When did you (if you have) lose faith in religon?

I lost my faith in religon around 2 years ago, before then I was Christian (Church of England) but I began working for someone who was a Seventh day Adventist Christian and there were so many things that contradicted with my religion that I thought how can religion be possible when you have so many sub religons within a single religon that all contradict one another, for example, Seventh day Adventist's have their Sabbath on a Saturday, where as most if not all other sub religions of Christanity have their Sabbath on a Sunday, it just makes no sense. I am now an 'out' Athiest

That's the point of having sub-religions. If everyone's view was the same on it there wouldn't be any. But since it isn't there is all of these different denominations.

I was pretty young, probably about 11 years old or so. I'd always had a strong interest in science and spent a lot of time reading about astronomy (I even saved enough money to get a 6" telescope). I also spent a some time thinking about why one religion was any better than another. Eventually I got on the dial-up on my 166 MHz Compaq and looked into atheism. I made the connection that God was no more valid than Zeus, and became an atheist.

Organised religion in ireland seemed to be more about making money and control. I went to church a lot when I was young but never felt a godly connection, mainly felt bored.

When I was a junior/senior in high school.

I lost my faith in religon around 2 years ago, before then I was Christian (Church of England) but I began working for someone who was a Seventh day Adventist Christian and there were so many things that contradicted with my religion that I thought how can religion be possible when you have so many sub religons within a single religon that all contradict one another, for example, Seventh day Adventist's have their Sabbath on a Saturday, where as most if not all other sub religions of Christanity have their Sabbath on a Sunday, it just makes no sense. I am now an 'out' Athiest

Lazyplayer-187

Wow, you had no faith if that is all it took for you to lose it, imo.

Mention losing faith as if it's a bad thing. Why is faith such a good thing to have?

To blindly believe in something with no evidence seems wrong on so many levels to me...

My parents use to take me to church when a was 11, I always wondered why, what, and how. I would ask questions and never got any straight answers... To me faith is worthless. You can have faith in anything you want believe in, but if you will yourself to believe in something without evidence then you are deceiving yourself. Blind faith is not real faith, its nothing but an imaginary wish.

Mention losing faith as if it's a bad thing. Why is faith such a good thing to have?

To blindly believe in something with no evidence seems wrong on so many levels to me...

Blue-Sky

About a couple of years ago. I now no longer believe in religion as necessary for me or for me to go to heaven. I believe that you can live a good life, have faith in God and believe and also not ever go to church. I don't have problems with people that do. I believe if it strengthens their own faith in their eyes, then good for them. It's just not for me. And yes, there IS a difference between being spiritual and/or believing in God and having faith in God and religion. They are not interchangeable. All people that go to church as a Christian believe and have faith in God but not all people that have faith in God go to church.

Mention losing faith as if it's a bad thing. Why is faith such a good thing to have?

To blindly believe in something with no evidence seems wrong on so many levels to me...

Blue-Sky

No its not, its innocense, losing it is sometimes a bad thing, its like a transition from believing in santa to when you realise santa isn't real.

Its comforting for a while until you realise reality.

About a couple of years ago. I now no longer believe in religion as necessary for me or for me to go to heaven. I believe that you can live a good life, have faith in God and believe and also not ever go to church. I don't have problems with people that do. I believe if it strengthens their own faith in their eyes, then good for them. It's just not for me. And yes, there IS a difference between being spiritual and/or believing in God and having faith in God and religion. They are not interchangeable. All people that go to church as a Christian believe and have faith in God but not all people that have faith in God go to church.

Sunfyre7896

You must be an aetheist. I like the comparison of God to Santa.

You must be an aetheist. I like the comparison of God to Santa.

Sunfyre7896

I dont mean to offend but on a lot of levels its similiar.

[QUOTE="Sunfyre7896"]

About a couple of years ago. I now no longer believe in religion as necessary for me or for me to go to heaven. I believe that you can live a good life, have faith in God and believe and also not ever go to church. I don't have problems with people that do. I believe if it strengthens their own faith in their eyes, then good for them. It's just not for me. And yes, there IS a difference between being spiritual and/or believing in God and having faith in God and religion. They are not interchangeable. All people that go to church as a Christian believe and have faith in God but not all people that have faith in God go to church.

KeitekeTokage

It's saying when did you lose faith in RELIGION. To me the difference is that you can have faith in god without RELIGION which is going to church in most cases and belonging to some denomination. That to me is religion. I don't have a religion, but I believe in God as much as anyone in a particular religion. I really feel that there is a difference between being religious which has faith and just having faith.

[QUOTE="Sunfyre7896"]

You must be an aetheist. I like the comparison of God to Santa.

tenaka2

I dont mean to offend but on a lot of levels its similiar.

