I woke up is what happened. But not all at once, and not by my choice either, I don't think. As an adolescent, my father had me removed from the country to avoid the felony charges I may have endured for an assault on another man. Luckily, the place I was to stay had none of the white noise incessantly coming from the industrial sized fan which had been sucking me in back home. While there, I was able to rub many of the lies and much of the propaganda from my eyes, which had formed while I was asleep in the states. No longer was I required to go to school, or allowed to watch television. My days were spent catching caiman from the stream, twining rope from bark strands, reading and thinking about the purpose of my existence. Then one day I was given a snort of yopo from Nigel, the village shaman, and off to the mountain I went for some mediation and fasting. The first day or so, I had talked to many dead ancestors, and was given knowledge of the jaguar spirit. On about the third day I heard a voice, coming through the leaves and the stream, and it was unlike the usual inner dialogue. This one was more refined, but not by human standards- because it sounded more as if it were coming from the earth, the sky and the rain. The crazy thing is this voice was not in English or any other language I am familiar with, but I understood it clearly, as if listening to my mother's voice from within her womb. "Who do you think your spirit belongs to? If you say it belongs to you, then it is trapped within you, and can never be free. If you give glory to a higher power, you can only go up. But, if you say you have no spirit then you're already dead." Or something close to those lines. The voice explained my time had been spent well in the jungle, but that it was time for me to return home, as there was purpose for me there. I didn't want to leave, but God assured me that I would return again to the jungles, but that I shouldn't think about that for the time being, and that I would know when the time came. When I returned to the village from the mountain, I thought I had been gone for about 4-5 days. When I inquired what day of the week it was, Nigel informed me that I had been gone for well over two weeks. He and the elders thought perhaps I had been eaten by animals. And, so I began making preparations for my return home, soon thereafter. Back home again; decades passed, and I had forgotten about my promised return to the jungle, until one day I received a call from officials in the district. True to the promise, last year I returned their once again to help resolve a legal land dispute, in which an old friend had been killed by illegal trespassers. I was sad to hear of my friend's fate, but on my travels there, I was almost giddy anxious in anticipation to hear that beautifully haunting voice once again; but this time the forest spoke to me in a different way. This time it spoke of pain and anguish, as it beckoned me to help, but lo; I felt helpless to listen, and my eyes could hardly bear to witness the wounds we have inflicted.
I see your point. There is far too much "ugly Christianity" out there. There are many interpretations of Christianity. Good and bad.
The Burden of Proof! Yes! It's awesome that you've finally realized that the Burden of Proof is on the one proposing something. Maybe you can actually follow this one simple rule instead of telling people to go find the proof to your assertions on google. As for Religion, if someone is trying to prove to you that there is a God, then I wish them the best of luck. As for me, I believe because of faith, not proof. But I'm not asking you to believe. You have the right not to, and I have the right to do so. You can't disprove God anymore than I can prove the existence of God.
"My days were spent catching caiman from the stream, twining rope from bark strands, reading and thinking about the purpose of my existence." Hoofhearted, thanks for sharing. It seems that being out in nature for long periods of time can really get us in tune with God. I hope to do that one day.
An honest Atheist is always more appreciated, so thanks for being able to admit that. As they don't teach about pride in public schools, the informed Atheist could benefit from a little research, lest learning the lessons of pride the hard way as others have before them. Here are a few of the lessons handed down through the ancient texts; and of of course the informed Atheist doesn't have to believe any of it. Most of it's just fairy tales, many would say... Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 25:14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. Galations 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. http://www.openbible.info/topics/pride “Pride attaches undue importance to the superiority of one's status in the eyes of others; And shame is fear of humiliation at one's inferior status in the estimation of others. When one sets his heart on being highly esteemed, and achieves such rating, then he is automatically involved in fear of losing his status.” Lao Tzu
Be prepared to properly handle anti-evolutionists memes. During battle, Puritan Creationists may present a meme such as the one below. Just politely explain to them that the guy on the right shot and killed all the ones in the middle. The only reason he allowed the one on the left remain was because it walked on all fours, spoke no reasonable language, and was not known to make spear points or similar weapons- and therefore was not deemed a threat.