I am no longer a *blank* because *blank*

[JustGeorge]

I moved out of the city and into a suburb, and nobody from the Chalice Circle group was willing to drive me to the church when there was over a foot of snow outside and getting to it by bus takes over an hour. As well, nobody from that group wanted to ever talk about spirituality, it just seemed like a bunch of awkward strangers talking about their awkward lives together. I wrote an email saying some bitter things about the religion and was informed that I was no longer welcomed to the church for a year. As well, I used to be part of the UU Discord server, but I said some politically conservative things there and made people feel uncomfortable to be in my presence. So they banned me from that server for six months.

I've been to three Unitarian churches, all around Milwaukee, and never quite often connection with the people who follow it. Unitarians are notorious for not wanting to actually talk about theology or spirituality. Once I joined a YANKS group, and while it wasn't as awkward as the Chalice Circle it felt in many ways a social gathering with no formal connection to an actual religion. Nobody wanted to talk about God or spirituality. On the Discord server I made a lot of people feel uncomfortable by saying that I am a Republican and vote for conservatives, and a lot of backbiting happened around that.

Even though the time has lapsed and I could rejoin the UU Discord server or go back to the UU church, if I take the bus again, I choose not to because in many ways I feel like the Unitarians don't represent who I am. I am as for the freedom from doctoral creeds as they are, but there's a lot more to being a UU than their creedless system and it's almost a given that if you are a UU that you are politically left and I prefer to keep religion out of politics. So, even though they've allowed me to come back, I've ultimately rejected them. Every group they had was in some way a left-wing cause and I couldn't really connect with most of them in deep and meaningful ways, given the fact that nobody in the Unitarian church actually wants to talk about the big questions or what that means to them.

I embraced them at one point, they rejected me, and so now I reject them. In a few generations there will be no more UUs because most Unitarians themselves don't really like the idea of religion.

I'm not surprised. I had some really unfavorable experiences with our local one as well. It sounds as if we shared some similar experiences.

We didn't get kicked out, but realized after some time that it was only accepting of a certain 'type' of person.

We were also deeply disappointed by lack of spirituality, or even acceptance of spirituality, amongst the majority of the congregation.

 

[Koldo]

I've seen a couple of people (not necessarily here) that accuse the religious as using their religion as a crutch. I know I most certainly do, and see nothing wrong with that.

I mean... I expect healthy grown up adults to don't need a crutch... The fact someone needs it means something is wrong.

 

[Exaltist Ethan]

I'm not surprised. I had some really unfavorable experiences with our local one as well. It sounds as if we shared some similar experiences.

We didn't get kicked out, but realized after some time that it was only accepting of a certain 'type' of person.

We were also deeply disappointed by lack of spirituality, or even acceptance of spirituality, amongst the majority of the congregation.

I found both UUism and the Baha'i Faith from a list of NRMs (new religious movements) on Wikipedia when I was 19 years old. They both sounded too good to be true. But you're right - they both sound great when you describe both of them but they only really accept certain types of people. In the UUs case it's typically the atheist, humanist, progressive crowd, and for the Baha'is it's the "I love everybody and everything" kind of crowd. I quickly realized from trying to embrace both of them that I wasn't really like either group.

The Baha'is are specifically interesting, because when I was trying to convert to that religion, my personality really ended up being more like that crowd. I ended up being much more positive and spiritually outgoing with my Christian friends and we would often read scripture or talk about theology together. When my Christian friend told me that the Baha'i Faith was making me more Christian, something in me snapped and I felt like I was being betrayed not only by my friends but by my faith as well. I clearly remember the girl who interviewed me about the Baha'i Faith for me to tell other people that I was a Christian if Christian friends ask what religion I am.

And the problem is, I do lean right-wing on some issues, but the right-wing has only embraced Christianity so far. All the right-wing atheists are typically Libertarians, and die-hard Libertarians are absolutely insane. I don't consider myself an atheist like most of them, and I'm not a Christian like most right-wingers. Syntheism tends to favor left-wing, I mean, if you believe that "God is change" and believe conservatives are against change, then they must be against God, right? That's not really how I see it however.