I'm not offended at all. In fact most of my friends are either aetheists or agnostic and not believing in a God like I do. In fact, one that I like to argue with likens it like you do. It's just always amusing that some aetheists act like believing in God is a childish endeavor that somehow they're saving us from and need to bring us to "THEIR" reality so that we "grow up." ha ha. I'm really not offended, just amused. I'm unlike other people with religion. I think it's funny the way aethiests can be the same way aetheists think it's funny the way people believe.

I lost my faith in religon around 2 years ago, before then I was Christian (Church of England) but I began working for someone who was a Seventh day Adventist Christian and there were so many things that contradicted with my religion that I thought how can religion be possible when you have so many sub religons within a single religon that all contradict one another, for example, Seventh day Adventist's have their Sabbath on a Saturday, where as most if not all other sub religions of Christanity have their Sabbath on a Sunday, it just makes no sense. I am now an 'out' Athiest

Lazyplayer-187

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"][QUOTE="Sunfyre7896"]

About a couple of years ago. I now no longer believe in religion as necessary for me or for me to go to heaven. I believe that you can live a good life, have faith in God and believe and also not ever go to church. I don't have problems with people that do. I believe if it strengthens their own faith in their eyes, then good for them. It's just not for me. And yes, there IS a difference between being spiritual and/or believing in God and having faith in God and religion. They are not interchangeable. All people that go to church as a Christian believe and have faith in God but not all people that have faith in God go to church.

Sunfyre7896

It's saying when did you lose faith in RELIGION. To me the difference is that you can have faith in god without RELIGION which is going to church in most cases and belonging to some denomination. That to me is religion. I don't have a religion, but I believe in God as much as anyone in a particular religion. I really feel that there is a difference between being religious which has faith and just having faith.

I've never had faith in religion or religon... only God.

I've never had faith in religion or religon... only God.

lowkey254

So the difference is going to church or not? Isn't that kind of like saying you're only a sports fan if you go to the stadium and watch rather than just staying at home and watching on tv? You're still rooting for the same team, with the same intensity, the same opinions, just doing so in different places. Not seeing the difference there.KeitekeTokage

It's saying when did you lose faith in RELIGION. To me the difference is that you can have faith in god without RELIGION which is going to church in most cases and belonging to some denomination. That to me is religion. I don't have a religion, but I believe in God as much as anyone in a particular religion. I really feel that there is a difference between being religious which has faith and just having faith.

[QUOTE="Sunfyre7896"]

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"] So the difference is going to church or not? Isn't that kind of like saying you're only a sports fan if you go to the stadium and watch rather than just staying at home and watching on tv? You're still rooting for the same team, with the same intensity, the same opinions, just doing so in different places. Not seeing the difference there.KeitekeTokage

It's saying when did you lose faith in RELIGION. To me the difference is that you can have faith in god without RELIGION which is going to church in most cases and belonging to some denomination. That to me is religion. I don't have a religion, but I believe in God as much as anyone in a particular religion. I really feel that there is a difference between being religious which has faith and just having faith.

Actually, to be a Christian means that you also have to believe in Jesus Christ. That's why they're called CHRISTians. That's actually true. I'm just saying that I don't believe in most of the things that the denominations within Christianity believe in as well as the bible. I don't believe in the bible either as the end all word of God. See now how the differences are more than I at first presented. While some aspects are the same such as a faith in God and Heaven, most all other aspects are different in my faith.

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"][QUOTE="Sunfyre7896"]

It's saying when did you lose faith in RELIGION. To me the difference is that you can have faith in god without RELIGION which is going to church in most cases and belonging to some denomination. That to me is religion. I don't have a religion, but I believe in God as much as anyone in a particular religion. I really feel that there is a difference between being religious which has faith and just having faith.

Sunfyre7896

Actually, to be a Christian means that you also have to believe in Jesus Christ. That's why they're called CHRISTians. That's actually true. I'm just saying that I don't believe in most of the things that the denominations within Christianity believe in as well as the bible. I don't believe in the bible either as the end all word of God. See now how the differences are more than I at first presented. While some aspects are the same such as a faith in God and Heaven, most all other aspects are different in my faith.

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"][QUOTE="Sunfyre7896"]

It's saying when did you lose faith in RELIGION. To me the difference is that you can have faith in god without RELIGION which is going to church in most cases and belonging to some denomination. That to me is religion. I don't have a religion, but I believe in God as much as anyone in a particular religion. I really feel that there is a difference between being religious which has faith and just having faith.

harashawn

When I was 10, I relized that it's kind of ignorant to believe in things without evidence.

Well, I never really had it to start with. But I would say around 8 years old. My sister is super religious christian and my brother is an atheist. They argued a lot to eachother about religion while I was in the middle listening. My brother won. :P

Technically, I am a Christian. I'm more or less so ashamed to be considered one though. I never had faith in the fellow "Christians" as they disgust me.

