HardMirror:

Noticed you from the very beginning of my other thread. Always reading without commenting, but you were always there.

Yes, it would be wicked to to take that away from them. Reason why I keep repeating it that my story is not to convert anyone but make information and my experience available with those struggling with their religious inclination.

dablazor:
HardMirror, this is a really nice thread, you should know I read from Part 1 without skipping a single page, read most as guest, I was forced to recall my Nairaland password as I had forgot it.
I have to admit, your story is a little similar to mine, though on a rather smaller scale, I wasn't into the evangelism brouhaha but I have read the bible over 30 times growing up back to back (although wasn't a good read because of some absurdity, most parts I try not to understand, because questions would keep pouring in)
I was born into a Christian family, brought up a Christian, from catholic to deeper life, to winners, redeem, seventh day adventist, and back to redeem I think the only denomination I never attended was a white garment church.
Growing up as a Christian was challenging because I was a curious child who applies logic, I could recall even before I was thirteen the bible confuses me a lot because somethings don't just add up, but I was so scared to ask questions, I was too scared to think, and I have to admit, I felt trapped.
 I once went to my pastor when I was a teenager with some questions about Christ's sacrifice, which doesn't make sense to me, I ended up having the devil casted out of me, as my pastor could only justify my superior argument with my being possesed by the devil, I was given a special prayer session and I was convinced I was possessed too(funny). Ever since then, I never wanted to question God for I fear that's the devil tempting me, I used the 'get thee behind me satan' clause a lot back then growing up saying it silently to myself anytime these thoughts flood my mind, I felt it was the devil talking to me, I couldn't even question my belief because I always felt the devil is the only reason i'd question christianity, am sure a lot of Christians can relate to this fear if they are being honest. 
Am pretty sure if we were all brought up free of religion and was then introduced to Christianity after puberty, Christianity would be extinct.
Altogether I dropped religion last year towards the end of my masters before my PhD and I wished i'd done earlier, I felt so free, I could think about anything and ask questions, I felt like I have being caged for twenty-five years, I never took cocaine before but I can tell the euphoric sensation is quite similar to that of coke fiends.
Am sure a lot of Christians are familiar with John 8:32 "For ye shall know the truth and the truth would set you free" indeed the bible got this right, and I keep thinking it's an hidden message in that book.

Lol anyway, funny thing is I still gotto church, and yeah my 'Pastor' is a good speaker, he is a good motivational speaker, the church to me since I lost my faith has being a weekly societal gathering where you come, dance, meet various busy-working friends, take pictures and all. Yes I do pay offerings as well, because I know it ain't no kid thing for a motivational speaker to stand on a podium for an hour tops, he needs to be paid. And good thing is my pastor barely quotes the bible, his teachings are based on morals.
The whole world needs to wake up, its not bad if we have a morality class every weekend, but let's not just cloud it with some sacrosanct spiel of a Jesus/God, it's stupid. The gathering is a good idea, but the god factor is wrong.
It's not fair having believers praying and fasting day in day out hoping to get answers to their pleas while abandoning hard work and placing all their bets on a god, let people know both good and bad experiences they have aren't predestined by a god, or that the affairs of this world are being controlled by a spiritual being who they can call to and he'd intervene, you reap exactly what you sow, nothing is fixed, some are lucky some aren't, no sky daddy would help you out because as far as I am concerned, he only exists in the head of his believers and outright powerless in the real world!
Most people rely so much on a god that they don't work hard as much as they need to as they believe they had done their best(even when it's not enough) and having comfort in putting the rest it all in a supposed God's hand, and once things didn't go as they anticipated because they believed, they make excuses for their imaginary sky daddy, he ain't even have to beg for it. 

The Internet is killing religion, as people are beginning to see the truth, and meet others like them which they never thought existed because no one would come forward in a rather religion fanatic society.

I believe there is no god, hence agnostic-atheist, am not sure if he exists and I won't waste valuable time trying to be sure if there is a god or if there isn't but as far as I am concerned, if a god exists, he would rather have people know outright that he exists, because everyone is worshiping a god based on their societal leanings, which means most are christians because they are born in a Christian home, same with Muslims and others and they all claim to be linked to god, and if he won't clear our doubts, and show us the true way to him and he still exists despite his reluctance to clear these said doubts, then I believe he doesn't care about our affairs or our worship.
So i'd live my life free of worry and reliance, and take the Bulls by the horn, shikena.

am no more caged, and my life has being better, my studies has being swift, grades have being great, I take responsibility for everything that happens to me without wasting time on some god, my life has never being better, I feel in charge, and it feels like am truly in charge of my life. 
It's the best feeling ever!!!

opeyemiolu:


I am a closet atheist for my safety. I have never been a serious christian. Have always being skeptical of religion since my teen. If my family and husband family know of my atheist stand, they will disown me. So I am still involve in religion activities for fun. I usually have a good laugh in church during sunday school and when the pastor is preaching.

Your story is touching. How you were unable to heal the blind man and the dumb boy move me to tears. I wish it was possible.

I congratulate you on your freedom from religion. I am really enjoying your story. Please dont stop.

rawgame:
Some people worship deities that give them Odeshi. Let me give a brief background information of what Odeshi means.


The word Odeshi is simply a compression of
this Igbo sentence, "O dighi eshi" which
literally means, "It is not leaking". Odeshi
was popularised during the reign of the
dreaded Bakassi Boys in the dark ages of the Mbadinuju
Administration when they were introduced as the
vigilante group in Anambra State. Their bodies were impenetrable for bullets, machetes etc. They had earlier
performed the miracle of effectively checking the
daredevil armed robbers that terrorized the neighbouring
Abia State then under the leadership of the youthful and
popular Gov. Orji Uzor Kalu.

