Why do people leave Christianity?

[SeekingAllTruth]

Jesus did that for a specific reason at that specific time .

Beats me.

 

[halbhh]

That's rather common these days for someone to go from Christianity to atheism, but I never would have guessed you had been a Christian. So what was it about the pro-God arguments that you found to be fundamentally flawed and what was it about the pro-atheism arguments that were a lot more convincing?

Yes, I agree, that is not the reason most people leave Christianity. In fact, I think that is rather uncommon because most Christians will defend their God till the bitter end!
By contrast, I still believe in God no matter the crap He hurls at me, but I am not going to defend Him for such.

Because of the numbers of Christians growing so sharply in Asia and Africa, it more than offsets the decline in saying one is Christian in Europe and the U.S., where those that had grown up in churches but didn't really believe, for one group, no longer identify themselves as Christian, though for that particular group the actual believing didn't change.

Year -- Christian Population (nominal)
1800 -- 204 million
1900 -- 558 million
1970 -- 1.229 billion
2000 -- 1.985 billion
2010 -- 2.22 billion
2015 -- 2.37 billion

Christian population growth - Wikipedia

In the chart above I added the world "nominal" -- pointing that among those that self-identify as "Christian" not all believe. Many seem atheist when you ask them questions about what they believe at some age like 12 or 14, but would typically not themselves say they are atheist nor answer that they are atheist until a few years later, creating an illusion that they changed from believing to not believing.

 

[Trailblazer]

Because of the numbers of Christians growing so sharply in Asia and Africa, it more than offsets the decline in saying one is Christian in Europe and the U.S.,

However, that is not going to offset the growth of Islam, which is projected to be larger than Christianity in the last half of the 21st century.

In the next half century or so, Christianity’s long reign as the world’s largest religion may come to an end, according to a just-released report that builds on Pew Research Center’s original population growth projections for religious groups. Indeed, Muslims will grow more than twice as fast as the overall world population between 2015 and 2060 and, in the second half of this century, will likely surpass Christians as the world’s largest religious group.

While the world’s population is projected to grow 32% in the coming decades, the number of Muslims is expected to increase by 70% – from 1.8 billion in 2015 to nearly 3 billion in 2060. In 2015, Muslims made up 24.1% of the global population. Forty-five years later, they are expected to make up more than three-in-ten of the world’s people (31.1%).

Why Muslims are the world’s fastest-growing religious group

 

[halbhh]

However, that is not going to offset the growth of Islam, which is projected to be larger than Christianity in the last half of the 21st century.

In the next half century or so, Christianity’s long reign as the world’s largest religion may come to an end, according to a just-released report that builds on Pew Research Center’s original population growth projections for religious groups. Indeed, Muslims will grow more than twice as fast as the overall world population between 2015 and 2060 and, in the second half of this century, will likely surpass Christians as the world’s largest religious group.

While the world’s population is projected to grow 32% in the coming decades, the number of Muslims is expected to increase by 70% – from 1.8 billion in 2015 to nearly 3 billion in 2060. In 2015, Muslims made up 24.1% of the global population. Forty-five years later, they are expected to make up more than three-in-ten of the world’s people (31.1%).

Why Muslims are the world’s fastest-growing religious group

Yah, Islam has been growing really fast. I don't know about projections 40, 50 years into the future...

But of course such projections are fun to make even if the reality will be less predictable than the model. It will be fun even in just 20 or 30 years (if we are still here!) to see if the model was close.

(Humorous aside: they tried to model Christianity beginning to decline in total numbers starting about 2045, which is kinda like reading chicken entrails.... But, if it turns out just like that, then those that like to say the last days are just around the corner may feel a little let down, as a sharp decline in Christianity is specifically forecast by no less than Christ Himself as a last-days sign... and if instead of decline, it grows like in the graph you linked, they will have to wait a while!)

 

[Trailblazer]

Yah, Islam has been growing really fast. I don't know about projections 40, 50 years into the future...

But of course such projections are fun to make even if the reality will be less predictable than the model. It will be fun even in just 20 or 30 years (if we are still here!) to see if the model was close.

That is true, nobody can predict the future except the prophets, and they were tight-lipped about the future of religions, as far as when or how the religions would grow or decline.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I was on the ex Christian sub and lot of people there seem to have only surface level knowledge of Christianity meaning they were either mislead by false teachers or they never truly understood the doctrine. Why do you think some people, when they don't understand something, they keep digging until it makes sense? While others use it as an excuse to leave the religion altogether?

When I come across something I don't get, it makes me search harder for the truth, it doesn't make me turn my back on God.

I was Christian for 28 years, 22 as an evangelical. I couldn't take the Bible literally or as inerrant anymore, so I got the courage up to leave it for mainstream Christianity. I was scared for almost a week of punishment from Yahweh. Once I did that it was a smooth transition to progressive Christianity, then out completely. The religious right folks turned me off, as they do not tend to be much like Jesus. If the religion doesn't make one more moral than anyone else, why stay in it? I do, however, respect the Christian Left, but I don't know if I could ever go back. Other people have other stories, but I think the gist is that people, even fellow Christians, see Christians as judgemental, bigoted, out of touch with reality and homophobic. That's from the book "UnChristian" by Kinnaman. Very eye opening. I still like the positive saying from Jesus, however. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with leaving Christianity. It's not for everyone.

 

[halbhh]

Christians as judgemental, bigoted, out of touch with reality and homophobic.

Those might be some 'Christians in name only' (some are about traditions or politics instead of what Jesus said to do, when I talked with them) in that they aren't listening to the clear instructions from Christ that instruct us against bigotry or being judgmental, very clear and forceful instructions like in Matthew chapter 7.

