Ex Christians - why did you leave?

[RoseCrystal]

Hi, I'm struggling with my beliefs lately and I was hoping to find some stories of those who left Christianity and why they left. I didn't really know what section to post this is so I hope this is not breaking any rules.

What made you decide to leave?
Do you have a new religion or set of spiritual beliefs? If you feel like sharing what are they?
How did you deal with fear and guilt of leaving?
What were the main sticking points for you about Christianity that you could no longer follow/believe in?
Have you found peace in your new spiritual identity?
How did your family and friends react to your leaving? What do you say to them about it and are they accepting of you? Have people turned their backs on you for leaving?
Do you ever struggle with your decision and want to go back?

Appreciate your answers

Thank you

 

[Carl Emerson]

Do you mind disclosing what beliefs you are struggling with?

 

[RoseCrystal]

Do you mind disclosing what beliefs you are struggling with?

Sure I'll share a few if you like, but I would like to stress that I am looking for experiences of those who have left, not well-meaning Christians trying to solve my faith crisis.

The fact that we need a savior in the first place and why we were left without one for at least 40 000 years
That Jesus was god
The resurrection of Jesus
The fact that Christianity was accepted in most countries by force and not choice (would it be as popular or even a thing at all anymore if there wasn't so much violence against other belief systems to conform to the new religion)
Believing the Bible is actually the word of god and not just really old cool literature
The similarities in other cultures scriptural writings that are older than the oldest books in the bible
The similarities to other religions prior to Christianity

That's just a few of them but again I am looking for experiences of those who have left.

I am not saying that I'm leaning towards atheism (not that theres anything wrong with that) I believe there is something beyond us, but I am starting to think that we can't say for sure we know what that something is and what it wants from us (if it wants anything at all). And maybe it doesn't matter what we do or what system we use to connect to the universe/god/spirit, as long as we are authentic in our beliefs.

 

[hluke]

Apostates weren't believers or Christians in the first place. If they were saved, Jesus wouldn't cast them away. And there would have been an inexpressible conviction in their Spirit

John 6:37

 

[Cormack]

In my experience, lots of people go through something like Christian burnout. This won’t help answer your question or troubles directly (nor could I as a believing Christian,) but it’s definitely a reason for people leaving that I can relate to.

Sometimes rather than living in the good things our faith promises and provides, we get caught up in our own desire to be better law keepers, fears to do with salvation, fears to do with blaspheming the Holy Spirit, fears for the souls of our loved ones or habitual sin we can’t seem to shake. Headspace issues that sincere believers are self harming with.

After an entire life of spiritual, mental and emotional self harm like that exiting the Christian belief is a kind of freedom from fear, the fears they’ve imposed on themselves as believers.

 

[Cormack]

I am looking for experiences of those who have left, not well-meaning Christians trying to solve my faith crisis.

Good luck with this I feel you’ll have no end to people intentionally derailing this topic trying to save you.

 

[hluke]

How often do you read your bible? How often do you pray? Do you know what God's purpose is for humanity? Do you know the promises God made in the OT? Have you studied any prophecies?

Religion won't help in any way.

God desires to KNOW you. Do you KNOW God?

With all due respect, you wouldn't have such questions if you are intimate with God: his friend.

 

[Jok]

Good luck with this I feel you’ll have no end to people intentionally derailing this topic trying to save you.

Well in defense of any derailers, I couldn’t possibly imagine how you would expect a different result when someone makes a thread in “Christianforums.com” for encouragement from former Christians to help her with her struggling faith. This would pretty much be like not expecting a bunch of crazy looks if you’re wearing a Biden hat at a Trump rally lol

 

[RoseCrystal]

How often do you read your bible? How often do you pray? Do you know what God's purpose is for humanity? Do you know the promises God made in the OT? Have you studied any prophecies?

Religion won't help in any way.

God desires to KNOW you. Do you KNOW God?

With all due respect, you wouldn't have such questions if you are intimate with God: his friend.

With all due respect that is really insulting and not true at all.

I pray and read my bible and studied it A LOT, I have been very devout in my beliefs and do not come to this place lightly at all.

 

[RoseCrystal]

Well in defense of any derailers, I couldn’t possibly imagine how you would expect a different result when someone makes a thread in “Christianforums.com” for encouragement from former Christians to help her with her struggling faith. This would pretty much be like not expecting a bunch of crazy looks if you’re wearing a Biden hat at a Trump rally lol

LOL I totally see your point!

I did try to avoid it by putting it in a section where non-christians and ex-christians are free to post and express their opinions and experiences leaving the faith.

 

[hluke]

With all due respect that is really insulting and not true at all.

I pray and read my bible and studied it A LOT, I have been very devout in my beliefs and do not come to this place lightly at all.

You might know about him, but did you know him? I don't mean to offend at all. Its a legitimate question to ask.

 

[RoseCrystal]

You might know about him, but did you know him? I don't mean to offend at all. Its a legitimate question to ask.

Yes I most certainly did know him.

And again I stress that I was hoping to find stories of those who left Christianity and why they left. Not well-meaning christians continually trying to 'help' me. I appreciate the effort but its really not necessary nor appreciated

 

[TheTrueWay]

Having struggled with this myself, I'd just say take your time, it might be helpful to write down things that encouraged you in the past, not just the issues you're struggling with.
I wish I'd just not worried so much about what other people think of me, but rather focused more on my connection with God as I understood it and then gone from there.

 

[RoseCrystal]

Having struggled with this myself, I'd just say take your time, it might be helpful to write down things that encouraged you in the past, not just the issues you're struggling with.
I wish I'd just not worried so much about what other people think of me, but rather focused more on my connection with God as I understood it and then gone from there.

This is a good idea, thank you

 

[Leet]

My mum left the faith years ago. Her main beef seems to be about church-related abuse, manipulation, end times scare tactics and what she considers anti feminism. She claims to still "believe in God" but anything God-related she mentions seems, well, Christless.
Fwiw, I don't really believe a person has to have been a fake Christian (not truly regenerate) to have fallen away. The bible predicted it would happen.

 

[hluke]

Yes I most certainly did know him.

And again I stress that I was hoping to find stories of those who left Christianity and why they left. Not well-meaning christians continually trying to 'help' me. I appreciate the effort but its really not necessary nor appreciated

OK, I understand.

He calls you and says why though.

Doing a quick YouTube search about some of the questions you may have might help.

And this site is good also

RZIM Connect

Otherwise,

excuse me if I sounded too harsh and 'helped' in vain!!!!!

 

[Junia]

In my experience, lots of people go through something like Christian burnout. This won’t help answer your question or troubles directly (nor could I as a believing Christian,) but it’s definitely a reason for people leaving that I can relate to.

Sometimes rather than living in the good things our faith promises and provides, we get caught up in our own desire to be better law keepers, fears to do with salvation, fears to do with blaspheming the Holy Spirit, fears for the souls of our loved ones or habitual sin we can’t seem to shake. Headspace issues that sincere believers are self harming with.

After an entire life of spiritual, mental and emotional self harm like that exiting the Christian belief is a kind of freedom from fear, the fears they’ve imposed on themselves as believers.

I

Yes I have been there. almost died from it. Suicidal.

I still have my faith but that is because I choose to cling to one belief. Jesus loves me, this I know. for the Bible tells me so. am not sure of anything else but that

used to be unable to accept God could ever love me or forgive me as one as myself as trash but one day I realised I had to choose to have faith in what I couldn't see or feel....and since then God has continued to show me He cares for me and the Holy spirit has been working on my I've

But I have had to let go of a lot of the hellfire and damnation teachings i had been exposed to and the muscular "got to perform to be accepted" style Christianity...I have had to stop worrying and questioning so much and just accept that I don't really know anything at all except what Jesus did on the cross.

I do hope to grow and mature in my faith so I can share with others but at the !moment all I can cope with seems to be clinging onto the finished work of Jesus

 

[Carl Emerson]

I pray and read my bible and studied it A LOT, I h

If that is the case - what happened?

Some life experience shook your faith?

Bitterness set in?

Anger against God?

I had 11 years away from the faith and was dramatically apprehended by Him...

Shook me to the core of my being.

I have no further questions.

 

[TenthAveN]

A few months ago I was struggling with forgiveness (OCD, depression and whatnot). I think I’ve lost that battle because I turned to worldly things such as inappropriate contentography, sexual sin, music that doesn’t honor God, etc. Now it seems as though the end is near, and to seek forgiveness at this point would only be out of fear. I am fearful and uncertain of the future.

 

[RoseCrystal]

If that is the case - what happened?

Some life experience shook your faith?

Bitterness set in?

Anger against God?

I had 11 years away from the faith and was dramatically apprehended by Him...

Shook me to the core of my being.

I have no further questions.

No bad life experience, no bitterness, no anger against god, nothing like that at all. Just logically looking at the entire belief system and thinking 'do I really buy this?'