What was the defining moment that changed your views on religion.?

Question

I was born a catholic, was raised to beleive everything the bible taught me word for word and when I was in high school something so contrary happened it made me forever skeptical. It was simply for me was when I asked my teacher who was a priest why does it not make sense to me that Adam and Eve had two children who were both males yet the bible never mentions any other women and he replied matter of factly to say Jesus spoke in parables and you shouldn't take everything literally word for word, they are all just stories afterall. I was litterally stunned because up until that point I was taught by every catholic teacher and priest that I was supposed to accept the bible as fact. I was also taught that a priest was to be held in the highest regard and I do not think I have to go into details about that one, so how does one have faith after realizing everything was one big lie............

I agree george, that was an eye opener for me too but a learning experience as well, I have a more open mind about other possibilites thanks to this place.

Answer 1

I know what you mean \i was a catholic too and have wondered similar things as you point out in your question.
Christendom Has Betrayed
God and the Bible
People in many lands have avoided the Bible and have lacked respect for it because of the bad conduct of those who claim to follow it. In certain lands it has been said that the Bible is a book that leads to war, that it is a white man's book, and that it is a book that supports colonialism. But those are mistaken views.
The Bible, written in the Middle East, does not support the colonial wars and greedy exploitation that have been carried on in the name of Christianity for such a long time. On the contrary, by reading the Bible and learning the teachings of true Christianity taught by Jesus, you will see that the Bible strongly condemns warring, immorality, and the exploiting of others. The fault lies with greedy people, not with the Bible. (1Corinthians 13:1-6 ; James 4:1-3; 5:1-6; 1 John 4:7) So do not let the misconduct of selfish people who live contrary to the Bible's good counsel prevent your benefiting from its treasures.
Included among those who do not live by the Bible are the peoples and nations of Christendom. "Christendom" is defined as that part of the world where Christianity prevails. It is largely the Western world with its church systems, which from about the fourth century C.E. became prominent. Christendom has had the Bible for centuries, and its clergy claim to teach it and to be God's representatives. But do the clergy and missionaries of Christendom teach the truth? Do their actions really represent God and the Bible? Does Christianity really prevail in Christendom? No. Since its religion came to the forefront in the fourth century, Christendom has proved to be an enemy of God and of the Bible. Yes, the facts of history show that Christendom has betrayed God and the Bible.
Unbiblical Doctrines
The fundamental doctrines of Christendom are based not on the Bible but on ancient myths-those of Greece, Egypt, Babylon, and others. Teachings such as the inherent immortality of the human soul, eternal torment in hellfire, purgatory, and the Trinity (three persons in one Godhead) are not found in the Bible.
For example, consider the teaching that bad people will be tortured forever in a fiery hell. How do you feel about this idea? Many find it repugnant. They find it unreasonable that God would forever torture humans, keeping them in excruciating pain. Such a fiendish idea is contrary to the God of the Bible, for "God is love." (1 John 4:8) The Bible is clear that such a teaching 'had not come into the heart' of Almighty God.-Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 32:35.
Today many religions, including the churches of Christendom, teach that humans have an immortal soul, which at death goes to heaven or hell. This is not a Bible teaching. Instead, the Bible clearly states: "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, . . . for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol [the grave], the place to which you are going." (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 ) And the psalmist states that at death man "goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish."-Psalm 146:4.
Recall, too, that when Adam and Eve broke God's law, the punishment was not immortality. That would have been a reward, not a punishment! Instead, they were told that they would "return to the ground, for out of it [they] were taken." God emphasized to Adam: "For dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19) Thus, the teaching of inherent immortality of the soul is not in the Bible but was borrowed by Christendom from non-Christian peoples who lived before them.
Also, Christendom's Trinity doctrine portrays God as some mysterious three-in-one God. But that teaching is not found in the Bible either. For instance, at Isaiah 40:25, God clearly states: "To whom can you people liken me so that I should be made his equal?" The answer is obvious: No one can be his equal. Also, Psalm 83:18 simply states: "You, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth."-See also Isaiah 45:5; 46:9; John 5:19 ; 6:38; 7:16.
The teachings of the Bible about God and his purposes are clear, easy to understand, and reasonable. But the teachings of Christendom's churches are not. Worse, they contradict the Bible.
Ungodly Actions
In addition to teaching false doctrines, Christendom has betrayed God and the Bible by her actions. What the clergy and churches have done in past centuries, and have continued to do in our time, is the opposite of what the God of the Bible requires and the opposite of what the Founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ, taught and did.
For instance, Jesus taught his followers not to meddle in this world's political affairs nor to get involved in its wars. He also taught them to be peace-loving, to be law-abiding, to have love for their fellow humans free from any prejudice, even being willing to sacrifice their own lives rather than take the lives of others.-John 15:13; Acts 10:34, 35; 1 John 4:20, 21.
Indeed, Jesus taught that love for other humans would be the mark that would identify true Christians from false Christians, pretenders. He said to those who would follow him: "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." -John 13:34,; 15:12.
Contrary to the teachings of Jesus, the clergy on both sides have backed wars
Yet, century after century, the clergy of Christendom have meddled in politics and have supported the wars of their nations. They have even supported the opposing sides in wars within Christendom, such as the two world wars of this century. In those conflicts the clergy on each side prayed for victory, and members of one religion from one country were killing members of that same religion from another country. But that is how the Bible says Satan's children, not God's, act. (1 John 3:10-12, 15) Thus, while the clergy and their followers have claimed to be Christian, they have contradicted the teachings of Jesus Christ, who told his followers to 'put away the sword.'-Matthew 26:51, 52.
For centuries the churches collaborated with the political powers of Christendom when those nations conquered, enslaved, and humiliated other peoples during the age of imperialism. That was the case for centuries in Africa. China too experienced this, when Western nations carved out spheres of influence by force, as during the Opium Wars and the Boxer Rebellion.
The religions of Christendom have also been in the forefront of the persecuting, torturing, and even killing of those who disagreed with them during those centuries of history called the Dark Ages. During the Inquisition, which lasted for hundreds of years, fiendish practices, such as torture and murder, were authorized and carried out against decent, innocent people. The perpetrators were the clergy and their followers, all of whom claimed to be Christian. They even tried to stamp out the Bible so that the common people could not read it.
Not Christian
No, the nations and churches of Christendom were not, and are not, Christian. They are not God's servants. His inspired Word says of them: "They publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works, because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved for good work of any sort."-Titus 1:16.
Jesus said that false religion could be identified by what it produced, its fruitage. He said: "Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheep's covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them. . . . Every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit; a good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those [false prophets]."-Matthew 7:15-20.
Thus, by what they have taught and what they have done, the religions of Christendom have demonstrated that their claim of believing in the Bible and of being God-fearing and Christian is a lie. They have betrayed God and the Bible. In doing so, they have disgusted millions of people and caused them to turn away from belief in a Supreme Being.
However, the failure of the clergy and churches of Christendom, as well as the failure of other religions outside Christendom, does not mean the failure of the Bible. Nor does it mean that God has failed. Rather, the Bible tells us about a Supreme Being who does exist and who does care about us and our future. It shows how he will reward honesthearted people who want to do what is right, who want to see justice and peace prevail throughout the earth. It also shows why God has allowed wickedness and suffering to exist and how he will rid the earth of those who harm their fellowman, as well as those who claim to serve him but do not.