 

[Trailblazer]

Those might be some 'Christians in name only' (some are about traditions or politics instead of what Jesus said to do, when I talked with them) in that they aren't listening to the clear instructions from Christ that instruct us against bigotry or being judgmental, very clear and forceful instructions like in Matthew chapter 7.

That's true, but the question remains, how many of these Christians are there vs. the other kind?

 

[Sand Dancer]

I really believe that they want an excuse to ditch God and do whatever they want. And you are right.....so many who ditch the faith have limited knowledge in the first place. They make their decisions on half baked notions and when the answers to their questions are not forthcoming, they quit.



I am like you...if I can't find the answer to my questions, I will keep digging until I do....all the while asking for God's help to solve the puzzle. He has never let me down. I have answers to all my questions by deep personal study and prayer. No one can tell me that there is no God.....he is the most important person in my life who guides and directs every decision I make.

Finding out the big picture was the biggest revelation for me. Everything fits.....everything....the Bible is one story from Genesis to Revelation.

Then why do many leave Christianity for other religions? People are looking for something that is life changing for the better, and something that fits them. We are not robots, we are all different and our needs are different. I'm happy it is where you belong, but many don't agree.

 

[halbhh]

That's true, but the question remains, how many of these Christians are there vs. the other kind?

Well, either ya try to do what Christ says, or not. Sadly, many don't even seem to realize He said something about that....

 

[Trailblazer]

Well, either ya try to do what Christ says, or not. Sadly, many don't even seem to realize He said something about that....

Yes, that's sad.
And if I tell you what else I don't think Christians realize that Jesus said, I would sound judgmental, so I keep that under my hat unless it comes up in a conversation and is relevant to that conversation.

 

[Sand Dancer]

They leave' christianity ' because they are not saved .

Generalize much?

 

[halbhh]

Yes, that's sad.
And if I tell you what else I don't think Christians realize that Jesus said, I would sound judgmental, so I keep that under my hat unless it comes up in a conversation and is relevant to that conversation.

Yes, sometimes I think of Paul's epistles, in which he is exhorting believers, as a kind of model of caring about them without being judgmental. He can say truths about what they are doing as needed at times, to help them change, yet it's not judgementalism flavored (it's not small or dismissive, but heart felt caring about them). It's something else.

 

[Sand Dancer]

No if your saved your still a Christian.

Why does the "sinner's prayer" mean so much when it's not even in the Bible? The Bible says there are many ways to get "saved." Okay, so if we were born again and we leave the religion, we're technically still Christian? It's sticks around like herpes? What?

 

[Sand Dancer]

Those might be some 'Christians in name only' (some are about traditions or politics instead of what Jesus said to do, when I talked with them) in that they aren't listening to the clear instructions from Christ that instruct us against bigotry or being judgmental, very clear and forceful instructions like in Matthew chapter 7.

I agree. When Christianity went from the religion of Jesus to the religion about Jesus, it definitely lost something. Out went following his teachings and in went worshiping him. Oy vey. I guess it's common to make the messenger of a religion a god.

 

[halbhh]

I agree. When Christianity went from the religion of Jesus to the religion about Jesus, it definitely lost something. Out went following his teachings and in went worshiping him. Oy vey. I guess it's common to make the messenger of a religion a god.

When you read fully all he said in the accounts, really listening, something happens. It's more than only learning when that happens. There is a greater thing, deeper, past hearing and doing, tho hearing and doing are essential, like a path to that door.

 

[Trailblazer]

Yes, sometimes I think of Paul's epistles, in which he is exhorting believers, as a kind of model of caring about them without being judgmental. He can say truths about what they are doing as needed at times, to help them change, yet it's not judgementalism flavored (it's not small or dismissive, but heart felt caring about them). It's something else.

I think that Paul had a right to do that but I don't have that right, unless it happens to come up on a conversation.
Then it is fair game for me to point certain things out that Jesus said.

 

[Deeje]

Then why do many leave Christianity for other religions?

Simple...they are not leaving genuine Christianity, but a gigantic fraud masquerading as something Jesus taught, when he never did. Jesus and his apostles foretold that this fake kind of Christianity would surface because humans can never stick to doing as they are told.....they must embellish and enlarge it all until the original is lost. Like a diamond lost in a pile of broken glass.

Fortunately for the faithful, only the spiritually "blind" will be fooled by the counterfeit. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

People are looking for something that is life changing for the better, and something that fits them. We are not robots, we are all different and our needs are different. I'm happy it is where you belong, but many don't agree.

I understand what you are saying, but sadly, most people lose sight of what GOD wants in the hunt for what THEY want.

When searching for a spiritual home, there is no point on settling for something that God disapproves of. We are after all, his creation and he has the Sovereign right to tell us how to live the life he has given us. If we can't follow his rules but are only looking to serve our own interests, then he will allow us all to go on our merry way because he is looking for those who can exercise their free will for the benefit of others, not just themselves.

The truth is there, but we have to have God's invitation to come to his son. (John 6:65) We have to be what God is looking for, not that God has to impress us in order for him to be worshipped by us. He does not need us....we need him if we are to have a future. His purpose will go ahead with us or without us.

 

[Trailblazer]

Simple...they are not leaving genuine Christianity, but a gigantic fraud masquerading as something Jesus taught, when he never did. Jesus and his apostles foretold that this fake kind of Christianity would surface because humans can never stick to doing as they are told.....they must embellish and enlarge it all until the original is lost. Like a diamond lost in a pile of broken glass.

Yep. I could not have said it any better. The original is lost.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Yep. I could not have said it any better. The original is lost.

I know plenty of converts. They leave for different reasons. Some have bitterness because of bad experiences in the church. Some have fond memories that they reminisce about, but can't go back because they simply don't believe what Christianity teaches. Every converts story is their own. I wish you guys would listen to a few more.