Why did you leave your religion of birth?

Post Reply New Topic

The preacher was talking about how to pray and what to pray for. It occurred to me that if God is good and knows everything, there isn't much point in praying. Then I realized nothing else in Christianity made much sense either.

I never had a religion. I was baptized as an infant at the behest of my grandmother, but I was left to figure stuff out as I grew.

Because I was born into multiple.

One is very excluding, disrespectful, judgemental and not accepting of other religions - and hell, just of people in general (y'all know which religion I am talking about here - Catholicism anyone? ).
The other two are very including, non judgmental and accepting of other religions and humanity in general - I am much more comfortable with them as a result (as much as I will ever be comfortable with a religion).

Things were further complicated by learning about and participating even more religions while growing up - as a result of the places I lived or visited, some by choice, others from force, a couple just from curiosity. Some fit into that first category, but most fit into the second.

I think you can understand how after all of that - one would turn out agnostic and just not give a damn.

Last edited by Kjas on 01 Mar 2013, 8:37 am, edited 3 times in total.

I was raised Catholic. Like puddingmouse, I don't think I really need to elaborate or that.

When it came to the point where I finally had a choice in weather or not to go, I was able to take the time to clobber my religious upbringing to death with the stern bludgeon of Logic.

Of course it didn't help that the churches were always clinging to that silly protestant notion of the rapture. What really helped me to dust off Christanity once and for all was Cosmos, to help me realize that yes, everything we know and are, might be an accident. And to embrace the unknown with the hope of learning it.

I left Catholicism not as a clean break, but as a mutual and amicable separation. I was always the most ardent Catholic in my family, and considered joining the priesthood for some time. I think my drift began in college. My local priest was always rather liberal, and while a man of faith, was very tolerant of many behaviors (and, befitting the stereotype, one of those priests who loved to have a good time). I started exploring other churches when I moved, and realized just how strict they were. I also noticed that, outside of my home town, many Catholics were very puritanical. So I stopped going. I got into Zen Buddhism for mental health reasons.

I have heard anecdotes that the Catholic Church in the U.S, at least among non-immigrant communities, is both declining and becoming more conservative. That disturbs me. Despite this, I bear no ill will towards Catholicism. In fact, I still see her as my mother. Like any mother, we have disagreements, but we still love each other. I am not Catholic by any means, and I do not believe in God anymore. But I would not be who I am today if it were not for Catholicism, and the Catholic Church does far more good than harm.

Seeing suffering, including family deaths as a child.
I decided that the deity in charge must be a cruel horror, then logic as I grew older revealed the inconsistencies and lack of proof in religion.
I was relieved to realise I was not being stalked by an invisible being who could cause agony at a whim.

I kind of feel the same way. Although I'm no longer religious and consider myself agnostic, leaning towards atheist, I still feel that my moral compass has been formed by my Catholic upbringing. I have some beliefs which I would not discuss on WP, or anywhere for that matter (as I know how strongly some people feel about such matters), which others might see as being a religious stance. As I'm not religious, it can't be that at all, it's definitely my moral position or a matter of conscience (which is internal and not about upsetting God). My Catholic education is responsible for guiding me in this way, but my actions are not reliant on God watching my every move, not these days anyway.

The reason I stopped going to Mass initially was because of hypocrisy. I felt really uncomfortabe being told that I was a sinner, whilst the prients never mentioned the issues that the church was facing, due to sinners in their own ranks (who had much more damning sins than any I could be accused of). I never fell out with the church then nor God. To be frank, I was so pious, at the time, that it was my belief in God that turned me away. It was a few years later before I became agnostic.

I haven't really left my religion of birth(at least not yet). I have grown very distant from it though. I was raised Christian reformed. I grew distant from it because of all the logical contradictions.

My folks didn't have a specific religion when I was born, so I had no specific religion to leave.

They're all pretty much the same ... a lot of rules ... a lot of talking ... a lot of repressed sexuality being sated in the back rooms ...

Well, I've never actually believed in God ( I remember REALLY making an effort to get in touch with him/her when I was 4 and falling asleep at the altar) but also, the sect of my birth (I was raised Pentecostal) was pretty restrictive for women. The church I grew up in said we (women) weren't supposed to cut our hair or wear makeup or pants (aka trousers for the British among us). That the man was the head of the household (which I actually don't have a problem with, but I'm unfortunately drawn to, and attractive to, completely feckless men.) and that, in order to be truly saved, one needed to show a sign. Like speaking in tongues. I'm not good at that. Apparently, God hasn't chosen me.
It's fine. Whatever. I'm a non-practicing Methodist now.

Last edited by cozysweater on 04 Mar 2013, 1:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

I assume what you actually mean is the religion of your parents. Everyone is born an atheist since you need language to have any comprehension of religion.

I think was around junior high where I started to realize that the stories in sunday school were just made up.

Humans have made up thousands of gods and there isn't evidence for any of them.

No one is born into a religion - one can be raised within a religion followed by their parents, but even then it is not our religion until you are old enough to comprehend he idea of religion in order to make-up your own mind about your own beliefs.

My parents were Church Of England and I was baptised as a baby, but I've been Pagan for as long as I was able to comprehend the idea...long before I even understood the nature of belief or had the terminology to explain my beliefs. Christianity simply never made sense to me - worshipping a random guy who lived a long time ago as God, the same God who created everything on Earth? The idea that if we don't love this dude we'll all go to hell? Nope, no sense what-so-ever.

Eternal torment and the belief animals don't have souls.

Didn't have a birth religion.

Left to make up my own mind (my mother's words).

I grew up Catholic. When I was little, I tried very hard to reconcile Genesis with dinosaurs. I pretty much believed in both science and God. I never really understood the importance of the Jesus dying for our sins thing. When I got a bit older, I believed in god more after reading the Left Behind series about Revelation. But my belief was majorly fear-based (though I did get the Jesus thing, finally).

I always find it funny when Christians say atheism is based on hate because my reasons for becoming an atheist are all based on love. My love of dinosaurs: them I always believed in (plus all the physical evidence for their existence). My love of animals: I value them as (and often more than) humans. And finally, my understanding of love: I couldn't understand why a loving god would punish gay people for loving each other. I was just coming to understand that I was bisexual at the time, and the gay-bashing at church is what made my decision final. I took down the cross in my room and never put it back up.