Why can't I change my religion?!?

Question

I grew up in a Full Gospel/Pentecostal style church, where we had lively praise and worship. I got saved and baptized at a very young age.

To be honest, I'm just tired of it. Ireally haven't changed all that much. I've studied the Bible through five times (we study through it once a year)

I'm not really much of a sinner, don't drink, smoke, curse or hate or fool around... It's just not my personality. I'm a relatively simple guy..

But I'm tired of believing in the Bible. I just feel silly, believing all those stories and miracles. Something deep inside me feels like a hypocrite when I feel like I just have better sense than that, you know?

Something in me simply wants to live life on my own terms. My Christian friends have stopped talking to me. I do not have one single reason to keep up this charade. I simply do not believe the Bible the whole thing is patently ridiculous.

I'm just not satisfied with Christianity and my imaginary and pressured relationship with Jesus.

Answer 1

It sounds like you have already changed your religion. You just continue to go through the motions.
.

Answer 2

Of course you can change your religion. I think you already have. At least it sounds like it. Or you might have been like me (a little bit, maybe). I got baptisted, led the Acteens at my church, sang in the choir, served in the WMU, the whole nine yards. My parents went to church all of my life. I went to church all of my life.

But some parts of it, I just didn't believe. As I got older, I started studying other religions and finally came to the one I practice now. For me, the right path was to be a Pagan. The final straw came when a preacher I had respected as a rational, intelligent man of God shared a story with several of us. We had been talking about how difficult it was to witness sometimes (I really didn't witness actively, just in the way I lived and dealt with others). He told us the most difficult thing was telling a little boy that his friend was in hell. Apparently, the child died without being baptized or confessing his faith in Christ. That preacher told that grieving child that his best friend was in hell. That did it for me. I left the Church and never went back. A lot of the inconsistencies and things that just didn't set right with me could be overlooked, but not that.

I've never been happier, either.

Look into many different paths. There are many Christian religions that may offer you what you need spiritually. If not, look at other denominations. Take a look at www.sacred-texts.com. They have a great selection of many different religious texts.

I hope you find what you are looking for. Good journeys,

Asha

Answer 3

John religion and belief are a different thing all together, you have already opted out of your religious beliefs, which by no means is a bad thing. Going to church every day and having been baptized does not make you a religious person, it simply means you have participated in a religious practice. If you feel your religion is not right for you do not feel you have to renounce it, religion provides a strong set of morals that are hard to come by in this age, that doesn't mean you have to believe in the folklore. I have studied the bible as well, and I am as free of religious belief as you will ever find a man. Follow your mind buddy.

Answer 4

Uh, let me let you in on a little secret. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR RELIGION! I was a Christian for 26 years. Now I'm a Witch and proud of it. You can do anything you want too. I know the progression it takes. You are on the verge of seeking the truth. It's not that you're turning your back on your beliefs, it's just that you know in your heart that there's got to be more to it than this. So you start out searching. Even though I don't adhere to Christian beliefs anymore, I still have passages from the Bible come into my mind every now and then. So for your journey ahead I say, "Seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened." And if you start feeling guilty just for searching for the truth remember this, "There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Yes, I'm a Witch and I still have a place for Jesus in my heart. It may not be what it once was, but I can tell you I feel no quilt or condemnation for simply seeking truth. One more thing....."Work out your own salvation." Blessings!

Answer 5

It sounds to me like you've already changed your religion.

Faith is something entirely personal. No one but you knows exactly what is going on in your head and heart, and simply professing to love God or any other diety does not mean you have truth faith in him or her. If you don't believe you have a "relationship with Jesus," then you don't. That's the end of it.

You don't say how old you are, but if you're still under your parents' rule and fear upsetting them, it may be a good idea to continue to observe their religious traditions by praying before meals, etc. Simply taking part in them doesn't mean you're condoning them or stating that they're true; you're just respecting your parents' ideas enough to keep peace in the house.

If you're an adult, by all means accept that you believe religion to be a charade and move on with it. There are communities of people like you online. You should check them out:

http://exchristian.net
http://ffrf.org
http://www.positiveatheism.org

Answer 6

then start by believing in what the benevolent qualities that the bible teachings and not the bible.

I dont think there is anything wrong with Loving thy Neighbor as thyself, or not Murdering or not Stealing. Much teachings in the Bible is benevolent and beautiful... follow those forget and put aside that which you find is wrong and live life according to that which you find is right.

Any half decent human beings, wouldnt mind following such tenets. The pressuring you into the faith with fear and guilt tactics... forget about those, take a break for awhile, and allow YOU to grow... if you find, not attending church or not being into the Christian faith serves you better, then do whatever feels best for you.

Religion and faith practices was made to serve Humanity, not Humanity to shackle itself like slaves to Religion.

Answer 7

You can change your religion whenever you want. Just say the words and it's done. You may get some backlash from family and friends though so it may be best to avoid the topic if possible in conversation, or, if you want to be able to argue your side, read one of the numerous popular atheism books that have recently come out (The God Delusion, etc.) Good luck. Oh and if that fails, you can always use "Who are you to question God's plan to make me as a person who doubts? " they really won't have an answer for that one.

Answer 8

You have created a sad situation for yourself, I don't know why you played that charade stuff anyway, but since you did that it's not surprising that you feel the way you do, the charade did not allow you to see the Bible message or understand any of it did it?It only made it seem more unreasonable unreal to you.That truly is sad.It proves only one thing, you cannot make yourself believe without seeing or understanding.But why can't you change your religion?That does not make sense, did you not choose your religion in the first place?

Answer 9

This is the problem of present day believers. Living in the age of reason, they cannot keep believing in stories that are
incredible.

In fact God Almighty sent His religion in every age. Even before Christ there were many prophets, like Noah, Abraham,
Jackab, Joseph, David, Moses and John. Will the people before Jesus will have to believe in Jesus for salvation? But how could they? They even did not know that one day Jesus would come to earth. Similarly after Jesus, there was atleast one prophet; Muhammad. He confirms the miraculous birth of
Jesus and clears his mother of adultery. But says Jesus was
saved from death on the cross and that he will return for the
second time to punish those conspirators who tried to kill him.

For all practical purposes, Christianity is a part time religion.
Christ followed the code of conduct brought by Moses, but an
obscrunist saint said no code of conduct was necessary. and
nobody in the Christianity had the common sense to ask, how
the code of conduct brought forth by a Prophet could be cancelled by a non prophet?

The true religion, which all prophets including Moses and Jesus followed, is Islam. It requires you to pray 5 times a day,
fast throughout a month and visit Makkah once in your life. It also says to be good to your parents, kind to you youngers, helpful to poor and the needy and all these acts are considered prayers. Islam does not believe in lip service to
religion, like Christianity does. It asks us to show Islam by
practical example. So where many churches have been closed and sold to become bingo halls, Muslims go to their Masjid 5 times a day. They keep away from adultery and serve their parents well. The family system is very much alive in Muslims and people are not indulged in women and wine,
so common among Christians.

Have a closer look at Islam. Your problems concerning religion may come to a happy end.

Javed Kaleem

Answer 10

You do what feels right to you. I am the same way. Sometimes I feel like a sinner for questioning things in the bible.....but ya know what that is ok. Its ok to be curious. Forget those so called "christian" friends. They should accept you whether or not you agree on the same religion. Try reading up on different religions. I myself do not belong to any religion. I have not found one that I feel "right" with. But it is ok. Try praying. good luck !!

Answer 11

Stay with your religion and the church.
Act 7:48
"However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: