I have watched and monitored a couple people who have deconverted from Christianity. I have also observed the way other people have viewed them. I have seen them change in their actions as their views have changed.
I can think of an individual who realized that the view of god he learned his whole life did not add up. He studied his religion and others and came to the conclusion that god was not real. He removed himself from the church, but really continued his study with a focus on the good in humanity. He found non-believers were just as moral as believers and in many cases much more so.
As his life and views changed he sought to find a way to be the best person he could be. He studied the core of religions and their principles. He tried various philosophies. He even went from being a steak and potatoes guy to being vegan. In most aspects of his life he became even more “christian”. He started helping the homeless and feeding the poor, but he made some changes that would not be considered more christian.
He started using profanity. His language became rougher even on social media. He regularly used he would never have used before his deconversion. Another way he changed was his use of alcohol and marijuana. He started drinking and even drinking with the intent of getting drunk on occasion. He also started using marijuana on a regular basis. The state he resided in has legalized it with a medical license, which he has.
Christians use the changes in his life as proof that God is real. They insist that he never really “got saved”. He was only trying to appease his conscience before. He was running from god and just doing good works to try to live with himself in his own sin. I have seen people say he finally rejected god because of his sin. They use his drug and language use as proof.
They said he just missed god. He had religion and not a relationship. He never really met god. People who have do not ever use drugs or use that type of language.
I have also seen his newly found, at the time, atheist friends chime in. They say his change of lifestyle is proof that god does not exist. They say if god did exist he would not let one of his own change like that without consequence. They point to the idea that he is more at peace, happier, and a better person without religion. They say religion poisoned him. He could have been doing more good all along. He wasted effort in the church. They say his language and substance use is just the freedom he did not have under the church. He has not harmed anyone or done anything bad while under any influence. They also say words are words and there has never been anything bad about any of them.
I think his life provides evidence of something but not proof for either the Christian view I’ve seen or the atheist point of view expressed. I can see the point each side is making and I feel like his life is proof of neither. Both points of view have holes in their arguments if they are using his life as proof.
No one can know or prove what is in someone else’s head or truly know everything that has happened in their life. No one can say “he lied to himself and others before” or “he has finally opened his eyes and truly understands now”. I do fin it interesting that both sides take somethings he says as true when it fits their point of view, but if something arises that does not fit their belief, his thoughts, memories, or statements must be wrong.
His life and the changes he has made gives no proof of the existence of god or the non-existence of god.
I think many people confuse evidence with proof. I think that is common in many areas. The grand canyon is one an example. Many christians say it proves a young earth and flood. Many atheist say it prove an old earth and the non-existence of god. (I will not get into the arguments or reasons related to the arguments because that is a whole separate discussion).
I am continuing to collect evidence in so many areas in my life. The more I see, the more I believe that no god I have seen worshiped or proposed really exists.
disillusionist 