Why did YOU leave The Church?

[Apollos]

Goodness, can you share with us the reasons you returned?
Peace, Carlan

Short version: Grew up Catholic in the '70s, asked for bread, received a handful of gravel, like most of my cohort. Intrigued by what an Assemblies of God TV preacher had to say about Jesus and such. Got involved in an Evangelical church in the Swedish Covenant tradition while simultaneously involved in a Baptist-oriented campus ministry.

Came across many Catholics in door-to-door evangelism. Owed it to them and to myself to brush up on actual Catholic teaching from authoritative primary sources. Acquired a copy of the Council of Trent, was astonished (and angered) that its doctrine on justification was substantially identical with my own. Then came across pro-Catholic anti-Protestant apologetics (Keating, Rumble & Carty), realized I had been lied to by Catholic catechists and by Protestants. Had a symbolic dream in which I saw myself lying on a bed made from the upraised hands of thousands of bishops (not all of whom were paying attention or actually had their hands up). Then made one of those confessions that goes “Bless me Father, it’s been ***X years ***since my last confession…”

 

[cheese_sdc]

So why are you on this site? What is it that you’re looking for?

Habit. I started coming here when I was Catholic, and kept coming back after I de-converted. Also, I find it interesting to read the opinions I disagree with.

Whatever it is, I hope that it’s simply the TRUTH. I believe that if you sincerely want to know what that is. If you sincerely search for it; not thinking that all of your answers are correct, and not falling for anything anyone tells you, you’ll find it.

I hope you find Truth as well - I’d imagine that It’s nothing like either one of expect.

 

[bluemary]

he appeals to authority with simply saying "see there’s a handful or scientists who have said the word god a few times so you should believe them…i dont understand what they were saying and this is completely out of context but just ignore that and believe!

i have no evidence jesus is god. I do not need to explain why he isnt god

what is your evidence that zues is not god? not using your current faith or religion in the argument? you can not argue against it

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”

Obviously we read two different books. The book that I’m refering isn’t even close to what you’re describing. The scientists this author goes to are usually atheists themselves and never ever bring the word God into their explanations of anything. He only explains from a purely tangible level. God is an intangible.

The reason that I asked you why you believed Jesus isn’t God, isn’t to make you prove a negative, but to point out that we all have some “proof” that we believe points to the truth. You get that from someone (perhaps even yourself), and you choose to believe that evidence. So I’m guessing that there must be some reason that you believe that God doesn’t exist. (I’m figuring that it isn’t just “cuz” since most of us left that answer as a child), but if it is, well then your authority figure is yourself and you are your own God.

I’d rather believe in a loving God and this world as His classroom for us. It works for me. Also, I’ve never been able to explain a 20’ fall from a tree I had as a teenager that defied the laws of gravity. (I even returned to the tree recently with my adult son to see if there was any way it could have happened naturally). When I fell, instead of going down to the ground, I landed on the opposite side of the tree facing the trunk on the last branch. I didn’t hit any branches on the way there so I couldn’t have bounced off of some and I didn’t have a scratch or a bruise on me! ) Coincidently this just so happened to be after I prayed to God asking Him to show me whether or not He was really real. There were many other things besides that too. So I have good reason to believe.

I don’t believe that the God I worship will punish anyone to Hell, if they never believed in Him to begin with. Hell is only for those that know God, but refuse to follow Him. (If I created people, loved them, sacrificed for them, and they snubbed me, I can’t say that I’d be nearly that patient, but probably snuff them out immediately) He loves you and is waiting for you to realize this. If you aren’t happy where you are in your belief take another look. Also, on behalf of all Christians I apologize for any that may have hurt you in the name of this faith. That isn’t true love at all, and if you’ve ever felt love, you’d never turn away from it. Love you bro, Mary

 

[CharlesDarwin]

I’d rather believe in a loving God

i’d rather live my life based on reality…and all of reality to me screams that there is no god

also my evidence for jesus not being a god?

no evidence that he is

you want something more but really thats it there is no more evidence that jesus is a god than zeus or ra or odin he is just the latest fad in a long line of fad religions he will pass like the others have its only a matter of time

 

[Dokimas]

there was no option for me so i didnt vote…but the reason i left is because i realized all religions have equal evidence…none…so until such a time as one religion gains real evidence or an event occurs to me that makes me personally feel evidence in one direction or another i chose to worship no gods with the belief that there are no gods…until a real being i feel is worthy of such a title is found

So you worship at the altar of science and atheism. Fare enough.

 

[Dokimas]

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”

The problem with this logic is that it breaks down very quickly because you don’t apply this logic in every area of your life. It sounds ‘cool’ and ‘cute’ but in reality it doesn’t work.