/off-topic: The conservatives in my state are trying to push for school vouchers. That's a significant change for those who have children and want to raise them in a decent school environment. Ron Johnson himself pushed for "right-to-try" legislation, making it legal to try experimental drugs on people with those who have terminal illnesses. I find that the UUs are against both of those ideas - not because they want more change, but because they don't want the change happening from Republican lawmakers.

But anyways, every time I tried to fit into a mold of a religion I've never really been able to belong. Theologically I am Syntheist, but politically I am not syntheist. As I already said, I like to separate my politics and religion. They are two ideas that should be separate. I love talking about the ways in which humans are using nature to help create God-like technology and utilities, that to me is where my spirituality lies. People who use spirituality as a means to say that things will never change, like being in Heaven for eternity, to me are less connected with reality and the natural world than people who have learned to accept naturalism and the scientific consensus.

The more I learn and accept reality for what it is, the more divine as a person I become. If the UUs were smart enough to adopt post-left positions like this, I would attempt to pay more attention to their religion. But as far as I know, they think naturalism is synonymous with atheism when it isn't.

I'm afraid that no matter where I go I will never find a home for my spiritual values.

 

[CharmingOwl]

I am no longer atheist because I no longer feel so strongly about secularism due to my ideology. Yes it's a contradiction in my political sphere to be religious but I don't really care.

Before I practiced Christianity but eh. I feel like Christianity for me was more of a social function than something personal. I guess if I didn't feel so strongly I would just pretend to know about Christianity like everyone else and never think about it. I wouldn't even know what gods/deities are worshipped in that religion but I guess I would identify as it.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Is it fair for one to judge a religion based on it's adherents?

Absolutely.

 

[We Never Know]

This thread is open to everyone. From a religious perspective, what are you not anymore, and why?

I'll start.

I am no longer a Christian because I was not taught to critically think on the matter and decide for myself. Instead, I was told from birth that Jesus is God and the Bible is the literal truth. For that reason, I stepped back from my Christianity. This allows myself time to critically think on the matter, and truly decide for myself. Until then, I am rather unaffiliated, with Eastern leanings.

You can answer the flip side of this question.

I am now a *blank* because *blank*.

However, this is a response that I cannot give myself.

I am no longer there because I am here

 

[JustGeorge]

I found both UUism and the Baha'i Faith from a list of NRMs (new religious movements) on Wikipedia when I was 19 years old. They both sounded too good to be true. But you're right - they both sound great when you describe both of them but they only really accept certain types of people. In the UUs case it's typically the atheist, humanist, progressive crowd, and for the Baha'is it's the "I love everybody and everything" kind of crowd. I quickly realized from trying to embrace both of them that I wasn't really like either group.

The Baha'is are specifically interesting, because when I was trying to convert to that religion, my personality really ended up being more like that crowd. I ended up being much more positive and spiritually outgoing with my Christian friends and we would often read scripture or talk about theology together. When my Christian friend told me that the Baha'i Faith was making me more Christian, something in me snapped and I felt like I was being betrayed not only by my friends but by my faith as well. I clearly remember the girl who interviewed me about the Baha'i Faith for me to tell other people that I was a Christian if Christian friends ask what religion I am.

And the problem is, I do lean right-wing on some issues, but the right-wing has only embraced Christianity so far. All the right-wing atheists are typically Libertarians, and die-hard Libertarians are absolutely insane. I don't consider myself an atheist like most of them, and I'm not a Christian like most right-wingers. Syntheism tends to favor left-wing, I mean, if you believe that "God is change" and believe conservatives are against change, then they must be against God, right? That's not really how I see it however.

/off-topic: The conservatives in my state are trying to push for school vouchers. That's a significant change for those who have children and want to raise them in a decent school environment. Ron Johnson himself pushed for "right-to-try" legislation, making it legal to try experimental drugs on people with those who have terminal illnesses. I find that the UUs are against both of those ideas - not because they want more change, but because they don't want the change happening from Republican lawmakers.

But anyways, every time I tried to fit into a mold of a religion I've never really been able to belong. Theologically I am Syntheist, but politically I am not syntheist. As I already said, I like to separate my politics and religion. They are two ideas that should be separate. I love talking about the ways in which humans are using nature to help create God-like technology and utilities, that to me is where my spirituality lies. People who use spirituality as a means to say that things will never change, like being in Heaven for eternity, to me are less connected with reality and the natural world than people who have learned to accept naturalism and the scientific consensus.

