Last week I mentioned a story about how deconversions are glorified by many secularists. As I was making coffee today I was thinking about blogging about my 2 Peter study and was reminded of one of the most popular recent posts of my old blog. That post was part of a series of Christian myths I looked at and one of them was the myth of “I used to be a Christian”.
I’ve sometimes wondered why that particular post was more popular than others (“more” being purely relative, it was not popular compared to any “real” blog). I suppose it may have been linked on some forum somewhere or whatever, but still. Why reply or post it even? I’m nobody. I had no real following and it was nothing but ranty blog. Thinking about it now, I realize there is at least one reason someone may have taken it seriously: deconversion is a sacrament.
I’m sure the atheists out there get annoyed at us Christians projecting our religious practices upon others. Still, though, whether you call them sacraments or something else, there are certain activities that are sacred to every group. You attack that practice and expect to face the group’s wrath in return.
I think this is the case for agnostics and atheists and their deconversion. It holds the same sacred place in their hearts as a conversion experience does for certain Christian sects and cults. As long as you can point back to when you became wise, you know your experience is authentic. Attack that and you are attacking a sacred cow. Prepare for righteous indignation.
Interestingly, I don’t see the conversion experience of much important in my Bible. It’s not unimportant, as we do see Saul’s confrontation that leads to conversion and we see conversions reported in the New Testament, but they aren’t especially glorified after the fact. Living a life that glorifies God and seeks out knowledge of Christ and him crucified seems to be the important facts after conversion. Conversion is just part of the process. Of course, now I’ve just stepped on the practice of deconversion and conversion tales… oh well. No one has commented on my new blog yet, so maybe that’s enough to get a comment. Eh? Probably not.
Cheers.
