so i'm starting to turn away from christianity and becoming more agnostic?

Question

now what? do i just sit here and be agnostic, stop going to church, stop reading the Bible? the feeling is kind of liberating, but i'm not sure what to do with myself. if i stop going to church, i feel like i might lose some good friends. advice?

Answer 1

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http://www.near-death.com/storm.html

thanks!

Answer 2

Now you decide how you want to live your life. You now have to decide what you value and figure out the best way to balance your various, and often conflicting, values.
It's liberating, but it's a lot of responsibility. no longer can you rely on others to tell you what you are supposed to believe and how you are supposed to act. You can listen to their advice, but ultimately it's up to you.
So don't feel that just because you aren't religious now you have to avoid church or throw out the Bible. You don't have to avoid anything, you aren't going to lose your Agnostic Union card for seeing friends at church. If there are parts of the Bible you like, you can still read those. In fact, one of the best ways to see if you really are a non-believer is to read the Bible without prejudice. Read it and try to figure out what it means and what the implications are going by what the obvious meaning is- not relying on all the spin you've been told to try to make it seem like a nice or sensible book.

As for going to church, you will probably feel out of place since you don't believe. But if the benefit you get from being with your friends outweighs the discomfort then go. If you don't feel comfortable, arrange to meet them elsewhere. If they don't want to have anything to do with you outside of church if you aren't a believer then you can find better friends.

Rather than hiding from religion, I'd encourage you to check out what different groups think. Look into enough other faiths and you'll find that none has a monopoly on goodness, morality, etc. and they all pretty much rely on the same arguments to get you to believe. If you really miss the structure of church, check out the unitarians. Many, if not most, are agnostics looking for fellowship on a sunday morning.
Personally, I sleep in. But you get to choose what it is you do and why. Congratulations.

Answer 3

Dear Sister Kelly,
If you are born anew christian, meaning you have received
Christ as your savior, you will always be a Christian. You may turn your back on the Lord Jesus but He will not turn His back on you. The reason Christians feel cold to the Lord is because,
we most of the time walk according to our soul instead of our spirit where the Lord dwells. In 1Thes 5:23 we see may the Lord preserve you spirit, soul and body. The way to fan the flame into fire in your spirit is to just try calling on the Lord Jesus, For example just say from deep within "O Lord Jesus say that for just one or two minutes from deep within you will sense the Lords presence. Also confess any sins that you have not confessed.remember the Lords precious blood washes away our sins immediately. Also before you start to read the word(Bible) try that excercise of calling on the Lord a for a few times. "O Lord Jesus what this calling does is bring us out of our minds into our spirit where the Lord as the life giving spirit is. Then I can tell you from experience the Bible becomes a new and open book to us. However never give up the assemblying together the church meetings, But also remember the meetings are not a social club. But to come and enjoy the Lord. Also just try along with the O Lord Jesus, some Praise to him also. for example O Lord Jesus Praise you Lord Jesus this will bring you into the enjoyment of Christ..Amen

Answer 4

As already asked, 'why'..what changed, what has shifted? What is the goal of becoming agnostic? To sleep in on Sunday, that is just silly.

And Yes, your Christian friends will want you to return and they will 'try' to accept you as an unbeliever (and one may even do it); but, the reality is: you no longer will have a common bond or experiences to share and you will drift apart.

And they are still good people who will see you as a confused person. And they will grieve and you will grieve. IF church and the activities and friendships there were a significant part of your life.

Someone asked if this has to do with the sex questions you have asked. I don't know what sex questions you have asked; so, only you can delve into that. Here is what I do know. God made us sexual creatures and mature people learn how to embrace Christianity and themselves (including their sexuality).

Maranantha

Answer 5

Well, I would recommend that you not make the move unless you are absolutely ready. Non-belief is not an activity, so it's not something you can just sit there and do. Rather than trying to find something "non-believing" to do, why don't you spend some time catching up on some things your belief prevented you from enjoying, researching, understanding?

Oh, and enjoy the #1 advantage non-believers have over believers: sleeping late on Sundays!!!

You might be on the verge of a very challenging time between you and your friends. I would urge you to put in writing the the reasons you are deciding to make a change in your life. Your friends (and people they send to you on their behalf) will try to wear away at you. You need to be prepared to defend yourself against their arguments and remain steadfast in your belief that you know what you are doing and why you are doing it.

Answer 6

You'll figure it out on your own if you do. True Christianity is not religious based but is biblicallly based on having a relationship with God. If you went through rituals and motions you are empty and more than likely not save or a Christian to start with.

I suggest before you walk away to read the book "The Case for Christ." a former Atheist who set out to prove God doesn't exists.

You owe it to yourself to seek out the truth and before making such statements and important decisions that will affect your eternal outcome after your brief life here on earth.

Answer 7

Does this have anything to do with your sex questions you've posted?

I'm an atheist. My advice, never stop investigating and follow your heart and your brain. Even if you don't believe the same as you did before, there's no rule that you have to stop going to church. But if you don't want to go, it will take more effort to stay in touch with those friends.

Answer 8

If you lose friends by not going to Chuch than they arent your real friends they should let you have your own opinion . There is more to life than church .

And congratulations on making more time for yourself and thinking for yourself. Dont stop reading the Bible it will help remind you of your choice as you read the dark secrets in the srciptures. .

Answer 9

You can still go to Church, treat it as a social club instead of a place of worship.

As for reading the Bible, no one says you have to stop doing that either, you might want to also try reading about other religions. Even if you dont believe in them their is nothing wrong with educating yourself about world religions.

Answer 10

What do you feel like doing? Maybe go help out at a soup kitchen. Be a big sister. Take some classes. Lots of things. If you loose some good friends, Then they really weren't good friends.

Answer 11

Like what moosbeback says, they don't like it...screw 'em. Don't worry about it if they don't like it. do what's best for you, no one else. And you can still read the Bible or anything you want (since now if you're agnostic, then you can now read things that Christians hate for you to read) So...congrats!