Leaving religion behind... Have you done it?

Question

Who here has stepped off that cliff and left the security of faith behind them?

I have and it didn't feel good. A friend of mine became suicidal when going through it and she opted back into religion because she couldn't cope without her faith.

I don't believe anything and have learned so much from my experience. It's difficult to remain completely unbiased in a culture that says, 'If you don't believe 'x', you must believe 'y''. Get me? I just cannot buy into fluff and fantasy, even though it would make me feel cosy like a drug.

My payoff is knowing that I'm open to truth whatever form it may take, not molding reality to fit my perceived view on truth / fact.

If you have had a similar experience - how do you face life's unknowns. What is your payoff?

(This sincere question is not intended to incite Christians into a rant & rave preachathon - Just those answering the question would be appreciated.)

Thanks to those sticking to the question - to the others.

Why do you answer questions not asked?

Answer 1

Nice post.

I think religion provide security yes, because it gives hope that someone above is watching over you.

Religion provides it's believer a reason to live for, a purpose to continue. even though it is all fake.

I believe that leaving your beliefs is realizing that you're in fact ALONE, and on your own.

Who said it is easy to find the true?
especially when this truth erases this imaginary idea that I human am the center of the universe, and everything else is made as a ground so that a God will test me.

It wont be easy to realize that there is nothing really waiting for you when you die, and this life is really it, the real life, they will be no heaven and eternal joy.. (and all these bedtime stories).

Finding the truth, awakes you from the sweet dream of religions, to wake you up into reality.

Reality worth it.. take your step!

Answer 2

I have thrown off the shackles of religion. I have never felt better in my life. It is so liberating. I have the freedom to follow the truth wherever it leads..there is nothing more rewarding. I now understand just how important life is. As a Christian i could have not possibly have had as much respect for life as i do now. If you live forever then what is this life other than just a dress rehearsal? When something is abundant it is cheap, if life is eternal then it is cheap. Grass is everywhere, you can't sell anyone grass because it is abundant. My life is like a diamond now - rare and full of worth.

I have developed confidence in my own mind's ability to reason...it sounds like your friend was unable to develop that confidence. Before i was satisfied with "GodDidIt", and i feel like i have unlocked my mind when i realized that that was no answer to anything at all. Now i question everything and by doing so i find i am much more able to differintiate fact from fiction in all areas of life.

I never was suicidal at all, even if i was the fact that i know that this is the only life i have would detur that from ever happening. I never was sad even, i was more angry than anything. Not mad at anyone in particular, but just mad that i had been deceived all those years and wasted a good portion of my life with my brain locked in shackles.

As far as how i face unknowns? I try to eliminate them. There is not much out there that is meaningfull that science doesn't have testable answers to, but where science doesn't have answers Philosophy steps in. Deconverting from theism made me have a thirst for knowledge that i will likley never be able to quench..that is why it was the single best thing that has ever happened to me. I have learned more in the last 7 years of my life since deconverting than i did in the prior 21.

What's my payoff? Well i think i covered that. But even if there was no payoff at all, just to know that i am being honest with myself and my fellow human beings is plenty enough for me.

AiW
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“It took me years, but letting go of religion has been the most profound wake up of my life. I feel I now look at the world not as a child, but as an adult. I see what's bad and it's really bad. But I also see what is beautiful, what is wonderful. And I feel so deeply appreciative that I am alive. How dare the religious use the term 'born again.' That truly describes freethinkers who've thrown off the shackles of religion so much better! ” - Julia Sweeney (Pat from SNL)

Answer 3

This is, in a way, my life. My "belief system" asks that I change faiths when necessary to meet other ends, so I've gone all over the map and have often moved away from anything. This also demands a complete lack of bias and complete acceptance of all belief systems, as well as the ability to change your entire thought process rapidly. It's difficult, and there is a minor history of insanity in this particular system as well.

My payoff is an extremely flexible mind, the ability to believe whatever I need to whenever I have to, and, of course, using it all as a tool as a means to and end..

Answer 4

I know exactly what you mean. I sincerely applaud you for being open to truth no matter how uncomfortable it is for you. Also, thank you for not shutting down and getting trapped by skepticism and scientism. I abandoned religion a few years ago and it took me quite some time after that to realize my own understanding of spiritual existence. Here's a little hint for ya: we are trained to be credulous of "new age" or "conspiracy theory" but there's actually some really valid stuff hiding in there. It sounds like you already think for yourself!

Answer 5

I believe that it takes more than faith to believe in God. Faith alone doesn't cut it. Religion is not a comfort zone nor a fear factor to keep from going to Hell. It's a battle of spiritual fitness. My payoff is my personal truths and experiences that makes me stay strong in my beliefs.
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Answer 6

well I have sort of done that i went from being all big time pentacostal christian aka holy roller no offense to those that are pentacostal to learning what i really believe in life i do believe in magic and my payoff is tht i can prove magic works!! and i feel better and whole in life then rather feeling empty and hollow and fearful of my "sins"......it took the death of my grandma to wake me up and realize there is more to life than fearing something i cant even prove exists........and magic i can prove the use of energy! it was rough i wanted to die alot but then realizing i had the power to change my own life instead of relying on something i could not see touch feel or smell was even harder than finding my own truth thank you for taking this time read this question

Answer 7

I lost my bestfriend after having his friendship since we were 4 years old. I took that really bad and thought God was unfair and cruel. Me and my boyfriend (now husband) also split up that same week, that lasted for a week and still had relationship problems for awhile after that. I no longer wanted any part of religion after that. I was two years later I continued Church again for my children. The pastor at the church was very hard on me for leaving the church for so long and was very unkind to me. I stopped going completely than and started to fall into depression trying to figure out where I now belong. After so many years of following a belief and now nothing, I was really hard. A year later I found God in my life again when I went to see my Grandmother in the hospital when she had a heart attack.The doctor told us she probley wouldn't make it because she was sick from many other things as well. I prayed for the first time in awhile over her. She opened her eyes from sleeping and with a faint voice spoke of her mother and how her mother prayed like I was doing. She started to get a headache and feel to sleep. As I was praying in the waiting room she took off her cloth she had on her head and said I am better now and she talked for the first time since the heart attack in a clear strong voice.My mother came and got me to tell me and I was so shocked. I seen this as a sign from God and maybe it was time to find God again as a main part of my life. Maybe to other people this is nothing, to me I really needed it. Even though I was not listening to God, he was still listening to me. What love. My relationship was better after and I became a happier person, I found peace with my friend's passing and am glad for the time we had together not sad about the time apart, I believe he is still with me.I found another church too but I still keep what I have learned in me and listen to others but know what I believe in my heart to be true.I found Godand no church can do that for me, only me.

Answer 8

Im wiccan, someone once said that religion is the drug of the masses, then someone else said wicca is the marijauna of the lunatic fringe, well thats fringy little old me, happy as a clam in my cauldron.

Answer 9

i gave up faith but now i wonder if maybe there is a god I just don't know too many unanswered questions and i can't figuer it out if you figure it out let me know

Answer 10

Once you've experienced a real relationship with Jesus Christ, you'll never look back. You can't be touched by the living God and forget it.