Topic: Former Christians - Survey

[andrewclunn]

Took it.

I found it assumed a great deal about a person's de-conversion (for example, that leaving Christianity probably results in being more politically liberal).

Oh I laughed when I read that one 

[Vincegamer]

Took it.

I found it assumed a great deal about a person's de-conversion (for example, that leaving Christianity probably results in being more politically liberal).

That said, my de-conversion followed as a results of most of the topics asked about here (feelings about science, homosexuality, etc.).

Yes, I was liberal as a Christian and I'm liberal now. My deconversion wasn't related to any of those. I was a Carl Sagan fan as a practicing Catholic. I liked science as much then as now. I had all sorts of books on dinosaurs as a kid.
It basically assumes that Christians are ignorant conservative rubes who convert and become educated liberal sophisticates.
Then it's asking the question of whether deconversion caused that shift or resulted from that shift.

[lukebourassa]

Took it.

I found it assumed a great deal about a person's de-conversion (for example, that leaving Christianity probably results in being more politically liberal).

That said, my de-conversion followed as a results of most of the topics asked about here (feelings about science, homosexuality, etc.).

Yes, I was liberal as a Christian and I'm liberal now. My deconversion wasn't related to any of those. I was a Carl Sagan fan as a practicing Catholic. I liked science as much then as now. I had all sorts of books on dinosaurs as a kid.
It basically assumes that Christians are ignorant conservative rubes who convert and become educated liberal sophisticates.
Then it's asking the question of whether deconversion caused that shift or resulted from that shift.

My de-conversion took place when I was a young teenager... one's political opinion is almost guaranteed to change between 15 and 30, religion or no.

[Kwisatz Haderach]

The term "de-conversion", coupled with the sort of questions asked, seems to assume a very specific kind of experience that isn't necessarily shared by all Atheists.

[Angra Mainyu]

Done, though I'm apparently not the guy the survey was looking for - but I'm reasonably close on a number of issues, so I did it anyway; I guess I might be excluded.

[Thornbrier]

That was fun.

Also, I saw the same things you guys did in the 'assumptions' and while many of the questions could have been worded better don't confuse the wording with a 'desired' outcome. Just because you answer contrary to the wordings 'assumptions' doesn't mean your input isn't valuable. Such wordings often bias early study results, that's one of the reasons they like to conduct additional interviews when they can, to help determine what they need to fix (or statistically weed out if they can't) in the study.

That said, I too think its target range is former christian atheists in the US who 'deconverted' in or near adulthood, whether you or your family were all that 'into' it or not.

[stretcher]

That survey is way too long and leaves out many, many options. I tried taking but it seems utterly pointless. I hope all of the bad things in life happen to those that authored it.

[GodSlayer]

The questions seemed to assume that leaving Christianity and become and atheist were the same or very closely related. For me, they are separated by several years. It didn't explicitly say it, but there were spots to explain how my opinion of X changed, and then rate how big a deal X was in becoming an atheist. Totally separate things for me, but I had the impression they expected a relationship there.

what was your process... like, how drawn out?

e.g., different denomination, different church, non-denominational, non-Christian 'higher power + afterlife + justice' belief, agnostic, agnostic who realizes agnostics are atheists

[lorryfach]

The questions seemed to assume that leaving Christianity and become and atheist were the same or very closely related. For me, they are separated by several years. It didn't explicitly say it, but there were spots to explain how my opinion of X changed, and then rate how big a deal X was in becoming an atheist. Totally separate things for me, but I had the impression they expected a relationship there.

what was your process... like, how drawn out?

e.g., different denomination, different church, non-denominational, non-Christian 'higher power + afterlife + justice' belief, agnostic, agnostic who realizes agnostics are atheists

I rejected the Christian god because I read the bible, but I still thought there could be one or more other gods, so I read up on a lot of other religions. Nothing too exciting, but it took a long time. I didn't become a skeptic until much later.

[GodSlayer]

The questions seemed to assume that leaving Christianity and become and atheist were the same or very closely related. For me, they are separated by several years. It didn't explicitly say it, but there were spots to explain how my opinion of X changed, and then rate how big a deal X was in becoming an atheist. Totally separate things for me, but I had the impression they expected a relationship there.

what was your process... like, how drawn out?

e.g., different denomination, different church, non-denominational, non-Christian 'higher power + afterlife + justice' belief, agnostic, agnostic who realizes agnostics are atheists

I rejected the Christian god because I read the bible, but I still thought there could be one or more other gods, so I read up on a lot of other religions. Nothing too exciting, but it took a long time. I didn't become a skeptic until much later.

what does 'rejected' mean?
does he explicitly deny there are other gods, or merely say that he will fuck you up if you have the gall to worship any other than He?

[lorryfach]

what does 'rejected' mean?

Initially, it meant that even if he existed, I didn't want to worship him.

[GodSlayer]

what does 'rejected' mean?

Initially, it meant that even if he existed, I didn't want to worship him.

cool.