Ever thought about switching religions?

Question

I have practically been a Christian as long as I can remember. After the 2000 election I started disliking the feeling I was getting at my church or from my fellow Christians. I was beginning to feel like I was being manipulated politically and was being told I was a 'bad Christian' because I am a far left liberal who believes that I have no right to impose my belief system on anyone else.

So with that said, I started researching my racial heritage, jewish. (For some reason, a lot of Americans are unaware being jewish is also a race) Anyways, I really liked the everything about their social views. I mean REALLY liked! They totally agree with me.

BUT, I know there is no way I could ever give up the belief in Jesus. So now, I'm just wondering where do I fit in anymore? I don't go to church anymore but I do daily prayer and Bible reading as I was always taught

Maybe I should join the group Jews for Jesus. Anybody else ever been so turned off by their 'church' that they had this dilema?

Thank you all for your great comments. I reread my question statement and I think it is so weird how most of you 'felt' what I was trying to say when I was limited to so few words. Maybe that was God's hand at work in my dilema. One of you even somehow knew I was female when most of the time ppl think I am male.Thank you.

Answer 1

welcome to the club sister. I don't think you have a problem at all. I think that you are a free thinking and open minded person. It's when you feel that pressure to conform and be like everyone else and resist it, that you truly begin to gain a greater perspective of reality. I suggest you read "the herd" chapter from Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil". This is the book in which the phrase was coined "God is dead". Don't let that scare you. What I think he really meant to teach was that organized religion and the God they invent is dead. He challenges you, in the chapter entitled "the herd", to ask yourself if all these things that people are telling you that "God" has said are indeed from "God". Or, are they something made up by leaders of church to influence the masses opinions to get a desired social result. That result is control. Don't let anyone but God control you. He wouldn't force control on you. He doesn't want to control you. He offers suggestions and you choose freely. To me though, all this damnation and hellfire are not products of Christ at all. Christ is like the sweetest friend I have ever had. I don't live right at all. I have done bad things in my life. Yet, he has never left me. People, on the other hand, have behaved terribly... and for that matter... so have I at times. I decided that I would not be controlled by "the herd" either. People will accuse you of rebellion. Rebellion it may be, but against whom? God? I don't think so... The "herd", definitely. I had to separate myself from them, and while it is lonesome at times, it is at least free. Knowing God should never feel like being in a social or political prison in which you are interrogated and punished. They're like religious nazis and they have confused social control with God. Welcome to freedom sister. You may find groups that you "fit" with... I never did. This is the tragedy of the genuine individual. Perhaps you should start your own "group" on yahoo groups. If you do, let me know, and I will join. This topic is certainly worthy of discussion. Don't feel like you are alone. There are many, many, people who have went through this...

Answer 2

Have you ever looked into the Messianic church. It is Jewish people who believe in Jesus. I havent been to one in a long time so I dont really know what it is like anymore, and of course every church is different, but it might have some of what you are looking for. I have thought about studying different religions before(and have/continue to) but I have never thought about switching religions because I believe in Christ above all, even if I dont have the same respect for the church, I do know one thing and that is Christ and him crucified (Paul said that last part, not really me)
Hope you find what you are looking for. Keep searching and praying. God will reveal His will in patience and endurance.
Edit:
Oh and the people who were pretty rude on this one, dont take what they said personally, this is probably why you left the church to begin with, judgementalness is a fluent language in the church. You are at this spot probably becuase you are seeking! Which is what God calls us to do, it doesnt make your relationship with God any less real. (at least thats my opinion)

Answer 3

Sure, I've thought about switching religions. I've examined quite a few belief systems, and have attended services of many different types, both Christian and non-Christian. I respect them all. In the end, though, I generally am more prone to switching denominations than religions. I've been turned off by hardcore Fundamentalism for many years for some of the same reasons you've mentioned above (I just love it when some purportedly "Christian" group tries to tell me how to vote). Presently, I'll occasionally attend other types of worship services when I need a break from my own church, but have found a denomination that (most of the time) works for me. But I can't say that the thought of switching, even now, doesn't occur to me from time to time.

Answer 4

I studied much in my search, I have been Methodist, Catholic, free will Baptist, southern Baptist, Lutheran, and so on, I have attended many churches. I have discovered that there is a universal belief system. Most have some form of the trinity or another. You don't have to give up your Jesus. It sounds like you should at least check out the group. You are betraying no one when you listen, and it sounds like it is something that might work for you. I have one that makes me happy now. I am glad that I switched, I found peace.

Answer 5

I left Christianity and had a period without knowing what I believed. It was kinda scary, but I knew I was following my heart. Those I know all worried and prayer and felt hurt 'for me'. I still get shocked gasps! But I knew I was following my heart and though the path was dark, I knew my way. I don't know how, but I did. I read and did research and vented on here and searched my heart. I found MY beliefs. It was worth it and didn't really take that long. Not even a year. It was worth it, now I have my beliefs and am free of feeling and thinking what I 'should' feel and think

Answer 6

No! Never Did Think About Switching Religions And Never Will!.....Why?....Because I Have A Personal Relationship With The Lord Based On His Word....AND IT'S REAL!.....Works For Me!

Answer 7

well i was a catholic and for nearly the same reasons i started a search in other areas and yes hebrew was one of them. they do have a way better grasp on the god-human connection then christians will ever get a clue about. and no i dont think you need to give up the belief in jesus but do yourself a favor and look up what messiah means in the hebrew culture. you will find it is quite literally different then the gentile idiot christian perspective. many of the dogmas layed down at the nicean council were actually pagan and gentile. the actual sabbath day is really saturday or saturns day. the sun day worship was a gentile/pagan worship of the sun (apollo) and messiah is not a only begotten thing. all hebrew children are equal children under the eyes of god. (jehova) a messiah in their translation comes closer to what we know today as the dali lama / budda connection. a messiah was considered a reincarnated version of gods chosen or gods hand picked leader of his people. to qualify as a messiah you had to be married. to equal rights worship shekinah (female face of jehova) and jehovah and that you had to bear at least one son to pass down this heritage of knowledge. and you had to prove your mettle as a rabbi above normal rabbi. there were other considerations but those are to this day considered the big three. the gentile race of people would have you believe that only jesus qualifies as a child of god "only begotten son"

i have my reasons but i became wiccan, its a path that best answers my spirit and for a long time still believed jesus to be a prophet. but after learning first that ALL aspects of the christian religion are actually plagerized from other religious systems (mostly pagan and gentile) and then learning of many unexplained contradictions to not only his teachings and beliefs but also contradictions that suggested it possible he never exsisted at all. but the nature aspect holds me still i love spirituality. and the strongest spirituality i believe anyone can get is by connection to nature. but find out for your self, above all enjoy your quest, for quest is what it is. to explore your soul. to explore the soul of the world, and to be at peace with the answers you find.

Answer 8

I've got an idea. How about you do what most of the Jews after they heard the good news. Become Catholic.

Answer 9

Of course not. Jesus is alive. God is real. I don't know about you but he turned my life around, so I'm staying

Answer 10

agnostic to athiest possibly