I just want to say that this guy was an inspiration when we were growing up. He would pray with people and bring them to the Lord much more than I did. He even prophesied several times, and it was confirmed by other prophets. We prayed together often and I felt the presence of God around him.
Well fast forward to our phone call and he starts speaking in tongues for a few moments then says "See, it's just a skill. No God required." I was stunned. Then he asks if I want to hear him prophesy, and he does so and let me tell you I couldn't tell the difference. Maybe I'm not as spiritually sensitive as some, but as a spirit filled believer for 20 years, shouldn't I be able to tell the difference between an atheist and a believer manifesting gifts of the spirit?
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The Bible says that God spoke through a mule, so I see no physical reason for him to not be able to speak through atheists but why would God be using atheists to speak in tongues to talk people out of believing in God?
I'm bringing this to a public forum to hear responses from more Ex Christians. If you were once spirit filled, what is going on inside of you when you speak in tongues while being away from God? How can you not believe when the evidence is literally coming out of your mouth?
Comments
arnel hoyohoy wrote on Jan 11, 2010 8:57 PM:
Da Berry wrote on Aug 9, 2009 1:44 AM:
To Blasphemous wrote on Aug 8, 2009 10:14 PM:
Blasphemous wrote on Aug 8, 2009 3:39 PM:
And everything in the bible doesn't fall into place regardless of what language its in. That book has been edited so many times by people wanting to mold it to fit their idea of the truth it has lost any historical credibility it ever may have had. "
Da Berry wrote on Aug 8, 2009 12:29 AM:
So sad that DI didn't print part II. "
Frank wrote on Aug 7, 2009 8:24 PM:
Blasphemous wrote on Aug 7, 2009 12:26 PM:
Atheist wrote on Aug 7, 2009 10:13 AM:
Awesome, another Koine scholar. Since I've never ever met anyone who knows Koine and takes the Bible literally, much less when it comes to Gehenna, I'm interested in how you interpret Scripture. Studying scripture in the original Greek was what started my path away from the Christian religion. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "fall into place". Are you saying that all of the factual errors are mistranslations? "
Da Berry Part I wrote on Aug 6, 2009 10:33 PM:
Frank wrote on Aug 6, 2009 10:32 PM:
Rousseau wrote on Aug 6, 2009 10:15 AM:
Quick correction. Since I am checking facts in this discussion. Man has been around for approximately 200,000 years. The oldest human fossil is dated at 160,000 years old. So man has been creating gods for almost 200,000 years. It is safe to assume man has created lots and lots of gods. "
Blasphemous wrote on Aug 6, 2009 7:17 AM:
Da Berry wrote on Aug 5, 2009 2:07 PM:
Frank wrote on Aug 4, 2009 9:30 PM:
frank wrote on Aug 4, 2009 8:43 PM:
A Christian wrote on Aug 2, 2009 11:33 PM:
To Frank wrote on Aug 2, 2009 9:14 PM:
cooter wrote on Aug 2, 2009 4:52 PM:
Worry about yourself-that's a full time job in and of itself. Let the others worry about whether they are going to H-E-doubletoothpicks or not-it's really none of your business. "
Frank wrote on Aug 1, 2009 9:03 PM:
While under the power of ANY christian/islam church we fail to see the history of cruelty that christianity and islam has brought upon the most innocent of us. Once we leave, the truth becomes extremely clear. "
Outraged wrote on Aug 1, 2009 4:20 PM:
Rousseau wrote on Jul 31, 2009 2:24 PM:
Isn't the answer to this simple? Of course this priniciple applies to chimpanzees. It applies to all of God's/living creatures. Poaching is widely recognized as immoral. Where killing to feed or for population control in the animal kingdom is considered acceptable.
In the former, suffering is maximized. In the latter, the greater good is maximized.
Interested, is that difficult to comprehend? Do you really need the bible for that one? "
Heres the deal... wrote on Jul 31, 2009 10:39 AM:
Interested wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:14 AM:
Atheist wrote on Jul 30, 2009 11:58 PM:
The word maximization is a scope definition and time frame is a form of scope. Don't know how to say it more clearly, sorry.
"What's the basis for including or not including chimpanzees in that morality?"
Happiness and suffering. "
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 30, 2009 11:07 PM:
Keep spreading the love my friend. I hope you and your bigoted eye in the sky are happy together.
