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I was raised as a Christian (Evangelical) but abandoned the religion when I was 16 or so. My reasons for leaving are similar to Green's, save for the LGBT stuff

I was raised as a Christian (Evangelical) but abandoned the religion when I was 16 or so. My reasons for leaving are similar to Green's, save for the LGBT stuff (no, I care about LGBT rights but it just wasn't on my mind at that time). In church, I saw hypocrisy that'll make your blood boil. I attended a Christian College where I saw worse. It's not that the majority of people around me where malicious (most were normal, relatable people) but all it takes is a small minority to spoil the brunch and make the whole experience miserable. I was really bitter about the whole thing, but eventually I let it go. I won't let the actions of others put me down.

john_moscow 5y ago
The cynical thing is that every organization that claims to know what's good and what's bad eventually attracts power-hungry people that would abuse it. You can't evade it by jumping ship, since it appears to be a fundamental flaw (or feature) of humanity. The only way out is to look at specific people and specific ideas, rather than accepting dogmas for granted, and judging information based on the affiliation of the person it came from.
- boeingUH60 5y ago
  You have a very good point, and it's what I think also. Eventually in many, or I dare so most organizations, the power-hungry, self-serving people will somehow arm-wrestle their way to the top. It's just a matter of time, may take decades or even centuries if the organization lasts that long. There's a political theory about this termed the "Iron law of oligarchy". https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_oligarchy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_oligarchy
enaaem 5y ago
I used to be Christian. I became an Atheist and since a couple of years I got into Buddhism. I do see how certain aspects of Christianity can help people cope with life the same way Buddhism does. - The idea of unconditional love. Most people feel that being loved has to be earned. Well you don't have to be anything just serve God and/or be kind. - Letting go of control. Life has up and downs. In Buddhism resisting against pain is what causes suffering. In Christianity everything is according to Gods plan. Don't worry. There are also differences though. For example, Christianity gives you a simple answer for the meaning of life, so you can stop looking. Buddhism asks why are you looking in the first place.
huetius 5y ago
It’s fascinating that our experiences are so similar, but in opposite directions. I was raised in a secular household with secular values. In college, and afterwords at work, I began to observe that the negative features which I had, in prejudice, attributed to religion and religious people, such as self-righteousness, hypocrisy, prejudice, willful ignorance, reality denial, obstinance, etc., were perfectly abundant in the secular world that I inhabited, and in myself as well. Realizing that maybe these constituted a sort of universal human temptation, I started going to a (Catholic) church. There was plenty of that there, as well, but also something more, which I had never known. Also like you, I was really bitter (and depressed) for a while afterwards. Losing one’s faith in the worldview that had given life meaning does that, I think. It’s still a struggle for me, if I’m honest. Affirming and living that “something more” is difficult and elusive, and it’s vastly easier to intellectualize and wallow in negations. I don’t consistently do the former. Anyway, the point here is that I’m sorry you had to go through that, and I know how painful it is to lose your bearings. If you end up disillusioned out there, hit me up.

john_moscow 5y ago

The cynical thing is that every organization that claims to know what's good and what's bad eventually attracts power-hungry people that would abuse it. You can't evade it by jumping ship, since it appears to be a fundamental flaw (or feature) of humanity. The only way out is to look at specific people and specific ideas, rather than accepting dogmas for granted, and judging information based on the affiliation of the person it came from.

boeingUH60 5y ago
You have a very good point, and it's what I think also. Eventually in many, or I dare so most organizations, the power-hungry, self-serving people will somehow arm-wrestle their way to the top. It's just a matter of time, may take decades or even centuries if the organization lasts that long. There's a political theory about this termed the "Iron law of oligarchy". https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_oligarchy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_oligarchy

enaaem 5y ago

I used to be Christian. I became an Atheist and since a couple of years I got into Buddhism. I do see how certain aspects of Christianity can help people cope with life the same way Buddhism does. - The idea of unconditional love. Most people feel that being loved has to be earned. Well you don't have to be anything just serve God and/or be kind. - Letting go of control. Life has up and downs. In Buddhism resisting against pain is what causes suffering. In Christianity everything is according to Gods plan. Don't worry. There are also differences though. For example, Christianity gives you a simple answer for the meaning of life, so you can stop looking. Buddhism asks why are you looking in the first place.

huetius 5y ago

It’s fascinating that our experiences are so similar, but in opposite directions. I was raised in a secular household with secular values. In college, and afterwords at work, I began to observe that the negative features which I had, in prejudice, attributed to religion and religious people, such as self-righteousness, hypocrisy, prejudice, willful ignorance, reality denial, obstinance, etc., were perfectly abundant in the secular world that I inhabited, and in myself as well. Realizing that maybe these constituted a sort of universal human temptation, I started going to a (Catholic) church. There was plenty of that there, as well, but also something more, which I had never known. Also like you, I was really bitter (and depressed) for a while afterwards. Losing one’s faith in the worldview that had given life meaning does that, I think. It’s still a struggle for me, if I’m honest. Affirming and living that “something more” is difficult and elusive, and it’s vastly easier to intellectualize and wallow in negations. I don’t consistently do the former. Anyway, the point here is that I’m sorry you had to go through that, and I know how painful it is to lose your bearings. If you end up disillusioned out there, hit me up.