Has anyone ever left Christianity?

Question

I did. I was raised by a pastors kid. My mom, after divorsing my dad for Biblical reasons, married a pastor. I really was a Christian and experienced the joy and peace within God. The bliss. In between euphoria I was depressed. I was diagnosed as manic depressive. Suicidal attempts didn't work out. I was found. I'd backslide and come back again and again. Finally I was 'healed' in church and was able to think straight. Then I realized that I believed I was bad and couldn't trust myself without God. That I was this sinner and Satan was trying to get me. That I was going to hell if I didn't believe, and think and feel Biblical thoughts. I realized that anxeity, panic attacks, mood swings and all the bit were from emotional and mental abuse in the Christian home I was raised in. The mind games 'we don't judge, but you just sinned'. 'It's all grace, but you just broke a law'. I left once and for all. I keep my 'healing' by power of the mind. Anyone else an ex-convert?

Answer 1

yep. Best thing I ever did

Answer 2

Yes. I was raised as a southern baptist. My preacher at the church I went to gambled on horse races, swore, drank ~ we were all out in town and saw him stumbling down the street~, my step mother, who went to church every time she was supposed to as a 'good' christian woman, beat me 'religiously'. Pun intended. that good christian woman was divorced 7 times. After my father died, and I moved, I converted to catholicism. That was even more horrible. After being raised in a "you are a sinner there's nothing you can do about it" I was appalled by the fact that if I talked to some guy who was a middleman, and said a rhyme repeatedly, that those sins would be forgiven no matter what. My mind couldn't wrap around it. I grew up. And so did my beliefs. I am now Wiccan. I love it. I truly feel that I have found myself. And my faith. I also was diagnosed bipolar and borderline personality disorder. All of it stemming back to when I was raised by a 'good' christian woman. ha

Answer 3

I was a practicing Christian for over 30 years (I'm 58) and my experience wasn't quite like yours in that I became an atheist after years of study.

For many years I claimed to be agnostic, primarily due to the reluctance to drop religion altogether. But, I found that unsatisfying because I knew I didn't believe and felt like calling myself an agnostic was a lie.

Ridding yourself of the incredible guilt religion burdens people with can take years, but it can be done. Religion is like any drug and you might have relapses, but you must be true to yourself.

And, if you feel the need for religion in your life, that's okay too, atheism isn't a religion or cult, so people can come and go as they please with no penalties.

But, after having been an atheist for the last ten or so years, there is no possible way I would return to the silliness and dishonesty of religion. Or participate in the sado-masochistic rituals required to maintain membership.

People are not born evil and do not need a preacher or church to avoid being evil.

Good luck to you.

Additional comment:

Born again is the intense satisfaction that comes from overcoming the addiction to religion and its underlying philosophy requiring the suspension of all logic and denial of all factual information.

The truth did indeed set me free.

But, to each his own.

Answer 4

I did, for 3 years, I left, and I was miserable. I thought I couldn't expect God to take me back after all I did that went against His word. The truth be told I regretted leaving my Faith, but I couldn't justify my behavior. On top of that was all the abuse I received from those who said they Loved me. I couldn't understand why if God loved me I hurt so bad, and felt like killing myself. I'm an ex-ex-convert. Jesus did take me back! I also realized that I had to be responsible for my decisions, I cant blame any one but myself for my bad choices. As for those who hurt me, I feel sorry for them because God alone is my Judge. I learned that people will be people where ever you go, they will disappoint, hurt, and even mistreat you. People in the Church are no exception. I go to Church to worship God not the people. And It is only through Jesus that I can really love people. There are mind games and judgment everywhere! I decided I wanted to be where Jesus Was, because that is where I feel accepted, loved and Safe.

Answer 5

Yes:

http://exchristian.net/

Answer 6

A friend of mine was a Christian until he converted to Islam.By the way I urge everyone to read about Islam from books written by Muslim scholars.And some websites are great as well like

www.islamonline.net

Answer 7

YES i believe in Jesus's teachings but i think they are trying to use it as he did not intend. "but to have the faith of a mustard seed" "you too can do these things i have shown you some even greater" i learned a lot from reading Eckart Tolle (The power of now) and
Neil Donald Walsh (Conversations with God) these books have enlightened me in a way that i con not explain

but to answer your question yes and happier then ever.

Answer 8

Sorry you had such a negative experience. I hope you can see that neither God nor the Christian faith was to blame for it. In answer to your question, sure, people have left Christianity. They're called apostate.

Answer 9

I was raised catholic.
I will not practice any organized religion.
They are all based on fear, guilt and money.
The concept of christianity... do unto others... is preached till your ears bleed, yet they judge and condemn anyone who does not live up to their INTERPITATION of the bible.
I can't stand christians.
They are very twisted people.
Feeding them to the lions was a great idea and should be brought back.

Answer 10

::shakes head:: Still more people with no clue as to what being born again is. It's not a "religion", and sad also that what ever "church" you were in did that to you. So sad

Answer 11

I am. Christianity just wasn't working for me. I'm in the process of finding what religion suits me, so I just classify myself as agnostic.