will ever hear them, the creation of them has been cathartic for me. Most of the themes came from subjects explored by you (and other TH-camrs / critical thinkers). Thanks for lighting the way for so many of us!
oh man, love that! if they are on Spotify and you ever want, link them up!
My platform is TH-cam Music. I have flagged them as "public". I'm not sure how to "link" them per se.
At 19 years old I left Aruba and went to the Netherlands to study chemistry. That really help me deconstruct. Almost every one I met there were atheist or kept their faith to themselves.
Reading the whole Bible should be a prerequisite to joining Christianity. It’s quite insane that we are pushed to convert based on a feeling or a single sermon.
That's is usually a prerequisite for becoming an atheist. Actually reading the Bible is what convinced me that it was a human creation.
It took me about 50 times through before the penny dropped...
So true!
@@TonyLambregtsMaybe that is the reason they don’t want you to read it first. People that read the first few books would be like, “This is quite bizarre, never mind. Let’s not do this”
@@BluStarGalaxy Famously, the catholic church did not want the book translated into any, for the time, modern languages. A large part of that had to do with wanting a monopoly on access to the book. But there were definitely people who recognized that there would be problems with everyone being able to read the whole thing for themselves. That sort of paternalistic attitude largely persists in the catholic church to this day.
Thank you for this video, Brandon
My pleasure!
Thank You Brandon for this video 📹! Much needed information that you are providing 🙌 and very Helpful for me and for other like - minded people to get through this
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.”
- Bertrand Russell
Really thank you for these lessons about deconstruction you teach us through your personal anecdotes. They resonate so deeply with me and I would bet many other listeners too. I hope you'll be doing more of those videos soon because I would need them in my life rn. Not having, as you put it, the ritualistic side of religious life anymore, nor the community, because that chapter of life is now closed despite sometimes wanting so badly to return to that life even though you would not want to go back to it resonates so deeply with me. It truly sucks sometimes, especially right now.
I agree with you, that Brandon resonates quite well with me too. The communal (albeit I’m rather introverted and can be reclusive at times) aspect and feeling like there’s something larger than me, alongside others, is something that religion does have a leg up on. May you continue to find comfort and feeling less alone here with the rest of us following along what Brandon shares!
The religious deconstruction process is toughest for fundamentalists of any of the three Abrahamic faiths. I began my de-conversion process several years ago, and as a fundamentalist, it was extremely painful not only for me, but for my family and friends also, who were distraught that my eternal destiny was either the eternal flames of hell, or at the very least, the eventual annihilation of my soul on the day of judgement.
I still have about 50% of all the religious texts that I ever bought; having sold the first half about 6 years ago, thinking I would keep the remainder for future reference when talking with people who are still within my former religious communities, but cognitive dissonance is so incredibly strong with most of them, that nothing I say will have much of an affect. So, I'm getting ready to sell the rest, but might keep a few of them just in case one of my former coreligionists wants to talk.
So, what I'm trying to say is, trust yourself / your critical thinking side of you brain, and just take it one step at a time, because you've already made it over the biggest hurdle, which was allowing your frontal lobs to access those nagging doubts that you've probably suppressed for years, because those doctrines and doctrines you learned have zero verifiable evidence to support them.
I encouraged a friend to start attending church a few years ago, he changed drastically for the better and I became a hero to his family for saving him and his marriage. He and them are confused now that I have stopped attending church, not really sure how to approach it because I don't want him to revert to his old ways.
That's a hell of a dilemma.
I love poetry... Rumi has helped me a lot. The thirteen century poetry...I go to hime and poetry for my inspiration and light and Love...
Yes it wasn't easy , from a Muslim Salafist to an Atheist it was a logical and critical fight against the most sweet feelings, years of little steps, but my revenge is done I have five smart daughters who are better oriented and prepared than me, they are humanists and free ❤❤❤
how lovely, good work!
Excellent video, Brandon! I especially love the point about the freedom of having your own thoughts! It probably sounds silly to someone who didn’t grow up in the church ( to the extent that we did), but it’s seriously a revelation to realize that you are free to think…
Right?! And thank you!
This is going to be a really helpful resource for generations of questioning minds to come, Brandon. Your presentation was neutral enough to appeal to those in any of several stages in their journey of coming into their own intellectually. For the record, I think you would make a great counselor, as your ethos seems centered around a non-dogmatic and flexible approach to mental health and intellectual wellbeing grounded in the sensitivities of experience.
Wow! You hit the nail on the head with what it feels like to leave an identity. I still go to church because it is comfortable, despite being at a fairly late stage of doubt. Most of the people I know don't even know that I've gone through doubts (other than a few very close friends and family). I'm a people-pleaser, so it's actually really easy for me to hide it. I've called myself a cultural Christian for almost a year because I still find a lot of value (probably status quo and comfort) in the church even though I would no longer consider myself a believer. It's not because I think think the church is perfect, because it's definitely not, but it's comfortable to me.