Answer 2

There are some who claim to be one faith and give others of that faith a bad name among others because they speak one thing and live another and their behavior is not seen as Christian even by fellow Christians. I weep for the hypocrisies so often found in so many churches that it's little wonder people get fed up with Christianity after going to a few churches like that.
For me. The defining moment was when I felt the acceptance of God for the first time. Not that my faith is all based on feelings otherwise I wouldn't survive the tough times. But the acceptance I felt from God that He loves me for who I am, despite all the stupid thing's I've done in my life and the acceptance from the people in my church. That was the Christianity I was looking for, the church I had been in before just felt dead, this one feels so much more alive. And I have never felt more like 'I'm home, this is where I belong' anywhere else.

Answer 3

I was raised Catholic as well. I left the traditions of the Catholic church behind and followed God.

I'm sorry, but those priests either didn't know what they were talking about or blatantly lied to you....take your pick. If you have a question pray to God or ask someone whom He has sent His Holy Spirit to. The Bible is the inerrant truth of God. God is perfect as is His word; it is man who is faulty.

Genesis 5:4- After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters.

Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters...they lived 900+ years. There were many women around for them to take as wives. Cain obviously married a relative. This wouldn't have been a problem because the "gene pool" was pure. In addition, the time frame in which Cain married is not given. People lived hundreds of years back then so many years may have past before he married.

Lastly, Jesus often did speak in parables, this issue is not one of them.

Answer 4

The Bible does in fact make reference to Cain going into the "Land of Nod" and finding a wife. It should be obvious to you-- at some point in your life-- that the Bible is not a replete account of historical events. It has also been repeatedly edited and altered to attempt to make it appear that all human life could be traced back to Adam and Eve; with the occasional omission of a reference to others, as in the land of Nod.

Just like your earth father, priests don't know everything either; they aren't infallible. Your "realization" everything was"one big lie" is relatively false, and certainly not the standard upon which you should be evaluating the reality of your faith.

All religious dogma and doctrine is a mixture of truth and error, right and wrong, because all knowledge is only relatively true. That religionists have believed-- and continue to believe-- so much that was and is false, does not invalidate religion, because real religion is founded on the recognition of values and is validated by the faith of personal religious experience-- not on a set of so-called facts or dogmatic statements by others.

