Former Christians: How did your "outlook on life" change after you left Christianity?

Question

And did it surprise you?

Thank you all, so much.

There were so many humbling and awesome answers that I couldn't give anyone best answer! Sorry!

Answer 1

Well actually I was still a little depressed somewhat, having no eternal life and having to face the reality that I waisted 20 years of my life. But am more content now and peacefull with myself.
I still have bad habbits from 20 years christianity that need to be shaken. TRUTH is better than FICTION. I did have alot of powerfull emotions tide into christianity
I now feel no guilt, shame, obligation to do anything or else etc, no trying to live up to Gods expectations, set free. And I am free to do Good, and make mistakes.... and No God Matters

Atheist for life

Answer 2

1. Fear factor is now just a bad TV show
2. Sleeping in Sunday Mornings and then doing house cleaning when I get up
3. Jesus is just another dead Jew
4. The Pope is just an extremely wealthy man living in the tackiest city in the world after the Sultan of Brunei
5. A bishop is just a chess piece
6. The afterlife mystery has been revealed through science
7. I no longer feel guilty about ignoring the Salvation Army beggars in front of stores in December
8. No more confessions to a highly suspect, deviate peppered population of priests
9. No more cannibalism rituals
10. Realizing that there is a ten megaton solution to the Middle Eastern religious conflicts.

Answer 3

I grew up believing in God and that Jesus was his son and the savior of the lost and sinful. But as I grew up my belief in him deteriorated. I consider myself to be agnostic. The belief in a higher power (that's it). As for my outlook...I was just surprised that I left my Christian belief. But I may surprise myself again by returning to it some day. My outlook on life really hasn't changed that much. I do believe in a higher power that does control our fate and destiny. But I believe life doesn't end, that it's continuous, and that's what gives me comfort. It always made me uncomfortable with the belief that life just ended. Although, I do believe heaven is a beautiful idea. To sum up how I feel about life, about everything...there's no wrong belief, no wrong religion. Faith is a comfort. I admire those that can have complete faith without physical proof. Living without faith, in dark times, can be scary

Answer 4

Mine was a slow process over close to 20 years so there was no sudden change in my "outlook on life". I matured from my 20s to my 40s, had a family and all that goes along with that. Happened much too slowly to surprise me.

Answer 5

Awesome question! I felt angry at first. I spent a long time looking for truth. Ironically, the more I quested for truth the more unbelievable religion became. Now I appreciate people and the finite time I have to be alive much more. I am more inquisitive and skeptic. When I see someone suffering from a life threatening illness I know their suffering isn't God's will.I know now there isn't a "normal" life but just life itself.

Answer 6

I can honestly say that my life has gotten much better after leaving Christianity. I have greater confidence in my ability to accomplish my life goals without waiting around for answers to prayers that may never come. I am no longer burdened by guilt associated with sin, which has helped to reduce my stress level. I also live without a fear of hell. This means a lot to me because according to what I was taught in the Christian church, most of my grandparents are now in hell, due to lack of salvation. I must say, it is quite destructive to the human mind and emotions to be stuck believing that loved ones are currently burning in hell and will continue to burn and suffer for all of eternity. All in all, the world makes much more sense to me being unsaved, but most importantly I am much happier this way.

Answer 7

At first i became angry, (considering the circumstances its a given, My blood mother wrote me a nasty letter saying i was a thief a liar and not a true christian.) Anyhoo, after doing some praying, i did research on my own (God helps those that help themselves) and i found my own happiness, still, my anger wont leave, because i was lied to for so long, I guess ill never be the same, and i will probably never forgive christians for feeding me a lie.

BTW Gary is a christian posing as a non christian, just thought id point that out to you.

Answer 8

My outlook on life is just that an outlook on life not the death obsessed Christian view of the world and no, I didn't surprise me. Because after I got away from the self-loathing/hate-filled wackos, it was like being set free.

Answer 9

It became more postive. I felt happier than I had felt in years. I was so conflicted up to that point that I was actually suffering from depression. I had always questioned my beliefs and as I got older and more educated it got worse. I tried so hard for so many years to be the good christian girl that I had be brought up to be. Once I opened myself up to the fact that I did not believe in god, it was as if a weight had been lifted from me. And within 6 months I was off all anti-depressants. It surprised me a great deal. Never realized that I could be so happy and content with the way my life is now.

Answer 10

Wow, I feel much smarter now! I feel free of nonsense and I feel like I can have more fun! I was surprised my life would turn out like this when I left it!