Ex. I assume, and I know it’s dangerous to do so, that you only put gasoline in your gas tank and you refuse to all other liquids in the tank. If I had a car in my garage and refused to put anything in the tank and came along and spoke to you using your logic, you’d think I was a bit short sighted. You’d be correct.

 

[Izdaari]

I was never Catholic, though I have great respect for the Catholic and Orthodox branches of the faith. But I was a former Christian (an agnostic who became an Eastern deist on the way back) who is a Christian again. It was, more than anything else, (God using) the works of C.S. Lewis that drew me back in.

 

[TedDC]

I was a cradle Catholic but was, to use the jargon, “poorly catechised”. I grew up with just a vague, warm notion of a loving God, and I unquestioningly accepted Church doctrines, as I understood them, as the truth. But in my teens I began to see the obligations of Catholicism as mere burdens, and I stopped practicing the faith.

Recently (I’m in my early 50s) I developed an interest in returning to the faith, and made an effort to learn its true teachings. But I found that I simply did not believe many of the essential tenets of Catholicism, and found the justifications for them unconvincing, and sometimes self-serving and circular in reasoning. In addition, I concluded that some of the Church’s harsher rules and doctrines - which I hadn’t been exposed to in my youth - seemed more to reflect Man’s flawed nature than God’s perfection, leading me to doubt their divine inspiration.

That’s not to say there isn’t much worthwhile in Catholic teaching. But the Church deals in absolutes, and I do not believe everything it would require me to believe. And no, studying the Church’s explanations has not led me to believe. And no, I cannot simply accept and hope that understanding comes later, as is often espoused in this forum.

So I am still seeking to know God better and to do His will. But the Catholic Church is not the place for me to do that.

 

[Carlan]

I was a cradle Catholic but was, to use the jargon, “poorly catechised”. I grew up with just a vague, warm notion of a loving God, and I unquestioningly accepted Church doctrines, as I understood them, as the truth. But in my teens I began to see the obligations of Catholicism as mere burdens, and I stopped practicing the faith.

Recently (I’m in my early 50s) I developed an interest in returning to the faith, and made an effort to learn its true teachings. But I found that I simply did not believe many of the essential tenets of Catholicism, and found the justifications for them unconvincing, and sometimes self-serving and circular in reasoning. In addition, I concluded that some of the Church’s harsher rules and doctrines - which I hadn’t been exposed to in my youth - seemed more to reflect Man’s flawed nature than God’s perfection, leading me to doubt their divine inspiration.

That’s not to say there isn’t much worthwhile in Catholic teaching. But the Church deals in absolutes, and I do not believe everything it would require me to believe, And no, studying the Church’s explanations has not led me to believe. And no, I cannot simply accept and hope that understanding comes later, as is often espoused in this forum.

So I am still seeking to know God better and to do His will. But the Catholic Church is not the place for me to do that.

Dear Ted, never stop seeking and asking God to reveal to you all Truth, through humility and trust in Him.
Many don’t consider the evil one in this day and time, but that fallen angel never sleeps and is always on the watch to deceive. He is there at the bottom of kidding ourselves, a wolf in sheeps clothing, he never gives up always waiting for that opening to dig in with his tools. God bless you with the peace you seek.Carlan

 

[cheese_sdc]

Ex. I assume, and I know it’s dangerous to do so, that you only put gasoline in your gas tank and you refuse to all other liquids in the tank. If I had a car in my garage and refused to put anything in the tank and came along and spoke to you using your logic, you’d think I was a bit short sighted. You’d be correct.

Except that we would have empirical proof of what happens if you put no gasoline in a car.

 

[cheese_sdc]

I’d rather believe in a loving God

My experience of the Christian Deity is that It is neither kind nor loving.

 

[Karmartia]

My experience of the Christian Deity is that It is neither kind nor loving.

You have experience of the Christian Diety? Almighty God? I would be interested in hearing that story.

 

[cheese_sdc]

My experience of the Christian Divinity is through His people. “You are His hands, his mouth, his feet in the world” is the saying, correct? My experience of Christians has been one of anger, divisiveness, pettiness, and judgement.

Now, I have experienced Divinity, it all It’s wonder and glory, but my experiences also lead me to conclude that this Divinity cannot be the same one that I was taught growing up in a fundamentalist Catholic Charismatic home.

 

[Dokimas]

Except that we would have empirical proof of what happens if you put no gasoline in a car.

Just as you should ask for empirical evidence that God does NOT exist.

The car doesn’t go without gas. Humans don’t work correctly without a real reationship with the Real God and that relationship is defined from God Himself, not from our perspective.

