@@briannazq7596 I know. Pardon? There is so much spiderweb around leaving fantasy! The fantasy system has tentacles. You are absolutely alright without religion. But certainly religion will never allow you freedom! I wish you all the best for you! Greetings from Sweden Ronny Erik.
Former Christian here. Raised as a pastors kid, and wanted to go into the ministry myself. Long story short, always wanted to defend the faith as an apologist. Studied apologetics hardcore, and well 😅. It backfired. Evolution, doubting Biblical infallibility, being disgusting by “eternal conscious torment”, studying church history, etc. now I’m agnostic. Oh the irony
Now, imagine as your father that is a pastor that raised his kid in the “way he should go,” so that he will be secured in Christ, and thinking you still have to love the demon god that is going to roast your beloved son you love so much. Such a crazy ass suspension of thought/emotion that exists with special pleading because it’s “god.” How could he have anything but hatred towards a being that is going to eternally torture his beloved son, especially when he dedicated his life to that god?
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@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm there is no roasting period, whether or not you believe in silly fairy tales
@@Cowboy-uw7jz thing is, none of that us required to be a Christian. To be an Evangelical, yes but I am a Christian who believes in Evolution, but rejects Biblical Inerrancy and Eternal Conscious Torment. (Not expecting Eternal Conscious Delight either!) Christian life is about THIS life, not the "next" one.
40:37 "christianity deprives people of empathy...and when you mix that in with the arrogance...it's a pretty toxic group of people." That right there!🎯💯
Tim I cant tell you how much youre helping me right now. Im going through a very tough time in my life and thinking crazy thoughts. But that people like you are out there and giving people the platform to have their stories told, is a saving grace for me and gives me some positive hope in my life. I’ve donated a couple times to you and I wish I could do more, unfortunately my financial situation is questionable right now. I have watched every single one of your interviews and recommend them to friends. Please keep doing what youre doing. You are going to leave the world better than you found it. Thank you. KEEP GOING
Thanks, Kevin! Also, feel free to add me on FB and reach out there if you'd care to discuss if you'd be a good fit for an interview. facebook.com/harmonictim
I honestly prefer Buddhism over any Abrahamic religion. It's one of the few 'religions' I can really get down with, and that has some practicality and believability to it. Many of the teachings in Buddhism are not much different than the good aspects of Christianity as well. Just without all the nonsense like eternal hellfire.
True. I am from Africa where Buddhism is not. When I came to America and came across Buddhism and read their belief systems, I was drawn into it. It's more authentic than the Christian dogmas. I honestly believe in all religions, Buddhism is the closest to spirituality.
@@RobinBirdsong 👍 Yes, it’s ironic when believers say I don’t know what I’m talking about so can’t have read the Bible - the opposite it true, that’s why I’m an atheist
You're not alone my friend. Jesus is one of those long rotted corpses in many of our skeleton closets .
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@@FoursWithin assuming "jesus" existed at all
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@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm there have been quintillions of living organisms on earth and every single one of them has died, or will die, including you. That's grown up reality. Get some.
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm Based on the reality of our past. The contradiction from a Christian perspective is used as an allegory or metaphor. Making the rotten body representing the lies and religious propaganda at the core of the Christian beliefs system.
Thanks Khrista. Your honesty and search for truth really matters. As one who spent years involved in evangelical Christianity and then deconstruct, I appreciate your bravery .
Yep. Thankfully we at least get to hear all these wonderful escape stories. The dramatic struggle to escape the confusion from the ancient cult lies can bring tears (of happiness) as well.
@@urnotaman4444 "Proves that evolution is false" Sounds as if you don't quite understand what "proves" means. "And then you believe in such things like revolution" What !? Revolution isn't a religious belief .
I just turned 70 and now celebrating the anniversary of my own de-conversion 30 years ago. Since then, I have had innumerable conversations with others in assisting them with the kind of truth investigation and clear thinking needed to break the psychological hold that keeps them enslaved to gods of all sorts. But I must say that Khrista’s story is perhaps the most compelling one I have ever heard … she has truly earned her way to the freedom she now enjoys. I am impressed with her and you, Tim for your refreshing testimonies of shedding faith in favor of a new life of pure reason and human compassion for all!
17:52 Sure compassion for all out free for all degeneracy no consequences for anyone or anybody, now that's freedom ! Right! I think when you turn 70 or 72 you might change your tune . Or maybe not !
You speak so lovely in educated. I'm 63 I went through a whole bunch just like her gave up the love of my life of 12 years only to realize we wereto realize we were tricked. Now I just have to live in the grace 😇🙏💙
@@gregorygant4242 My use of the word “freedom” here refers to responsibility for one’s own values, thoughts and actions … which radically differs from the Christian message of a mythical god’s grace bestowed on all his believers regardless of their cumulative “sins” against their fellow humans. So it is my “godless” world view that actually preserves the concept of justice as it is meted out to each of us in this life according to our intentions and actions, whereas in your presumed “god presiding” paradigm there are no ultimate consequences for the evils perpetrated by those bearing the name of that god (whichever of the thousands of named deities we have accumulated In history).
You just told my story concerning the "this makes no sense." I spent 40 years trying to make it make sense. Conclusion.... It's not sensible. Thank you for sharing your story.
Jesus was born and raised in a Jewish community. He preached orthodox Judaism based on the Laws of Moses and Abraham. I was born and raised Catholic until I found out that the Catholic God was a Jewish preacher who worshiped and obeyed a Jewish god named Yahweh. However the nuns and priests and my devout Catholic mother appeared ignorant of this fact. A totally misleading and deceptive indoctrination program designed to exercise control and obedience. I became disillusioned with the entire belief system and returned to agnostic atheism which is my true condition at 76 years old.
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm my point, which sailed over your head (surprise) is that your jesus character probably wouldn't appreciate childish squabbles among his putative followers, like "you're not a real christian neener neener", ie, your comment.
Jesus wasn't an "Orthodox Jew" simply because what we know as "Orthodox Judaism" is a cultural and ethnic identity shaped into centuries of diaspora after Romans losing it once and for all with Jews and their Temple. Jesus was , historically, a Jew who was active into a very specific era of heated debate among many streams of culture and beliefs inside the Jewish society itself and this rather self evident in the Gospel by his contrasts with other thinkers and institutions who wanted to stone him for heresy. Maybe your nuns were more aware than you. Respectfully, your notions look quite superficial. Not about theology, just about history. Edit: I respect your story and your age, yet the pastiche people claim as "objective truth and knowledge" is absurd. I am increasingly convinced that 90℅ of atheists are such more for the environment they grew into than for actually having deeper knowledge than "believers"
Awesome testimony. I've been trying to " pray the gay away for 40 long years. Come to reality at 54. In a sexless marriage to a woman for the past 17 years. Finally ready the throw in the towel and live my truth. The longing for a same-sex relationship NEVER left. I live, sleep and dream as a gay man. Came out to my wife 6 months into our marriage. She seems cintent but I can't help feeling that she's wasting the best years of her life in this sham of a marriage. Gaining more strenght daily to do what I know needs to be done.
Long shot here, and maybe you’ve considered it but maybe she’d be open to an “open” or poly marriage ? If you’re still in love with each other. You could keep it private between you. It’s a thing 😉 Wish you both all the best. Peace
I have had friends say that even without heaven and hell, they would still be Christians. I never understood that. Once I no longer feared hell and realized how believing evangelicalism trapped me in a bad marriage for too long. I was done.
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm She didn't say any of those things, she basically said just that if there is no hell, which she does not fear, why follow Christianity if it isn't working for you.
I have a family member who is going through some of the struggles I heard here. She is a very devout Christian and every year she gets deeper and deeper into religion. Her prayers are getting longer and longer. Her "time with God" is getting longer and longer. Her self esteem has hit rock bottom. If something doesn't go as planned, she blames herself for not praying/praising enough. Every time something positive happens, she fills the conversation with "Praise the Lord" messages. It is getting annoying. She recently quit her job, so she could dedicate more time to her church. She has gone back home to live with her mom. . But I'm worried about her mental health. She is well over 30, single.
Your message resonates with me because my adult son is exactly like that . He has given up every job he had he has sold all his possessions, if you try to talk to him he closes his eyes and prays to Jesus ( which looks creepy ) he deliberately crashed his car because Jesus told him to drop anything that gets in his way towards a deeper faith, he is the most joyless depressed dull person I’ve ever met sad to say , he has lost his once dry but great personality, tbh he really is acting like how a drug addict would act a total disengagement from life .
