a question for ex~christians?

Question

Do you think you would still be a christian if it wasnt shoved down your throat? I kinda think I would be but there were so many pressures of growing up in an extremly strict christian home that i had to get away from them! so do you think if they would have used a different approach, you might still believe?

Answer 1

I think some Christians have turned off many people bu preaching to them. It is really sad, too.
That ruins it!
I say, live like a Christian ought to live, and if anyone asks about your faith, tell them. Otherwise, zip the lip and just let your light shine.

Great question! You get a star!

Answer 2

I am not an ex-Christian, in fact I am a very alive, born again Christian. I know exactly where you're coming from and I've seen it happen many times, my own daughter is included in this. All I can say to you is that you've never really been a Christian. Sometimes as parents, we try to give our children what is best and think if we teach ABOUT God our children will grow to be Christians. Christianity is not just concerned with knowing about Him, but knowing Him personally and only the Holy Spirit can bring about that change. I know that with my own daughter I was guilty of 'getting in the way' and not letting Him do His work because I was so anxious in my own right to see her saved. I've seen so many parents do the same. I've now learned to stand back and pray that He will move and He is faithful and does. I am sure there are many people like you who maybe even feel guilty at moving away from the church because you've believed that you were Christian by your upbringing, when in fact you never knew Him. I also believe the Holy Spirit reaches out to each one at some time in their life. He does it with love, kindness and conviction. I just hope and pray that when He touches you, your heart will be softened and you'll let Him in. God bless :)

Answer 3

No, I can see where you're coming from but that's not the reason I stopped being a Christian. I left the faith because I don't believe there is a god that uses eternal fire and torment to punish people for small mistakes. If there is such a god, I wouldn't want to worship him. I do not like all of the teachings of Jesus, and after studying, do not believe he fulfilled the Jewish prophecies to be the Messiah. I read some gnostic texts and found out that I hadn't been hearing the whole story about Jesus from the four gospels. Finally, I have learned that much of Christianity is a mixture of ancient pagan religions and the ideas of the apostle Paul. The new religion has so little to do with Judaism, I can not believe it anymore.

Answer 4

Getting away from someone is not the same as leaving a faith. The mere statement, "I think I still would be", means you are in fact still a Christian.
Your whole question is nothing more than a statement that you are just looking for someone to give you an excuse to go back to Christianity, your faith, your religion you believe in. You just don't want it shoved in your face!

I know you know. Your are a Christian and never really lost your faith:) God Bless.

Answer 5

I have no doubt that I would not be a Christian no matter what, and it certainly was shoved down my throat, perhaps not as badly as some, but the Lutherans in the Missouri Synod had the most conservative bunch of old white fogeys telling you you would go straight to hell if you thought any rebellious thoughts about Christianity.

My sister once asked the pastor what happened to all the little black babies in Africa who died of starvation without ever knowing about Jesus, and he looked her straight in the eyes and told her they were all going to hell.

That did it for my sister. It took me a while longer bc I was afraid of going to hell, and It seemed clear to me that I would, with the thoughts I had. But I finally broke free. The illogic of it drove me insane. The treatment of women was horrifying. No true loving being could want us to act like that.

I left, and have never looked back.

Answer 6

I definitely know where you're coming from . . . I grew up fundyroller and "PK" and hoo, buddy. "Shoved" is a pretty mild verb for how THAT was! o_O

However, my initial break with my childhood faith came from other circumstances . . . a prayer was "answered" so *cruelly* that I just .. . walked away, deciding that the xian god was an evil, vindictive monster. I tried *other* versions of xianity off and again through the years, and in those episodes it was god's *people* who disillusioned me.

How *else* can one judge a faith or religion, if NOT by its followers?

At any rate, I'm glad for all of that now . . . heathenry is the first thing that ever really felt like "home" and the first thing to work an inner transformation in my core beliefs and being.

Answer 7

No. I left because I studied what was being taught, the history of the Bible and Christianity, the culture of the Jews. There are a lot of things that do not fit... and so I feel it is best not to believe in something like that. A lot of people try to patch over the holes with mixed doctrines that are made up from only a handful of verses and man's traditions, but there are holes in the patches as well, so it doesn't work.

Answer 8

Yes, I've seen this happen many a times.

Kids don't like being forced to do things, and sometimes at that age, there is no clear understanding of right or wrong.

A lot of these kids become strong believers when they are older. I believe that if the emphasis is on learning about God, and loving him, instead of many religious doctrines, things would change.

Answer 9

Nope
I left and leaving the christianty based on rational reasons not cause its shoved down my throat. I wouldnt say iam leaving the church cause i help out at our church and good friends with many of them.

Answer 10

I don't think so.
I grew up a catholic and I never felt it was shoved down my throat as you put it.
I was a member of a wonderful church with a great group of friends and a fantastic priest.

It did not prevent me from eventually becoming an atheist.