Ex-Christadelphians

Quote of the day

"If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it."

Albert Einstein

Why Do Christadelphians Believe?

By Thom Jonas

Even though most Christadelphians might say they believe because of prophecy, or because of current events, I don't think that is actually the case. Most Christadelphians believe quite simply because they happened to be born into Christadelphian families, were taught Christadelphian doctrines from a young age, and were raised in a largely Christadelphian culture. The evidence is clear. Had they not been born into such an environment, it is almost certain they would not be Christadelphians today.

"Investigate everything you believe - if it is the truth it cannot be injured; if error, the sooner it is corrected the better. Never be afraid of results to which you may be driven by your investigations, as this will inevitably bias your mind and disqualify you to arrive at ultimate truth."

Dr. John Thomas

Seeing my old religion with new eyes

By Phynnodderee

Recently I was sorting through an old box of junk and I came across something I hadn’t seen for years. It was a ‘My Beliefs’ card, a preaching aid produced by the Christadelphians in the 1990s. Looking at it again for the first time since leaving the community, I suddenly found I was seeing it – and my old religion – with new eyes.

"Religion gives pseudo-answers to big questions that can’t be answered. This is what adherents discover when they make honest inquiry."

Marlene Winell, psychologist and former fundamentalist Christian

Worshipping Narcissists

Another brilliant video from TheraminTrees and QualiaSoup.

Narcissists often thrive in religious communities because both the drama they seek and easily manipulated people are readily available. This video is informative both in helping to identify narcissistic behaviour and also in offering ways to deal with it.

Quote of the day

"Is there anything that one couldn't believe based on faith?"

Matt Dillahunty, atheist activist

Stay or leave?

By Phynnodderee

Not everyone who becomes disillusioned with the Christadelphian community decides to leave. I’d like to look at some of the reasons for staying and the reasons for going – and explain why leaving was the best decision I ever made.

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks."

From Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens

The state of Israel: Seventy years on

By Jon Morgan

Seventy years ago today, the British Mandate over Palestine ended and the state of Israel was declared. Christadelphians were delighted, seeing in this the fulfilment of promises made thousands of years ago that one day Israel would return from exile. It was expected that Jesus would soon return, an expectation that was heightened 19 years later by Israel’s victory in the Six Day War.

However, while much has changed about Israel since then, there has been no return of Jesus and no establishment of world government from Jerusalem with compulsory religious teaching. While Israel has religious elements, it is a secular state which has made major contributions to the technology of the world. And one of the consequences of that new technological world is that many former believers, including me, have found it easier to discover the problems with our religion.

Click here to read the rest of this article

Quote of the day

"One of the truly bad effects of religion is that it teaches us that it is a virtue to be satisfied with not understanding."

Richard Dawkins, biologist and science writer

Quote of the day

"Blind faith in authority is the greatest enemy of truth."

Albert Einstein, physicist

Video: Can Science Explain the Origin of Life?

Video: The Pale Blue Dot

In 1990 the Voyager 1 probe took a photo of the Earth from a distance of about 6 billion kilometres. In this image, which became known as the 'Pale Blue Dot', our planet appears as a tiny speck in the vastness of space. Carl Sagan produced this moving commentary that invites us to consider our true place in the cosmos.

Quote of the day

"It has always seemed absurd to suppose that a god would choose for his companions, during all eternity, the dear souls whose highest and only ambition is to obey."

Robert G. Ingersoll, American orator

Viewpoint: Christadelphians and young people

By Phynnodderee

One of the main reasons why the Christadelphian community is in decline is the fact that it is failing to retain its young people. There are many reasons why people leave the community, but is there something that makes it specifically unappealing to young people? And are there reasons why a young person should think carefully before committing?

"How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, ‘This is better than we thought! The Universe is much bigger than our prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant’? Instead they say, ‘No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way.’ A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths."

Carl Sagan, astronomer and science communicator

A Believer's Guide To Atheism In 9 Minutes

Created by a former Jehovah's Witness, this video brilliantly captures some of the ways in which atheism can offer meaning and purpose in this life. If you think life would be meaningless without a belief in God, then perhaps this video will change your mind.

Quote of the day

"I am now, for the first time, truly happy in my life and I can honestly say it has nothing to do with my background as a Christadelphian. In fact, much of my happiness is rooted in the complete freedom I now have from the guilt and negativity imbued in me by the Christadelphian faith."

Anonymous contributor, Whose Truth?

10 things I wish someone had told me when I was a Christadelphian

By Phynnodderee

The things I wish I had figured out sooner…

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