I am not a christian?

Question

I have defined my self as agnostic for a few years now. I was a raised in church and quite devoted to my church even as a teen. I went to youth group, went on mission trips, and attended every church service there was for almost four years.

That all changed when I went to off to college. I took a world religions class and religious philosophy class because I thought it would be interesting to look at different religions and I thought to be able to completely understand my religion I needed to have a better understanding of the different religions of the world.

After I took the classes, I saw the true reason for religion. And I grew to dislike the christianity faith. So i became agnostic.

I believe that there is a higher power, but that power is so indescribable that it cannot be written in a book or even be put into words. I also believe that the higher power exsists within and our ability to be good people.

If you used to be a christian, what made you change your mind?

Answer 1

I also want to star your question but hope you really took the time to read what "4HIM" had to say.
She's right:
"The first known usage of this term (Christian) can be found in the New Testament of the Bible, in Acts 11:26: "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." The term was thus first used to denote those known or perceived to be disciples of Christ. Similarly, in the two other New Testament uses of the word (Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16), it refers to the public identity of those who follow Jesus."
Your "Higher Power" is the same God you knew and felt in your heart as a child. He's never changed, you have, but He hasn't.
My heart is weeping for you and I don't even know you. It weeps because I didn't find (or even wanted to find) God till 8 1/2 years ago and I'm 42.
I still remember the anguish I felt in my heart for so long. The emptiness of this life thinking I would find the answer in a spell or through the stars. I remember it all to well. I wouldn't wish that on my worse enemy.
I am going to pray for you...

Answer 2

Sadly for me, I cannot relate to your honourable story. I just never believed in God, and renounced Christianity at 10.

I share your belief in the higher power within, and I became Buddhist 7 months ago (not necessarily related, but anyway). I have some pretty deep interest in other religions too, as there are a number that I can relate to in many ways.

Now I have begun looking for ways to learn as much as possible about as many religions as possible, with the aim to build bridges and bring harmony between religions without disrupting the diversity.

Answer 3

I starred your question because I wanted to take some time to pray about it. Have you ever loved someone so much that no matter what someone else said about them, you knew that you would never turn your back on that person?

In your question you stated that you were raised among church members, you were devoted to the teachings, you were a member of a youth group, you went on mission trips, you attended every service that they had for almost four years then, you attended college and took a religion course and a religious philosophy class to learn about different religions and even better understand your religion.

Then you tell us that you have seen the true reason for religion. Praise God!

All religion other than the Jewish religion, which is made by God, is made by man and is man’s attempt to please their gods and control other people .All religions have rules, rituals and laws to follow. Every religion believes that they have the answers for redemption. The answer for redemption through religion, lies within man’s ability to perfectly follow it’s teachings which man can not do. Jesus is the only one who followed religion perfectly.

Jesus is God’s way to reach down to mankind with love, forgiveness, acceptance and grace. Jesus is not a religion. He is God and He is the way for mankind to have a close and personal fellowship with God.

When we come to Jesus, we are full of the original sin nature and the sins that we have committed. He cleanses us when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior and repent of those sins.

Our redemption and salvation results from Jesus’ willful and sacrificial death on the cross to take our place for our sin nature and our sins. He is the only atonement possible because He is without sin. Jesus does it for us because we are incapable of following any religion perfectly. He did follow the law perfectly.

Coming to the person of Jesus, not religion, is what God requires for us to become forgiven, sanctified, and have that personal relationship with God that He intended from the start. The personal relationship of loving Him and Him loving you so much that neither of you would never turn your back on the other one, is what you did not talk about in your description or experience.

Jesus, who loves you so much that He will never turn His back on you and who is your best friend is the only way to God. The bride and the Spirit say, "Come"!

Answer 4

I Like this question. I used to be christian, i was raised one most of my life, when i got into sophmore year of high school, also the year i was going to be brought fully into the faith, i began to really think is this what i believe so i looked around abit and my religion class helped me understand the faith better, but still the religion didnt speak to me. So i left the church knowing christianity was not the path for me and searched for the one that was, i looked into nearly every religion i could find and even devoted time to philosophies. But the biggest thing that happened to me to set me on my new path was not something found in a book, it was going out with a girl who was a Pagan-Wiccan. She was amazing and we connected well, she explained her beliefs and i explained mine she then told me that it sounded as if i should look into paganism more. Up to that point i had really believed in the old ways but always thought christianity had wiped it out. When i began looking into the paganism religion i was surprised much of what i believed was in the general beliefs and even more of what i believed was in the other branches in paganism. All this however would not have likely happened if i had not lost both my parents and started living with my aunt. But i am glad that i have joined the pagan religion and i am focusing more on Asatru, despite many Asatru thinking its not pagan but to me Pagan includes Asatru.

Answer 5

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Answer 6

Once I started delving into the main concepts that the Bible teaches about God, ignoring all the trappings of various denominations "pet" points, but just looking at the bare facts of who God is himself.... I found him to be a paranoid schizophrenic who was prone to extremely evil acts of violence. Many will say "oh, that was the Old Testament God" as if that really changes anything. But the New Testament God, Jesus, had mental issues as well.

I also began to learn about the Bible itself came into being - how the manuscripts were collected, which ones were tossed and why, how they were put together, etc. And I found that is was not a document whose provenance could be trusted whatsoever.

Answer 7

Well, I think everyone's experience is different. College didn't completely change my outlook, it made me appreciate where I came from and what I learned. Lots of people still have their faith after higher education. But sounds like you have your own journey to go on for now. I wish you the best.

Answer 8

Do you know that in the bible the word Christian (if you study out the language) it was a mocking term to mock those who followed Jesus. He spoke many times do not worship me, worship the Father. We are 'Sons' not Christians. Did you ever look at those in the word who labeled themselves? They were generally 'Religious'. If you consider that source that is within you and every person. It is not referred to as 'Christian' mere confusion in the Church organization causes many to fall away, but don't look at it as a negative look at it as a positive to speak to the source that is within you and not an outward deity.

Answer 9

I chose to change my religion because most religions I've come across are full of hypocritical people. They think that attending church every wed. and sun. absolves them of the things they do every day. They use church as an excuse to to whatever they want and that just sickened me. I'm now simply a spiritual person as I don't believe you have to go to church every day to believe.

Answer 10

I gave up Christianity when I was 12, I just slowly stopped believing it. I started studying other beliefs, and Christianity made very little sense compared to them. I went through four years of truth-seeking, then settled down into Theravada Buddhism...