Experiencing The Loss Of Faith

[Damien the Leper]

I have been watching the YouTube videos posted by Evid3nc3 and PurpleFox. These 2 people are former Christians who have--through reason, study, personal experience, etc.--lost their faith. What I find to be very prominent in their videos is strong emotion deeply rooted in theological tradition and heritage. I cannot explain their stories so I will leave it to them.

These are the first videos of their series.

removed - Mod.

I expect many will immediately criticize the posters of their inadequacy to reason with 'truth' and some may boast of inability see actual 'truth' through a specific lense that would bring back their faith and set them on the correct path. IMO, such a stance shows the inability to understand individual experience and corellate with it determined and obvious bias.

[Ahab]

Faith is all about being sure about something, whatever you feel sure about.

Why do you say they lost their faith instead of saying they gained faith in something else?

In my perspective, that comment of yours makes it seem as though you really don't know what faith is.

[Damien the Leper]

Faith is all about being sure about something, whatever you feel sure about.

Why do you say they lost their faith instead of saying they gained faith in something else?

In my perspective, that comment of yours makes it seem as though you really don't know what faith is.

From what you say, it seems you propose that faith is relative to the individual. I am totally okay with that. I speaking in terms of definitive Christian faith and how the 2 posters lost theirs. I am far from critical of the information provided by both. I find myself more sensitive to the spiritual journey of each individual and I REFUSE to place any glass box of absolution around anyone's journey. Because I am human, I will at times make the mistake of being negatively critical but I understand that I need others to call me on my mistake and help provide another avenue of appropriate understanding.

[Damien the Leper]

Ahab-

Have you watched the videos? I recommend that others watch the videos first before actually responding to my writings in the OP.

[Ahab]

From what you say, it seems you propose that faith is relative to the individual.

Yes, it is relative to the individual.

Now try to understand that when most Christians refer to faith they're referring to faith which they believe is from God, and that God gives it to assure them that something is true.

That doesn't mean all faith comes from God, though.

Other people can give assurances and be sure about whatever they feel sure about with God not being the one to give them their faith.

I am totally okay with that.

Good. I"m glad you're okay with that. Now I feel all warm and tingly inside.

[Ahab]

Ahab-

Have you watched the videos?

No, because I have no faith that watching them will do me any good.

[Damien the Leper]

Yes, it is relative to the individual.

Now try to understand that when most Christians refer to faith they're referring to faith which they believe is from God, and that God gives it to assure them that something is true.

That doesn't mean all faith comes from God, though.

Other people can give assurances and be sure about whatever they feel sure about with God not being the one to give them their faith.

I like this bolded statement because it disallows for the arrogance and narcissism in proclaiming a one true faith. This is not meant to be an attack on the LDS but a means of leveling a playing field for all faiths that claim to be from God.

Furthermore, how is such a claim of 'being from God' tested? How can we go about drafting a test in light of the diverse interpretations and understandings of who and what God is? Is this determined in a theistic, pantheistic, panentheistic, agnostic, etc. state of mind?

Good. I"m glad you're okay with that. Now I feel all warm and tingly inside.

Nice sarcasm. Unnecessary...eh, whatever.

[Damien the Leper]

No, because I have no faith that watching them will do me any good.

Such a bottomless statement. What was the point in responding to the thread when you have no desire to listen to the journeys of others? And if possible...provide a response with actual substance that could possibly be relevent to the OP and not an attention craving, baiting, and sarcastic response. This thread was started in sincerity and I ask that responses be provided in sincerity.

[blackstrap]

Let's consider the Bigfoot or Sasquatch.I personally have never seen Bigfoot. I have never heard one either. I have seen pictures and a video of a supposed one. I have read the testimonials of many dozens of people who claim to have seen,heard,or otherwise interacted with one. I have read about physical evidence such as footprints,audio tapes,hairs samples etc.I have also seen that few"scientists" even consider the validity of such evidence and write the whole thing off to overactive imaginations.

Personally ,I believe that such a creature exists.Do I have "faith" about the creature? What would it take to increase the faith? What would it take to remove all doubt? Would any amount of evidence be as powerful as an actual personal encounter? Even after such an encounter,would it still be possible to rationalize away the experience?

As poor as the analogy is,there does seem to be a relationship to the OP.

[Damien the Leper]

Let's consider the Bigfoot or Sasquatch.I personally have never seen Bigfoot. I have never heard one either. I have seen pictures and a video of a supposed one. I have read the testimonials of many dozens of people who claim to have seen,heard,or otherwise interacted with one. I have read about physical evidence such as footprints,audio tapes,hairs samples etc.I have also seen that few"scientists" even consider the validity of such evidence and write the whole thing off to overactive imaginations.

Personally ,I believe that such a creature exists.Do I have "faith" about the creature? What would it take to increase the faith? What would it take to remove all doubt? Would any amount of evidence be as powerful as an actual personal encounter? Even after such an encounter,would it still be possible to rationalize away the experience?

As poor as the analogy is,there does seem to be a relationship to the OP.

If you take more time to watch the videos you will find that the creators provided information through their own experience, philosophical and theological reasonings, and science. They aren't trying to prove or disprove anything. The intent of the videos was explain where they started religiously and where they ended non-religiously.

[Damien the Leper]

I have observed the damaging attitude that there is something 'wrong' with the person who is losing or who has lost their faith. Such a conclusion is often derived out of ignorance of very real personal experience of the individual. Scripture and general revelation will always fail to explain away or bring light to something so intense.

[Damien the Leper]

I like the Euthyphro Dilemma that Evid3nc3 speaks of in 2.2:

1. Is what is moral commanded by God because it is moral?

2. Is it moral because it is commanded by God?

The professor he is speaking of in this video denies the reasonability of option 2. So let's do this:

2. Is it moral because it is commanded by God?

This is what is called Divine Command Theory. Whatever God chooses to command is automatically 'moral'. If He were to command rape, murder, molestation then it would be considered 'good' and morally required. Therefore, the word 'good' would have no actual meaning.

I just thought I would share this portion. I'm not creating a debate. I'm just fascinated.

[Ares]

We don't allow why I left the Church or Testimony threads. This falls under that heading.