For those who converted FROM Christianity, why did you do so?

Question

There was just a question about conversions TO Christianity, I was wondering about the other direction (at least in the case of other people..... I know the reason in my case)

Answer 1

Well, some may argue that this applies to me (like my father, possibly my step-mother), even though I never really considered myself "Christian" in the first place.

Yes, I grew up in a Catholic household. It was pretty laid-back, religiously speaking, until my mother left, but that's another story. I had first communion and confession, but never confirmation. When my father remarried, I went to Quaker Meeting House with my step-mother, but not all the time, and only because my father said I had to attend *some kind* of Christian service and youth group -- and I went with the Quakers cos they were pretty cool and laid-back about it, encouraged mysticism (as in communication with Divinity) and reading of the apocryphal texts (ie: "Gnostic", etc...) and, if you asked me, the head of that meeting house was smarter than the priest at the Catholic church. They were also pretty open to Paganism at that House, adopting the Zoroastrian belief that all worship ultimately goes to one singular God (or, in Wicca-speak "all Gods are One God, all Goddess are one Goddess").

I realised that I had more interest in the Pagan Gods of ancient Greece when I read the D'Aulaire picture-book when I was about eight. It's still among my favourite books about the Hellenic pantheon. I've also always felt several "pressences" of Deities most of my life and at some point before I was fourteen, learned one to be Apollon. But I don't think I ever called Him that at that time, for a few reasons.

Of course, I went through a "rebellious teen" phase and first decided that since I was Irish, that I had to be a Keltic polytheist and, in addition to finding little info (especially in my little town), those Gods just never seemed "real" to me -- or, at least, never made themselves known to me. (I believe that They're real to those that worship Them, and I can see some syncretic parallels between certain Irish Keltic and certain Greek Dieties, but my interest doesn't really extend beyond that, these days.)

And like so many angsty teens who had a bad relationship with their fathers before me, I went through this eighteen-month "Satanist" phase, where I took it pretty seriously, and extended it a year after that where I saw LaVey more as a humourist than a philosophical leader (seriously, some of his essays are to die for), and considered myself more of a "Satanic Subgenius" -- and we all know that the Church of the Subgenius id just Discordianism with sin. In some ways, I still see myself as a bit of a Satanist/Subgenius/Discordian, at least in my sense of humour, even though my religion is Hellenismos.

Answer 2

I left Christianity because I grew up and saw all the inconsistencies, the flawed dogma, the misogyny, and the outright illogical unbelievability of it.

I wandered in no man's (or woman's )land for a while, until I read several books, including "When God Was a Woman" which changed my life. I embraced feminism, and female spirituality. I have become a very happy agnostic pagan Witch, and when I look back on growing up Lutheran, I realize that I had been trying to convince myself that it was all very reasonable and logical, when it was anything but!

great question!
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 3

Firstly, christiantiy was never appealing. I never really felt right in a church setting. Also, I couldn't appreciate the Bible's story from a spiritual standpoint like so many of those around me could.

I find new age oriented religion to be so much more fulfilling. Later, I was able to independently examine christianity for what is really was: metaphorical at best. lol. that's the gist of it. ;)

Answer 4

I left Christianity simply because the answers I was waiting on never arrived. I prayed and studied for decades, hoping for deliverance from certain issues. Such was not forthcoming.

I'm now a Pagan. My life has changed entirely for the better. While it may not be yet perfect, it is heading in the right direction.

It is a decision based on experience. It is based on pragmatism. It is based on answers received and a life that has changed.

Prior to committing to this change (though I had studied Paganism for years) my life had deteriorated to the point where I was alcoholic, suicidal, psychotic. I had been in a number or psychiatric hospitals. I was unemployed and unemployable. My kids wanted nothing to do with me.

Today, I'm working my own business. I've edited a number of books. I'm working on one of my own. I've done sales literature, resumes, creative and technical writing, and more for a variety of clients.

Even the Bible says "By their fruits shall ye know them". My life before certainly wasn't showing fruit. It is now. My kids and I have a great relationship. I'm gaining respect in my community again. I'm now considered trustworthy. My finances are getting healthier again.

I tend to think that fruits are an indicator of the life bearing them. I don't wish to go back to a life of psychiatric hospitalization, psychosis, drunkenness, estrangement from my children, inability to work, inability to drive, lacking in respect from both self and others, unable to follow through on what I promise. This is precisely where living a life of lies and condemnation will lead me.