I'm really glad i deny myself this blood you speak of. "
JgH wrote on Jul 30, 2009 8:34 PM:
Interested wrote on Jul 30, 2009 11:38 AM:
Atheist wrote on Jul 29, 2009 8:42 PM:
I don't know what you mean by a scientific morality and how premises and proofs would apply. If you want to know how we can have an objective basis for morality without gods, that it very easy. Things that maximize happiness or minimize suffering are good. The opposite is bad. No gods necessary.
Right and wrong exists no matter what gods you worship or don't worship. "
To Blasphemous wrote on Jul 29, 2009 7:50 PM:
Atheist wrote on Jul 29, 2009 3:10 PM:
Uhh no, just like your disbelief in Zeus doesn't mean you're just looking for a reason to disobey the King of Gods.
"Why don't you subject some of the principals in God's word to testing? "
I think you're looking for the word principle, but even with that correction I still don't understand what you're trying to say. "
a born again believer wrote on Jul 29, 2009 3:05 PM:
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 29, 2009 1:56 PM:
Interested wrote on Jul 29, 2009 1:00 PM:
D. Hertz wrote on Jul 29, 2009 9:29 AM:
Why don't you subject some of the principals in God's word to testing? "
My 2 Cents wrote on Jul 28, 2009 11:27 PM:
Atheist wrote on Jul 28, 2009 1:01 PM:
First of all, thank you for your posts. I was beginning to give up on these forums. We probably disagree on many things, but you recognize logic, and that puts you in an extremely small minority.
I'd like to address your claim that science and religion both take things on faith. I agree. Science makes 1 and only 1 faith based assertion, that inductive reasoning is valid. All else is deduced from observation and reasoning. I don't believe that one assertion comes close to leveling the playing field. "
Rousseau wrote on Jul 28, 2009 10:28 AM:
Theories encompass those ideas with a lot of evidence of proof but are not repeatable. IE Evolution is a theory because we only know of life on this planet making it unrepeatable.
With that correction, please carry on. "
FSM wrote on Jul 28, 2009 9:37 AM:
Interested wrote on Jul 28, 2009 7:18 AM:
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 28, 2009 7:07 AM:
Gravity doesnt really exist wrote on Jul 28, 2009 12:25 AM:
Rousseau wrote on Jul 27, 2009 10:53 PM:
Still with me? In other words, our perception is the result of electronic signals in our brain. What if that is an illusion? "
to Chell wrote on Jul 27, 2009 8:13 PM:
Thomas Aquinas wrote on Jul 27, 2009 7:18 PM:
-Aquinas "
Blaspemous wrote on Jul 27, 2009 2:27 PM:
Chell wrote on Jul 27, 2009 1:49 PM:
CHARIS wrote on Jul 26, 2009 9:07 PM:
Rousseaus Confessions wrote on Jul 25, 2009 2:44 PM:
Your friend is still the same good person he always was. He has just chosen to put his faith in something that makes more sense to him now. It isn't right to judge other people, and you will be doing your part to make the world a better place if you focus on the qualities you still share with your friend instead of the differences.
Just think. If all of us could think this way, wars, genocide, ethnic cleansing, racism, bigotry, petty partisan politics, etc would all cease to exist. "
Rousseaus Confessions wrote on Jul 25, 2009 2:08 PM:
The long and short is that there is a lot of stuff about ourselves and the universe that we do not understand. Some choose to explain those holes with religion. Others try to explain with science. Belief in either takes faith. So much of science includes things we cannot see or prove... "
For you Bayou Prophet wrote on Jul 25, 2009 8:31 AM:
Matt. 15:8-9 "These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." "
A Christian wrote on Jul 22, 2009 8:56 PM:
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 22, 2009 1:27 PM:
It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. – Mark Twain "
Bayou Prophet wrote on Jul 22, 2009 9:48 AM:
Then it's obvious you have never read the entirety of the Bible. "
A Christian wrote on Jul 21, 2009 11:53 PM:
Thomas Aquinas wrote on Jul 21, 2009 6:11 PM:
To Bayou Prophet wrote on Jul 21, 2009 5:47 PM:
Marla Gaspard wrote on Jul 21, 2009 12:36 PM:
I think your friend was a Christian. I believe that God was with him or her. It has nothing to do with speaking in tongues or phophesy. Those gifts are secondary to him or her accepting God and letting Him work in His or Her life. "
Bayou Prophet wrote on Jul 21, 2009 10:39 AM:
To the original poster, we shouldn't have blind faith. The criticism of atheism must be taken seriously because it illuminates where we slip into idolatry. The challenge of atheism isn't a harbinger of our demise, it's a motivation to cast off that which is irrational. In doing so, we are born again. "
To Mr. HJ wrote on Jul 21, 2009 8:18 AM:
Mr. HJ wrote on Jul 20, 2009 9:06 PM:
You seriously need to find a real Church and re-learn everything you think you know about Christianity.
