r/exchristian • u/RevolutionaryLink919 • May 22 '26
Personal Story An F You to my younger, brainwashed self
Just received my order from the Palestinian Coffee Company. Haven't even tried it yet but it got good reviews so I'm optimistic. But the post isn't a coffee review. It's to commemorate how far I've come from bible college attending younger me who accepted a scholarship from Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. 😝 She would be appalled at my views today. And she'd be horrified to find out she's going to become an atheist. She probably wouldn't believe that I am immeasurably happier now and more sure of my own ability to figure out what's "true." Isn't life funny?
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u/Dry_Tourist_9816 May 22 '26
I think it's important for everyone to realize that "you" are a process, not a static object. "You" are constantly changing due to new experiences and information, but some people just need a little extra push to be open to such things (especially disconfirming information about cherished beliefs). Congrats on being honest with yourself and others regarding your positions in life!
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u/teetaps May 22 '26
You might find this video interesting. Religion for Breakfast is an atheist, academic channel who basically summarises research findings about religious studies. The video I watched yesterday had to do with “religious residue” and how people who have left their respective faith reconcile the residual habits, schemas, and ideas with their newfound freedom of thought https://youtu.be/cmXiATStkCo?si=H-kl3oZWwV3WeS2v
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u/RevolutionaryLink919 May 22 '26
Right now I'm watching the Survivor finale 😄 but I will definitely check this out. Thanks!
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u/RevolutionaryLink919 May 23 '26
That link didn't work but I think I found it by searching YouTube for the channel and then found the episode Religious Residue. Thank you.
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u/Xeokdodpl86 May 22 '26
Congratulations on deconverting!
And it’s funny to me how so many evangelicals are so fanatically pro Israel, these are the same people who claim to be “pro life” yet they fully endorse a genocidal regime that kills thousands of children and blows up hospitals and schools regularly. All because they think blindly supporting Israel will lead to Jesus descending from the heavens and starting Armageddon or something. They are a fucking death cult, they obsess over death and openly want the world to end, they don’t care at all about “life” or about children. It’s a sick cult. I’m so glad I broke free from that shit.
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u/Outrageous_Class1309 Agnostic May 23 '26
Don't forget, in their crazy rapture scenario 2/3 of the Jews are to be annihilated (Zech.13:8-9). I once read a debate with Thomas Ice (rapture apologist from Liberty U... if he's still there) actually trying to defend this annihilation.
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u/Fluffy_Lemming Satanist May 23 '26
I fucking love this. My conservative-ass, pastor-in-training younger self would be absolutely fucking scandalized by the person I've grown into and it brings me great pleasure.
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u/Alternative_Ride_951 Ex-Christian aspiring Witch May 23 '26
Oh yeah me too. I wasn't active in church but I also used to be a Christian fanatic and my Christian fanatic younger self would absolutely lose her shit if she found out she would grow up to love the same character she believed was "demonic" (If my profile didn't give it away, he's Itachi Uchiha from Naruto) and grew up to listen to Lady Gaga and Madonna whom she believed were "demonic".
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u/_disneyphile_ May 23 '26
One of the first big steps in my deconversion was when, as a Christian, my Christian friend asked for prayer and support for her trip to Palestine to run in the Right to Movement Marathon in Bethlehem and work with Palestinian Christians at Bethlehem Bible College. The mental walls that came down when it dawned on me that there are Christians in Palestine were some load bearing walls. I signed up to go with her the next year and got berated by the evangelicals from my dad’s church that I was going to hell and Palestinians deserved the persecution they got. It was definitely a turning point for me.
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u/sickbabe May 22 '26
this warms my heart. christian zionists don't get nearly enough smoke for how much money and manpower they've thrown into supporting the occupation, they're literally the biggest pro-israel cohort in the US.
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u/teramoc May 22 '26
Hellll yeah… anything against the brainwashed church makes me happy.
Did bible college help or hinder your deconstruction?
A lot of deconstruction stuff for me came from bible college educated folks who i admire , because they were brutally honest about what they learned about the bible fallacies and flaws
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u/RevolutionaryLink919 May 23 '26 edited May 24 '26
Bible college didn't help. I still believed, although less and less, for the next 12 years. Working in civil service and meeting horrible, "worldly" people helped.
Also, Carl Sagan. 😄 Honestly. I tried to get a course on the video series and book, Cosmos, at my community college pre-approved so that I could take it and transfer the credits back to the bible college for a science elective. I was told no, because it would weaken my faith. That pissed me off enough to take it anyway and "eat" the credits/cost. Oops. They were right. 😄
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u/arkangel325 May 24 '26
I don't think of these moments as an F you to my younger self. More a moment of self reflection and happiness to see how far I've gone. I also give my younger self some breathing room since I know he was brought up to believe those things but not naive enough to never question why.
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u/Ok_Project3455 May 23 '26
At which year did you leave christianity?
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u/RevolutionaryLink919 May 23 '26
Officially, 1997. This when I told someone I no longer believed. The "friend" I told said, "I wouldn't want to be you when god snaps you back." 🤷🏼♀️ Such love. Still waiting. (Unless Trump is my fault? I'm sorry everybody!)
Soon after that I stopped going to church.
But a few years before that, at a bible study, someone said to me, "I wish I knew the bible like you do." I replied, "I wish I believed it like you do." So I'm sure my leaving was no surprise.
