Why I Left the Church...and Still Am Grateful I Did.

[amilyn]

I think about religion. A lot. Particularly in these days when ultra-conservative religious people are trying to take over my government and legislate their beliefs--beliefs that, in the main, I used to hold, but did not think should be law but that I believed were matters of personal faith and lifestyle--I find myself thinking about religion and

Comments

[makd]

I don't know quite how to respond to the pain you have had inflicted upon you, but I am in awe of your evolution and your journey. :::hugs:::

[amilyn]

This was more a public statement that, no, I don't miss it, no, I'm not sorry, no, I don't think I made the wrong decision. I was writing this in a friend's journal (as she, too, grew up in the churches of Christ), and it got too long for a comment there. I probably should have prefaced it in some way, and may come back and edit it.

And thank you.

[evil_overlord]

I don't think, though, that I ever articulated just how much I *loved* you, even back when you were active with the church. You were the *only* one that never looked down on me for not going to church, and you were quite okay with doing your own church thing when visiting me, and not pressuring me into going with you

[amilyn]

That is so sweet. I always thought my invitation each time was pushing really hard. You were always welcome, and you were so generous in understanding that I was sincere in my invitation, but I believed (on point for the church) that pushing or demanding would likely give offense and be more likely to drive someone away and have them not WANT to talk to me EVER were they ever one day to want to search for a place to worship.

I'm SO glad that I managed to come across as welcoming but accepting of your choices. That was during the time period when I would stand in church and cry (before the total breakdowns...those came later) during the Invitation because I "knew" that all the people I loved most outside my immediate family (and some inside), would not be with me in Heaven...and that seemed so lonely and I wanted "better" for you all. I'm so glad I found the better place WITH YOU OUT HERE. :-)

And, yeah, the churches of Christ, not having a "Marriage for Life and Eternity" thing, are FINE with remarriage after being widowed.

[evil_overlord]

First off....LOVE the icon!! *VBG*

And no, I never thought the invitation was pushing at all. Certainly wasn't the "vibe" I got, just a "you're welcome to come with me if you want to, but it's okay too if you don't!"

I've always believed that God/divine being/whatever name you want to give Deity, if you're being judged at all, it's going to be by your *actions*, not how many times you've gone to church. Who knows, I could be TOTALLY WRONG, but that's my belief and I'm sticking to it. ^_^

Although really? The stereotypical view of Heaven sounds kind of BORING. I mean, who wants to sit around on clouds playing a harp all day? Even *with* all your loved ones, that sounds a bit boring. XD

[imbri6]

We Do Not Know. We Cannot Know. NO ONE KNOWS.

Yup! That's me, too. It's been me for a looong time (late high-school as I recall)

[amilyn]

*hugs*

[labellerose]

I went through a similar process on my journey our of Catholicism (our fathers sound eerily similar btw) I remember kneeling in chapel in my white dress uniform, white gloves, and lace chapel veil ,-8th grade- and thinking "this is bullshit- but I can't let anyone know that I know". Kudos to you for the long way you've come.

[amilyn]

I didn't even come to the "this is not true" realization. I left because I was miserable. I was TERRIFIED to leave, even though miserable, because I was sure I'd go to hell. The two sentences that were given to me as gifts that made it possible for me to let go of the belief that Jesus was the Son of God and without Christianity I'd go to Hell Forever. One comment was from a friend who said, "What if Jesus was a son of God just as we are all sons and daughters of God?"and the other ...I don't remember anymore, but it was something that I found very comforting, possibly about the hubris of assuming we know exactly what God would want, of assuming that the statement in the Bible that it IS FACT AND PERFECT makes for circular reasoning... It was a long journey away