One indicator of a real Church is how long its been around. If your Church is only a couple hundred years old, chances are its bogus... "
Reule Broussard wrote on Jul 20, 2009 7:41 PM:
What "testable predictions" and "observable facts" are you referring to? Those fossils prove just the opposite of "evolution".
And, you didn't answer my question. "
Thomas Aquinas wrote on Jul 20, 2009 7:24 PM:
IS there such a thing as a NON-PHYSICAL existent? Yes. Point with your finger to the square root of two. You cannot. Thus, all mathematics is real, and non-physical, and thus, there ARE non-physical existents. "
Thomas Jefferson wrote on Jul 20, 2009 4:11 PM:
L.L. Onjou wrote on Jul 20, 2009 3:51 PM:
Interesting that the post against evolution also, and unintentionally, clarifies why what is known to be true remains a theory: because of the ethical reliance of SCIENCE on observability and replication. Due to the time span involved in the evolution of higher life forms (not, for ex., cellular organisms) evolution must be called a theory, despite its known occurence. Coupled with an accurate definition of theory it counters ignorance. Congrats! "
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 20, 2009 1:29 PM:
I'm not sorry you have to hide behind your fears. "
Church of the FSM wrote on Jul 20, 2009 1:27 PM:
"That’s comical. Most people who don’t believe in His existence have no problem rejecting Him."
Amen. Those who disbelieve in the flying spaghetti monster have rejected Him in their hearts. He must exist because all those people must have rejected something.
Circular reasoning is bad because it can be used to prove absurdities. "
Tom wrote on Jul 19, 2009 5:05 PM:
You said, “I neither accept nor reject god(sic), I’m saying he doesn’t exist”.
That’s comical. Most people who don’t believe in His existence have no problem rejecting Him. "
AChristianForever wrote on Jul 19, 2009 10:51 AM:
A Christian wrote on Jul 18, 2009 9:04 PM:
Reule Broussard wrote on Jul 18, 2009 8:45 PM:
If you are no longer a Christian, as you state, then why are you wasting your time taking potshots at believers? You must have some huge burr up your a$$.
You seem very passionate at making fun and mocking Christianity. What's the problem, God didn't follow your instructions on how YOU wanted your life to turn out?
BTW, evolution is a THEORY just like the big bang THEORY. These THEORIES are NOT fact like you allege.
I can attest to many miracles and other answers to requests from the Almighty. "
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 18, 2009 12:43 PM:
Again this is just plain nonsense. Millions of individuals have done great things before man ever created the idea of monotheism, namely God. I'm not telling you that you cant do great things because you know God so stop trying to tell me i can't do good things without him.
Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make when in the presence of religious dogma. – Sam Harris "
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 18, 2009 12:24 PM:
BTW: Spirits dont exist just like Santa and the Easter Bunny "
Church of the FSM wrote on Jul 18, 2009 10:37 AM:
The Universe had to have a beginning, a source, and we call that source The Flying Spaghetti Monster. "
Phyllis Romero wrote on Jul 18, 2009 7:49 AM:
A Christian wrote on Jul 17, 2009 7:02 PM:
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 17, 2009 9:42 AM:
Saying there is no reason to do good without god is just being blind and ignorant. I do good because these precious few decades is the only life i have and it is the right thing to do. Having a conscience has nothing to do with god. "
to unbelievers wrote on Jul 16, 2009 4:45 PM:
If there is no God there is no conscience. There is no reason to do good if we are simply an advanced form of ocean slime. Without God we are no better than other animals who care nothing for anything except survival and their off springs. "
To Atheist wrote on Jul 16, 2009 4:21 PM:
Dewayne wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:50 PM:
generic poster wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:37 PM:
How do you know if someone is speaking in tongues "perfectly"? "
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 15, 2009 12:27 PM:
To Stunned: You will probably see that your friend is just as good a person as he was before. Look at it as a different view point, nothing more or less. Difference being he doesn't need to spend his life worshiping an imaginary friend. "
Atheist wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:24 AM:
The term atheist has been given such a negative connotation in our society. A lot of people think atheists are evil and immoral because they think goodness can only come from God. But the truth is that most atheists are good people. Prison statistics support this. Google them and see for yourself.
