This group is intended to be a safe place for those who have left or are seriously doubting Christianity. As this can be a very personal experience, potentially emotional or difficult, it is important to please respect all members here. That includes not only within the pages of the group but on their personal pages and deviations as well. Treat them as you would yourself like to be treated. To ensure this is a place for creating a constructive and encouraging community atmosphere it is important that a few rules be established.
Rules of Conduct
There is absolutely NO proselytizing of religious beliefs allowed here! Attempts at conversion, preaching, promotion of religious belief, harassment, belittling, threats (real or of hell or God's wrath), etc, will not be tolerated here. Even comments suggesting that you are praying for us/individuals are NOT WELCOME. If you wish to argue or debate on religious topics, keep it to specific mentions in their appropriate setting (Journals, submitted deviations, etc) - and OFF the front page. And keep it civil. There is a resource list which has information on a wide range of topics available right here on the front page - so do not bother to argue on issues that you have not researched first, ESPECIALLY if your intention is to push your religious beliefs. Also see our Common Issues section before using the same old tired cliché arguments. Please respect the art and deviants here. Please understand that they may be sensitive to religious views. It is not allowed to post any comment which uses homophobic, transphobic, misogynist, racist, or otherwise hateful speech towards anyone's person (notice this does not include ideas, ideologies, thoughts, or beliefs). Such comments will be hidden and may lead to being banned from the group. No comments which promote anti-science views or conspiracy theories, such as creationism, faith healing, climate change denial, homeopathy, anti-vaccine, Illuminati, Freemasons, chemtrails, HAARP, UFOs, "9/11 truthers", etc. As a group which promotes scientific skepticism we will not let this group be a platform for such things. If you have honest questions about these things that is fine, but first please see our Skepticism resource section. Any troll may be blocked, but is also subject to ridicule. This may include having their words used as examples for bad behavior and stupidity. If you don't want your words publicly mocked, think before submitting them. If you have been blocked/banned by this group then it is against dA guidelines to use another account, or use your "friend", to circumvent that block to post comments here. Anyone who does so will be reported to dA (even if it's to apologize or say why we were wrong to block you).Generally if you are actually interested in why we doubted, left, or rejected Christianity, and want to ask questions in a respectful manner we will usually be glad to have a civil discussion (in proper locations, not on the front page, and if you've read our "Common Issues" first). If your intention is just to cause trouble or be annoying or shout your outrage then you will simply be ignored, banned, and laughed at. Admins reserve the right to ban anyone from the group or hide any comment if they feel it is appropriate to do so. If you think you were wrongfully blocked/hidden/kicked out then respectfully say why you think so to Mephistophilez and we may reconsider (we're generally much more forgiving than believing Christians).
Submissions
Please submit deviations to the proper gallery folders. To submit art, simply click the + sign from the gallery page which can be seen on the upper right with each gallery folder title. Or click the "Submit to this gallery" button at the top of the gallery page and choose the folder from the pull down list where it says "Submitting to:". Or submit it to the group from your deviation page (either during or after you've submitted it to your own profile gallery), and then selecting the proper folder from the pull down list where it says "Submitting to:" after you've selected our group. Currently only members and affiliate members can submit deviations, and all deviations are subject to approval by a group admin.Blog submissions are also open to members. Feel free to submit any blog on a relevant topic. We only ask that it be written by you (so no outside articles copied and pasted) and have some substance to it (meaning not just a "look at this" with a link, for example). Also subject to approval, and please keep in mind that blog submissions will be on the front page of the group.
Please use mature tags where appropriate. This group will generally not care about content (nudity, language, gore, ideology, etc) in the proper context, but if it has such content then please use the proper mature settings. This is especially the case for religious ideology. If your deviation could be considered "ideologically sensitive" then please mark it so. This is for your protection, because if it can be reported by someone who finds it offensive then it will be (trust me, I know). See dA's FAQ for more info. Please keep submissions relevant! This means the topic should primarily focus around issues of Christianity, leaving Christianity, atheism, skepticism, doubt, scientific topics such as evolution, political issues involving church state separation, etc. If there is something not directly related to these issues, but you feel is still inspired by you're deconversion from Christianity in some way, there is a "Unrelated but Inspired By" folder, but please be sure to say in the description of the deviation how it is inspired by your deconversion. If you're unsure please feel free to ask. Do not submit deviations which promote or attempt to convert people to a specific religion. If the deviation is addressing a religion, educating about a religion, or otherwise an objective look at a religion that may be acceptable. Personal deviations, such as deconversion stories, which include details about your religion may also be fine (such as explaining an appeal of another religion over Christianity, for example). Use common sense, most people in this group may not be a part of your religion (or any religion), and many may be sensitive to religious ideas. Please also be aware that posting religious topics may bring comments which criticize or challenge your beliefs, post at your own risk. Do not submit deviations which infringe copyrights! A general rule is that if you did not make 90% of the image, if you did not take the photo or draw the picture, then it's probably breaking dA's copyright guidelines. This includes memes. If you use pictures from other sources then please ensure it's within public domain or otherwise rightfully obtained for use. Please see dA's policy on copyright concerns (also here FAQ #257: What sort of permission do I need to use someone else's work?) Do not steal art! If you submit something to this group which is clearly from another deviant or artist off site taken without permission, not only will your submission be denied but you will be reported and banned from the group. Art theft is not tolerated whatsoever. Do not otherwise break dA's policies. Anything I've failed to mention which falls under general dA guidelines will also be upheld to the best of the ability of myself (Mephistophilez) and any admin. If you submitted something which was denied or removed and you feel it was wrongfully done so then please state (politely) why. We are reasonable people and will gladly reconsider. However, if something has been denied for whatever reason we reserve the right to do so. Don't think we're being mean, we're just considering the group as a whole, it's nothing personal. And don't feel that if one deviation is rejected that you need to leave the group, submit something else you think is better suited for us
Please note that any individual deviation does not necessarily reflect the views of all members, admins or the group as a whole. This includes blog submissions. You may see something which you disagree with, in fact you almost certainly will. We try to embrace new ways of thinking, so instead of being offended, try seeing what the person is trying to say or express...or simply ignore it. Any group is undoubtedly going to have occasional content which you might not agree with or like. Realize too that someone may be working through things such as anger, frustration, or depression during their escape from or transition out of Christianity, which is why our group tries to be open even to "offensive" or "disturbing" deviations, since art is therapy.
If you have issues, concerns, comments or questions please feel free to contact us!
The Naughty Corner
The Naughty Corner is dedicated to making an example of those who have decided not to heed the warnings listed above. Those posted were given fair warning via the multiple notices right here on the front page, and if they chose to ignore said notices or otherwise make a complete ass of themselves, then they have earned themselves a place in the Naughty Corner.
Please do not harass these people. Rather, learn from their mistakes and do not repeat them. We may or may not choose to censor names depending on the circumstance (age of poster, for example).
Sent to us via a group note.
Sent to us via a comment on our front page.
Sent to us via a comment on our front page.