But yeah, identity is interesting. I was the good child who read my Bible to the point of memorizing several chapters and giving sermons on those verses. I considered myself a sort of spiritual leader in both high school and college. What is my identity now? (Watching apologetics debates on both sides with every spare moment I have, lol). As I'm writing this, I think that I should probably get other hobbies, but here I am... 😅
Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus
who
are raising, glorifying, and exalting themselves as greater, powerful, glorious, higher, and superior than Atheists
are
clearly the arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth
who
are obviously bringing themselves nothing but their own dishonor, disgrace, shame, downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS.
The BIBLE
is not a worthless book of lies, myths, fictions, fantasies, and fairy tales
but the "WORD of GOD" and source of the TRUTHS that -
1. Loving, kind, respectful, and submissive persons on earth
who
honor and obey Jesus Christ as their loving, kind, and merciful Master and Heavenly King
will
definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4
but
will also be hated, insulted, mocked, dishonored, and slandered by arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Atheists.
2. the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26
are
obviously NOT for arrogant, cruel, merciless, and hateful persons on earth
but
ONLY for all the loving, kind, respectful, and submissive Worshippers of the Creator
who
died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others
who
are all worthy and deserving of being RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can happily and peacefully live and exist on earth forever as
submissive and obedient subjects and citizens of the "KINGDOM of GOD"
and fully enjoy the eternal love, kindness, goodness, compassions, generosities, favors, and blessings of the Creator and his Christ for eternity
under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as the Creator's Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
31:45 I will say, in this grand experiment called life, and what you’ve created here, has been a reprieve for me personally.
I’ve shared before, that something about your presentation, outlook, and quest for knowledge has clicked something in my brain and heart, and appreciate that fact, let alone finding your channel. Reading and commenting/replying to you and others here has satiated a fair bit of that social and communal need for me, and gives talking points between me and my long time partner, and a time or two with my dad (minister’s son and missionary kid, was in Japan in the ‘60s-‘70s).
In a way, I wish my paternal grandpa was still alive, where he and I could talk about this sort of stuff, since he went through a doubting period prior to becoming a minister (his father, my great-grandfather was also a Minister and missionary, earning awards from the emperor of Japan, despite being American).
Editing to add
32:18 I would easily start a local Atheist church branch of Atheist church of Whatever (TM)
So glad to be able to do this in any small way. Thanks, Rianna!
@@MindShift-Brandonis much appreciated, and grateful it’s helping you connect more/satiate some desires of yours, let alone us here watching. Looking forward to all the other new videos that’ll come out, and enjoyed the first book in your post-cannon series
Thank you! I stopped believing decades ago, but this still helps me.
Thank you so much for this.
This is not the first time that I am deconstructing the catholic faith.
I stip believing and then I jeep having “floating” episodes, and I go back.
When I quit going to church, I usually block all the believers.
This time, I thought I could tell two of my “friends”; and I did, separately.
I texted them that I was having big doubts.
I wrote to one if them that we could talk about it, but I just don’t feel like it now. I have not contacted her again; and nother did she.
I said I was having doubts especially because of all the abuse. She said that’s why I must stay close to the one that can heal.
I replied I don’t even think he exists.
She replied; there must be some small signs?
I did not reply.
There are some signs that can be just coincidences. But the systematic abuse; if God is ever powerful…
And why does Mary keep “appearing” but never mentions to stop the pedophilia?
Makes NO sense.
makes no sense indeed. also the very fact that a believer needs to see small signs aka coincidences instead of being able to actually know is pretty telling.
@@MindShift-Brandonforgot to mention she is an Opus Dei supernumerary.
I have been a cooperator in 2008 but broke it off in 2009.
Been a synpathizer on and off. Last time, went back to church after I separated from an abusive man and adter the death of my 19 year old cat. So I was back at church when my mom passed away suddenly.
Being single, no kids, no brothers/sisters, it felt reassuring.
But now the abuses… the last straw was finding out that a French priest who used to help the homeless abused wen for 50 years. L’abbé Pierre if you want to look it up.
My mom was not a practising catholic. But she admired him.
I feel so betrayed by the church.
But I am doing good, healing slowly.
Abrahamism was founded on pedophilia.
“Always look for the helpers, then you’ll know there’s hope.” -. Fred Rogers
Thank you for executing your purpose, Mr. B.
Thank you for this video. Your content (especially your Secular Bible Study series) has been a large part of my deconstruction and deconversion. I was raised a Fundamentalist-Seventh Day Adventist, and you brought up verses and theology in SBS that I realize I had previously brushed over, or manipulated to fit my theology. In fact, you've inspired me to do my own outreach on this, as I haven't been able to find much examination of SDA theology that isn't just more mainstream Christians dissecting only the SDA *specific* doctrine.
Again, thank you for this video in specific, and your channel in general. I really appreciate that you blend both compassion and honesty in your approach, pointing out the (sometimes quite obvious) problems in Christian ideas without calling people stupid for believing it, pointing out the emotions/psychology that lead to or support them.
Love this. I heard something like this just the other day on another channel, but from a slightly different approach/focus. Very helpful and useful.
