Ex-Christians: Why did you leave?

[pastor marty]

If M'star is a man, I apologize. I thoght Venus was the daybreak star ?? And mensa is a club 4 really smart folk. (me not being one)

 

[Aldebaran]

If M'star is a man, I apologize. I thoght Venus was the daybreak star ?? And mensa is a club 4 really smart folk. (me not being one)

Technically, Venus can be seen either in the morning or evening, depending on which side of the sun it's on. Currently, it can be seen in the evening. If it's clear where you are, go out after the sun is down and look in the West. It's the really bright one (a planet, actually). FWIW, the second brightest one a little higher up is Jupiter.

 

[K9_Trainer]

I didn't really "leave"....I think I'd sooner say I was never really there. I accepted the Christian label and I tried for many years....But mainly because of social pressures and social norms. I was put in a Christian school for 5th grade, and then a Catholic school for high school. There were some things I liked about Christianity....Like the fellowship.

But I never could truly bring myself to have faith. I disagreed with a lot of things in the Bible. It just wasn't in my heart. I ended up dating a conservative Christian who finally pushed me over the edge and made me realize that Christianity and the bible wasn't really what I believed in at all. At the very most, even when I was a "Christian", I think I was more of a theist with some biblical influence. I couldn't accept a lot of the Bible. I couldn't make myself believe things that I felt were wrong. I was even skeptical of the idea that there is a personal god who hears preyers and interferes. That's more the part that I was at least trying to have faith in.

I finally accepted I was agnostic-atheist. I don't know if there's a god. And I don't believe there is a way of knowing for sure if there is or isn't. And if there is, I certainly lack believe in a theistic god.

At this point, I've listed my faith as pantheist in my profile. It's honestly the only thing that resonates with me. As a scientist, I see great beauty and power in nature. I believe that if there's anything out there we can call a god, then the universe, the earth, the laws of nature and physics....That must be it.

 

[Aidan K]

Someone suggested I start this thread, so I did!

I understand that there are quite a few people on the forum who used to be Christians but have decided to leave the faith for a variety of reasons. Here's your chance to give your testimony--either about how you came to Christ, or about why you decided to leave, or both.

Put very simply. For over 40 years I had been Roman Catholic, including spending 3 years in the national seminary in Maynooth Ireland, as a very young man. But for most of my life I blindly practised Catholicism without ever examining my faith. When I did begin to examine the faith, it became very clear to me tha Jesus Christ, whilst a unique being, was born of Mary and was therefore a created being which led me to the irrevocable truth that a created being cannot be God. I then realised I was not a Christian

 

[Aldebaran]

Put very simply. For over 40 years I had been Roman Catholic, including spending 3 years in the national seminary in Maynooth Ireland, as a very young man. But for most of my life I blindly practised Catholicism without ever examining my faith. When I did begin to examine the faith, it became very clear to me tha Jesus Christ, whilst a unique being, was born of Mary and was therefore a created being which led me to the irrevocable truth that a created being cannot be God. I then realised I was not a Christian

What about fulfilling prophesy, performing miracles, rising from the dead, etc.? Also, being born from the Virgin Mary was part of the prophesy He fulfilled.

 

[jacknife]

I could no longer reconcile my faith with the reality of the world. So I started searching for evidence and never found it.

 

[nightflight]

Hell.

 

[Masihi]

I was an ex-Christian but returned soon after. I left due to the cares of the world but I returned due to the peace and joy I feel with Christ by my side. As long as I keep on the straight and narrow path and keep Christ focused, I do not struggle with depression, anger, sadness, adultery, etc.
Rather, I have the strength to do great things for my family and community.

 

[Aldebaran]

I was an ex-Christian but returned soon after. I left due to the cares of the world but I returned due to the peace and joy I feel with Christ by my side. As long as I keep on the straight and narrow path and keep Christ focused, I do not struggle with depression, anger, sadness, adultery, etc.
Rather, I have the strength to do great things for my family and community.

