I have been in several debates. The first while still attending church. I got into a row of sorts about Paul. HE seemed to me to be a bit harsh in his view of women and seemed a homophobe to me. So I looked further into this Paul character, he intrigued me because so many of the books of the bible are written or attributed to him. I found out on many occasions he says things in opposition to what Jesus was saying. I said how could a man with no direct relation with Jesus become Jesus mouthpiece? He did not. He took what was good sound relational advice and turned it into a religion that was not only alike to other religions but borrowed heavily from them. Digging further was the very words this man says is opposite on many occasions to what Jesus said. This was interesting and seeing how the church today is built upon what Paul said, gave rise to the question...What did Jesus say the church was to be built upon? Peter. Does the church go by what Peter said? No, He does not even get a book. So resulted in more questions. There was also a bitter argument between Paul and Peter after Jesus died, but strangely something so important to the doctrine to result in a bitter argument was left out. Questions and more questions, no answers.

I am sorry to ramble on, but this whole thing resulted in my alienation at church and eventually my getting asked to turn in my keys and they even changed the locks! I got kicked out! Me and my family then began receiving visitors from church seeking even more on the contradictions. I was asked to be a guest speaker at more progressive churches in the areas. Many other families stopped going to the church after the pastor started telling folks that I had returned to a life of sin. Everyone who knew me got suspicious of what the pastor was saying and surreptitiously informed me of what this pastor was doing to my reputation. He even went so far as to remove my position from the city council. I was screwed by this guy in many ways socially.

SO many ex church members showed up at my house to talk about not only Paul but all the other contradictions that I had brought up that the pastor chased us out of town. Yeah that shit still happens in the deep south. I never meant to start an exodus from this mans church but his rhetoric surrounding my questions got worse and worse and eventually evolved into hatred. He lashed out and I paid the price. That was pretty much the end of my religious experience and I want to thank my good friend who got it all started back in 2004.

Now I am free of it and still seek to help folks out who have been through the same or similar treatment of gods loving followers.

 - James Johnson