Leaving the religion you were raised in?

Question

If you've already left it, how old were you and how did your parents/family take it?

If you havent, (you dont even have to be thinking about it)...if you WERE to, for some reason leave it, how do you think your family would take the news?

Fireball226- if they WERE still alive how would they have taken it.

And transfer- omg i'm mormon too! (thinking about leaving obviously) Why did you leave???

Answer 1

I was 27 and it was very hard. My husband and I left together. My mom took it really well and she is very understanding, but my in-laws did not take it so well. They are beginning to get over it, though. Just be honest with them and with yourself. It's not going to be easy (I went through 6 months of hell), but it is more than worth it.

Blessings.

Answer 2

I was I'm my 20's and it was a gradual thing.My parents who are both traditional catholics thought I was typical of the young people of the time but didn't try to pressure me in any way.My mother prays for me and my brother and I think that at the back of her mind she thinks I'll come back to the faith when I have more experience of life and times are harder.Dad says that by then it will be too late but I don't think that's how it works - the parable of the prodigal son is a comfort to a lot of us who are a bit lost.

The background to all this is that at the same time I was reading a little philosophy and then started to read about eastern religion particularly Buddhism and I was very confused because it was both foreign to me but yet made sense in an peculiar and different way.I also like science so rationalism,materialism and positivism are familiar to me.

All I can say now is that I am honestly searching and that I can see the merits of a few schools of thought but can only say I'm a believer or that I am spiritual but not religious and my family are fine with that.You've got to be true to your own beliefs - if your family care about you they'll understand.

Answer 3

I was raised as a Protestant Christian but became upset with the politics and the fake morality at around 13 when the minister at our church had a und raiser to help produce money for missionaries in the rain forest, but later started driving around in a new BMW. No one dared to question it. I didn't formally leave until I was living on my own at 18. My parents and I had a few arguments about it. The minister even approached me, but backed off when I accused him of stealing that money. Now they've accepted it, and after telling them about the minister have begun to question their own conviction.

Answer 4

I was raised Catholic but even as a small boy I called into question everything that people told me about God. I was stuck going to church though so long as I was living with my family. When I went off to college I got up the courage to tell then that I didn't believe in god. They weren't all that disapointed because it was obvious I wasn't a believer despite all they did to convince me. They've accepted thought that I'm not a religious person. It was worth it to be honest with myself and to be free of keeping the secret.

I will ring your doorbell and run away!!!

Answer 5

I left all organized religion when I realized that it was simply a tool designed by man to control other men. My family had no problem with it, we were all raised to make our own decisions about life. As I recall this happened when I turned 31, and I was doing along of research into the religion I had been born into.

Answer 6

I "left" very slowly starting at 16 and completely left at 19. It never comes up with my family.

NOTE - Isn't it curious that almost everyone believes in the religion they were raised in? Christian raised kids almost always believe in Christianity as adults, and so on. And don't forget geography too, you growing up in Saudi Arabia would most likely have led to you being Muslim.

Why does geography and upbringing determine religious belief so greatly?

Answer 7

I was raised in a southern baptist church. The day I turned 18 I vowed I would never again participate in organized religion of any sort. I still believe in God and have my faith but do not condone organized religion as I feel it perverts the true meaning of the Bible.

My family is fine with it, they are my family, they love and support me no matter what.

Answer 8

I was raised in a Catholic family but when I was about seven, I turned to the Protestant religion of Baptism. My parents and family didn't have anything against it cuz most of them also turned this way.

Answer 9

I left it when I was about 10, but didn't formally announce it til I was 14. My parents were concerned about society looking down upon the family because I did not conform to the majority viewpoint, but beyond that, they didn't really care.

Answer 10

I was raised Christian, but I left the church when I was about 14-15ish. My faith was dwindling and I got no spiritual satisfaction out of it.
My mom was concerned about it, but she knew it would have been wrong for her to try and force a belief on me. At the time she knew I was simply trying to find out who I am.

So, all in all, I was pretty young.
And my parents didn't freak out. I suppose they're pretty liberal in that aspect.