Awesome! It's great to hear about those who have returned! I'm glad you are finding the strength you need in Christ.

 

[outsidethecamp]

People will leave the Christian religion if that is all they know. But, it is hard to leave Christ, once your spirit and His have become joined. Christ and the Christian religious system have very little in common. Leave the religious system and keep Christ. It wasn't His fault that man created an abomination called Christian religion. If Christ were physically here today, most Christian churches would reject Him and run Him out of town.

 

[Aldebaran]

People will leave the Christian religion if that is all they know. But, it is hard to leave Christ, once your spirit and His have become joined. Christ and the Christian religious system have very little in common. Leave the religious system and keep Christ. It wasn't His fault that man created an abomination called Christian religion. If Christ were physically here today, most Christian churches would reject Him and run Him out of town.

Sadly, I think you are correct.

 

[ananda]

I left orthodox Christianity because:

1. I could not reconcile many of the traditional orthodox beliefs with the Greek of the NT;
2. I could not reconcile the church(es') hierarchy-based structure with what Jesus allegedly taught (e.g. Mt 23:7-10);
3. I discovered that the birth-death-resurrection story of Jesus was not unique in the history of religions;
4. I could no longer accept Biblical claims on blind faith without personal proof and experience;
5. I could not reconcile many of the internal inconsistencies and contradictions in the common Protestant Bible;
6. I could not choose between any specific Bible because multiple groups claimed various canons;
etc.

 

[Cearbhall]

Here's your chance to give your testimony--either about how you came to Christ, or about why you decided to leave, or both.

I realized that I didn't believe anymore. There was a period of time where I would say I was agnostic and I was still somewhat involved in my parish to get something out of the community aspect of it, but then I decided that I wasn't getting anything from it that I couldn't get from other places.

 

[Aldebaran]

I left orthodox Christianity because:

1. I could not reconcile many of the traditional orthodox beliefs with the Greek of the NT;
2. I could not reconcile the church(es') hierarchy-based structure with what Jesus allegedly taught (e.g. Mt 23:7-10);
3. I discovered that the birth-death-resurrection story of Jesus was not unique in the history of religions;
4. I could no longer accept Biblical claims on blind faith without personal proof and experience;
5. I could not reconcile many of the internal inconsistencies and contradictions in the common Protestant Bible;
6. I could not choose between any specific Bible because multiple groups claimed various canons;
etc.

I see a lot of "I could not" phrases here. But all we're really asked to do is to place our faith in Christ for our salvation and then trust Him to do what He can do.

 

[Cearbhall]

I see a lot of "I could not" phrases here. But all we're really asked to do is to place our faith in Christ for our salvation and then trust Him to do what He can do.

That's probably why Ananda left orthodox Christianity and not Christianity as a whole.

 

[ananda]

I see a lot of "I could not" phrases here. But all we're really asked to do is to place our faith in Christ for our salvation and then trust Him to do what He can do.

Asked by whom? We are also called to have faith in other deities, should I have faith in them as well? Aren't many of the problems I listed associated with the foundation of a faith? .. etc. etc. ...

 

[ananda]

That's probably why Ananda left orthodox Christianity and not Christianity as a whole.

I accept some of the teachings attributed to Jesus, and I believe faithfulness to those teachings are important. So, yes, you are correct, I left orthodoxy.

 

[Aldebaran]

Asked by whom? We are also called to have faith in other deities, should I have faith in them as well? .. etc. etc. ...

I'm not familiar with the other deities, but I think that going with the only begotten Son of God is a safe bet!

 

[Cearbhall]

I'm not familiar with the other deities, but I think that going with the only begotten Son of God is a safe bet!

It's a safe bet if you've already come to the conclusion that the Abrahamic God is the one and only deity. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense.

 

[Aldebaran]

It's a safe bet if you've already come to the conclusion that the Abrahamic God is the one and only deity. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense.

Isaiah 45:5
"I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God."

Sounds straightforward enough to me.