Hell is real, but people miss what is really going on when one is sent to hell, it is a place that seperated a person from GOD , his light , his presence, his peace, joy, goodness basically your isolated from all source of life because you did not want anything to do with him and his salvation and truth, so that's where a person will spend there eternity alone without GOD there choice not GODS it's not about religion it's about our Savior and Father and their love for us and our love for them if you love someone you want to please them and they become your life just like you become their life it's rather beautiful, but we all got a choice to love our Father and Savior and be loved by them or reject them and spend eternity alone in darkness because that's what that person wanted not GOD
@@rebeccaringler1265 HOD formed our spirits and than put us in this flesh GOD knew us before we were born and I believe we knew him but you have to understand that when Satan rebelled against our Creator it was when he had it all beauty love high ranking strength wisdom but he wanted to be like GOD and rule so here come Adam and Eve and of course they fell but we had to be born to make our choice before we die cause if Satan fell while perfect than GOD had to make a plan for salvation and only those who truly love GOD and believe on his Son for salvation and want to be with him will be saved so another rebellion will never happen again
Wow. What an up and down and complex testimony. It shows just how messy life can be. Best wishes for your future Khrista, for you, your soon to be ex, and importantly for your children. Great interview Tim.
My wife and I went through our own deconversion after being devout Catholics our whole life. I greatly appreciate your story and the courage it takes to take this path and then talk about it openly. Thank you!
This was intense and tbh i had to stop and take mental health breaks bc i have teenage children that are still sitting under the influence of those Steve Camp style messages and that gives me anxiety when i think about it. Theres nothing i can do about it but its just so damaging.
I have the same issue and in all honesty that is what led me to question everything and see this for the charade it is. I started asking logical questions of my daughter. Bit by bit, not all at once but in a calm and inquisitive way, maybe a couple times a month. She has definitely taken her foot off of the gas and while quietly, I believe she is now starting to have questions. Good luck
Just imagine how many lives were ruined in this story … the function of religious dogma is to make people obedient and to deny them the ability to question religious teachings … the result is Khrista’s story …. Happy for her … she escaped
Religions and especially cults/high control groups/families, so often keep people infantilized and unable to differentiate into their own True Self, standing in their own two shoes. It causes such chaos and long lasting trauma effects. Healing is a long, ongoing challenge.
Great interview. Thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the best I've watched. Thank you for sharing. Christianity is so toxic. So happy for you and the peace you have found in freedom from Christian lies.
This was rough to hear. I deconstructed 2 years ago but even Till Now im scared to Tell my familly that im not Christian anymore. You are So brave and im so happy for you you made it!!! I Wish you nice live with your real personality ❤❤ I Hope i Will be strong as you and say my family
The amount of pressure removed from my shoulders after I realized Christianity is made up was astonishing. Fear and self-loathing was gone. I equate to drowning and finally bringing my head above water and taking a life giving breath into my lungs. I am by no means a perfect person but, I deal with life and my flaws in reality and it is so much better.
I commend any parent who can provide the example of what it means to be human, which includes AKNOWLEDGING being non-perfect. You are a blessing to your kids. I know through experience how frustrating and devasting it can be when a parent is not able to do so.
It's so true! Once you're really going for it with integrity, the veil will fall eventually. It was not the desire to find falsehoods, it is the desire to find out the truth, the "why this and that?", to find out an answer to the problems/issues/contradictions even.. while trying to preserve the faith. If the desire to find out the truth is greater than trying to preserve the faith, the veil WILL fall. (it's like Harmonic atheist says it, instead of circling around in one bubble, one can step out and look into another bubble) It then does not become a not a matter of "wanting" to believe and you can believe again. Once the veil has fallen, the things seen can not be unseen, which means that in order to believe again, something much MUCH stronger evidence-wise must come up that is able to refute the things seen behind the veil. The problem is... that hasn't presented itself so far and I doubt it ever will, especially considering how the religion has evolved to what we know it as today. And yes... once the veil has fallen, the authority shifts as well, which creates way more peace and freedom than before. I too was scared right before I figured out it was all a lie, a mental prison, but that was very shortlived. I will be honest, as a christian I did have moments where I felt at peace (the world can't touch me because I'm living under the grace of god) or when I thought I was experiencing the holy spirit and god's presence. But it does not compare to the freedom I felt after seeing it was all a lie and how that made me more accepting of myself but also the world and life in general!! This peace is of a different nature and it does indeed made much more sense! It also causes less judging to oneself or others and it creates for a more peaceful approach! Less fear, more love. *_Religion causes a struggle to become "whole". No religion is about just 'being' whole._* (the irony of Exodus 3:14 "I am, who I am." First god says we have to be like god, but then "tells" us to follow all kinds of illogical and silly rules) Harmonic Atheist is right. Things could have been a lot different if religious doctrine did not get a hold of us through pushing. My life would have looked very different as well. Indoctrination is based on fear, no matter how one looks at it. When someone wants to push someone (back) into a religion, it's because of fear. The excuse of "out of love" is absolutely misplaced. At the core it's fear. Funny enough people are doing 100% of the work they say "god" is doing in mysterious ways. Gotta love confirmation bias within a mental prison. *sigh* The analogy of seeing other people as little projects for conversion and discussing christian things with other christians or starting a conversation with god because forces of evil were at work.. made me laugh, because it was true for me too :) One of the downsides is that you can not have a verbal dissagreement and talk it over with someone who still reasons like that, since they will fall into a state of victimhood, call unto god and see it as spiritual warfare. The result is that the issue will remain unsolved and that it might happen again with the same exact scenario... Thanks to religious reasoning... Hallelujah, praise the lawd... Another good interview! Thanks.
9:58 Yes, yes! That's EXACTLY how the early Christian Gnostics described the Old Testament "God"! And they asserted that the TRUE God sent Jesus to free people from that monster. THOSE teachings were largely (but not entirely) expunged from the "canonized" Gospels. But most of them are found in the "Nag Hammadi Library," and a few were discovered elsewhere.
What a heart wrenching story. It’s beautiful to see Khrista so articulate and self aware and grounded but I still feel deep sympathy for what she’s been through. I loved how Khrista described the moment she came out to herself literally as an epiphany, a moment of “divine” truth. After searching in all these institutions and scripture, trying to find God, then to finally realise that the only worthwhile truth is to accept and trust yourself. That should be a simple lesson that we teach our children but for too many religious people this is deeply threatening and to be avoided at all costs. All the best! There’s still a lot that you’ll have to go through as you begin a new life and hopefully find an honest, loving relationship. But you go into the future with open eyes and you’ll be alright.
He doesn’t love us, he loves “some” and he demands worship, obedience, dedication, giving yourself up, and then at the end you could find out the answer were never one of the predestined elect in the first place
Another interesting interview! Thanks. Religion really is ridiculous and to think that some people want all of us to be shackled to it, in this day and age, is downright scary.
"my integrity caused me to deconstruct" - I feel that so much. I got so tired of feeling stupid because my "faith" required me to defend ridiculous stuff
Fantastic testimony. Smart woman. Hope her life is on an upward trajectory. I've been through a similar journey. We do not need to believe anything. Doctrinal belief systems have wreaked havoc on humanity. I now live with a non dual understanding of reality that doesn't rely on adherence to Middle Eastern myths. "GOD" is not other. It is that which is our very nature. No judgment. No monarchical control. All the best to your guest.
Any doctrine, be it religious, political or even scientific, should be thoroughly investigated. Well done Khrista for investigating and sharing your findings.
I'm truly moved by her story and all she went through. I'm happy she's out of it all. I wish her the best. She will find a new stable view and never be threatened again. John McArthur is an evil, hateful monster. He has blood on sus hands for the parishioners that died of Covid from his defiance of public policies.
Wow, Khrista, I went through almost the same deconstructing steps that you did,the same study in all those different areas you mentioned to find the truth -- never ever believing I'd come out an atheist on the other side. Now one of my best friends I've known since childhood can't have a relationship with me because without the spiritual aspect " it'll be too shallow." And of course, being a Calvinist, she believes I was never a Christian. ☹️
Khrista, you are an amazing woman, and I'm glad you are finally free of mental bondage. Wishing you all the joy in this world going forward. Tim, as always, great job. Thank you both.