If your friend was a good person when he was a Christian, it's more than likely he's still a good person as an atheist. "
truth wrote on Jul 15, 2009 8:24 AM:
Phyllis Romero wrote on Jul 14, 2009 8:38 PM:
My 2 Cents wrote on Jul 14, 2009 8:01 PM:
My 2 Cents wrote on Jul 14, 2009 7:41 PM:
To Stunned wrote on Jul 14, 2009 3:18 PM:
No, not just because it's in the Bible. Does what you are reading actually make sense? If you read the same thing in a book that wasn't the Bible, would you still believe it? "
Atheist wrote on Jul 14, 2009 11:53 AM:
He wants you to read the Bible because believers typically do not read it cover to cover. Some claim to be Bible based, but they just cherry pick the scriptures, focusing on a handful of verses. John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, etc.
You'll never hear the passages where God approves of rape, genocide and infanticide from the pulpit. Reading the whole thing is eye opening and dangerous to the belief system if you have the intellectual honesty to question what they've told you. "
Stunned wrote on Jul 14, 2009 10:38 AM:
He never tried to convince me. He just stated why he didn't believe. He said if I wanted to find out more, to keep asking questions and to read the whole Bible. I really don't understand why an atheist wants me to read the Bible.
My friends basically did the same thing a lot of people here did. They said he was a phoney and had always been. The same people he led to the Lord! "
Atheist wrote on Jul 14, 2009 9:48 AM:
I know not everyone reads all the comments so I'll say it again. I'm an atheist and I can still speak in tongues. One of your reasons for an unbeliever being able to do it is boredom.
If anyone can speak in tongues out of boredom, it isn't much of a miracle is it? "
Atheist wrote on Jul 14, 2009 9:46 AM:
What if the same assumption were made about you?
What if I told you that I think you're really an atheist? You know it's all just fairy tales but you push those thoughts out of your mind and pay lip service just in case, to cover your bases.
You may say you believe, but you know deep down it doesn't make sense.
How the heck would I know that? It's arrogant to say the least, isn't it? "
Atheist wrote on Jul 14, 2009 9:38 AM:
My apologies for not being clear enough.
When someone leaves the church, the members question their sincerity at ever having been a Christian.
Of course I am not a Christian now, but I used to be. And when I was a Christian, I was a real Christian. I wasn't pretending.
People still in church have a very hard time accepting anyone's rejection of faith. It's easier for them to assume we were never believers in the first place. That's just not the case. "
Da Berry To My 2 Cents wrote on Jul 14, 2009 9:27 AM:
My 2 Cents wrote on Jul 13, 2009 10:41 PM:
Tom wrote on Jul 13, 2009 6:58 PM:
Do you really think when someone rejects Christianity that others will not question his sincerity if the others claim to be Christians? How can someone disavow Christianity and claim to be a Christian?
Do you ever think before you post anti-Christian comments? "
Da Berry wrote on Jul 13, 2009 6:22 PM:
roy wrote on Jul 13, 2009 4:49 PM:
Spirit Filled wrote on Jul 13, 2009 3:46 PM:
Second, the Devil can perform miracles. The fact that your friend has rejected Christ and speaks in tongues doesn't discredit the miracle of tongues - it simply shows that it's coming from a different source.
Third, no true Christian ever leaves the church. Sorry to say, your friend was a wolf in sheep's clothing. "
Atheist wrote on Jul 13, 2009 2:25 PM:
There is nothing "going on inside of me" whenever I do it. It's a psychological magic trick that anyone can learn, but is harder for some than others - like those hidden images you have to cross your eyes to see.
I understand how you feel. When someone rejects Christianity, others immediately question his sincerity at being a Christian, like your friends did. Religion can make people do pretty bad things. You sound like you're well on your way to realizing that. "
Youve been taught wrong wrote on Jul 13, 2009 2:16 PM:
wiseone wrote on Jul 13, 2009 1:34 PM:
nameless wrote on Jul 13, 2009 1:22 PM:
After you've read the whole thing...think long and hard about how it may apply to your situation.
Cognitive dissonance "
Blasphemous wrote on Jul 13, 2009 12:49 PM:
Speaking in tongues is in no way evidence of Gods existence. "
Phyllis Romero wrote on Jul 13, 2009 12:17 PM: