What are steps that disillusioned Christians can take, without trying to become an Atheist?

Question

I have read many questions and answers on R/S about people who are completely disillusioned about Christianity in particular, as well as Religion as a whole. They decide to call themselves Atheists. But they are uncomfortable with that, due to unresolved guilt and anxiety about sin. What is a smoother, slower transition for our fellow Humans to make?

aurora dawn, I agree with you, but, some people here can only find a common ground with atheists. I have many contacts who call themselves atheists, but, if you read their answers and questions, you know that they are not. I think you are great. I myself am an atheist, but some people just can't seem to resolve some issues, would you agree with that?

Answer 1

Go the Unitarian Universalist route. They don't even require you believe in a god.

Answer 2

I'm a disillusioned Christian. Whenever I post my thoughts on Christianity regarding disillusionment, a lot of people assume I'm well on my way to being an atheist. But I'm not at all.

The trick (which I haven't mastered by any means) is to realize that the fundamentalist version of Christianity doesn't have to be "right," even if you were heavily indoctrinated to believe so, as I was. The Bible really shouldn't be read literally, at least not certain parts of it. When Jesus tells a parable to teach a lesson, no one tries to claim that it actually happened. But for some reason the parables in the Old Testament are assumed to be literal truth.

For me, the answer was Open Theology and moral relativism, and a lot of theological/philosophical reading. It really helped to learn how and why people have thought what they do about religion, even if I think differently. Also, the Progressive Christianity movement is more in line with what you speak of.

I still have that stupid guilt/anxiety complex every now and then. It's hard to overcome it when it's drilled into your head for years that certain things are "right" and certain are "wrong."

I get accused all of the time of "inventing" a version of Christianity that suits my lifestyle. That isn't the case at all. I just think that legalism is an outdated concept. I think I have strong Biblical support for everything I believe.

Answer 3

The biggest problem I see with Christians is the doctrine of their chosen church. Organized religion lays on the 'sin' taboo so thickly, and for so long, that by the time most Christians find themselves thinking outside that box, they can't shake off the ingrained teachings, and so suffer from the anxiety you mention.

Christianity is based on Faith. Belief in a supreme deity without the need for proof.

For a Christian to genuinely become more peaceful, they must move away from the inherent insanity that the mainstream (or orthodox) churches hammer into them. Those rules and restrictions give them no room to look at another human who has a different opinion, and accept that person as just a person.

I've met plenty of Christians who just get it. They understand that their belief is based on faith. That is enough for them. They don't feel any need to try to force, or threaten, or scare anyone else into seeing things the way they do.

Here's a perfectly logical argument Christianity.
I believe in God and Jesus Christ.

It's not until you try to <> that either of them exist (and therefore all the excess baggage that organized religion brings) that you run into problems.

If they are uncomfortable with the concept of being an Atheist, so be it. If they still have faith in a higher power, good for them. In all honesty, faith is a pretty amazing thing.

Answer 4

If one wished to make a transition away from Fundamentalism or other harshly dogmatic forms of Christianity, there are quite a few liberal denominations to choose from. Why not go Unitarian Universalist? One can be an open atheist, agnostic, Pagan, Jew, Christian, Humanist, or anything else and still be a Unitarian. Try the Center For Progressive Christianity (http://www.tcpc.org/template/index.cfm) or Unity (different from the Unitarian Universalists). If the person still wanted Christian ritual, there's the Episcopal Church, which has a long tradition of intellectual exploration and a high tolerance for questioning. Try the United Church of Christ, or any of the many other branches of Christianity that welcome questioners and accept other people as they are without condemnation. There's always Christian Humanism(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_humanism), agnosticism, Gnostic Christianity, or deism. There are quite a few options available, including simply dropping out of organized religion altogether. It would depend upon where the questioner is at spiritually and psychologically, and at what stage of the transitioning process they're at.

Answer 5

Maybe you should learn to become a 'better' Christian. Not an empty 'check the boxes' lukewarm one, but one with purpose and deeper understanding. Or you will fall away. Ending up on the wrong side of the fence. There is no in between. You are either for or against Him.

Try reading some books and websites about a subject in particular. Then pray on it. You'd be surprised at what you'll find in true Christianity as opposed to main stream 'Christianity'.

God bless

Answer 6

Well you could be a Deist.

I mean the only requirement to be an atheist is that you don't believe in a god. You either do, or you don't. If you do, you aren't an atheist. Frankly, I have yet to talk to someone who identified themselves as an atheist that wasn't. I have talked to several who were atheists who wouldn't call themselves that.

Answer 7

Take your own spiritual journey to truth. Try to find God or spirituality without relying on anything someone else did or said or believes. Meditate, reason, rationalize, attempt to understand. Sit and try not to think of anything. Focus in on the feeling you are having at the exact moment of meditation.

Answer 8

They should explore other spiritual paths and decide how they really view things. UU is a great place, but there's many other religions too, and even just plain old spirituality that is not bound by religion.

Answer 9

I've been here over a year and I answer all the questions I can that are posted about atheism and I haven't heard any atheists saying this.

atheist

Answer 10

Find another church, another denomination, another group of friends. They may give you a different perspective of christianity.

Then again you call yourself an atheist so I can't provide a fully satisfactory response...

Answer 11

I feel u. Just go back to the basics. Pray, read the bible. Leave all that other stuff to time. No pilgrimages, no 10 day fasting.