The more I learn and accept reality for what it is, the more divine as a person I become. If the UUs were smart enough to adopt post-left positions like this, I would attempt to pay more attention to their religion. But as far as I know, they think naturalism is synonymous with atheism when it isn't.

I'm afraid that no matter where I go I will never find a home for my spiritual values.

I'm a middle grounder, and I learned quickly in the UU church I had better keep anything that wasn't endorsed by the Democratic party to myself.

My state's pushing for the school voucher thing, too. It doesn't look like it will pass(which makes me happy). But, they have now made it so you can open enroll out of a district(any district). I do like that. My son had to endure getting punched every time he used the urinal(eventually having a teacher guard the door) at a horrible school. He wouldn't be approved for open enroll because of demographics... Thankfully, he's at a better school now and is safe, and my younger son is homeschooled(and the youngest is a toddler, who I plan on homeschooling).

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I'm no longer an atheist because God come into my life and I found a path which has answers to my questions.

What were the questions? What were the answers?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I am no longer a heretic because I now realize just how correct I am about religion, and how religion proves that by never being able to prove me wrong except by hurling anathemas.

 

[loverofhumanity]

I add religions, I don't subtract them.

I am a close friend towards the Baha'is and the Unitarian Universalists, even if the UUs have rejected me. And I will always theologically be involved in syntheism and the syntheistic religions. If anything I might have rejected the Baha'i Faith because my friend compared it closely to Christianity, but I still very much appreciate that religion and what they mean for humanity, even if they aren't helping us unify the way we should.

Edit: I am a syntheist now because of my epiphany. I am part of Earthseed because I realize that Earthseed is the most applicable religion for syntheist theology. I had my epiphany because I needed an answer and that answer has satisfied me for the last 19 years of my life. I highly doubt I'll ever change my religion again, but if I find another mainstream religion that is compatible or is itself syntheistic I could adapt it. Whether the Baha'i Faith is compatible with is up for debate.

Many Unitarian Universalists are pre-syntheist, meaning, they understand parts of it, but haven't made the full leap into it. Because of my background and my politics, the UUs have mostly rejected me. Even though he probably doesn't know what it means I could consider UU-Dallas minister Aaron White to be a syntheist, his sermons are full of syntheism.

Glad to meet you. I don’t know anything about Earthseed. Maybe you can direct me to a website or/and books or literature I can read. I believe we are surrounded by truth and within ourselves and that we can all learn something from one another.

I mainly accept Baha’i because of its world embracing vision of the oneness of all humanity. It means I can accept and love all people. I remember visiting a sect and asked them why they weren’t united with the other sect down the street and they replied that the other sect were from the devil. And the other sect said the same. But to me they are all people so why this silly partitioning? So I can accept all truth and it’s liberating because people are all basically good.

Anyway nice to meet you.

 

[Audie]

I am no longer without a god
because someone gave me a kitchen
god statue.
He is not much of a gift, he is mean, and
tattle-tells.
But I like him anyway.

 

[Quintessence]

I'm no longer a Catholic because my folks made the mistake of making a child with attention-deficit disorder try to sit still and do nothing for an hour and a half every Sunday.

 

[DNB]

This thread is open to everyone. From a religious perspective, what are you not anymore, and why?

I'll start.

I am no longer a Christian because I was not taught to critically think on the matter and decide for myself. Instead, I was told from birth that Jesus is God and the Bible is the literal truth. For that reason, I stepped back from my Christianity. This allows myself time to critically think on the matter, and truly decide for myself. Until then, I am rather unaffiliated, with Eastern leanings.

You can answer the flip side of this question.

I am now a *blank* because *blank*.

However, this is a response that I cannot give myself.

I am no longer a oblivious to the workings of the world and the realms that either do, or don't exist. I am a Christian as I became enlightened to man's sin, and the immeasurable mercy of God.
I am a Christian for the sole reason that I believe that all other religion and philosophies are false, and that no one comes to God or receives salvation without confessing Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
I am a Christian because I vehemently denounce and repudiate the doctrine of the trinity, and any form of deifying Christ or anyone other than God the Father, who is the sole divine being in the entire universe.