This was honestly a perfect deconversion interview. The themes of eventually deconverting BECAUSE of the commitment to God and seeking the truth etc, going through the path of radicalization and eventually finding all the doctrinal issues and inconsistencies. One thing that popped up a few times that was spelled out but wish could've been said: it's all these Christians that don't even believe what they believe, or think they believe, so how can they even begin to criticize you for what results from honest search a d conviction? That's one of my personal rebuttals: most atheists are more Christian than christians; atheism is the natural end result of christianity. They just take all the short cut of social conformity, taking all the easy given answers, never examining things closer or questioning. And so they end up being un-thinking people, and highly immoral, or at least amoral. That whole emphasis on the denial and destruction of the self and going against nature, sacrificing yourself for the faith. All you end up with in cases like these is decades of lost life and time, and the regrets of having been one of those people not so long ago. And she knows her stuff, if came up several times. For example, Paul never talked about heaven or kingdom in heaven. To Paul, we weren't going anywhere, the kingdom of God was coming to us. It didn't happen! Christianity is a false belief! Fatally false in its foundations. One thing I struggle with personally, in my own life, I watched my parents re-convert backwards through different denominations until they landed on pre-schism Catholic Orthodoxy, still extant in the lesser known easter traditions like in Lebanon and Syria, and even Thomasinian, and the (as far as I understand) extinct Nestorianism. For all intents and purposes it's Catholic and Orthodox, they were cut off from the western schism and from the Eastern Orthodox schism, like it never happened. But that's a side note. But so, Catholics,cand to a similar degree with the Orthodox, they fall back in tradition and the teachings of the church. On the surface those denominations don't seem to take faith as seriously as the Protestants, but it's a common theme for those traditions, they view protestantism as being more or less loss and cut off from the traditions, which is where a lot of especially American atheists come from; the contradictions in the cultural protestantism, discovering that protestants don't really seem to read the Bible, and don't have answers for the contradictions and problems that arise from. It's not that the Catholics REALLY have the answers, it's just that when there are scriptural or cultural contradictions, they are often resolved through the traditions and authority of the Catholic (or Orthodox) church. Which I mentioned in the other comment, a lot of these social, cultural, or political conservatives, they are hell bent on being skeptical and cynical towards literally everything else, all other forms of knowledge and authority etc, but if they could apply that skepticism consistently, they'd find themselves questioning the authority of the "government" of their religion. Makes me wonder if there's so many Catholics, how many ex Catholics are there? They aren't proud about those numbers. I personally overall don't mind Catholics, they're generally very different from the Protestants, but in the American contexts Protestants that end up converting to Catholicism being the worst parts of those denominations and the politics with them. Scratch under the surface a bit and you can see the "controversies" in the Catholic church in ort because of this. There's not so subtle power struggles of legitimacy between a traditional and world oriented older Catholicism, and then the American cultural, highly protestant influenced Catholicism thats often at odds with the Vatican. I know there are highly conservative Catholics all over the world, but the particular rabid strain of fundamentalist and radical Catholics is very much at home in the US. It's a theme that's been popping up lately. Vice president Nominee JD Vance, and the Opus Dei members of the heritage foundation instrumental in penning project 2025 for us. Anyway. Great interview. I'm so glad she's in our ranks and is out there making the world better and living her life and being true to herself. She spoke like a seasoned non-religious. Which reminds me, technically speaking, most atheists are agnostic-atheist, because we don't know. By contrast, Christians claim their religion is revealed,, and philosophically would classify themselves as gnostic-theists. We do the thing they can't: admit no one knows. Which begs, of the religion were truly revealed, then why's is it so confusing and perplexing and damning and damaging to practice it, for oneself and others? It's as hidden as ever. I had recently reexamined it all for myself. Why don't I believe? Well, because it's not true! If it were true, no one would be able to deny it at all, Jesus would literally sit next to you, prayers would always be answered, and miracles would be an everyday fact of life. Instead it's all guesses and assumptions and illusion and faith in thin air. No thanks! I'll take tangible reality. I have exponentially more evidence that gays exist than heaven or hell. So why even beging to believe that's where they're going? Or all of us straight for that matter?
It’s always worth remembering; everyone is born atheist, some choose to have an enquiring mind and stay that way, others do not. I’m not including those who were indoctrinated from early childhood, that would be unfair, but people who freely choose to believe ….that’s another story!
Bob has it all. Bob has respect. They want to be like Bob. Bob has a huge house and a big car. Bob's employer doesn't have to pay taxes. Bob has a good life. Bob has a story. Bob says that blob gave it to him. They might not want to believe in blob, but they want to be like Bob. Blob is the truth because Bob says so.
Such a compelling and heartbreaking interview Khrista and Tim. Thank you for putting your story out into the world, Khrista, and exposing the lies of Christianity that have caused so much suffering.
Thank you to Kristha for sharing her story. I want to point out a few things. The interviewer didn’t explore Kristha’s relationship with her mother, which appears to have been really significant. For example, Kristha’s mother was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and was also deeply involved in the charismatic movement (as she mentioned). Jehovah’s Witnesses are quite different from mainstream Christianity and have faced criticism for covering up child abuse and for making people cut off family members, as I believe Kristha described. So, when Kristha’s mother exposed her in front of friends, and basically threatened her children, it sounds familiar. Jehovah's Witnesses expect strict loyalty and discourage individuality. The charismatic movement has its own issues too. They focus heavily on healing through prayer, so if that doesn’t work, it’s often seen as the "sick" person’s fault. They will of course also try to strip the person of medication too. A lot of people with mental illnesses come to charismatics at the promise of healing. Charismatics also have a strict interpretation of the Bible, which can put pressure on people to conform to certain behaviors, especially regarding their sexuality - which they are healed from right.. But all this kind of control isn’t unique to religious groups-it can show up in various forms outside of religion as well. In Kristha's case this seed of control and abuse seem to have been planted back when she was a child.
So far in my deconstruction I am starting to think maybe the Bible is a goofy compilation of man made stories centered on a particular and peculiar culture and region and people group- but somehow they caught on to some actual God thing- the resurrection. And then I pick and choose the good stuff. Like James 1:27. I want to be religious still - but the James 1:27 version (which is biblical- it’s in the Bible lol). But then I also really despise Paul. So gotta throw out pretty much all his letters especially the fake ones. Also It’s really weird because I’m deconstructing and when I get high before bed the religion almost starts to make sense again. But when I’m sober it doesn’t lol. I am gonna do mushies next week and see what happens. Sounds like I’m gonna have to start a Christian spin off cult.
Well, depending on how your brain reacts when high, it may alter your cognition to a higher absorption span due to pleasant euphoria. Your internal dialogue changes as your feelings change... if you think upon impulse. I like the picking and choosing, makes your perspective very human
I can relate to her story so much. I pretty much had the same journey in Christianity, except the other direction. I started out in condemnation, NAR and fundamentalism, then went to more Calvinism, then went to free grace. I can relate to the portion of studying things out on my own. I really believe that those who are committed to self study are at higher risk of genuine deconversion to the point of not believing in Bible God. The ambiguity and mystery starts to diminish and you can see things a lot more clearly for what they are
First off, Brava! Khrista! for finding your truth. When your car is going off the road and you realize it, you jerk the wheel in the opposite direction, overcorrecting. and the car sways that way too far, and you turn the wheel back, and after a few iterations it smooths out and you regain control. So never mind the changes from one thing to the other- you are listening to your own heart and discovering what's true for you, and I celebrate that with you. Tim, thank you for this video. I, too, am deconstructed, or as I like to say, I am a died-again Christian. I would give almost anything to be able to go back and not spend the prime of my life in Charismania, but I am free now, and so glad that I am! The more I learned about the Bible, especially the New Testament, who might have written it, who couldn't have written it, the doctrinal conflicts between Paul and James, the harder it became to trust any of it. And of course, there's the simple obvious fact that there is no evidence that Jesus came to earth to start a new religion. The whole thing is specious at best. Happy to share my journey if it will help anyone.
Thank you Tim!!! And thank you Khrista!! I’m SO PROUD of you!!! 🥹 You did such an AMAZING JOB!!! Thank you for being SO brave and sharing your truth!!! You’re a BEAUTIFUL SOUL!!! And I love you!!! ❤
I'm sorry you had to go through that I'm 63 white woman who knew I was gay like from 6 years old Yes lots of trauma. I'm glad to see you made it and that God loves you if there is a God. Yes suppressing ones identity is not recommended I've lived through it Don't do it it's dangerous It's not healthy and if God is God God can take anything that we can tell them as long as it's the truth. I'm proud of you all thanks Tim. 💙🙏 And everybody vote Democrat we have fascist at the door and we have them trying to take our rights away because that's what authoritarians do so let's show up and vote Democrats all the way down 💙🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙💙💙💙 And by the way I did the same thing exactly was in love the love of my life although we had 12 years and then I gave her up for the cult cuz I thought we was both going to hell only to find out we were tricked. I'm sorry you went through this 🙏😇
Thanks for sharing Khrista. Tookme a while to break the trauma bond I had with christianity. This world is straight savage and human beings are insane lol
My catholic family was quite skeptical and open minded, I was never much of a believer and I have described myself as a "None" for some 35 years. There's one thing though, I only remember Hell being mentioned once, by a visiting priest. He said the Church teaches that it's real, and though we'd like to think that people like Hitler and Stalin are there, we can't know for certain, we can't even know if anyone us there at all, and that's not our concern. I am grateful I have never experienced religious trauma.
