Thank you, NorEaster. That’s so kind of you. Having been on both sides of this divide, I decided that anything I can do to promote understanding in each camp is worth my time as part of my goal to make the world a better place in my short life.

As many of us can “speak the lingo” of the religious, yet understand the mindset of the non-religious, we’re in somewhat of a unique position and can be useful toward bridging the gap.

I have an Essay running around my head that about what happened in the months after she died. I’m still trying to decide if I want to write it. And if I write it, do I want to posts it? I don’t know. It’s such an impossibly difficult thing for me to address honestly.

I understand. There are traumas in my life that I think about at times but am not ready to write about yet. I may never be. That said, if you do post your essay, please let us know where to read it. I’d be interested in it.

But, getting back to where I was–”Can I be de-converted?”–the most honest answer that I can come up with is, “Well…not today.” That may sound cynical to some Christians, but I’ll still take the honesty of it over hypocrisy and arrogance and &c.

I think that’s a very honest answer, and not cynical at all.

Oh, sure. But that doesn’t stop a lot of them!!

Actually, the voter guides were given out in front of church or on the bus on the way to church. They weren’t handed out in the sanctuary and my last pastor did not endorse candidates. But we certainly got the message about what we were “supposed” to vote for and against!

The candidate I was pulling for, Bill Richardson, dropped out long ago.

I really like him too. I’d like to see him included as a vice presidential candidate or in the cabinet of a new Democratic administration.

“The bigger theme here is that politicians should stay away from persuasion through religion, and focus more on persuasion through policy.”

Unfortunately that will never happen.

Leo,

“My case of moving into more conservative Christianity before de-conversion, and remaining mostly politically conservative after de-conversion, seems to be unusual.”

Thats interesting. I began moving more liberal my last two or three years as a Christian, and as a de-convert I’ve drifted back toward the middle.

I really appreciate your concern. I know something of your own experience and I know your concern is authentic. And I do want to say that of all the words I’ve read on here, some of your comments have helped to understand de-conversion in ways I never thought possible. You come across as a very spiritual person. (And I do not use that term in a religious sense at all.) For instance, you recently said (somewhere) that in order for a Christian to accept that others could be de-converted, that individual would have to admit that s/he could be de-converted. I remember when I was backsliding I didn’t think of it as “backsliding.” I had actually reached a point where I no longer believed in God. I do now. But there certainly was a time–after conversion–when I did not. And there have times–even recently–that I have shaken my fist at God in a maddening rage over my grief. Like they said in GriefShare, “He already knows how you feel. You might as well be honest about it. God is not insecure about your emotions.” I know some people here may not believe that, but being honest–truly honest–with God has helped me immensely. And, quite frankly, it just feels good to get it out when I need to get it out. One of the assumptions I obviously, and perhaps inadvertantly, ended up examing earlier was that I have not recovered nearly as well as I had thought. Or it may just be this time of year. I’m not sure. I have an Essay running around my head that about what happened in the months after she died. I’m still trying to decide if I want to write it. And if I write it, do I want to posts it? I don’t know. It’s such an impossibly difficult thing for me to address honestly. But, getting back to where I was–”Can I be de-converted?”–the most honest answer that I can come up with is, “Well…not today.” That may sound cynical to some Christians, but I’ll still take the honesty of it over hypocrisy and arrogance and &c.

My case of moving into more conservative Christianity before de-conversion, and remaining mostly politically conservative after de-conversion, seems to be unusual.

Oh well. Just goes to show that I’m unique……. like everyone else.

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t churches as tax-exempt organizations, forbidden by law to endorse one candidate or one party over another?

I won’t speak of politics anymore. The candidate I was pulling for, Bill Richardson, dropped out long ago.

Are Christians (as a group, not as individuals) in some way guilty of allowing the so-called Religious Right to be the primary voice on their behalf in the political spectrum?

Christians in the United States, in my very unprofessional opinion, are subject the strict fundamentalist movement that evolved during the 20th century.

I think your initial hunch about the pundits taking “cues” from people such as Robertson is a correct one. I mean, people like Robertson have money for a reason – they have successfully sold their version Christianity.

So how do politicians see this? It’s an opportunity of course! What better way to “get votes” than to befriend a leader of an idealogical perspective.

I guess the next question is “can Christians do anything about it?” I don’t think so. Besides, let’s pretend that a group of Christians with a more liberal approach to the faith organized and gained power. Well, then politicians would only address them, and other viewpoints would be unfairly marginalized.

The bigger theme here is that politicians should stay away from persuasion through religion, and focus more on persuasion through policy. Unfortunately, there are many who don’t care so much about the latter…

Hence our troubles today haha

God Bless,

Justin