Leaving Your Religion

[Rival]

What would make you leave your faith? Be it something like a historical finding, an irreconcilable piece of scripture with something else etc.

Has anything made you leave only for you to return to it with a renewed perspective? Have you changed denominations? Have you ever switched denominations only to return to your old one?

 

[Eddi]

What would make you leave your faith? Be it something like a historical finding, an irreconcilable piece of scripture with something else etc.

The bones of Jesus

 

[Spirit of Light]

What would make you leave your faith? Be it something like a historical finding, an irreconcilable piece of scripture with something else etc.

Has anything made you leave only for you to return to it with a renewed perspective? Have you changed denominations? Have you ever switched denominations only to return to your old one?

For me, when I left Buddhism for Sufism, that was a process through actually a few other religious teachings before I ended up as a Sufi
My reason for leaving Buddhism behind was not that it was becoming wrong or bad to me, but that I was not in the right place in life, and I could not realize deeper truth from the teaching. And the study for finding the path that feels right to me was done at that time around a year or so I would say.

I has no intention to return to Buddhism and it did not happen

 

[Secret Chief]

For me, when I left Buddhism for Sufism, that was a process through actually a few other religious teachings before I ended up as a Sufi
My reason for leaving Buddhism behind was not that it was becoming wrong or bad to me, but that I was not in the right place in life, and I could not realize deeper truth from the teaching. And the study for finding the path that feels right to me was done at that time around a year or so I would say.

I has no intention to return to Buddhism and it did not happen

Apostate!

 

[Psalm23]

What would make you leave your faith? Be it something like a historical finding, an irreconcilable piece of scripture with something else etc.

Has anything made you leave only for you to return to it with a renewed perspective? Have you changed denominations? Have you ever switched denominations only to return to your old one?

I was a part of a group that believed in the practice of speaking in tongues. Used to practice it myself for a number of years. At some point I quit because I wasn’t sure what I was saying. It was a concern and I had prayed about it but didn’t feel peace to continue that practice of speaking in tongues. I never left my own religion. I have shifted in some ways from my conservative Christian upbringing.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I’ve been baptised and confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church, and as far as I know that’s pretty much irreversible. So I’m in for life (unless the Pope excommunicates me), but that doesn’t stop me exploring other avenues. The word catholic means all-embracing, after all…

 

[halbhh]

What would make you leave your faith? Be it something like a historical finding, an irreconcilable piece of scripture with something else etc.

Has anything made you leave only for you to return to it with a renewed perspective? Have you changed denominations? Have you ever switched denominations only to return to your old one?

In order to stop having faith that the sun shines light, I'd need a lot of proof it doesn't shine light, already having so much proof it does.

It would have to go out, itself, and stop shining, basically.

That would not go well for life on Earth of course.

It's the same for believing in the Words of Christ. I have a lot of proof they are correct.

Frankly, unless enough people do "love your neighbor", humanity would descend into greater violence in short order.

Is that a 'faith' you'd really like to cease?....

Perhaps not, if you like living in peace with the prospect for a long life and some enjoyment of the same.

 

[Brickjectivity]

What would make you leave your faith? Be it something like a historical finding, an irreconcilable piece of scripture with something else etc.

Almost anything would make me leave my faith, because I'm a person. Personally I think all people are this way. We're like three-year-olds. If something doesn't go right then we're mad at the world.

I'm not trying to disrespect three-year-olds. Sometimes they have real problems, but sometimes they get mad when the cup is on the wrong side of their plate or their shoe comes untied.

Has anything made you leave only for you to return to it with a renewed perspective? Have you changed denominations? Have you ever switched denominations only to return to your old one?

What drove me through many changes was the lesson that the entire world needed to be saved. If it needed to be saved and two thousand years had passed then what was preventing it from being saved? I couldn't accept the way things worked, because I saw two thousand years of backsliding. I saw failure in myself but also somehow in churches. My first impulse was that it must be corrupt doctrines, and off I went to find out about those. Like a dummy I felt it was on me to take responsibility to backtrack to where things went off the rails. I should have realized that I was nowhere near the kind of person it would have taken to fix things. I did learn a lot though.

Have you ever seen the film Time Bandits? I'm like those bandits wandering around through holes in time, not truly knowing what is going on just focused on my tiny venture. I've got the freaking map of all time and am using it for some ludicrous tiny thing that is so far beyond me.

 

[The Hammer]

May respond later.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I studied with JW for a long, long time. Problematic as I find JW aside my true reason for leaving was I didn't and still don't believe in gods. Trying to make myself believe was just not being true to myself and trying to put on a face to keep the community I grew relationships with.

I doubt I will ever return to that community, but if I did that irreconcilable difference would have to be changed first: I don't think the universe needs gods to exist.

 

[Twilight Hue]

What would make you leave your faith? Be it something like a historical finding, an irreconcilable piece of scripture with something else etc.

Has anything made you leave only for you to return to it with a renewed perspective? Have you changed denominations? Have you ever switched denominations only to return to your old one?

Christianity dosent reflect reality. That's why I left.

 

[JustGeorge]

Even if I left my religion, I don't think I could ever lose my faith.

I've switched paths a few times. Initially, I left Christianity because I was acknowledging that I was not monotheistic, and the idea of being 'saved' was not believable to me. I did not believe in what mainstream Christianity teaches about the afterlife. I allowed myself to acknowledge my suppressed belief in reincarnation.

I left Paganism not so much because there was any failing in it, but because my mindset was much more Eastern bent. Also, I felt a very strong bond with the Hindu deities, and I can say Krishna pulled me into it.

But, even during this, I would say it was only my religion that changed. My faith stayed the same. At a few different points, I tried to talk myself into atheism, but it felt as ridiculous to me as I'm sure theism feels for atheists.

Without my faith, I wouldn't be me anymore.

 

[Windwalker]

I was a part of a group that believed in the practice of speaking in tongues. Used to practice it myself for a number of years. At some point I quit because I wasn’t sure what I was saying. It was a concern and I had prayed about it but didn’t feel peace to continue that practice of speaking in tongues. I never left my own religion. I have shifted in some ways from my conservative Christian upbringing.

Was it a Pentecostal denomination? Did they teach you needed to speak in tongues as evidence you had the Holy Spirit?

 

[sun rise]

What would make you leave your faith?

At this point, nothing that I can conceive of. Using a poker game as an analogy, there came a time when I put the "deed to the farm" into the pot because of my certainty.

 

[JustGeorge]

At this point, nothing that I can conceive of. Using a poker game as an analogy, there came a time when I put the "deed to the farm" into the pot because of my certainty.

I don't play poker(though I really think I oughta). Can you explain what this means?

 

[SalixIncendium]

What would make you leave your faith?

Death of the body/mind.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I’ve been baptised and confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church, and as far as I know that’s pretty much irreversible.

I reversed it.

 

[VoidCat]

Oh boy. Christianity wasn't healthy for me. Too much guilt

 

[Orbit]

I left Christianity as a result of seeking the truth. I studied the Bible, and found it wanting.

 

[Trailblazer]

What would make you leave your faith?

The only thing that would make me leave is if I found out that my religion is not true.

If that ever happened I would not believe in God anymore. I would be an agnostic because there is no other religion I could ever believe in since I abhor exclusivity.