I'm 65 yo and have been de-converted/de-constructed for over 40 yrs...what you call "shifting" I simply call growing pangs...you're simply growing and learning, and even though it can be miserable and confusing when you're going through the "dissonance", you'll come out of the other side a more mature, more informed person...and this is a lifelong process...we never completely "arrive", but let's just say that when you do finally see "the man behind the curtain", you can't unsee him...in life the only paths worth taking are the ones you walk and beat down yourself instead of the preexisting beaten paths...it takes courage - the type that most people don't have...i mean, they're not called sheep for nothing..."mistakes" are just stepping stones to forward progress...Thomas Edison said he never failed, he just became aware of 10,000 things that didn't work...course, I don't have to tell you how he contributed to progress.
The most rational and reasonable position for EVERYTHING in life is to withhold belief until sufficient evidence is found and proven. Thanks guys for further normalizing rationality, reason and reality 😊
Reason, rationality and reality are *not* one and the same. Assuming so it is a *huge* fallacy and lack of logic. And last decades of science and research brought tons of demonstrations for our limited possibility to even conceive "reality". Atheists should take a further step and give up the belief they "possess" unbiased objectivity , or they traded a belief for another belief.
1:37:10 - life is infinitely more beautiful without God. I can now make friends with non religious, Buddhists, Atheists, etc. without giving a flying f**k about where their soul’s going. I can simply enjoy the person without judgement and just be a friend.
I grew up R. Catholic I'm SW La., and we heard a reading from the Gospel in every celebration of the Mass.... doesn't sound like she went to catechism...
Thanks for sharing, Brianna! Feel free to add me on FB and reach out there if you'd like to consider sharing your story sometime. facebook.com/harmonictim
Yes Khrista, it takes bravery and courage. Most believers don't have what you have. They FEAR to question their beliefs. They FEAR what they may find, friends they might lose, and persecution they might endure.
so true what she says about being taught to "give it to god" as if that somehow will ever make the trauma and pain go away. it is really just avoidance of DEALING with it which Khrista painfully discovered the hard way. so glad you are on the path to true healing and freedom
What an incredible young woman! She had to fight so many currents trying to sweep her down a path that was not at all hers, yet she persisted. She did the hard work to know herself and that is her rock that she can hold on to regardless It sounds like she is trying to be as respectful as she can with those around her, yet she holds true to her needs at any cost. As for the gay thing, I saw that coming within the first three minutes of the video, but I have really good gaydar and lots of lesbian friends. Her message is so powerful and hopeful; I’m very glad I watched this!
She is right, it is a bunch of lies. Faith is pretending to know what you dont know. I feel sorry though for her husband , she destroyed his life with her narcissism and solipsistic pursuits. Yes, religion is a lie, but she lied to her husband , by pretending she was straight. She needs to take responsibility for what she did to him. She is a victimizer as much as she claims she was victimized.
Being so desperate to not make conclusions for the wrong reasons. That's just too relatable. For me, the most heartbreaking possible reality is the one in which Christianity is the truth, because although I think many of its values are good, the fact is that the overwhelming majority of people are doomed from the Christian world view. That is a truly agonizing situation.
"You weren't really saved, not really a Christian." Most of us deconverts are sick of hearing this. I have stories from patients on my table as a physical therapist who now have chronic pain because of chronic emotional trauma--from these churches. As I tell my own people all the time, it isn't fun to deconvert out of Christianity. And it takes a long time and that process is painful. First, you find one thing that isn't true. IE Virgin birth not stated at all in the most Hebrew text we have found. Then Pandora's box is opened. You start researching more. Then you realize that the everlasting life might not be a given--at all. Even as an unspecified theist now, more closely related to a Jew at the end of the day I now know that I don't know. I always say in my own stuff I wish I could be proven wrong. But the more I look, the more I find I'm not. Cheers, Harmonic----DCF
Khrista’s ability to communicate effectively made this a powerful share. Great interview! Truly hope this helps those who listen, who can relate to areas of this can find truth, freedom and autonomy for themselves. ‘Better minds than me still have their faith’ was the message from a young age that stopped me questioning as I’ll eventually have the same ‘revelations’. 🫤🫠😓 Well done Khrista and Tim this interview will be impactful and very informative ❤🎉😅
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It's really hard to hear how abusive religion is, but it's so important to hear it. Thank you.
Yay! Darkmatter!
@darkmatter2525, I am a huge fan🙂😍❤
By the way, I'm 71 years old. I lived in this fantasy world for 61 years!
@@briannazq7596 Are you forgiven? Or are you a saint nowadays?
@@Ronnymikkonen2686 Those questions do not compute.
@@briannazq7596 I know. Pardon? There is so much spiderweb around leaving fantasy! The fantasy system has tentacles. You are absolutely alright without religion. But certainly religion will never allow you freedom! I wish you all the best for you! Greetings from Sweden Ronny Erik.
Whoa.... I would love to sit down and hear your story... Your story is important for us still going through deconstruction.
Glad to hear you got your brain back! Good for you!
Former Christian here. Raised as a pastors kid, and wanted to go into the ministry myself. Long story short, always wanted to defend the faith as an apologist. Studied apologetics hardcore, and well 😅. It backfired. Evolution, doubting Biblical infallibility, being disgusting by “eternal conscious torment”, studying church history, etc. now I’m agnostic. Oh the irony
Yes. Very similar to myself only I wasn't a pastor's kid.
You put in the work and you found freedom, well done 👏 😅
🙋♀️Also a pastor’s kid
🤦♀️ took me until 47 years old to reach the ‘man behind the curtain’
Now, imagine as your father that is a pastor that raised his kid in the “way he should go,” so that he will be secured in Christ, and thinking you still have to love the demon god that is going to roast your beloved son you love so much. Such a crazy ass suspension of thought/emotion that exists with special pleading because it’s “god.” How could he have anything but hatred towards a being that is going to eternally torture his beloved son, especially when he dedicated his life to that god?
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm there is no roasting period, whether or not you believe in silly fairy tales
@@Cowboy-uw7jz thing is, none of that us required to be a Christian. To be an Evangelical, yes but I am a Christian who believes in Evolution, but rejects Biblical Inerrancy and Eternal Conscious Torment. (Not expecting Eternal Conscious Delight either!) Christian life is about THIS life, not the "next" one.
"Now that logic is involved and now that fear is gone" thanks Krista and Tim.
40:37 "christianity deprives people of empathy...and when you mix that in with the arrogance...it's a pretty toxic group of people." That right there!🎯💯
Tim I cant tell you how much youre helping me right now. Im going through a very tough time in my life and thinking crazy thoughts. But that people like you are out there and giving people the platform to have their stories told, is a saving grace for me and gives me some positive hope in my life. I’ve donated a couple times to you and I wish I could do more, unfortunately my financial situation is questionable right now. I have watched every single one of your interviews and recommend them to friends. Please keep doing what youre doing. You are going to leave the world better than you found it. Thank you. KEEP GOING
Thanks, Kevin!
Also, feel free to add me on FB and reach out there if you'd care to discuss if you'd be a good fit for an interview.
facebook.com/harmonictim
You’re not alone my friend! Thanks for watching
@@khristanelson5076 Your profile description still has "Soldier in the kingdom of God" in it :) Not sure if that is still the sentiment
I honestly prefer Buddhism over any Abrahamic religion. It's one of the few 'religions' I can really get down with, and that has some practicality and believability to it.
Many of the teachings in Buddhism are not much different than the good aspects of Christianity as well. Just without all the nonsense like eternal hellfire.
True. I am from Africa where Buddhism is not. When I came to America and came across Buddhism and read their belief systems, I was drawn into it. It's more authentic than the Christian dogmas. I honestly believe in all religions, Buddhism is the closest to spirituality.
Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool - Mark Twain
Great quote. Thanks
Just com🎉e to show that even a literate genius can say foolish. Things.
