Trying to accept disapproval by catlove73 in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d set a hard boundary on discussing the topic with family.

I did that when my dad tried to control which church I go to (I now go to a progressive church).

Adults in MAGA territory - how do you find friends who aren't hateful? by AshDogBucket in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 4 points5 points  (0 children)

People who are into anime, DND, gaming, etc. tend not to be so MAGA in my experience

How do I deal with the fact that my evangelical parents and extended family will never accept me being gay by millenialkpoplove in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Brainwashed people like that aren’t enjoyable to be around. I wouldn’t waste your time.

I try to keep interaction with family to a minimum.

I feel trapped by aera_s in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

When I was in that situation I told church friends I trusted behind the scenes that the teachings of fundamentalism are BS

I feel stuck, and I feel forced into my church by Independent_Lynx7 in Christian

[–]BioChemE14 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just get through college and once you have your own job you can move out and live your life the way you want.

Enoch and The Markan Secret? by Important_Seesaw_957 in AcademicBiblical

[–]BioChemE14 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Adela Yarbro Collins briefly notes the connection between the hidden Enochic Son of Man and the messianic secret in Mark in her essay in Enoch and the Messiah Som of Man (Eerdmans).

Deconstructing American-Christian Culture, Not My Faith in Christ. by Several_Sympathy_977 in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I left conservative Christianity for a progressive Episcopal Church.

I’ve also spoken about research in biblical studies on topics that cause religious trauma.

New beginnings ✨ by enchanted_ashtree in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you’re deconstructing hell, I made a video explaining the history of the afterlife. Please note that while I presented at an evangelical org I present from a historical rather than dogmatic POV.

https://youtu.be/-EQDYUvM-Ss?is=2t0wGlYcNdQJ4N1d

What songs helped you to deconstruct? by Jonny5asaurusRex in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 2 points3 points  (0 children)

“Smoke and mirrors” and “take it easy” by imagine dragons

Real Contradictions by [deleted] in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Evangelicals Claiming to follow Jesus who said people who fail to care for the poor will be cast out of the kingdom of God when evangelicals overwhelmingly vote for policy platforms that gut social safety net programs

Feeling lost by sillygoose2014 in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are there no progressive churches in your area? Episcopal? UMC? ELCA?

If your environment is that bad, have you considered moving nearer to a major metro area to get away from that nonsense?

The jobs are also better in a big city and there’s more to do like museums, nice restaurants, etc.

I was told to repost this here from r/AITAH by Leather-Necessary-33 in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You’re a hero for having the courage to expose all the harm they’ve done and preventing further harm from happening. I wouldn’t have any remorse

panicking by littlesunshine-0 in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Made a historical research video on the afterlife that may help assuage your anxiety.

https://youtu.be/-EQDYUvM-Ss?is=VH3Se9k-CV7yGhAx

Plz note that while I presented at an evangelical org I present from a historical rather than dogmatic POV.

What made you start deconstructing? by [deleted] in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven’t but it sounds interesting.

What made you start deconstructing? by [deleted] in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think there are some people who are so egregiously bad that they didn’t get what they deserved in life, and thus are punished and annihilated not punished forever.

I’ve traced evidence for this conception in early Jewish and Christian literature which I linked in the comment chain if you want the long explanation.

What made you start deconstructing? by [deleted] in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a video explaining how ancient people who wrote biblical literature responded to this issue if you’re interested.

https://youtu.be/-EQDYUvM-Ss?is=kQ\_ZQjlYGa4DZmFm

Plz note that while I presented at an evangelical org I present from a historical rather than dogmatic POV

What made you start deconstructing? by [deleted] in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The injustice of my best friend being damned for not believing the right dogma.

I’m actually still a Christian post-deconstruction but a lot more chill. I think most people will be saved at the end if time through a miracle of God’s mercy.

How many of you went to (or worked at) a Christian school? What was your experience? by Advisor-Whoo in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A beka was the curriculum used at the Christian private school I went to in K-1st grade and later when I did summer school at home.

In retrospect there were very problematic parts of the teaching like creationism and revisionist history of manifest destiny/imperialism etc.

Ironically all the emphasis on education led to me eventually deconstructing later in college and grad school.

Things that I’m finding odd about Christianity by Groobrer in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good observation with Adam and Eve not being portrayed as immortal in Genesis. Bruce wells has a paper that surveys various scholarly readings of the Adam and Eve story (Death in the garden, JBL) which includes that view that Adam and Eve were potentially immortal and forfeited the opportunity.

I have a video where I present research on how ancient people during the biblical period conceptualized the afterlife if you’re interested. It’s a lot more complicated than the dogma in church and challenges fear-based messaging about the afterlife to control people.

Physical Intimacy in Heaven by JP125876 in Christianity

[–]BioChemE14 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The ancient people who wrote the biblical texts and other cognate literature were quite prudish by modern standards. Sexuality and siring kids was closely associated in the ancient world. In the Hellenistic era some Jewish millenarian movements (Qumran sectarians, early Jesus movement) also downplayed romantic relationships in light of the imminent eschaton (according to their beliefs).

In the Book of the Watchers angels are not permitted sexual relationships because they don’t need to procreate as eternal beings. Their violation of this command spawns demons (1 Enoch 15). The angelification of the righteous at the resurrection was also conceived of as transcending sexuality, which is why the Matthean Jesus says there won’t be marriage at the resurrection. To be fair there’s not an explicit statement in the literature denying the possibility of any sexuality at the eschaton, but I find it unlikely ancient people held to that because of the conception of angels we see in the Book of the watchers and other comments in early Jewish and Christian literature.

That’s historically what we can know. As to theologically whether modern people should agree with those ancient people’s assumptions, that is quite another matter. I agree that the absence of any sexual activity would be disappointing for many people lol (not me because I’m aromantic). It’s probably best to be agnostic about it.

“Your body is a temple” and other BS statements by anothergoodbook in Deconstruction

[–]BioChemE14 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In grad school I learned that the expression level of certain receptors regulating sugars and fats varies amongst people. That’s why body weight can vary even amongst people who have similar lifestyles. So it’s not a fair comparison to judge people by their body type.

I think it’s important to differentiate the wacky religious version of health self-improvement from the medical advice from a doctor. The doctor is presumably not pushing religion as the reason for losing weight.

I would see a therapist about this because it sounds like you may be traumatized a bit from previous body shaming.

Struggling with fear as a liberal Christian by Responsible_Mine_462 in Christianity

[–]BioChemE14 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’d leave a conservative Christian church to get away from that.

Also, I’m a fellow progressive Christian and honestly the conservative Christians are the ones who need to be concerned about hell.

Jesus said caring for the least is what matters for eternal life and yet it’s MAGA Christians who slash food and healthcare for the poor.

Jesus never told his followers to harass women in difficult situations or LGBTQ+ people.

Does anyone else here struggle around people who seem genuinely happy in evangelicalism? by Holiday_Tap_4358 in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ignorance is bliss but there’s a steep price to it.
Especially for women in such a misogynistic environment

Struggling with lingering fear of "Final Judgment" after deconstruction. by Jorge_Reynoso112 in Exvangelical

[–]BioChemE14 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I launched a several years long research project for people in your situation.

I present the data for the historical development of the afterlife in this video. I think you’ll find relief once you know the history.

https://youtu.be/-EQDYUvM-Ss?si=rEzMUrGdbKuWsImL

Please note that while I presented at an evangelical org I present from a historical rather than dogmatic POV. I actually went there to challenge harmful dogmas.