Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Confess What Really Made Them Turn Their Back On Religion

Cross necklace
beaded brown rosary
Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash

One thing which has drawn people to live in the United States is the freedom to practice any religion you wish.

While sadly, this hasn't prevented acts of bigotry or violence against certain religions, it has spared people being forced to practice a certain religion, even if they disagree with its values or practices.

One's relationship with religion is very personal, as it only has value if it finds them and gives them the strength and comfort it is intended to.

This rarely happens when it is forced upon others, which often leads to people searching for another religion, or abandoning the practice of religion altogether.

Largely owing to the fact that they found no comfort or solace in it.


Redditor openbookpower_1 was curious to hear the many reasons people found themselves turning their backs on religion, leading them to ask:
"What made you turn your back on religion?"

Logic Over Faith

"What they taught didn’t make any sense."- stupidfock

"The ridiculous concept."

"I didn’t turn my back."

"I just never bought into it."

"There is no part of the concept of creation that doesn’t seem preposterous to me."- pay-this-fool

Learning It Was A Possibility

"I went to a church of England school, which involves singing hymns, prayers etc."

"Pretty standard for primary school age kids."

"I was talking to another girl about religion and she said 'I'm an atheist'."

"I asked her what it was and she explained that she didn't believe in God."

"I was mind blown, I didn't even know that was an option, but it immediately made sense to me in a way Christianity never did."

"My parents never spoke about religion much or went to church, but I went home to tell them my new discovery and they both just laughed and admitted they don't believe in God either."

"I have a few atheist family members too, I learnt my grandmother, now 93, doesn't believe in God, and my Grandad on the other side who passed a few years ago."- CherylTuntIRL

When People Didn't Practice What They Preached...

"People put religion first over being a good human being."- wootmon12

"The hypocritical behavior of deeply religious people."- Taskerst

Ironic?

"Critical thinking."- Apoplexi1

Needed More Concrete Proof

"Lack of evidence supporting the existence of God."- glisteningdinkus

Preaching To Wallets Over Souls...

"The principal topic from the pulpit each week was money."

"Parishioners were relentlessly hounded to increase their pledges."

"On top of that, the church went on a major 'Capital Funds Drive' to redecorate and refurbish the buildings (even though there were many millions in the endowment fund)."

"Somehow, matters of faith were eclipsed by 'The Almighty Dollar'."- Back2Bach

"When my religion had 120 billion dollars in a slush fund, owned 2% of the land in the United States, and made no effort to help the world with those funds."- exmo_fo_sho

"When MFers got ten grand for a robe and a gold ring and a gold cup but gives out soup and bread like they doin a grand thing."

"Churches should be charged 75% taxes."- Outnabout3535325

Too Many Innocent People Punished

"A very religious friend once told me 'It's a shame you don't believe in god, you're a nice person and don't deserve to burn for eternity'."

"I was like...if that actually happens, your God is an a**hole and I wouldn't worship them even if it was proven without a doubt that that god existed."

"I'm open to the idea of a higher power."

"I don't think it's impossible that life was seeded on Earth by higher beings."

"But I'd want to see the evidence before I believed it and I certainly don't think that millionaires who demand money from the poor are the people spreading the word of any kind of savior."- Raephstel

"I grew up as a Christian and even spent a little time working in ministry."

"For years there were some nagging things that just didn’t add up for me."

"I worked for Child Protection Services for years and decided any God that has the power to prevent heinous abuse against his supposed innocent, but doesn’t, is either a sadist I don’t want to worship, or simply non existent."

"If this all started between God and Satan they can leave me the f*ck out of it."

"It’s the bullsh*t manufactured responses from Christians that were the nail on the coffin."- __KWM__

Seeing What Their Future Could Be

"I come from a fairly religious family (some are very, others, not so much, some not at all)."

"I became an atheist at the age of six."

"Why?"

"Simply put, I could see, even then, how badly religion is use to manipulate, control, bully, intimidate, and attack people."

"And I wanted NO part of that."- Dippycat149

"I'm autistic."

"So when I asked a clarifying question ( as I am want to do) at age 6 in Sunday school i was told."

"'Don't ask questions'."

"And that was the end of that."- brumbles2814

No one should be persecuted or belittled for their religion.

Nor should anyone be for their lack thereof.

Do you have any experiences to share? Let us know in the comments below.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshots of Will Thilly breakdancing
New York Post/YouTube

Guy Breakdances His Way Into Town Hall Meeting To Ask Why Taxes Went Up—And Becomes An Instant Legend

Cranford, New Jersey town council candidate Will Thilly went viral after dancing his way up to the podium at a recent town hall meeting to ask why property taxes in Cranford have gone "up so much."

Thilly's unique tax protest began when he danced his way up to the podium and continued to dance even after a Cranford Township official said, "Mr. Thilly, I started your time." People laughed when Thilly held up a finger to stop the official and continued to dance anyway.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Brian Kilmeade
Fox News

Fox News Host Apologizes After His Suggestion That Homeless People Be Euthanized Sparks Outrage

Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade was criticized for suggesting that homeless people with mental health issues get "involuntary lethal injection" after the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train in North Carolina—and was swiftly condemned for an insincere apology several days after the fact as many are calling for Fox News to terminate his contract.

Zarutska was stabbed to death at the East/West Boulevard station on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte last month; her killer, a homeless man with a history of mental health issues, has since been charged with first-degree murder.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sofía Vergara
Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

Sofía Vergara Reveals She Missed Presenting At The Emmys Due To 'Craziest' Medical Emergency

Almost everyone has a favorite television show they like to turn on at the end of a rough day or binge-watch for a bit of nostalgia, and most of us pretty frequently check out new shows to see if we can spot a favorite.

Needless to say, the Emmys award show is a huge deal every year, honoring all of the people involved in the projects that are currently gracing the small screen, and basically anyone who's anyone will attend.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rep. Nancy Mace
CNN

Nancy Mace Just Tried To Claim She's Never 'Dehumanized' Her Colleagues—And The Internet Brought The Receipts

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace was called out for hypocrisy after she claimed on CNN that Democrats in Congress have been "dehumanizing" Republicans, a move she would "never" do—despite her record of doing just that.

Speaking to anchor Katie Bolduan while the search for the suspect who killed far-right activist Charlie Kirk was ongoing, Mace objected to Bolduan's observation that she was using "us v. them" language, only saying that things are "very one-sided right now." She also suggested that the situation is so bad for her that she's actually afraid of "just walking out in public."

Keep ReadingShow less
A younger man stand on top of a mountain with his arms outreached and his face looking to the sky. It's a beautiful day and lakes and mountains are the backdrop.
Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash

People Who Quit Their High-Paying Jobs For Happiness Explain How It Turned Out

Sometimes money isn't the goal.

It is a BIG goal for many.

Keep ReadingShow less