Love it! Another great Mark Twain quote.. “The quickest cure for Christianity is reading the Bible”
@@RobinBirdsong 👍
Yes, it’s ironic when believers say I don’t know what I’m talking about so can’t have read the Bible - the opposite it true, that’s why I’m an atheist
@@jamesaston410 100%… the truth is most Christians haven’t read any of the Bible whatsoever while many Atheists have read it thoroughly.
I just still can’t believe that I really was a Christian😞
@@Ronnymikkonen2686 Are you a believing Christian ?
You're not alone my friend.
Jesus is one of those long rotted corpses in many of our skeleton closets .
@@FoursWithin assuming "jesus" existed at all
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm there have been quintillions of living organisms on earth and every single one of them has died, or will die, including you. That's grown up reality. Get some.
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm
Based on the reality of our past.
The contradiction from a Christian perspective is used as an allegory or metaphor. Making the rotten body representing the lies and religious propaganda at the core of the Christian beliefs system.
Thanks very much 👍 so many mental gymnastics,it wore me out. Deconverting at 62.
I de-converted at 68. It's freeing!
Wow, my words exactly 3 months ago at the age of 64. I am so at peace.
Thanks Khrista. Your honesty and search for truth really matters. As one who spent years involved in evangelical Christianity and then deconstruct, I appreciate your bravery .
Well said
Tears me up to know that people are so miserable and misled
Yep.
Thankfully we at least get to hear all these wonderful escape stories. The dramatic struggle to escape the confusion from the ancient cult lies can bring tears (of happiness) as well.
@@stevenbolin7688 gullible would be an understatement.
@@urnotaman4444
"Proves that evolution is false"
Sounds as if you don't quite understand what "proves" means.
"And then you believe in such things like revolution"
What !?
Revolution isn't a religious belief .
@@urnotaman4444
Is "abiogenesis" your refutation of evolution? Beause it doesn't prove evolution false.
I just turned 70 and now celebrating the anniversary of my own de-conversion 30 years ago. Since then, I have had innumerable conversations with others in assisting them with the kind of truth investigation and clear thinking needed to break the psychological hold that keeps them enslaved to gods of all sorts. But I must say that Khrista’s story is perhaps the most compelling one I have ever heard … she has truly earned her way to the freedom she now enjoys. I am impressed with her and you, Tim for your refreshing testimonies of shedding faith in favor of a new life of pure reason and human compassion for all!
17:52 Sure compassion for all out free for all degeneracy no consequences for anyone or anybody, now that's freedom !
Right!
I think when you turn 70 or 72 you might change your tune .
Or maybe not !
You never were a Christian.
You speak so lovely in educated. I'm 63 I went through a whole bunch just like her gave up the love of my life of 12 years only to realize we wereto realize we were tricked. Now I just have to live in the grace 😇🙏💙
@@gregorygant4242 My use of the word “freedom” here refers to responsibility for one’s own values, thoughts and actions … which radically differs from the Christian message of a mythical god’s grace bestowed on all his believers regardless of their cumulative “sins” against their fellow humans. So it is my “godless” world view that actually preserves the concept of justice as it is meted out to each of us in this life according to our intentions and actions, whereas in your presumed “god presiding” paradigm there are no ultimate consequences for the evils perpetrated by those bearing the name of that god (whichever of the thousands of named deities we have accumulated In history).
Who are you to force your beliefs or lack thereof on others.
This channel is practically free therapy for RTS
You just told my story concerning the "this makes no sense." I spent 40 years trying to make it make sense. Conclusion.... It's not sensible. Thank you for sharing your story.
Jesus was born and raised in a Jewish community. He preached orthodox Judaism based on the Laws of Moses and Abraham.
I was born and raised Catholic until I found out that the Catholic God was a Jewish preacher who worshiped and obeyed a Jewish god named Yahweh. However the nuns and priests and my devout Catholic mother appeared ignorant of this fact.
A totally misleading and deceptive indoctrination program designed to exercise control and obedience.
I became disillusioned with the entire belief system and returned to agnostic atheism which is my true condition at 76 years old.
So you became an antisemite?
Nice.
❤- "returned to..."
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm "Catholicism isn't Christianity" jebus loved food fights
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm my point, which sailed over your head (surprise) is that your jesus character probably wouldn't appreciate childish squabbles among his putative followers, like "you're not a real christian neener neener", ie, your comment.
Jesus wasn't an "Orthodox Jew" simply because what we know as "Orthodox Judaism" is a cultural and ethnic identity shaped into centuries of diaspora after Romans losing it once and for all with Jews and their Temple. Jesus was , historically, a Jew who was active into a very specific era of heated debate among many streams of culture and beliefs inside the Jewish society itself and this rather self evident in the Gospel by his contrasts with other thinkers and institutions who wanted to stone him for heresy. Maybe your nuns were more aware than you. Respectfully, your notions look quite superficial. Not about theology, just about history. Edit: I respect your story and your age, yet the pastiche people claim as "objective truth and knowledge" is absurd. I am increasingly convinced that 90℅ of atheists are such more for the environment they grew into than for actually having deeper knowledge than "believers"
Awesome testimony.
I've been trying to " pray the gay away for 40 long years. Come to reality at 54. In a sexless marriage to a woman for the past 17 years. Finally ready the throw in the towel and live my truth. The longing for a same-sex relationship NEVER left. I live, sleep and dream as a gay man. Came out to my wife 6 months into our marriage. She seems cintent but I can't help feeling that she's wasting the best years of her life in this sham of a marriage.
Gaining more strenght daily to do what I know needs to be done.
It takes a lot of courage my friend. I hope you the best. You deserve to live authentically and happy.
@@khristanelson5076, thank you!
🤜🏾❤️🤛🏾
Long shot here, and maybe you’ve considered it but maybe she’d be open to an “open” or poly marriage ? If you’re still in love with each other.
You could keep it private between you.
It’s a thing 😉
Wish you both all the best. Peace
I have had friends say that even without heaven and hell, they would still be Christians. I never understood that. Once I no longer feared hell and realized how believing evangelicalism trapped me in a bad marriage for too long. I was done.
Emotional dependence on the community. For some people that's more important than anything, whether you're a Christian or a Hell's Angel.
@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm She didn't say any of those things, she basically said just that if there is no hell, which she does not fear, why follow Christianity if it isn't working for you.
@@smillstill exactly.
So true! Great interview as always Tim! Great job Khrista!
Amazing interview!! Khrista is so brave and so sincere I couldn't help but empathize with her. Sending her lots of love and light in her life ❤❤❤❤❤
Could you imagine getting pulled over by the preacher cop, warrior for god? What a nightmare.
That’s most cops. Christianity is big in the right wing nationalistic ideaology of law enforcement.
I have a family member who is going through some of the struggles I heard here. She is a very devout Christian and every year she gets deeper and deeper into religion. Her prayers are getting longer and longer. Her "time with God" is getting longer and longer. Her self esteem has hit rock bottom. If something doesn't go as planned, she blames herself for not praying/praising enough. Every time something positive happens, she fills the conversation with "Praise the Lord" messages. It is getting annoying. She recently quit her job, so she could dedicate more time to her church. She has gone back home to live with her mom. . But I'm worried about her mental health. She is well over 30, single.
Crazy, but we can’t do it for anyone else who is entrenched this way.
Your message resonates with me because my adult son is exactly like that . He has given up every job he had he has sold all his possessions, if you try to talk to him he closes his eyes and prays to Jesus ( which looks creepy ) he deliberately crashed his car because Jesus told him to drop anything that gets in his way towards a deeper faith, he is the most joyless depressed dull person I’ve ever met sad to say , he has lost his once dry but great personality, tbh he really is acting like how a drug addict would act a total disengagement from life .
@@johnkk7863 Great comment. Thanks for sharing. I hope your son can see the light one day.
@@johnkk7863 Crashing the car because he thought Jesus told him to sounds like psychosis not just getting too much into religion…
The fear of hell keeps Christianity alive plain and simple.
Fear of wrath and the law is also how governments control the masses
Hell is real, but people miss what is really going on when one is sent to hell, it is a place that seperated a person from GOD , his light , his presence, his peace, joy, goodness basically your isolated from all source of life because you did not want anything to do with him and his salvation and truth, so that's where a person will spend there eternity alone without GOD there choice not GODS it's not about religion it's about our Savior and Father and their love for us and our love for them if you love someone you want to please them and they become your life just like you become their life it's rather beautiful, but we all got a choice to love our Father and Savior and be loved by them or reject them and spend eternity alone in darkness because that's what that person wanted not GOD
@@Kathy-n7f so if you masturbated all your life and die you enter into eternal torment. Seems overly harsh.