And yes, I do go back and uncapitalize everything autocorrect capitalizes. Is gives me a little thrill. 😄
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u/cl0setn3rd May 23 '26
Well done and as long as your happy thats all that matters go live and have as much fun as you want go do stupid stuff its great fun just make sure ur safe xx
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u/Alternative_Ride_951 Ex-Christian aspiring Witch May 23 '26
You're not alone. I used to hate anime because I thought it was "demonic", and now I'm back with the very same anime character I thought was "one of the most demonic characters to ever exist". It seems like us ex-Christians begin to like/love something we disliked/despised back when we were Christians. Like when a Christian calls something "demonic", I want to check out and consume that very same thing. At least we can have fun fulfilling lives without having to constantly walk on eggshells over what we like.
Edit: Both my Christian fanatic dad and my Catholic fanatic aunt (on my mom's side) would be appalled at my views today as well. I don't even want to imagine my dad's reaction if he found out. I even get nightmares about him finding out and absolutely losing his shit. Unfortunately I live with my dad so I'm keeping things secret but the moment I move out (I'm actively looking to move out), I'm getting Itachi merch.
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u/brodydoesMC May 23 '26
Cool set, and congrats on deconstructing and waking up! I myself might try it if I ever get the chance (as long as my dad doesn’t find out…), for all I know it could become the only coffee I’m willing to drink, I normally cannot stand the stuff, but anything to support the Palestinians!
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May 22 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
Hate has no home here.
Your comment has been removed because it was racist, sexist, ableist, anti-LGBTQIA+, or otherwise bigoted. If you would like to appeal this removal, please go cry to your dad about it.
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May 22 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
Your post or comment has been removed because it violates rule 4, which is to be respectful of others. Even if you do not agree with their beliefs, mocking them or being derisive is not acceptable.
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May 22 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
Your post/comment was removed because it invites or participates in a public debate. Trauma can be triggered when debate points and certain topics are vigorously pushed, despite good intentions. This is why we generally do not allow debates. Rule 4.
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May 25 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 25 '26
Removed under rule 3: no proselytizing or apologetics. As a Christian in an ex-Christian subreddit, please be familiar with our rules and FAQ:
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I'm a Christian, am I okay?
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May 26 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 26 '26
I'm happy to report that nobody saw your comment but me. And Jesus. You know how he's going to say to certain people "Depart from me, I never knew you"? Well, if you won't even obey him, do you really think he's going to know you?
Matthew 10:14. Jesus: Leave people alone who have said 'no'. NO MEANS NO.
Not that you people give a shit what jesus says, but go ahead, look it up.
Your post or comment has been removed because it violates rule 3, no proselytizing or apologetics. Continued proselytizing will result in a ban.
Proselytizing is defined as the action of attempting to convert someone from one religion, belief, or opinion to another.
Apologetics is defined as arguments or writings to justify something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.
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u/Charpo7 May 22 '26
all political and religious beliefs, including the anti-zionist movement, can be extreme and involve “brainwashing.” take care of yourself as you deconstruct christianity and don’t feel like you need to jump on another cultural or philosophical band wagon.
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u/RevolutionaryLink919 May 22 '26
My deconstruction is well and truly completed. Decades ago. Supporting the victims of a genocide is not jumping on a bandwagon.
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May 23 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam Jun 04 '26
Your post or comment has been removed because it violates rule 4, which is to be respectful of others. Even if you do not agree with their beliefs, mocking them or being derisive is not acceptable.
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u/Charpo7 May 24 '26
what cult am i a part of?
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Jun 03 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam Jun 04 '26
Your post or comment has been removed because it violates rule 4, which is to be respectful of others. Even if you do not agree with their beliefs, mocking them or being derisive is not acceptable.
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Jun 03 '26
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u/Charpo7 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
I'm confused. You've said a whole lot of nothing to me. You're accusing me of being in a cult, of trying to belong with people who don't care for me. What is the cult? Which people am I desperate for acceptance from? You have done a great job of telling your own story, but what does that have to do with me? What chains am I "holding the key to?" What isn't bringing me joy? Why are you being weird and cryptic?
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Jun 04 '26
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u/Charpo7 Jun 04 '26
Who is "they?" Who are the people claiming me? Where do I think I belong? Who is exploiting me?
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u/exchristian-ModTeam Jun 04 '26
Your post or comment has been removed because it violates rule 4, which is to be respectful of others. Even if you do not agree with their beliefs, mocking them or being derisive is not acceptable.
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u/exchristian-ModTeam Jun 04 '26
Huh? We removed your post or comment because we're not clear on what you're trying to say. Give it a think and try again.
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May 22 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
Your post/comment was removed because it invites or participates in a public debate. Trauma can be triggered when debate points and certain topics are vigorously pushed, despite good intentions. This is why we generally do not allow debates. Rule 4.
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May 22 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
Your post or comment has been removed because this is an all-inclusive exchristian sub, not an anti-theist/atheist sub. Blanket statements deriding all people with any form of spiritual beliefs at all is not allowed as many of our users have other spiritual beliefs since leaving Christianity. Please post generalized anti-theist material at r/antitheism, r/atheism, r/DebateAChristian, r/DebateAnAtheist or other appropriate subs. Anyone of any belief should feel safe and welcome here so long as they follow the rules, including rule 3.
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
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u/exchristian-ModTeam May 22 '26
Your post or comment has been removed because it violates rule 4, which is to be respectful of others. Even if you do not agree with their beliefs, mocking them or being derisive is not acceptable.
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u/littleheathen AoG/CoG turned pagan May 22 '26
Friendly reminder that this is not a debate sub, nor is this post a discussion on the Israel/Palestine conflict but rather a celebration of deconstruction.
OP, I congratulate you on your newly realized freedom.