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Author Topic: Considering Becoming a Christian  (Read 4019 times)

Bluerose31

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Considering Becoming a Christian
« on: November 01, 2017, 03:07:39 pm »
I am considering becoming a Christian again. I have a love for Jesus Christ, though I don't like many aspects of Christianity I do feel close to Jesus. Has anyone considered becoming a Christian or to return to Christianity?

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2017, 03:50:52 pm »
I am considering becoming a Christian again. I have a love for Jesus Christ, though I don't like many aspects of Christianity I do feel close to Jesus. Has anyone considered becoming a Christian or to return to Christianity?
No, I have never considered becoming a Christian again. That is definitely not the path for me. That being said, I do know several people who have added Christian elements into their path. A friend of mine feel a deep connection to Mary and has a shrine to her. Another views Jesus has a teacher within his spiritual path.

Either way don't be afraid to experiment some. You might find that a mixture suits you better than picking one religion over another. :)

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2017, 05:19:41 pm »
I am considering becoming a Christian again. I have a love for Jesus Christ, though I don't like many aspects of Christianity I do feel close to Jesus. Has anyone considered becoming a Christian or to return to Christianity?

I know people who have returned to Christianity -- always one of the more liberal (theologically liberal, that is) denominations.
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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2017, 06:08:02 pm »
I am considering becoming a Christian again. I have a love for Jesus Christ, though I don't like many aspects of Christianity I do feel close to Jesus. Has anyone considered becoming a Christian or to return to Christianity?

I can't really talk about returning, but I can talk at length about Christianity, having spent most of my life involved, and still maintaining a fairly amicable position on Jesus.

What is it that appeals to you, and interests you in converting? What complaints do you have?

Bluerose31

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2017, 06:17:53 pm »
No, I have never considered becoming a Christian again. That is definitely not the path for me. That being said, I do know several people who have added Christian elements into their path. A friend of mine feel a deep connection to Mary and has a shrine to her. Another views Jesus has a teacher within his spiritual path.

Either way don't be afraid to experiment some. You might find that a mixture suits you better than picking one religion over another. :)
Thank you so much for this message. Yes, I feel drawn to Jesus. That is beautiful that a friend of yours has a connection to Mary and a shrine to her. I grew up Christian and became pagan in my 20s. Experimenting sounds very good. I do feel a mixture of religions could be better for me. I will pray to my Goddess about it and also see in what ways I could incorporate Jesus. I feel I may be more of a Pagan Christian.

Bluerose31

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2017, 06:19:50 pm »
I know people who have returned to Christianity -- always one of the more liberal (theologically liberal, that is) denominations.

Fascinating. I wonder how they faired after returning to Christianity. I can see them joining the more liberal denominations.

Bluerose31

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2017, 06:32:07 pm »
I can't really talk about returning, but I can talk at length about Christianity, having spent most of my life involved, and still maintaining a fairly amicable position on Jesus.

What is it that appeals to you, and interests you in converting? What complaints do you have?

I have a very disturbing background and it has caused my spirituality to be damaged a lot. I am a severe abuse victim and much of the abuse was done by a woman who was a Satanist. I was kidnapped by her. She was a Satanist and did not like my pagan spirituality so she made me a Christian. While I was with her I was not able to worship my Goddess. She let me read the Bible and worship Jesus. She wanted a Christian to abuse. During that time I felt attached to Jesus again. He was all I had. I had also been Christian as a child. I saw that Jesus did love the suffering. Now that I am free from the woman and protected by the police I realize how much I missed my Goddess so I became pagan again. But I also think of Jesus alot. It could be brainwashing by the woman but I feel I should have Jesus in my practice. I do feel I grew to love him during my captivity. Also, all my family and friends are Christian( Im a closet Pagan) and I sometimes have to involve myself in Christianity for their sake. I feel Pagan Christian might be an option for me. I have no complaints about Paganism, I absolutely love it- but the woman who abused me hated paganism, maybe as much as Christianity and she tried to brainwash me that my Goddess was evil. My mind is very damaged from all that happened to me, and my spirituality is still fragile.

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2017, 06:33:35 pm »
Has anyone considered becoming a Christian or to return to Christianity?

Yep. Jesus was a pretty cool guy, imo. Just stick to the Gospels and avoid the assholes in His fan club. 
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Bluerose31

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2017, 06:47:21 pm »
Yep. Jesus was a pretty cool guy, imo. Just stick to the Gospels and avoid the assholes in His fan club.
I agree that Jesus was cool :) Well said.