@@Kathy-n7f I find it hard to believe we cannot make this choice at any time in eternity to come into the light.
@@rebeccaringler1265 HOD formed our spirits and than put us in this flesh GOD knew us before we were born and I believe we knew him but you have to understand that when Satan rebelled against our Creator it was when he had it all beauty love high ranking strength wisdom but he wanted to be like GOD and rule so here come Adam and Eve and of course they fell but we had to be born to make our choice before we die cause if Satan fell while perfect than GOD had to make a plan for salvation and only those who truly love GOD and believe on his Son for salvation and want to be with him will be saved so another rebellion will never happen again
I am a gay ex Christian too!
I love hearing other's similar stories!
thank you.
xo
Ahmazin! testimony christians who are all in, study and truly know what the bible teaches have a better chance of getting out thanks TIm & Khrista ♥️
Wow, I agree with you 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯❤❤❤🎉🎉. I decided to stop teaching 📖 this year and I feel so much better...NO MORE MENTAL GYMNASTICS.
Awesome interview Tim and Khrista. Thanks for all that you 2 are doing. It really does make a difference.
An interview has never pierced my heart like this one did 😭 Thank you for sharing, Khrista. I wish you love and healing ❤️🩹
Rock on, Tim 🤘
Thank you for this interview, Tim! Thank you, Khrista! Great interview!
Wow. What an up and down and complex testimony. It shows just how messy life can be. Best wishes for your future Khrista, for you, your soon to be ex, and importantly for your children.
Great interview Tim.
My wife and I went through our own deconversion after being devout Catholics our whole life. I greatly appreciate your story and the courage it takes to take this path and then talk about it openly. Thank you!
Left the evangelicals years ago ....
Its like coming up for air after your heads been held underwater ...😅
Exactly
Agree, fear based religions begin to harden the heart after a while of being subjected to it.
Ugh i relate to her so hard. I exhausted myself trying to understand the bible and get serious answers for myself and my friends.
Hi Khrista and Tim, thanks for doing this!
This was intense and tbh i had to stop and take mental health breaks bc i have teenage children that are still sitting under the influence of those Steve Camp style messages and that gives me anxiety when i think about it. Theres nothing i can do about it but its just so damaging.
I have the same issue and in all honesty that is what led me to question everything and see this for the charade it is. I started asking logical questions of my daughter. Bit by bit, not all at once but in a calm and inquisitive way, maybe a couple times a month. She has definitely taken her foot off of the gas and while quietly, I believe she is now starting to have questions. Good luck
@@jayschumacher815
Good job Jay 👍
Get our children and the next generations thinking .
Just imagine how many lives were ruined in this story … the function of religious dogma is to make people obedient and to deny them the ability to question religious teachings … the result is Khrista’s story …. Happy for her … she escaped
Religions and especially cults/high control groups/families, so often keep people infantilized and unable to differentiate into their own True Self, standing in their own two shoes. It causes such chaos and long lasting trauma effects. Healing is a long, ongoing challenge.
I so look forward to these interviews! Thanks Tim.
Great interview. Thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the best I've watched. Thank you for sharing. Christianity is so toxic. So happy for you and the peace you have found in freedom from Christian lies.
Amazing interview from a great guest. Her story is the type of story that makes me shake my head.
This was rough to hear. I deconstructed 2 years ago but even Till Now im scared to Tell my familly that im not Christian anymore. You are So brave and im so happy for you you made it!!! I Wish you nice live with your real personality ❤❤ I Hope i Will be strong as you and say my family
The amount of pressure removed from my shoulders after I realized Christianity is made up was astonishing. Fear and self-loathing was gone. I equate to drowning and finally bringing my head above water and taking a life giving breath into my lungs. I am by no means a perfect person but, I deal with life and my flaws in reality and it is so much better.
Cognitive Dissonance - the name of my deconstruction trigger
Msg to my 5 yr old self: you were right. Most of what was taught in Sunday school was beyond belief!
I commend any parent who can provide the example of what it means to be human, which includes AKNOWLEDGING being non-perfect. You are a blessing to your kids. I know through experience how frustrating and devasting it can be when a parent is not able to do so.
Dang. I need to go to sleep. I will see if I can listen without nodding off. :) :) You've not had a bad interview yet Tim.
God didn’t write the Bible, man wrote the Bible. People need to stop blaming God.
Not sure if your standing up for a God or saying he doesn't exist (which the Christian deity doesn't exist)
I agree, you shouldn’t blame something that doesn’t exist 🤷🏿♂️
Thank you for sharing, Khrista, Tim is always great for this kind of interviews.
It's so true! Once you're really going for it with integrity, the veil will fall eventually. It was not the desire to find falsehoods, it is the desire to find out the truth, the "why this and that?", to find out an answer to the problems/issues/contradictions even.. while trying to preserve the faith. If the desire to find out the truth is greater than trying to preserve the faith, the veil WILL fall. (it's like Harmonic atheist says it, instead of circling around in one bubble, one can step out and look into another bubble)
It then does not become a not a matter of "wanting" to believe and you can believe again. Once the veil has fallen, the things seen can not be unseen, which means that in order to believe again, something much MUCH stronger evidence-wise must come up that is able to refute the things seen behind the veil. The problem is... that hasn't presented itself so far and I doubt it ever will, especially considering how the religion has evolved to what we know it as today.
And yes... once the veil has fallen, the authority shifts as well, which creates way more peace and freedom than before.
I too was scared right before I figured out it was all a lie, a mental prison, but that was very shortlived. I will be honest, as a christian I did have moments where I felt at peace (the world can't touch me because I'm living under the grace of god) or when I thought I was experiencing the holy spirit and god's presence.
But it does not compare to the freedom I felt after seeing it was all a lie and how that made me more accepting of myself but also the world and life in general!! This peace is of a different nature and it does indeed made much more sense! It also causes less judging to oneself or others and it creates for a more peaceful approach! Less fear, more love.
*_Religion causes a struggle to become "whole". No religion is about just 'being' whole._*
(the irony of Exodus 3:14 "I am, who I am." First god says we have to be like god, but then "tells" us to follow all kinds of illogical and silly rules)
Harmonic Atheist is right. Things could have been a lot different if religious doctrine did not get a hold of us through pushing. My life would have looked very different as well.
Indoctrination is based on fear, no matter how one looks at it. When someone wants to push someone (back) into a religion, it's because of fear. The excuse of "out of love" is absolutely misplaced. At the core it's fear. Funny enough people are doing 100% of the work they say "god" is doing in mysterious ways. Gotta love confirmation bias within a mental prison. *sigh*
The analogy of seeing other people as little projects for conversion and discussing christian things with other christians or starting a conversation with god because forces of evil were at work.. made me laugh, because it was true for me too :)
One of the downsides is that you can not have a verbal dissagreement and talk it over with someone who still reasons like that, since they will fall into a state of victimhood, call unto god and see it as spiritual warfare. The result is that the issue will remain unsolved and that it might happen again with the same exact scenario... Thanks to religious reasoning... Hallelujah, praise the lawd...
Another good interview! Thanks.
9:58 Yes, yes! That's EXACTLY how the early Christian Gnostics described the Old Testament "God"! And they asserted that the TRUE God sent Jesus to free people from that monster. THOSE teachings were largely (but not entirely) expunged from the "canonized" Gospels. But most of them are found in the "Nag Hammadi Library," and a few were discovered elsewhere.
What a heart wrenching story. It’s beautiful to see Khrista so articulate and self aware and grounded but I still feel deep sympathy for what she’s been through.
I loved how Khrista described the moment she came out to herself literally as an epiphany, a moment of “divine” truth. After searching in all these institutions and scripture, trying to find God, then to finally realise that the only worthwhile truth is to accept and trust yourself. That should be a simple lesson that we teach our children but for too many religious people this is deeply threatening and to be avoided at all costs.
All the best! There’s still a lot that you’ll have to go through as you begin a new life and hopefully find an honest, loving relationship. But you go into the future with open eyes and you’ll be alright.
Great Interview! 5:00-5:10 is SPOT ON! LOCATION plays a CRITICAL/ INFLUENTIAL part in most people's beliefs! 💯💯💯💪💪💪💯💪💯💪
Releasing all of those beliefs brings an indescribable feeling of freedom. You literally get your autonomy back. It's a great feeling.
I didn’t want this to end. Thank you both!