All my life I never understood religion. I never liked it. I thought it was hypocritical and evil, and just a plot to pull people in for money. I was doubtful in a God because of this, but then again not; I was agnostic. I am now 14 and I still have no faith in the people who practice religion. Even so, I consider myself non-denominational and more so spiritual. I believe in God. I gave religion a chance, but in church, even the preaching and yelling of a disgusting and hypocritical pastor put me to sleep when I was 7. I guess that's when I lost me religious faith. Then my mom, who is a preacher's kid, told me that my doubt was normal and that what I thought was basically true. I really had no faith and certainly don't have it now.

But I need no science to tell me whether or not there is a God. I always knew science could not prove everything. I love it, but think people who say science does prove it all need to be a bit more philosophical and personal with it. I have enough spiritual proof and I have nothing to lose when I die, even if I am wrong. But I'm going with my gut.

Lilyanne46

I've never heard someone say science "proves it all". There is SO much were still trying to figure out it every single scientific field. Also, if you're worshiping the wrong God, you and me both could be getting tortured :(

[QUOTE="harashawn"][QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"] You believe in the God of the Bible, eternal after-life paradise (heaven), and that the way to get there is to believe in God, correct?.... Hate to break this to you but that's called a Christian. Do you believe that if you don't believe in this God you'll go to hell? You said religion is going to church and belonging to a denomination but it seems to me your version is no different than the denomination I belonged to, you're just saying going to church makes all the difference, which it doesn't really. I mean more power to you man, if you want to say that your version isn't a religion, I just don't see any difference or point. I found that a lot of people seem to want to distance themselves from the word religion and yet still believe the exact same thing that religion preaches.KeitekeTokage

You know you could be correct but I'm just saying basically that I don't fit in with any religion that exists at this time. Maybe with enough people that believe like I do, it will become a religion. However, it would be the strangest religion as we would be the only ones that never meet to practice our religion and the only discussions about it would be on forums like this. Also based on the definition of religion, it would have to have a public aspect, which means in all cases so far, meeting in a set place, like church or an outing. The religion that we would be wouldn't necessarilty even talk about this in any way to anyone else, therefore, it wouldn't be a religion in the modern definition. Just a belief system or faith.

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"]

[QUOTE="harashawn"] There is a difference between spiritual and religious, and that lies entirely in practice.Sunfyre7896

You know you could be correct but I'm just saying basically that I don't fit in with any religion that exists at this time. Maybe with enough people that believe like I do, it will become a religion. However, it would be the strangest religion as we would be the only ones that never meet to practice our religion and the only discussions about it would be on forums like this. Also based on the definition of religion, it would have to have a public aspect, which means in all cases so far, meeting in a set place, like church or an outing. The religion that we would be wouldn't necessarilty even talk about this in any way to anyone else, therefore, it wouldn't be a religion in the modern definition. Just a belief system or faith.

I understand what you're trying to say.

And I think this guy has you beat on being a weird religion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou0TRadOwWw

[QUOTE="KeitekeTokage"][QUOTE="Lilyanne46"]

Heh, well, I know tons of atheists who tell me that, or just strongly imply it. I agree though, there is a lot in science to figure out.

That's, a scary thought I actually have nightmares about. I die and it turns out I worshiped the wrong God. But I wake up and never find out what happens; if I get another chance or if I'm doomed. D:

Lilyanne46

No, they aren't. I don't even think they're atheists because they just want to separate themselves from the crowd of religious people. I understand why, but they need to do their research. It is "theoretically" true that everything can be solved. But the puzzle pieces always multiply, with new questions to be answered at any moment. I doubt humans will ever get there. I think there are an infinity of questions to be answered, and there aren't an infinity of answers, or even close. Does it make sense to you? It's really hard to explain.

Lets see, i was about 9, and i realized there's no way this "God" dude could ever be real, so i looked around and found no proof that anything in the bible had happened. Except for this one story about people who'd found a piece of Noah's arc, they were trying to sell it but it was a fake. Turns out there's not much more to religion except ghost stories and money.Nibroc420

"Looked around". In other words you just did a quick google search.

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"]Lets see, i was about 9, and i realized there's no way this "God" dude could ever be real, so i looked around and found no proof that anything in the bible had happened. Except for this one story about people who'd found a piece of Noah's arc, they were trying to sell it but it was a fake. Turns out there's not much more to religion except ghost stories and money.Hatiko

"Looked around". In other words you just did a quick google search.

[QUOTE="Hatiko"]

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"]Lets see, i was about 9, and i realized there's no way this "God" dude could ever be real, so i looked around and found no proof that anything in the bible had happened. Except for this one story about people who'd found a piece of Noah's arc, they were trying to sell it but it was a fake. Turns out there's not much more to religion except ghost stories and money.Nibroc420

"Looked around". In other words you just did a quick google search.

When you were 9?