Why are people leaving the Christian Church ?
Che Guevara - Hero
2010/12/12 15:29:08
The reasons people give for changing their religion – or leaving religion altogether – differ widely depending on the origin and destination of the convert. The group that has grown the most in recent years due to religious change is the unaffiliated population. Two-thirds of former Catholics who have become unaffiliated and half of former Protestants who have become unaffiliated say they left their childhood faith because they stopped believing in its teachings, and roughly four-in-ten say they became unaffiliated because they do not believe in God or the teachings of most religions. Additionally, many people who left a religion to become unaffiliated say they did so in part because they think of religious people as hypocritical or judgmental, because religious organizations focus too much on rules or because religious leaders are too focused on power and money. Far fewer say they became unaffiliated because they believe that modern science proves that religion is just superstition.
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Top Opinion
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Daring Blasphemer BN-0 2010/12/12 15:43:41
+13There are a myriad of reasons NOT to believe in mythology. The religious so easily dismiss other beliefs as silly, evil or unrealistic and then when challenged on their own faith defend such ridiculous claims as virgin births, multi-armed anthropomorphic elephants and secret golden plates. I dismiss ALL belief systems as a waste of my short time on earth.
The internet. A place of anonymous discussions about things not usually articulated face to face. As one interneter put it, "The internet: Where religion goes to die". Too much information here at the fingertips of questioners.
Stances on homosexuality, marriage, teaching myths in science class, pedophilia, contradictory dogma, etc, etc, etc...
Either the religion will progress, or it will die. So far, it seems they're OK with dying...
To answer the question, simply it is selfishness. They desire to serve self and not God.
Though I've seen more people break away because of the hypocritical actions of their fellow religious peers, as you suggested, and because of fundamental differences in beliefs. (For example, a gay friend of mine broke away from the Catholic religion because he could not come to grips with some of its anti-gay sentiment.)
The answer is: because they can.
Yes, it's really that simple. Until about 50 years ago, there was a period of time ranging from a few hundred years to over a thousand years where everyone in Australia, North America, South America, and Europe had no choice but to attend a Christian church with their family and their community.
Today, in the world's educated and free societies, you can no longer be forced to attend a Christian church due to societal pressure from family and/or community. And, as a result, those people who don't consider Christianity true, or valuable, or even useful, are increasingly realising that they no longer need to continue their membership in a social organisation which they don't want to be part of.
Contrast that with the "Muslim" world. There is no ability to opt of Islam, even though there must be millions of people who would like to do exactly that. Real freedom of choice, coupled with education, is death to religion and religious belief.
People are also tired of the divisiveness and discrimination it causes and fosters, as well as the ugly zealots it breeds and empowers.
Christianity was created to control the masses. The masses are now revolting against that mind control.
"I will turn your face to alabaster, when you find your servant is your master..."
-- Sting from "Wrapped Around Your Finger"
Why would anyone wish to be a part of a religion with a strong emphasis on asceticism. The Christian value of physical, sensual and deprivation borders on Manicheanism. This is manifested in self-denial during Lent and the preaching of sexual abstinence.
This is contrasted by the belief, found among many Jews, that the world and everything in it is basically good. G-d wants us to enjoy it. For example, in his "Book of Jewish Values: A Day-by-Day Guide to Ethical Living," Rabbi Joseph Telushkin writes, "Judaism believes that the pursuit of pleasure, if done in moderation, is good. The Talmud teaches 'In the future world, a man will have to give an accounting for every good thing his eyes saw, but of which he did not eat?
In other words, this belief in the goodness of enjoying life gives Jews a strong sense of exurberance and joy.
I really do think that my reasons are why a lot of people leave religion--too many stupid rules, too much hypocrisy, not enough truth. And religious extremists drive fringe believers away--who wants to be associated with nut jobs who go around telling everyone that they will suffer eternal punishment simply for being human?
JO
No wonder the creatards are trying so hard to redefine and explain away science.
" Now I know what to call myself, "UNAFFILLIATED." That's better than "Atheist."
Why is that "better"? Because it makes Christians less likely to berate you? Haven't you just provided a good reason to use the word "atheist"?
All of us. Every last one of us. Because what's going on is not a criticism of you - it's a criticism of ideas. People try to pretend it's a criticism of people, in order to attempt to censor it. Criticism of ideas is a vital part of societal progress. By demanding censorship of your ideas you are creating support for the censorship of the criticism of other bad ideas - like child pornography, or Muslim terrorism, or a whole host of other things that you might want to criticise.
Bowing to not using a simple word - atheist - to describe your lack of belief in gods is capitulation to exactly what some people want: a world where they can tell atheists that they aren't really atheists. There's a problem in that. Cheers.