I don’t want a God made in my image. I want to grow more and more into His image.

 

[nickybr38]

Hostility to singles. (And, please, spare me the “It’s Not The Church’s Responsibility To Entertain You And Find You a Wife” schpiel.) It’s difficult for me to partake in the Eucharist and worship our Lord in an environment where I am ostracized and treated like a second-class citizen.

“Coming home to Rome” is a piece of cake when you’re married or are a single parent or you’re a senior citizen. It’s a more discouraging and distressing process if you’re single and already written off (incorrectly in most cases) as a ‘vocation’.

First to this post. I’d just like to say I am single coming into the Church and I have not felt that the Church is hostile to singles at all.

Coming home to Rome is a piece of cake when you accept the authority of the Church and wish to please God.

Now to the original post.

I was led away from the Protestant church when I began to question the authority of the church leaders. It started with; who wrote the Bible? Then I began studying the Gnostic gospels and the next question was; who decided what books belonged in the Bible and which didn’t? Which led to tossing out the Bible (as it was the Catholic Church which did this and I was taught from a very young age that they weren’t to be trusted - why trust the book THEY Compiled if I didn’t trust them?).

So, I had no Bible. Now what? I still believed in God, absolutely and completely, my belief is not something that can be shaken… but I had no idea where I was supposed to be. After tossing out the Bible I stopped seeking a church. I settled down in one I KNEW was being misled and took a job as a pianist. It seemed to me all the churches I tried before this point had the wrong spirit. Baptist, Pentecostal, Luthern, Anglican, Evangelical… it all boiled down to; they base their beliefs on a Bible they didn’t compile. Further, personal interpretation drove me CRAZY. I would debate with whomever would listen over the interpretation of particular bible verses and VERY few Protestant people I ran into could explore the historical context of a verse to explain why it means THIS and not THAT. No… they would insist their interpretation was correct because the Spirit was guiding them… well, what about me? Isn’t the Spirit guiding me as well? Would usually be my response.

The most disturbing thing I witnessed in these churches was the frequent and eager manner in which they would attack churches that were not their own. Well that Mormon church is EVIL. In their foyers after church they would gladly bash other faiths and this just bothered me, immensely. You really think you can convert someone by attacking what they believe? The biggest thing I pulled away from these churches is that they were churches of hate, not of love. I brought my Mormon friend to a service one day and as we left she found ‘hate literature’ in the foyer about HER church… she revealed to me she would never go to a Baptist church again, after she saw that.

So I landed in a SUPER liberal denomination that believed every single religion praised the same God (there’s a difference between SEEKING the same God, and PRAISING the same God… in that some people miss the mark). Homosexuality is perfectly all right (bible verses that ‘hint’ otherwise were just being misinterpreted). God should not be called He since that might offend someone (they went so far as changing old hymns so Father, Son, He… were all removed UNLESS preceeded by Mother, Daughter, She in the next verse). Sex before marriage is no big deal. Etc. Etc. Etc. The final straw for me was when a lay minister stood at the pulpit and declared that Jesus was not real, he was simply a mythical character created to teach us a valuable lesson.

My decision to join the Catholic Church happened quickly, out of the blue you might say. Certain members of my family were thrust into a life changing situation… after which I woke up and said; I’m joining the Catholic Church. Until that moment joining the Catholic Church hadn’t even been an option in my mind. The light switch turned on and I realized I CAN trust the Bible… it was compiled and protected by the Church that has authority.

ALL of that to say; it was a question of authority. Who has it, and who doesn’t and it is my sincere belief that the Catholic Church has the authority when it comes to the Christian faith. I don’t think that’s just my opinion, btw, I believe it’s truth. Period.

 

[HauntedJame]

I left the Church because I wasn’t sure about some of the teachings. A lot of the teachings are from men, with no substance in the Bible. I suppose it was what made me doubt it, as well as the fact I am gay. I believe in God and the Saints, but I do no longer consider myself Catholic…or Christian. But I want to find my place somewhere.

Wish there was solitaire Catholics like solitaire wiccans! LOL Would have been a lot easier now and then

 

[Karmartia]

My experience of the Christian Divinity is through His people. “You are His hands, his mouth, his feet in the world” is the saying, correct? My experience of Christians has been one of anger, divisiveness, pettiness, and judgement.

Now, I have experienced Divinity, it all It’s wonder and glory, but my experiences also lead me to conclude that this Divinity cannot be the same one that I was taught growing up in a fundamentalist Catholic Charismatic home.

I would agree with you that we Christians are a poor reflection of our Lord. We are indeed a pitiful lot.

Please continue with your story, how you’ve experienced the Divine, if it’s not too personal or too off-topic. And why you see this divinity as different from the one of whom you were taught.