He doesn’t love us, he loves “some” and he demands worship, obedience, dedication, giving yourself up, and then at the end you could find out the answer were never one of the predestined elect in the first place
Thanks for sharing Khrista!
God is a psychological safety blanket that some people think they can't live without
Beautifully said. Khrista had a lot of great things to share. I enjoyed this guest.
Thanks for sharing your story Khrista. Wow. You have been through so much! It looks like you’re on the RIGHT track now. Bravo to you! 🎉🎉🎉
Another interesting interview! Thanks.
Religion really is ridiculous and to think that some people want all of us to be shackled to it, in this day and age, is downright scary.
"my integrity caused me to deconstruct" - I feel that so much. I got so tired of feeling stupid because my "faith" required me to defend ridiculous stuff
Fantastic testimony. Smart woman. Hope her life is on an upward trajectory. I've been through a similar journey. We do not need to believe anything. Doctrinal belief systems have wreaked havoc on humanity. I now live with a non dual understanding of reality that doesn't rely on adherence to Middle Eastern myths. "GOD" is not other. It is that which is our very nature. No judgment. No monarchical control. All the best to your guest.
"Check your brain at the door" 👍
Any doctrine, be it religious, political or even scientific, should be thoroughly investigated. Well done Khrista for investigating and sharing your findings.
I'm truly moved by her story and all she went through. I'm happy she's out of it all. I wish her the best. She will find a new stable view and never be threatened again.
John McArthur is an evil, hateful monster. He has blood on sus hands for the parishioners that died of Covid from his defiance of public policies.
Wow, Khrista, I went through almost the same deconstructing steps that you did,the same study in all those different areas you mentioned to find the truth -- never ever believing I'd come out an atheist on the other side. Now one of my best friends I've known since childhood can't have a relationship with me because without the spiritual aspect " it'll be too shallow." And of course, being a Calvinist, she believes I was never a Christian. ☹️
Khrista, you are an amazing woman, and I'm glad you are finally free of mental bondage. Wishing you all the joy in this world going forward. Tim, as always, great job. Thank you both.
This was honestly a perfect deconversion interview.
The themes of eventually deconverting BECAUSE of the commitment to God and seeking the truth etc, going through the path of radicalization and eventually finding all the doctrinal issues and inconsistencies.
One thing that popped up a few times that was spelled out but wish could've been said: it's all these Christians that don't even believe what they believe, or think they believe, so how can they even begin to criticize you for what results from honest search a d conviction? That's one of my personal rebuttals: most atheists are more Christian than christians; atheism is the natural end result of christianity. They just take all the short cut of social conformity, taking all the easy given answers, never examining things closer or questioning. And so they end up being un-thinking people, and highly immoral, or at least amoral.
That whole emphasis on the denial and destruction of the self and going against nature, sacrificing yourself for the faith. All you end up with in cases like these is decades of lost life and time, and the regrets of having been one of those people not so long ago.
And she knows her stuff, if came up several times. For example, Paul never talked about heaven or kingdom in heaven. To Paul, we weren't going anywhere, the kingdom of God was coming to us. It didn't happen! Christianity is a false belief! Fatally false in its foundations.
One thing I struggle with personally, in my own life, I watched my parents re-convert backwards through different denominations until they landed on pre-schism Catholic Orthodoxy, still extant in the lesser known easter traditions like in Lebanon and Syria, and even Thomasinian, and the (as far as I understand) extinct Nestorianism. For all intents and purposes it's Catholic and Orthodox, they were cut off from the western schism and from the Eastern Orthodox schism, like it never happened. But that's a side note. But so, Catholics,cand to a similar degree with the Orthodox, they fall back in tradition and the teachings of the church. On the surface those denominations don't seem to take faith as seriously as the Protestants, but it's a common theme for those traditions, they view protestantism as being more or less loss and cut off from the traditions, which is where a lot of especially American atheists come from; the contradictions in the cultural protestantism, discovering that protestants don't really seem to read the Bible, and don't have answers for the contradictions and problems that arise from.
It's not that the Catholics REALLY have the answers, it's just that when there are scriptural or cultural contradictions, they are often resolved through the traditions and authority of the Catholic (or Orthodox) church. Which I mentioned in the other comment, a lot of these social, cultural, or political conservatives, they are hell bent on being skeptical and cynical towards literally everything else, all other forms of knowledge and authority etc, but if they could apply that skepticism consistently, they'd find themselves questioning the authority of the "government" of their religion. Makes me wonder if there's so many Catholics, how many ex Catholics are there? They aren't proud about those numbers. I personally overall don't mind Catholics, they're generally very different from the Protestants, but in the American contexts Protestants that end up converting to Catholicism being the worst parts of those denominations and the politics with them. Scratch under the surface a bit and you can see the "controversies" in the Catholic church in ort because of this. There's not so subtle power struggles of legitimacy between a traditional and world oriented older Catholicism, and then the American cultural, highly protestant influenced Catholicism thats often at odds with the Vatican. I know there are highly conservative Catholics all over the world, but the particular rabid strain of fundamentalist and radical Catholics is very much at home in the US. It's a theme that's been popping up lately. Vice president Nominee JD Vance, and the Opus Dei members of the heritage foundation instrumental in penning project 2025 for us.
Anyway. Great interview. I'm so glad she's in our ranks and is out there making the world better and living her life and being true to herself. She spoke like a seasoned non-religious.
Which reminds me, technically speaking, most atheists are agnostic-atheist, because we don't know. By contrast, Christians claim their religion is revealed,, and philosophically would classify themselves as gnostic-theists. We do the thing they can't: admit no one knows. Which begs, of the religion were truly revealed, then why's is it so confusing and perplexing and damning and damaging to practice it, for oneself and others? It's as hidden as ever.
I had recently reexamined it all for myself. Why don't I believe? Well, because it's not true! If it were true, no one would be able to deny it at all, Jesus would literally sit next to you, prayers would always be answered, and miracles would be an everyday fact of life. Instead it's all guesses and assumptions and illusion and faith in thin air. No thanks! I'll take tangible reality. I have exponentially more evidence that gays exist than heaven or hell. So why even beging to believe that's where they're going? Or all of us straight for that matter?
It’s always worth remembering; everyone is born atheist, some choose to have an enquiring mind and stay that way, others do not.
I’m not including those who were indoctrinated from early childhood, that would be unfair, but people who freely choose to believe ….that’s another story!
Bob has it all. Bob has respect. They want to be like Bob. Bob has a huge house and a big car. Bob's employer doesn't have to pay taxes. Bob has a good life. Bob has a story. Bob says that blob gave it to him. They might not want to believe in blob, but they want to be like Bob. Blob is the truth because Bob says so.
@@OceanusHelios perfect 👌
That would make a great public information film in cartoon format for kids!
@@OceanusHelios😂😂😂 absolute gold!!😂😂
Such a compelling and heartbreaking interview Khrista and Tim. Thank you for putting your story out into the world, Khrista, and exposing the lies of Christianity that have caused so much suffering.
Thank you to Kristha for sharing her story. I want to point out a few things. The interviewer didn’t explore Kristha’s relationship with her mother, which appears to have been really significant.
For example, Kristha’s mother was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and was also deeply involved in the charismatic movement (as she mentioned). Jehovah’s Witnesses are quite different from mainstream Christianity and have faced criticism for covering up child abuse and for making people cut off family members, as I believe Kristha described. So, when Kristha’s mother exposed her in front of friends, and basically threatened her children, it sounds familiar. Jehovah's Witnesses expect strict loyalty and discourage individuality.
The charismatic movement has its own issues too. They focus heavily on healing through prayer, so if that doesn’t work, it’s often seen as the "sick" person’s fault. They will of course also try to strip the person of medication too. A lot of people with mental illnesses come to charismatics at the promise of healing. Charismatics also have a strict interpretation of the Bible, which can put pressure on people to conform to certain behaviors, especially regarding their sexuality - which they are healed from right..
But all this kind of control isn’t unique to religious groups-it can show up in various forms outside of religion as well. In Kristha's case this seed of control and abuse seem to have been planted back when she was a child.
So far in my deconstruction I am starting to think maybe the Bible is a goofy compilation of man made stories centered on a particular and peculiar culture and region and people group- but somehow they caught on to some actual God thing- the resurrection. And then I pick and choose the good stuff. Like James 1:27. I want to be religious still - but the James 1:27 version (which is biblical- it’s in the Bible lol).
But then I also really despise Paul. So gotta throw out pretty much all his letters especially the fake ones.
