Walking Away From Faith

[cyranothe2nd]

 People ask me why I left the faith I grew up in. It’s a long story, but I will try to condense it down as much as I can.

Comments

[skittish_derby]

I really love the internet. I know I have read your story before, in glimpses over the last few years, but it is still shocking to me how similar our stories are. It is amazing the timing of this too, over the last few weeks I have been thinking back on my journey, wondering if I still feel the same way about things. I have become a lot more.. um.. forgiving of people and their shortcomings in the last few years. I have been holding people to a more human standard, a more honest standard. In my new circle of friends, all of us are non-believers (which is amazing too, because I really only knew Zac and my internet friends as atheists before), and one of them reminds me a bit of me from a few years ago, calling believers kind of stupid and believing in absolutes about the world around us.. which is fine, I am not going to tell her what to believe-- I am realizing how calmer I feel to not get riled up about the little details. The big picture still riles me up, but the little errors that mean almost nothing aren't enough to send me

[cyranothe2nd]

No, it's great! I feel the same way--I think the anger is something a lot of people feel when they first leave faith, but it can't be a stopping place. Ultimately, you have to get past it and I'm glad I have and that you have.

[fatpie42]

Maybe I shouldn't be playing devil's (or um God's?) advocate here, but what do you say to those Christians who don't share some of the more negative points?

What do you say to those Christians who say God loves gay people and that it's completely wrong to say that God thinks their loving relationships are sinful?

What do you say those Christians who say that naturally you can be good without God, but that with God's support you can find inner peace and live a more fulfilling life?

Just curious. Feel free to respond with "probably the exact same thing you'd say Fatpie" if you like. ;)

[catalenamara]

I left the church, but my brother didn't. He's the music director at a local Episcopalian church. He has been married to his life partner for five years now, and their anniversary is announced and celebrated during services, like those of heterosexual people. The
Episcopalian Diocese of Los Angeles elevated a lesbian bishop a few years ago. Westoboro protested - of course - but they had so many counterprotestors, including Marines from a local base, that they were able to entirely block the view of the Westboro protestors from anyone passing on the street.

[cyranothe2nd]

Yeah, the Episcopal church is pretty rad.

[cyranothe2nd]

Well, I would want to know what their conception of god is and why they think it is necessary or adds anything to the world.

[catalenamara]

I'm an agnostic (in that I believe there's something larger than us out there, but that it's not necessarily connected/concerned with human affairs

[fatpie42]

Isn't that more the definition of "deist" rather than "agnostic"? (Not saying you can't be agnostic too, of course. But a deist is someone who believes, like Aristotle, that God isn't interested in human affairs. An agnostic is simply someone who thinks we cannot really knew whether a God exists or not

[sacredclay]

I found this to be fascinating, because you've explained one person's path to atheism, which I've always wondered why they believe in no great being or energy. My first response is to scream out to you, "Yes, there is a center of light for all. It's not male or female and it's both and neither and so much more!" It's like it disturbs people to meet people who have no beliefs. But this isn't about trying to convert you, as I'm metaphysical, and believe that everyone must follow the choices they make. So it's more about respecting your choice, as well as accepting you as you are. Thank you for posting this. It's good to know of other perspectives. MWUAH!