Do Christians Leave Religion Because of Other Christians?
I tackle the misconception that ex-Christians leave religion solely because of negative experiences in Christianity. How should an ex-Christian answer when accused of forsaking God because of being offended by Christians?
In Episode 12 of the PsychPod Studio Podcast, I explain my experience as a former religious cult member to becoming an atheist.
Welcome to the PsychPod Studio Podcast with Psychological Thriller Author M.E. Anders, where we chat 15 minutes of weekly news and views. Merging fact and fiction into an infotainment-packed show. Here we’ll explore hot psychological topics from the perspective of a suspense and mind-altering thriller author. Popular topics include cult survivor tales, author interviews, psychological expert interviews, reader discussions, critical thinking skills, skepticism, freethinking, and religion. How You Can Listen:
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The Podcast Shownotes
One bit of Psych News:
Valerie Tarico - Psychologist
Valerie Tarico – Psychologist available to help those transitioning from religion.
She has a tremendous series about the Emotions of God on YouTube, which demonstrates how man could create God in our own image, instead of vice versa.
What I’m Reading?
Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne. One of the best introductory books to evolution for prior Intelligent Design and Creationist proponents.
What I’m Writing?
I am in the middle of my second draft of Playing God. Interesting how the story has taken on a life of its own.
What I’m Watching?
Chuck: Season 4 – Yes, I am a Chuck addict. The storytelling is tight. Every detail within an episode has at least one purpose, if not many. I need to take a lesson or two from these TV screenwriters.
Reader Mailbag (Q & A)
In response to Brad Snowder’s post about what really happened “In the Big Inning” of the Bible:
Jason Brett Mullinder says,
“One of my college lecturers liked to point out that the Bible is an eastern book, we are so far removed from the original culture and understanding yet still cling to the words like an un-named Idol of a long forgotten civilization that apparently was very powerful (despite the fact it is decimated).
Its ironic your point about Tribal cultures since it was missionaries and theologians that inspired the destruction of them in more recent centuries.
Some pockets of christianity try and reclaim the tribal culture, to somehow undo thousands of years of atrocities, social justice & other agendas, all the while proclaiming “My God has a bigger **** then yours” or whatever more socially acceptable paraphrase is used on their particular schoolyard.”
Daily Topic: You Rejected God. Who Hurt You?
- Why do Christians default to this question when you admit that you have lost faith?
- They are taught that every person who leaves faith does so because someone hurt them.
- They cannot accept the answer that we have come to that conclusion from an intellectual standpoint because the Bible is “irrefutably” true. Duh! It says so.
- It is true that some people leave faith and religion because of negative experiences.
- This is a very natural human response to trauma.
- Still, there are many of my friends who have succumbed to the Stockholm Syndrome and stay even through repeated abuse.
- Christians will often say, “People may let you down, but Jesus Christ never does.”
- This sounds good to Christians in theory.
- Problem is that they have often not questioned their beliefs in light of contradictory evidence. If it does not support their belief system, they ignore it as from the devil.
- Is it true that I was hurt by Christians?
- Yes. I was hurt in the IFB by the leadership, the pastor himself, my ex-boyfriend, and my former friends.
- After leaving the IFB because of doctrinal misinterpretations/fallacies, I explored other branches of Christianity because I was determined NOT to be one of “those people” who left God because of being hurt by Christians.
- Yes. I was hurt again within the pentecostal movement. I was ostracized for allegedly having sex with my fiance before marriage. My fiance was threatened to take back my engagement ring because our marriage timetable did not match the church’s program. He did take the ring back…one of the worst days of my life. Till my fiance got wise.
- Other experiences are too numerous to list.
- Did I leave Christianity because of people who hurt me?
- No. I left because of intellectual reasons.
- I read outside the apologetics books.
- I discovered the origins of the Bible.
- Doctrines were contradictory.
- The Bible was not infallible.
- Many other reasons.
- Does it bother me that Christians automatically assume I left because of my negative experiences?
- Yes. Very much so.
- I wish that they could be more open-minded to other reasons for leaving religion.
- Indoctrination – repetition of church teachings – hinders them from thinking outside the pastor’s declaration about why people leave religion.
- What I learned from people accusing me of leaving because of other Christians?
- I learned not to judge other people’s motives, especially if I don’t know the whole story.
- I learned to be more accepting of people whose belief systems differ from mine.
- I now embrace diversity among people from varying faiths.
Next Week’s Podcast Topic: Post-Trauma Night Terrors
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Listeners: Do you believe many Christians leave religion because of being hurt by other Christians? What should be our response to being hurt? Leave your comment below.
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