Religion, then, is based on experience, and religious thought; your theology should be an honest attempt to interpret that experience. Such beliefs may be right or wrong, or a mixture of truth and error.

The realization of the recognition of spiritual values is an experience which is superideational; i.e., there's no word in any human language you can use to designate this "sense," "feeling," "intuition," or "experience" which we call" God-consciousness."

These experiences are your personal religious experience of God, and when you reflect on them honestly and in the depth of your soul, you will find they not only sustain your faith, but actually make it grow.

Answer 5

Much the same as you..I was about 12-13 and the school brother had a ten minute forum with us individually,ostensibly a recruitment drive I suppose,and I asked him why the pope wore round such rich robes et al while people were left poor and hungry..he just smiled and said go back to class.Later I lived in libraries and read books and read the news..I decided the Sunday Suit was never meant for me..the Lies are everywhere,it just depends which ones you believe,or choose to.History is always being rewritten..Humans are so gullible and forgiving when it suits them.To quote a famous Human (Groucho Marx).."whatever you're for ,I'm against it"..Faith is in your own soul..no-one else.

Answer 6

For me it wasn't an epiphany or anything. I, quite different from you, walked away from Christ in my teens. Now in my early 20s I have come back to Christ. I gradually realized the beauty and truth that lies within Christianity. I was really anti-Christian for quite some time. But I lost that edge over time and as I opened my mind and opened my heart I found that Christianity wasn't just some silly mythological system. Christ revealed to me the beauty of Christian Truth over time. Then I worked up the courage to re-accept Him into my life and I feel much more comfortable now. There is a transformative peace in God and I think I've found it.

My advice to you is that something about the Christian story and the way you see the world just ticked you off. It sounded to easy, dogmatic, or unsubstantiated. I would say that Christianity IS silly if you don't dig really deep. It is a tough faith that requires serious investigation. You can't just go to Catholic school and then *kazaam* you GET it. Instead, you really have to go after it. It may be with you, as it was with me, that Christ is right in front of you but for whatever reason we pretend like he's some crazy fictional character from the Dark Ages. But when you get to know him you realize just how real He is.

Answer 7

When I read the Book of Daniel and read it through & understood it. It was an excieting time in my life and still is for now God has given me understanding while reading the Book of Revelation, Chapters 38 & 39 of the Book of Ezekiel speaks of today's prophecy that is already in the works.
Zechariah 14: 1-21, there is so much to learn, but the end of time is upon us, read: Matthew 24 and Chapter 25.

Answer 8

ever notice how priests dont use the Bible to prove their points? i was also raised catholic and found no satisfying answers to any of my questions. like have you ever wondered: why do we die? what is God's purpose for the earth? the Bible hold out clear, non complicated answers to these questions. it is a wonderful book that God gave js, dont give up on it yet, it can give you the best life possible. i really started studying it with some people who know the it very well when i was 15, and it changed my life entirely. lets talk.

Answer 9

I am Catholic and I had live a hell in my life. I got cousins who commit suicide and cousins and an uncle had die of aids, another uncle hang himself in my room. I priest try to molested me when I was a kid, my father was a womanizer and my mother suffered all the consequences of my fathers actions and he eventually left us. I have more than enough reason to hate God and priests and whatever religion exists in the world, yet in all that I could not kill myself. I hate it my mom because she did not made an abortion when I was born.

What was the defining moment that changed your views on religion?

One day I took a knife and I ask God or the devil, who ever exists to gave a meaning to mi life or to give me the strength to kill myself and in that moment, God was good to me, in a confession with a priest who had faith, God show me His love. I felted so love that I did not care what it was done to me, I saw the bad things I did to others, and that God had forgiving me. I never doubt of His anymore. The Bible does not speak about any man going to use the bathroom, are you going to discuss why? please

In the history of salvation many people die because they rebelled against God or because they wanted signs like we are now, I need to see to believe, and God show them miracles and yet they will no believe, like you we are now. They eat so much bread that it came out of their ears and yet they will rebelled. We are not worthy of His love and yet we demand from Him. He watches the proud from afar, He loves them, but He can show them His love because they wont let Him, and still rebels against Him. He send His only Son and yet we don't believe. Even if a man comes back from the dead we will not believe. We do not have His Spirit to help us, because the holy spirit cannot live where their is sin. May He have mercy on us all.

Answer 10

Seeing the hate spewed from the pulpit of a Pentecostal church left me ashamed to have ever considered myself a Christian. Then I started participating here. The bigotry towards homosexuals, Buddhists, Pagans, Wiccans, Hindu's, Muslims, Agnostics, and atheists is a real eye opener into Christianity.

Answer 11

>>why does it not make sense to me that Adam and Eve had two children who were both males yet the bible never mentions any other women<<

You are mistaken. "The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters." -- Genesis 5:4