Question for former Christians?

Question

I am curious to know why you turned away from Christianity. Did something bad happen? Was it a gradual turning?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as a "former Christian". The salvation that Christ offers is given by him and kept secure by him. If a person was truly ever in the family, they still are. Even if they don't come to family functions. :-)


edit-- Sheesh lots of thumbs down for me. It's ok I love you all anyhow! Think about it, why would Jesus go to all the trouble to come down here, take your sin on him, die for it, only to make it depend on humans to make sure his work stays finished. He left nothing to chance.

If you want to know more, just ask.

Answer 2

I consider myself a former Christian because as a small child I believed in God because my mom told me he was real. As I learned more about other cultures, it didn't make any sense to me that if there was only one God, then why were there so many different religions, past and present? What makes one book 'better' than another? I came to the conclusion that no one knows for sure which religion is the 'right' one so I became agnostic before I knew what the word meant. All this happened before I was 7 years old. Nothing bad happened.

Answer 3

It was in my third year of seminary, that I began to ask questions that either could not be answered, or I was told that I am not Holy enough to know the answer. As I read the Bible more and more, I noticed ambiguities and contradictions, I was sent to my cell to pray for guidance. There was no flash of revelation, I decided after 5 years, it wasn't worth it, and left. I tried other religions, and found most were the same, and a lot of the splinter ones were actually "mad hatters",
What drew me into Wiccan was the fact that it actually showed and gave understanding to something Jesus tried to teach. One universal truth, and christians just don't get it. It's called LOVE. It's not self sacrifice, or selling your goods to give to the poor. How much you donate to your church, and have a front row pew named for you.
Anyway, I am happy with my path I have chosen, and am a better person for it.

Answer 4

Many people that leave Christianity don't leave Christianity they leave the church. If you travel to many diffferent christian churches you can see the dif. another reason people are turned off by Christianity is cause they may have meet a person who is trying to push the religion on them to hard. some of these people don't even know that they are pressing the religion on the other person, they are just that passionate about it. Then there is always the reason that they just don't believe it. all work and are reason, doesn't mean any are right or wrong, just right and wrong for that person.

Answer 5

I didn't exactly turn away from christianity but i did turn away from the church I went to and the friends I made who were christian. The whole "scene" became too much like a cult and it was starting to become more of a "listening to this music will make you go to hell". "Wearing these clothes will make you go to hell." So i turned away and said this is enough. Now i pray on my own terms and do what I want.

Answer 6

I was born and raised a Catholic and attended Catholic schools. About the age of 13 or so I just got sick of it. I slowly started moving away from the Church and now I have severed virtually all ties with it. For me, the split was gradual and a matter of personal choice. My reason for beginning my split was the realization that I was/am bisexual. Slowly, the church's views on gays infuriated me and I no longer wanted to be associated with them. So, no, nothing "bad" happened and it was gradual at first.

Answer 7

when you learn about the history of christianity, from the athanians vs. the aryans, to st. augustine and how abstinence became encouraged, you begin to understand that every turn in the belief structure of christianity is politically inspired to give the Church maximum power over the people.

going further into the roots of christianity, you can recognize that many egyptian, persian, and asian mythologies inspired the storyline of christianity and that the roots are, in fact, pagan.

knowledge and common sense are all that is really required to understand and appreciate your doubt and let it guide you toward a logical truth.

it's like realizing santa claus was a terrible lie, except the adult version.

Answer 8

I felt that God did not exist from a very early age. I also had serious problems with the way God was portrayed in the Bible. Even as a youngster, I realized that condoning slavery and mass murder was no way for a perfect deity or loving father to act. My atheism is not the result of some tragedy, but rather much contemplation.

Answer 9

What turned me away was the actions of Christians. I found myself being open minded and tolerant and disgusted by their judgements and intolerance. I decided that a REAL God wouldn't punish those for things that are out of their control (like homosexuality or simply not nowing about him). I find it all silly and closed minded and found that I couldnt be a kind tolerant person by saying things like "hate the sin, love the sinner."
I am a better person by not being a Christian. However I am tolerant of Christians as long as they are tolerant of me not being one.

Answer 10

It was a process, not a revelation. I spent some years studying all of the major religions, and spent a lot of time in reflection. I was raised Catholic, and it was easy to reject all their stuff. The rest wasn't quite as easy, but in the end, very liberating. I regret none of it, except the years I wasted going to church.

Answer 11

Did something bad happen? Yes, not once, not twice, but countless times in countless denominations....I was a disillusioned youth looking for answers.....now, i have the true and right spiritual path for me that fills me with the grace, love, tolerance and guidance of the Divine.

i hope you find what it is you seek.

Blessed Be
)o(
Trinity