My Top 4 Reasons for Leaving Religion and God.
Since you’re reading this there’s a good chance you’re one of the millions questioning their religion and God. Or maybe, like me, you’ve already found reasons to leave.
Recent studies reveal that the decline of Christianity in the US is happening at a rapid pace. For the first time in US history the “nones” (those with no religious affiliation) now make up a larger percentage of the population than Catholics and Evangelicals. It’s 29%.
Related to this, in 2017 I made a documentary called “Leaving God” which includes my own journey, from seeking God to leaving God, and addresses these reasons why I left. They are as follows…
Hypocrisy
It’s hard to process the idea of a priest preaching on Sunday and then sexually abusing a child on Monday. The added knowledge that the Catholic Church protected these predators for years makes it that much worse. As someone who grew up Catholic that level of hypocrisy is intense.
Regarding hypocrisy I have to include the many televangelists who’ve been caught with their pants down or hands in the cookie jar.
If one where to look at Christianity from a broader, more historical perspective, it’s not a pretty picture there either. Between The Crusades, the genocide of Native Americans, and the Salem witch trials, I’d bet that more people have been killed in the name of God, by Christians, than any other religion.
On a personal level, I’ve experienced hypocrisy several times via my old church. One situation I describe in the “Lack of Factual Accountability” section below. Another time occurred when I was struggling with marital problems and met with the head minister for spiritual counseling. He acknowledged that marriage can be difficult and then told me that divorce is not the solution. Just seven months later that minister got divorced. And three years later, he got divorced again.
Abuse
Besides the sex abuse mentioned previously, there’s also psychological abuse that many, if not most, religions are guilty of. For example, the way women and homosexuals are addressed compared to men. Or the shaming and guilt related to sex. The list goes on. As I look back on my Catholic upbringing I can now see how fear, shame, and guilt were used as tools to manipulate. I also now know the psychological distress it caused.
Arrogance and Fear Tactics
I can’t think of anything more arrogant than telling people that your way is the only way to heaven. Yet, it’s what most religions do and it’s what I heard growing up. Then there’s the related fear tactic of; “If you don’t follow what we say, then you won’t to get to heaven.” Give me a friggin break!
Lack of Factual Accountability
As an inquisitive person I tend not to be shy about asking questions. That behavior played out one fateful day when I attended a church Bible study. The church promoted the Bible study as a great opportunity for anyone to ask whatever questions they had.
A few days prior the Bible study I stumbled on a History Channel show on the “History of the Bible.” It featured interviews with Bible scholars, theologians, anthropologists, and ancient history experts. These scholars and experts concluded that much of the Bible is based on mythology and interpretation and not to be taken literally. Again, I heard this just prior to attending the Bible study.
When the day came, the Bible study began with the minister reading scripture (something about “angels of God” talking to shepherds) after which he opened the group to questions. After 30-seconds of no response I raised my hand and asked my question…
“Regarding what you just read…um, Is it true?”
It was as if I just kicked the minister in the nuts — he just stood there, frozen, with a pained look on his face. When he finally began breathing again, he cautiously responded…
“Well, I guess you just have to ask yourself, “What is truth?’”
In my head I’m thinking, “What the hell does that mean?” But, at this point I decide to just sit down and shut up. Two weeks later I received a letter from the church requesting that I not attend any more Bible studies. So much for asking questions.
The irony of the minister’s response is that, “What is truth?” was the question I’d been asking for years. That day with him, I was merely seeking an answer.
In listing these reasons for leaving religion and God I realize that everyone has their own perspective and path. For many, the answers they seek are found in their religion and God. And just because these reasons contributed to my change of heart, it doesn’t mean they would apply to you. But, if you’re interested in learning more about the major cultural shift happening in America, away from religion and God, check out this trailer...
And this interview will explain it more.
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John Follis spent his career on Madison Ave working for the top agencies in the country including his own. Besides being an award-winning copywriter he’s written for multiple national publications and blogs. His humorous essay “Mad Ave”, published alongside essays from Stephen King and Dave Barry, appears in “Mirror on America” (St Martin’s Press).