Uneryx

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2017, 07:02:57 pm »
I have a very disturbing background and it has caused my spirituality to be damaged a lot. I am a severe abuse victim and much of the abuse was done by a woman who was a Satanist. I was kidnapped by her. She was a Satanist and did not like my pagan spirituality so she made me a Christian. While I was with her I was not able to worship my Goddess. She let me read the Bible and worship Jesus. She wanted a Christian to abuse. During that time I felt attached to Jesus again. He was all I had. I had also been Christian as a child. I saw that Jesus did love the suffering. Now that I am free from the woman and protected by the police I realize how much I missed my Goddess so I became pagan again. But I also think of Jesus alot. It could be brainwashing by the woman but I feel I should have Jesus in my practice. I do feel I grew to love him during my captivity. Also, all my family and friends are Christian( Im a closet Pagan) and I sometimes have to involve myself in Christianity for their sake. I feel Pagan Christian might be an option for me. I have no complaints about Paganism, I absolutely love it- but the woman who abused me hated paganism, maybe as much as Christianity and she tried to brainwash me that my Goddess was evil. My mind is very damaged from all that happened to me, and my spirituality is still fragile.

Christopaganism might be worth exploring then, but I'd also strongly recommend that you find someone you can talk to about these things and do the work you need to do in order to heal from this abuse, because if it hurt you in the ways you described that hurt can manifest in messy ways later.

Me personally, I had to make a break with Christianity, because trying to work around my own mild indoctrination while embracing something that feels right but I'd always been told were evil was just making me feel upset and confused. Despite a closeness and joy in Jesus, trying to untangle all the rules I'd been raised with and navigate a way forward while still looking back was too hard. I made a clean break to assess who I am without the baggage, learn what I can without worrying about a disapproving Father, and then figure it out from there.

Some time to heal and reconnect with your Goddess, who it sounds like you love very much, is something I'd recommend. If you feel lead to Christianity I think that's great and I hope you iron out the wrinkles, as long as its right for you.

Bluerose31

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2017, 07:24:56 pm »
Christopaganism might be worth exploring then, but I'd also strongly recommend that you find someone you can talk to about these things and do the work you need to do in order to heal from this abuse, because if it hurt you in the ways you described that hurt can manifest in messy ways later.

Me personally, I had to make a break with Christianity, because trying to work around my own mild indoctrination while embracing something that feels right but I'd always been told were evil was just making me feel upset and confused. Despite a closeness and joy in Jesus, trying to untangle all the rules I'd been raised with and navigate a way forward while still looking back was too hard. I made a clean break to assess who I am without the baggage, learn what I can without worrying about a disapproving Father, and then figure it out from there.

Some time to heal and reconnect with your Goddess, who it sounds like you love very much, is something I'd recommend. If you feel lead to Christianity I think that's great and I hope you iron out the wrinkles, as long as its right for you.
thank you for this thoughtful message. I can understand your needing to make a break from Christianity to find yourself and your path. Thank you for saying Christopaganism might be right for me and to find someone to speak with about my past. I agree that it could manifest in bad ways if I don't get proper healing. I have a healer I am going to who is a psychic and a counselor and I find very soothing. Thank you for saying it is time to heal and reconnect with my Goddess and that I sound like I love her very much. I do love my Goddess very much. I will stay on the healing path. I pray that the Goddess blesses you in your seeking. I can tell you are a compassionate soul.

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2017, 07:47:12 pm »
I know people who have returned to Christianity -- always one of the more liberal (theologically liberal, that is) denominations.

In today's "hey, I was just reading about that": I've been reading through Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years, and it's worth mentioning that Christianity is way more diverse than just 'Catholic' and 'Protestant'. And the differences go much, much deeper than liberal vs conservative. If the versions of Christianity that you know aren't a good fit for you, try checking out some of the more distant branches. In particular, the versions of Christianity that arose in Western Europe are pretty heavy on the neo-platonism, apparently.

I'm going to suggest a reading list, as we often do for flavors of paganism:

The above-mentioned Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years is a doorstop of a book at 1000 pages, but even the first 250 (which is where I'm at) are fascinating and informative.

A History of God by Karen Armstrong is focused on how the concept of a universal God has been perceived in various times and places in history.

If you can find it, a book called Christianity: A Brief Insight by Linda Woodhead. This book is interesting because it is written as if to an audience that has never heard of Chistianity before (there is a section explaining what sin is); it also divides Christian practice into Church, Bible and Mystical Christianity, rather than solely along historical lines.

The Slacktivist blog, written by a liberal Evangelical Christian.

Ship of Fools, a UK forum mostly about the Church of England.
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MadZealot

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2017, 07:51:14 pm »
... a liberal Evangelical Christian.

Sounds like a contradiction, but it ain't.
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Uneryx

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2017, 09:21:20 pm »
The Slacktivist blog, written by a liberal Evangelical Christian.

Slacktivist is really good, I find his writing approachable. I'd recommend a lot of the Patheos Progressive Christian channel (even if I HATE patheos's new layout) - some of the authors on there are more liberal than others, and of late their writing across the board has been much more political, but they offer good critiques of the issues facing modern Christianity while still believing passionately what they do.

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Re: Considering Becoming a Christian
« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2017, 09:38:20 pm »
Sounds like a contradiction, but it ain't.

He writes extensively about that sort of gatekeeping, in fact!
as the water grinds the stone
we rise and fall
as our ashes turn to dust
we shine like stars    - Covenant, "Bullet"

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