Odeshi is obviously a supernatural ability. If deities do not exist, how were those boys able to accomplish this feat? Please an atheist should refute this with meaningful argument. These deities will definitely give their worshipers other supernatural powers. If these deities exist, and their follower attacks you(with supernatural powers) , who will you run to? Dear nairalanders, the fact is that there are actually evil men with more supernatural powers than the bakassi boys. What if they attack an Atheist, where will an Atheist run to? Please an Atheist should respond.

rawgame:
I made some important queries in the post above but no Atheist could refute. Dear nairalanders don't be like the man that made friends with the hyenas thinking that the hyenas will protect him in the day of trouble. Verily Verily I say unto you even before trouble came, the hyenas tore him in pieces.

rawgame:
I made some important queries in the post above but no Atheist could refute. Dear nairalanders don't be like the man that made friends with the hyenas thinking that the hyenas will protect him in the day of trouble. Verily Verily I say unto you even before trouble came, the hyenas tore him in pieces.

ANDREW2EIC:
@HardMirror and other atheists in the house.


I am a Christian, admittedly not a fire brigade type of Christian. I have followed the story and comments from the part 1 to this very second part and I must admit that I have learnt one or two things. However, I have some reservations which I need you guys to help me quash by making things clearer.

I have seen some of you guys proclaimed "I am a Satanist", "praise be to Satan" and the likes. Each time I see comments like the ones I highlighted above, I feel that you guys are sounding contradictory and that really gets me more confused. So my questions are :

Do you guys actually believe in the existence of Satan to warrant such comments? If that is the case, are there any proofs that s/he(Satan) actually exists? But if that is not the case, why do you guys make such comments?

HardMirror:

Sir don't be smart by half. I saw your post on odechi but decided it does not worth my time.
IF odechi works, I assure you that it would have been IMPOSSIBLE for the British to Colonize Nigeria. Even Yorubas have "Ayeta". But the british came with their guns and defeated us and we surrendered. They plundered our lands and stole our heritage. We were no match for them.
Let me ask you a question and be honest, would you prefer our government to spend on giving our soldiers Odeshi or on buying advanced military gadgets?
So stop fooling yourself.

stainlex:


Sarcasm bro!

urahara:

God is real and He truly exists. Y ow state of confusion is tiltedmore towards Christianity and other traditional religions. In my case Ifa as a means of rearing to God.

You are stupidly funny. . You got me laffin at the bolded seriously in a public. Place . loooolz

HardMirror:

Hehehehehehe
What humans do and say to defend god. You threw all caution and common sense to the winds and made the must stupiid comment in human history (not exaggerating).
May you live long to keep humanity amused.

Ranchhoddas:
Mr Gombs, you have criminally evaded the subject of the boy whose eyes were gorged out.Your healing power no reach that side ni? Why is it that the only healings you perform are unverifiable ones?

HardMirror:

Lol. That guy is a 5 star actor. The best Nigeria ever produced

jenkini:
Very much so. I cant stand the man. I know so many teenagers that preach better than TBJ. The theatrics of TBJ combined with Chris Oyaks and Chris Okotie is enough to make me a full Ifa convert. But I believe there is God. The church has just been hugely perverted and pervaded with strange doctrines.

Gombs:


You and other atheists better steer clear! I really don't have your time.

Thanks for understanding.

HardMirror:


Hahahahaha

I am laughing real hard here.

1. This was a guy forming badoo and miracle worker just a few minutes ago.
2. This was a guy telling his story and boasting that we should wait till he finishes his story.

Now he is running away after giving him a real challenge. Only an armature christian will take such a challenge. Every experience christian knows God would fail. Abeg u are forgiven. Go and make mouth no more

Gombs:


Why call my belief nonsense?

Where's the respect?

Yes, to me you're an atheist, a sorry one at that.

opeyemiolu:


I am a closet atheist for my safety. I have never been a serious christian. Have always being skeptical of religion since my teen. If my family and husband family know of my atheist stand, they will disown me. So I am still involve in religion activities for fun. I usually have a good laugh in church during sunday school and when the pastor is preaching.

Your story is touching. How you were unable to heal the blind man and the dumb boy move me to tears. I wish it was possible.

I congratulate you on your freedom from religion. I am really enjoying your story. Please dont stop.

johnydon22:


No the argument is more like: How can you add 1° to a circle (360°) that is outrightly impossible..

At 360° a circle is precise, it needs nothing added to it and if you take away 1° it ceases to be a circle therefore imperfect and may then need something (1°)

So too if there is a deity attributed with perfection then it needs nothing, not your worship, belief or acknowledgement or even reverence because it doesn't need such mundane expressions and thus all your piety are useless and irrelevant to it.

But if your version of a perfect god requires these things then surely enough it cannot be perfect.

And on the virtue of two contradicting characters 'Perfection & want' such a thing cannot exist.

-It's either perfect and doesn't want, need or require anything related to such sheepish childish wants.

-Or it is imperfect and needs them

Bring both of them together it creates a paradox and annihilates the subject.

Gombs:


If God could spilt the red Sea, make water come out of a dry rock, make an 80 year old bear a child, why marvel at a small thing as a man knowing color he never knew since he was blind from birth...

Do you know what it means to be made whole?

HardMirror:

Sir don't be smart by half. I saw your post on odechi but decided it does not worth my time.
IF odechi works, I assure you that it would have been IMPOSSIBLE for the British to Colonize Nigeria. Even Yorubas have "Ayeta". But the british came with their guns and defeated us and we surrendered. They plundered our lands and stole our heritage. We were no match for them.
Let me ask you a question and be honest, would you prefer our government to spend on giving our soldiers Odeshi or on buying advanced military gadgets?
So stop fooling yourself.