 

[Australis]

I never left Christianity but did stop going to a large Presbyterian church for a long time because I was paranoid I was the target of a smear campaign and bullying from an older man there. I also felt that the intellectual pastor thought I was unworthy to even weed the church garden. I summed this up after I completed the volunteer tick sheet but was never called in.
I often felt he was showing favourtism to a young woman who was popular with the boys…she was stunning, say no more. Suddenly she started appearing at the front of the church giving readings and things women didn’t usually do. She was always big-noting herself and being a know all. She had the audacity to raise her voice at me once (she WAS a school teacher ) like I was a child (I was actually 27). I admit I looked very young but I resented the likes of her for assuming they could treat me like a child. Another lady did worse, she yelled at me when I had stage fright during christmas carol service and I couldn’t go up on stage. She yelled for me to “get out there!!” ** and the entire audience heard. ** I will never forget that.
I never went back to that Presbyterian church. It was simply over-run with obnoxious Baptist women.

I used to tag along to a pentecostal churches with friends but would soon stop attending for various reasons. They’re an unusual bunch for sure. They say you must speak in tongues and be baptised by submersion. I didn’t like how they act like only pentecostals are saved. It’s insulting to other Christians.

I went to a BBQ with Baptists once and totally unprovoked they got stuck into me about how Presbyterians are wrong and in the next breath were making “cultural” excuses for why women couldn’t become ministers in Bible times. They lacked consistency and just got got up my nose. Oh and the guy training to become a Baptist pastor called me a “pig” behind my back because I was a probation officer. Very insulting!

I went to the little Presbyterian church out in the country but got the frosty treatment from the pastor for wearing a tshirt with a pop star on it. Then an elderly man jumped on the bandwagon and made an issue of it too.

I feel like Betty Butterfield looking for a church.

 

[texasnan]

Hostility to singles. (And, please, spare me the “It’s Not The Church’s Responsibility To Entertain You And Find You a Wife” schpiel.) It’s difficult for me to partake in the Eucharist and worship our Lord in an environment where I am ostracized and treated like a second-class citizen.

“Coming home to Rome” is a piece of cake when you’re married or are a single parent or you’re a senior citizen. It’s a more discouraging and distressing process if you’re single and already written off (incorrectly in most cases) as a ‘vocation’.

I never felt that when I was single. If there was a particular situation in your parish, please don’t blame the entire Church.

 

[lax16]

Dale M-- Did you ever take time to investigate exactly what the C.C. truly believed?

The reason that I asked is that I was in the same boat several yrs ago. Before I made the decision to leave or stay I decided to look for, not only what the OFFICIAL doctrines of the C.C. church were, but WHERE did those doctrines come from and WHY the church believes them.

I entered the Seminary as a Lay Student and had a Bishop as a professor, plus the local Cardinal’s Secretary as another professor. They discussed with us just what had happened in the last hundred years or so that allowed heretical professors and books into the Seminary and how that produced many many heretical priests that, although able to function as priests choose to teach countless people falsehoods behind the backs of the Pope and Cardinals. They have been working hard in the last 20 yrs to “clean house” and have changed the books and in many cases the professors that have been teaching the garbage. They are also teaching something called the “New Evangelization” which is a renewed way of teaching the faithful so that we have a better understanding of our faith and the Sacred Scriptures. Unfortunately because of the lack of proper teaching of our faith in the past, many, but not all, adults still do not have a clear understanding of our faith, even if life-long Catholics. Which is why, I caution all to be very careful when being told by a “Catholic” member what the true faith is. Always ask to be shown where in our Catechism it states that. The Catholic Catechism is the book which states what our beliefs are. Not even a priest or nun should be believed without some proof.

Mind you not all of the priests or nuns from this period of time were poorly taught or choose to believe and accept the heretical teachings, but unfortunately many did; especially since Vat. II in the mid 60’s.

Take another look at our faith. Read what we truly believe and search to see where in history those beliefs come from. The followers of the apostles wrote a good deal about the faith of the early Christians and I don’t think it’s possible to read much of that without realizing why Catholics believe and worship the way that we do.

Peace in Christ brother.

I know this is off topic, but I just have to ask if you have any books that your professors used for this class. I knew there was something like this that had to be going on!

Thank you for this post. Anything you could share with us “poorly catechized” would be greatly appreciated. (another thread maybe?)

You are absolutely right - Catholics need to know their early Church history!! And not rely or be deterred by people with an agenda!! Once we know WHY we are Catholic, nothing can steer us away. I have started studying the Early Church Fathers and wish I could spend my whole day reading their writings.

May God Bless You, bluemary, You Have a Message To Share