Feel free to link it! The more help the better
So true! I don’t care what the sociologists say about the rise of the nones, and the growing number of atheists; while true, I’m here to say that being an atheist remains a lonely business.
hopefully we are paying the price for future generations to have it much better.
This has been so uplifting. Thank you for sharing and encouraging us. I've had some of the same thoughts and experiences.
What an important video, and well done as always!
Thank you, Becca!
This is very true for me. Thank you.
You are so welcome
@@MindShift-Brandon I really mean it, man. I'm not as smart as you but everything you say and the way you explain everything is exactly how I feel deep inside.
It's hard because although I'm an adult, I am too empathetic of what my family thinks of me. if they truly knew what I "believe". I just don't want to disappoint or start any arguments so I just agree and essentially play along with it all.
It really does hurt when my grandpa says before death basically, "you know why I love you? Because you're my only grandson that isn't a f**got." And my mother constantly comparing me to Jesus. It can be so mentally exhausting
I lately figured out which points led to my faith disappearing slowly and me realizing that there wasn't any faith left.
1. We talked about the question of evil in religion class.
2. I was thinking about how I (and other people) spent time and energy in church, that could potentially be used to make the world a better place.
3. I started to notice that I felt worse after youth group, because the messages kind of supported a way of thinking that one could never be good enough.
4. I was (still) am very upset about animals having to suffer for food etc. and noticed that the christians around me did not care more than others about this suffering (my impression was they cared even less).
At the point I realized my faith had fully disappeared, I was not happy about that, but since I found your (nd other) videos, having lost my faith feels right, logical and freeing.
I lost my faith 6 or 7 years ago and I don't think I've become a worse person. I still care about being a good person. Not being religious also helps for my (future) job of being a social worker i think.
I can relate to so many of your points! Happy to have helped. Thanks for being here.
@@e.we. why is suffering the objective measure of goodness ?
Besides I thought atheists didn’t believe in objective morals
@andrewwilson9183 besides i didn't say that this was the objective standard, I was not looking for a discussion. I'm really happy with my life, it's gotten sooo much better. I'm sure enough in my standpoint. Empathy is enough for me for knowing that i don't want others to suffer.
If you're looking for answers, Brandon and other people here have really good answers.
@@e.we.
So you left Christianity because you didn’t understand its morality, the nature of God, and because it’s inconvenient. A better trajectory would be you comparing natural theology to Christian theology and comparing them to see what doesn’t add up.
Brandon, pastor Tim told me back in 2000 that i just needed a dozen of Bible😊 thank for your channel
Thank you so much for this Brandon…❤️🩹
My pleasure!
The Bible/God = the OG version of "Gaslight".
❤❤this.
And the origin of narcissism.
Such quality commentary and hope those in need of this mental health sorting this religion vs truth altruism battle.
Black sheep here! Thanks for this, man. Especially the desire to seek a new label, or have like-minded community. The Bible belt is hard, but thankfully, my believing friends are genuine. Atheist friends may or may not come later. Thanks for your channel -- it does help.
This! So true
I have took several "steps" towards deconstruction!!!
Proud of you for thinking for yourself regardless of where it all leads!
@@MindShift-Brandon Well hopefully out of this evil relegion!
Awesome!
Thanks!
I deconstructed when I was messed about by my church leaders repeatedly avoiding answering the question "which verse do you use to show that the bible is The Word of God." There isn't one anywhere in the bible but I can think of three that define that Jesus is the word. I fasted for 40 days because I was so conflicted by the c**p response to a genuine question coming from my reading the bible from cover to cover many times. So hard to work through all this.
Every part can be so damn frustrating
@@MindShift-Brandon Doubly so when I know that without the structure that the church instilled I would have deliberately overdosed due to PTSD. I changed overnight. I can't dismiss that. Three zealous decades as a worship leader later...
when Brandon cautions about going strictly to believers to help figure things out, in my experience he is right. We need input from all aspects and we don't get that from faith based discussions of believers. I went to a place of quiet, finally to sort out the info I took from believers, non-believers, philosophers, and more. Many many walks alone through fields and woods, watching people from a distance to better understand what being human is, what love is, putting on a magnifying glass to learn what has value in life, connecting on that real human level with loved ones. Best to you!!
@@maggienewton8518 Thankyou. Good shout(s). Honestly, I don't think I will ever trust the christian system with any vulnerability.
You hit the nail on the head for me. My main loss with leaving religion is that loss of community. I've actually contemplated finding a very liberal church where I could pretend to believe just so I could find a community for me and my family. I don't think I would but, I've thought it. My whole family do still believe and I dread the moment of prayer before family dinners. What do I do with my hands!? Haha. Lucky my wife is also a non-believer, so at least we have each other but, it is the hardest struggle that loss of community.
Brandon! Crash Course! Community! TH-cam! Learning!
I love this channel and I love that you provide support for people like us. I am also in an area where I’m surrounded by believers for the most part and it can be very isolating.
It's been years and I only recently got to a place where the "tags" don't catch me. By tags I mean the hell fear, that nano-second hesitation, of saying "atheist" out loud.
what a process it all is!