 

[DNB]

I am no longer without a god
because someone gave me a kitchen
god statue.
He is not much of a gift, he is mean, and
tattle-tells.
But I like him anyway.

So, you like those that are mean and that tattle-tale?
Why, are these characteristics that you either embody or endorse yourself?
Someone could not have given you a less disruptive and irascible statue, or would that have disinterested or offended you?

 

[Samael_Khan]

This thread is open to everyone. From a religious perspective, what are you not anymore, and why?

I'll start.

I am no longer a Christian because I was not taught to critically think on the matter and decide for myself. Instead, I was told from birth that Jesus is God and the Bible is the literal truth. For that reason, I stepped back from my Christianity. This allows myself time to critically think on the matter, and truly decide for myself. Until then, I am rather unaffiliated, with Eastern leanings.

You can answer the flip side of this question.

I am now a *blank* because *blank*.

However, this is a response that I cannot give myself.

I am no longer a Jehovah's Witness because I studied the Bible.

I am no longer Christian because I no longer have a reason to believe it is literally true.

I am no longer Atheist because it isn't my authentic worldview..

 

[DNB]

I moved out of the city and into a suburb, and nobody from the Chalice Circle group was willing to drive me to the church when there was over a foot of snow outside and getting to it by bus takes over an hour. As well, nobody from that group wanted to ever talk about spirituality, it just seemed like a bunch of awkward strangers talking about their awkward lives together. I wrote an email saying some bitter things about the religion and was informed that I was no longer welcomed to the church for a year. As well, I used to be part of the UU Discord server, but I said some politically conservative things there and made people feel uncomfortable to be in my presence. So they banned me from that server for six months.

I've been to three Unitarian churches, all around Milwaukee, and never quite often connection with the people who follow it. Unitarians are notorious for not wanting to actually talk about theology or spirituality. Once I joined a YANKS group, and while it wasn't as awkward as the Chalice Circle it felt in many ways a social gathering with no formal connection to an actual religion. Nobody wanted to talk about God or spirituality. On the Discord server I made a lot of people feel uncomfortable by saying that I am a Republican and vote for conservatives, and a lot of backbiting happened around that.

Even though the time has lapsed and I could rejoin the UU Discord server or go back to the UU church, if I take the bus again, I choose not to because in many ways I feel like the Unitarians don't represent who I am. I am as for the freedom from doctoral creeds as they are, but there's a lot more to being a UU than their creedless system and it's almost a given that if you are a UU that you are politically left and I prefer to keep religion out of politics. So, even though they've allowed me to come back, I've ultimately rejected them. Every group they had was in some way a left-wing cause and I couldn't really connect with most of them in deep and meaningful ways, given the fact that nobody in the Unitarian church actually wants to talk about the big questions or what that means to them.

I embraced them at one point, they rejected me, and so now I reject them. In a few generations there will be no more UUs because most Unitarians themselves don't really like the idea of religion.

Does that mean that you now renounce Christ altogether?
I'm a unitarian, but only in the fact that I believe that solely the Father is God - I use it to simply explain my Christological views. Outside of that, I'm entirely non-denominational.
Don't let that lame or pseudo church discourage your beliefs, you have an extremely good start by rejecting the trinity or modalism. Unless, of course, you weren't there for the tenets of the UU Church, but for other reasons? Universalism, I believe, is heretical, so I may suggest that you stay away from that aspect of their theology.

I can barely stand church people because, like you said, the religious discussions are either sparse or superficial, or self-righteous.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I'm no longer a Catholic because my folks made the mistake of making a child with attention-deficit disorder try to sit still and do nothing for an hour and a half every Sunday.

Kinda a mistake even with a child WITHOUT attention deficit disorder, honestly.

 

[Sedim Haba]

I am no longer Christian because of Christians

I am no longer Jewish, Xian, etc. because of Jews, Xians, Etc.

 

[Audie]

So, you like those that are mean and that tattle-tale?
Why, are these characteristics that you either embody or endorse yourself?
Someone could not have given you a less disruptive and irascible statue, or would that have disinterested or offended you?

Neither nor though it only speaks of yourself
that you choose or ask such questions.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I mean... I expect healthy grown up adults to don't need a crutch... The fact someone needs it means something is wrong.

We all need something to lean on. Maybe your crutch is the erroneous conviction that you don't need one.