Answer 5

I spent a year in a Catholic church school & the rest of my Highschool education in an Anglican (CoE) school. I marveled at just how similar the two faiths were. Meanwhile the violence in Ireland (etc) was increasing, revolving around conflict between those two.

Then I looked at the hyprocracy, bigotry and worse from the more zealot Xians, from all sects. More so from the Fundmentalist who seemed more interested in proving just how more "pious" they were to the rest.

No way to run a faith.

.

Answer 6

I agree with Vitamin C: I really don't like the Abrahamic god.
I was lucky enough to not have religion forced - we weren't even baptized! but I did try for a few years, with no feeling, no feedback. I tried to love Christ, but questioned whether he even existed.

When I found the Egyptian gods, to embark on a cliché, something "clicked." I feel love from them. Not judgemental pointing finger.

And besides: I'm a woman. Sorry. I can't abide by a religion that is hellbent (lol) on making women feel guilty for, IMO, our two best assets: curiosity and sexuality.

Can you?

Answer 7

Well...hmmm long story actually LOL.
I never felt at home in any church, not like the other kids. And then I felt awful for NOT feeling like the other kids. My mom lost faith when I was about 10 and we stopped going to church. I never felt like I was missing anything.
Fast forward to living in the Bible Belt, my parents sent to me to a private school when the public was no longer an option and of course it was religious. I felt left out. I WANTED to believe. I really did. And gods help me I tried. I read the Bible, I went to Bible study, I prayed until my knees hurt. I begged God for mercy through blood and tears.
He never answered.
I was mad about it for a long time. I was atheist out of sheer rage. When I made it past the darkest hours of my life, I knew something was out there, but I didn't know what. I was cheerfully agnostic for a long time. I found paganism rather by accident.
I stumbled onto a website and the more I read, the more excited I got. It was like something was speaking to me. I read for days. Literally. I found pagans and bombarded them with questions. I read anything I could.
Over the course of my path, I got really frusterated because I didn't find a trad that fit. Everyone told me I would know when I found it. Boy did I. LOL. When the gods called me, when I was ready, it was like coming home.
So I dunno if there is a "reason" in all that, but that's my story. No amount of preaching Jesus's love, threats of hell, pity and pleading will take my faith from my gods. THEY answer me. THEY hear me. THEY give me peace. I realize now the reason God didn't answer me, was that I simply didn't belong to him.
I'm home now. And much happier for it.
((((Hestia)))) Missed you!

Answer 8

It wasn't really a conscious decision but a natural progression/evolutionary step. Practicing discernment, truly listening to and trusting what did and did not resonate, and life experiences led me to the place I am now.

Answer 9

Because of the contradictions of the bible. Many reasons including hypocrisy and hate. One specific thing that has made me reject the bible as the word of god is Armegedon. I am a parent and no matter what my children do in this life i could never turn my back on them or condem them to death or an eternity in hell. Christians argue that God only wants us to obey his rules, well my children dont always follow my rules. And they may grow to live lives i dont approve of but i would still never abandon them. They could even go and live with their bioligical father( my ex) ~ akin to thou shalt have no other gods before me~Yet i would never abandon them or reject them. I simply will not accept that a loving Deity who made this beautiful universe for us to live in would do this to one of his own creations( children)
I also believe that we have a mother and a father( Goddess and God)~ such is the way of all living things and christians will tell you that go is a living god~therefore it is logical that we have two parents.
Also~ We humans have not been good record keepers until recently....we cant even claim to have a historical record of the supposed most important man to ever live on earth( Jesus) .....so how do we even begin to accept that we have an accurate record of how and why life bagan? Its just not logical or plausabile!
As i said i have many reasons to which i applied common sense and the bible just does not work well with common sense.
I am pleased and satisfied with my path in this life( Pagan) and i willl NEVER again in my life acept the word of god lies within the bible.
Blessed Be
Ariel

Answer 10

oregon flower, honey, wake up. people grow and learn, and sometimes come to realize that something they believed is wrong for them. i embraced christianity as a child and teenager, but when i actually encountered the real world, i came to understand that it is wrong. i was confirmed in the catholic church, ergo, i left christianity. i was agnostic for a while, then the lord and lady finally found me, and it was like rediscovering my self. it fit perfectly with my view of the universe.

i didn't convert, i awakened to my pagan path. my most fundamental beliefs never changed, but my faith in god changed entirely.