Also It’s really weird because I’m deconstructing and when I get high before bed the religion almost starts to make sense again. But when I’m sober it doesn’t lol. I am gonna do mushies next week and see what happens.
Sounds like I’m gonna have to start a Christian spin off cult.
Well, depending on how your brain reacts when high, it may alter your cognition to a higher absorption span due to pleasant euphoria. Your internal dialogue changes as your feelings change... if you think upon impulse. I like the picking and choosing, makes your perspective very human
I can relate to her story so much. I pretty much had the same journey in Christianity, except the other direction. I started out in condemnation, NAR and fundamentalism, then went to more Calvinism, then went to free grace. I can relate to the portion of studying things out on my own. I really believe that those who are committed to self study are at higher risk of genuine deconversion to the point of not believing in Bible God. The ambiguity and mystery starts to diminish and you can see things a lot more clearly for what they are
Great story, stay free and unchained from delusion
First off, Brava! Khrista! for finding your truth. When your car is going off the road and you realize it, you jerk the wheel in the opposite direction, overcorrecting. and the car sways that way too far, and you turn the wheel back, and after a few iterations it smooths out and you regain control. So never mind the changes from one thing to the other- you are listening to your own heart and discovering what's true for you, and I celebrate that with you. Tim, thank you for this video. I, too, am deconstructed, or as I like to say, I am a died-again Christian. I would give almost anything to be able to go back and not spend the prime of my life in Charismania, but I am free now, and so glad that I am! The more I learned about the Bible, especially the New Testament, who might have written it, who couldn't have written it, the doctrinal conflicts between Paul and James, the harder it became to trust any of it. And of course, there's the simple obvious fact that there is no evidence that Jesus came to earth to start a new religion. The whole thing is specious at best. Happy to share my journey if it will help anyone.
Thank you Tim!!! And thank you Khrista!! I’m SO PROUD of you!!! 🥹 You did such an AMAZING JOB!!! Thank you for being SO brave and sharing your truth!!! You’re a BEAUTIFUL SOUL!!! And I love you!!! ❤
Thank you for watching! I love YOU!! ❤️
Great story. Thanks for sharing. How do we contact her. Her story similar to mine
Great interview! Thank you both ❤from 🇦🇺
I'm sorry you had to go through that I'm 63 white woman who knew I was gay like from 6 years old Yes lots of trauma. I'm glad to see you made it and that God loves you if there is a
God. Yes suppressing ones identity is not recommended I've lived through it Don't do it it's dangerous It's not healthy and if God is God God can take anything that we can tell them as long as it's the truth. I'm proud of you all thanks Tim. 💙🙏 And everybody vote Democrat we have fascist at the door and we have them trying to take our rights away because that's what authoritarians do so let's show up and vote Democrats all the way down 💙🙏🙏🙏💙💙💙💙💙💙
And by the way I did the same thing exactly was in love the love of my life although we had 12 years and then I gave her up for the cult cuz I thought we was both going to hell only to find out we were tricked. I'm sorry you went through this 🙏😇
Wow… Thank you for sharing. Suppressing who you are and giving up true love for cultish fear is so painful.
Thanks for sharing Khrista. Tookme a while to break the trauma bond I had with christianity. This world is straight savage and human beings are insane lol
My catholic family was quite skeptical and open minded, I was never much of a believer and I have described myself as a "None" for some 35 years.
There's one thing though, I only remember Hell being mentioned once, by a visiting priest. He said the Church teaches that it's real, and though we'd like to think that people like Hitler and Stalin are there, we can't know for certain, we can't even know if anyone us there at all, and that's not our concern.
I am grateful I have never experienced religious trauma.
Thank you for a great interview.🎉🙏
I'm 65 yo and have been de-converted/de-constructed for over 40 yrs...what you call "shifting" I simply call growing pangs...you're simply growing and learning, and even though it can be miserable and confusing when you're going through the "dissonance", you'll come out of the other side a more mature, more informed person...and this is a lifelong process...we never completely "arrive", but let's just say that when you do finally see "the man behind the curtain", you can't unsee him...in life the only paths worth taking are the ones you walk and beat down yourself instead of the preexisting beaten paths...it takes courage - the type that most people don't have...i mean, they're not called sheep for nothing..."mistakes" are just stepping stones to forward progress...Thomas Edison said he never failed, he just became aware of 10,000 things that didn't work...course, I don't have to tell you how he contributed to progress.
Hurray. You woke up and stood alone. Others will never admit it .
I was super religious, had all kinds of experiences because I was schizophrenic. got on meds and it all went away.
The most rational and reasonable position for EVERYTHING in life is to withhold belief until sufficient evidence is found and proven.
Thanks guys for further normalizing rationality, reason and reality 😊
Reason, rationality and reality are *not* one and the same. Assuming so it is a *huge* fallacy and lack of logic. And last decades of science and research brought tons of demonstrations for our limited possibility to even conceive "reality". Atheists should take a further step and give up the belief they "possess" unbiased objectivity , or they traded a belief for another belief.
1:37:10 - life is infinitely more beautiful without God. I can now make friends with non religious, Buddhists, Atheists, etc. without giving a flying f**k about where their soul’s going. I can simply enjoy the person without judgement and just be a friend.
I grew up R. Catholic I'm SW La., and we heard a reading from the Gospel in every celebration of the Mass.... doesn't sound like she went to catechism...
Point? Catholics dont know the bible.
Thanks for telling your truth Khrista and being vulnerable online. Your story resonates with a lot of people.
I like this guest! She’s an inspiration.
You are so brave to share your story. Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing, Brianna! Feel free to add me on FB and reach out there if you'd like to consider sharing your story sometime.
facebook.com/harmonictim
Yes Khrista, it takes bravery and courage. Most believers don't have what you have. They FEAR to question their beliefs. They FEAR what they may find, friends they might lose, and persecution they might endure.
Thanks Khrista and Tim.
I relate to this so much! I was also sexually dead to my same sex desires for 10 years and have now deconstructed and living and loving women.
Congratulations!! Happy freedom of being your authentic true self 💜
so true what she says about being taught to "give it to god" as if that somehow will ever make the trauma and pain go away. it is really just avoidance of DEALING with it which Khrista painfully discovered the hard way. so glad you are on the path to true healing and freedom
What an incredible young woman! She had to fight so many currents trying to sweep her down a path that was not at all hers, yet she persisted. She did the hard work to know herself and that is her rock that she can hold on to regardless It sounds like she is trying to be as respectful as she can with those around her, yet she holds true to her needs at any cost. As for the gay thing, I saw that coming within the first three minutes of the video, but I have really good gaydar and lots of lesbian friends. Her message is so powerful and hopeful; I’m very glad I watched this!
Thank you for your comment. ☺️
She is right, it is a bunch of lies. Faith is pretending to know what you dont know. I feel sorry though for her husband , she destroyed his life with her narcissism and solipsistic pursuits. Yes, religion is a lie, but she lied to her husband , by pretending she was straight. She needs to take responsibility for what she did to him. She is a victimizer as much as she claims she was victimized.
Being so desperate to not make conclusions for the wrong reasons. That's just too relatable. For me, the most heartbreaking possible reality is the one in which Christianity is the truth, because although I think many of its values are good, the fact is that the overwhelming majority of people are doomed from the Christian world view. That is a truly agonizing situation.
What a great interview! 👍
Awesome interview. Had to google preterism.
5 meo-dmt changed my spiritual views. There is a lot to be excited about when we cross over.
"You weren't really saved, not really a Christian." Most of us deconverts are sick of hearing this. I have stories from patients on my table as a physical therapist who now have chronic pain because of chronic emotional trauma--from these churches. As I tell my own people all the time, it isn't fun to deconvert out of Christianity. And it takes a long time and that process is painful. First, you find one thing that isn't true. IE Virgin birth not stated at all in the most Hebrew text we have found. Then Pandora's box is opened. You start researching more. Then you realize that the everlasting life might not be a given--at all. Even as an unspecified theist now, more closely related to a Jew at the end of the day I now know that I don't know. I always say in my own stuff I wish I could be proven wrong. But the more I look, the more I find I'm not. Cheers, Harmonic----DCF
Khrista’s ability to communicate effectively made this a powerful share. Great interview!
Truly hope this helps those who listen, who can relate to areas of this can find truth, freedom and autonomy for themselves.
‘Better minds than me still have their faith’ was the message from a young age that stopped me questioning as I’ll eventually have the same ‘revelations’. 🫤🫠😓
Well done Khrista and Tim this interview will be impactful and very informative ❤🎉😅