I broke Christianity's stronghold over me and got my power back - Herson Valdez

Описание: Today I spoke with Herson Valdez, who grew up in a religious Dominican household and got very serious about his faith, but ultimately deconverted as the truth claims of Christianity fell apart.

We touched on many topics, including:

• Growing up in a religious Dominican household with influences of Catholicism and voodoo.
• Observing his mom's spiritual transformation, which sparked his deep belief in god as a teenager.
• Deepening his faith after delving into apologetics to defend his beliefs against atheist friends.
• Immersing himself in charismatic Christianity, including learning to speak in tongues and practicing healing ministries.
• Noticing discrepancies between church teachings and Jesus’s words, particularly around prosperity and tithing.
• Feeling disillusioned by the focus on wealth and expansion within megachurches, despite seeing widespread poverty.
• Encountering contradictions and inconsistencies in the Bible that further shook his perspectives on Christianity.
• Studying Judaism after deeply questioning New Testament interpretations and realizing that Jesus's lineage and the prophecies did not align.
• Struggling to reconcile the doctrine of the Trinity and seeing logical flaws in the concept.
• Exploring the historical roots of Christianity and learning about its evolution through political and religious influences.
• Connecting the mythologies and rituals of ancient religions to Christian traditions, such as communion and resurrection stories.
• Questioning the validity of church teachings after discovering historical inaccuracies and constructed narratives.
• Feeling lied to and betrayed by Christians.
• Experiencing a deep personal and relational impact, including strained communication with loved ones after leaving the faith.
• Facing accusations that life struggles were divine punishment, contributing to a sense of isolation.
• Embracing his newfound freedom by relinquishing guilt and shame tied to Christian teachings on morality and life choices.
• Understanding that people’s belief in supernatural experiences often correlates with psychological and cultural influences, and that at their core, Christians are afraid of the truth.
• Finding strength in creating his own path, free from the constraints of religious dogma and embracing critical thinking.
• The importance of questioning our beliefs and seeking truth, even when it challenges our current worldview.

Many thanks to Herson for sharing his story!

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Herson's YouTube channel:
   / @hersonalities  

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Mentioned in this video:

Bill Zuersher: Seeing Through Christianity
   • Bill Zuersher   Seeing Through Christianit...  


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--Tim

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Ending music by Kazuya / Eyal Raz, "Friends"

https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music...
   • Friends  


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