Defecting from the Catholic Church

Hi all,

I've been contemplating leaving the Catholic Church.

I'm hoping to find out:

1) How you did it

2) Why you decided to do it (if you feel like sharing)

3) Did you have many problems with your decision? IE With family/friends/officials etc?

I've been baptised, had my communion and been confirmed all before the age of twelve years old which is the norm. I felt this was unfair due to my age. I have my reasons for wanting to leave and I'll share if any of you are interested in this thread.

Please note guys & gals that I don't mean to undermine or offend anyone's religious beliefs. Live and let live. However if I am asked to share my reasons for wanting to leave, I will be completely truthful in my answers.

Thanks for your time ATS. Enjoy your night.


Eire

originally posted by: eire91
Hi all,

I've been contemplating leaving the Catholic Church.

if I am asked to share my reasons for wanting to leave, I will be completely truthful in my answers.

Doesn't this essentially sum it up?

EDIT: What I meant was when you asked about how friends/family will react.... just follow what you said and be truthful in your answers to their questions.

a reply to: eire91

I wasn't ever a catholic... but

Church is nothing more then a place to be seen by men...

I left religion because most only claim to follow the rules

And even when I attempted to return I was met with the same hypocrisy

originally posted by: eire91
1) How you did it

Just stopped going.

2) Why you decided to do it (if you feel like sharing)

It always seemed like unbelievable dogmatic bull**** when I was younger and the older I got the less believable it became.

3) Did you have many problems with your decision? IE With family/friends/officials etc?

Nope. All my friends and family are cool with it.

a reply to: eluryh22
I get what you mean, I suppose the way I meant what I asked was did your family/friends meet you with any opposition at all? Like I have told my family and some are completely cool with it and others its like complete and utter s***e that I even suggest leaving. I was just curious as to how other members went about their decision is all.

a reply to: Akragon

I agree with all you say! Interesting though what you say about meeting hypocrisy on attempting to return, were you successful in your attempt? If you don't mind me asking

originally posted by: eire91
a reply to: Akragon

I agree with all you say! Interesting though what you say about meeting hypocrisy on attempting to return, were you successful in your attempt? If you don't mind me asking

initially yes...

but I could only take so much, and it ended up destroying my life... and confirming my thoughts before everything happened

a reply to: eire91

To be candid, my experience is sort of the opposite of yours. I was raised non religious at all. It wasn't until later in life that little by little I made my way towards the Catholic Church. If anything, I got some odd reactions to my baptism back in 2011.

That being said, I would hope you don't take any heat whatsoever for leaving the Church. The people that are your friends/family now because of who you are and how you act and how you treat them should still treat you the same afterwards. I still maintain that if anyone asks "Why" you decided to leave, you answer them candidly and honestly (particularly those close family members or close friends). This is for your sake and for theirs.

Last bit of advice (and it is just advice so take it with a grain of salt): I would suggest that you not go too far out of your way to convince others to leave the Church. Just as I would hope your friends/family would respect your choices and not go out of their way to convince you to do something you don't feel comfortable doing, please respect their wishes as well.

Good luck and I hope you are worried about nothing and you don't catch and grief about this. Best wishes.

originally posted by: Akragon

originally posted by: eire91
a reply to: Akragon

and it ended up destroying my life...

Just curious.... how so?

a reply to: eluryh22

A pastor ended a relationship that I cared a great deal about

I'd rather not rehatch

a reply to: Akragon

Definitely sorry to hear that.

I apologize in advance that I'm not that good at keeping my mouth shut, but how can a third party ever prevent two people from being together? I only say that because I'm on the verge of celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary with my high school sweet-heart and MAN O MAN did her family despise me.

Totally respect you not wanting to go into it and it sucks that someone, anyone, would interfere like that.

a reply to: eluryh22

I apologize in advance that I'm not that good at keeping my mouth shut, but how can a third party ever prevent two people from being together?

Well... it is said that love conquers all...

Unfortunately religion can conquer love due to fear and or brainwashing

a reply to: eire91

1) How you did it

It's like ending a bad relationship. There is only one way that works. Sever the tie and don't look back. Don't answer her calls

*Edit: I was never religious

a reply to: eire91

You mean deficating on the Catholic Church right? Lol

Trust me when I say your free to be yourself and can enjoy life for what it is, good for you friend

a reply to: Akragon

Don't know if I agree....
But if we were in a virtual bar,the next round would be on me my friend.

a reply to: eire91

I don't know your reason's but?.

If it is just about not finding anything in the church itself then try another denomination, something new and alive like a baptist, born again or similar church just to see if you like the feeling and find people whom truly believe around you or perhaps if your looking for a pastor whom is taking his inspiration from what he feel's is the holy spirit guiding him rather than dogmatic teaching's from a central vatican office.

Sometime's the catholic mass can become very tediouse and you can get the feeling that half the priests either don't believe or have themselves lost the spark that put life into there sermon's and I doubt this is just the catholic church.

If you have simply lost faith then that I can not help but like I say try one of these other church's, I don't see it as leaving the church but simply going to another room in Christs house and if you find a church with believers rather than just old gossip's then believe me the atmosphere is completely different but your not there just to be with them except in that fellowship is a fundemental part of Christian faith but you are there to be with God and that is only possible were Two or More are gathered to be with him and by so gathering he is with them.

So remember a church can be as small as two people so long as they share that reason for being there, it can also be thousand's and not everyone whom claims to be a christian or even goes to church is a christian, take politicians for example, a lot of them only go to church for social or appearane reason's and because they think it can win them votes but in reality they could not be further from the church even though they are sitting in the pew's.

But if you simply don't believe then I don't know the answer, I think though of Padre Pio a man whom perhaps SHOULD have been the pope, but then the real church is a spiritual body, it is not divided by denominations or name's and exists in all faithful whom gather in the name of christ or whom wish they could regardless of Confirmation nonsense or which sect they were baptised into - if they come to christ in there heart he see's and knows it and there are many faithful whom have walked away from the church's various denomination's simply because of uninspiring sermon's and boring priests hungering for something they could not find, what they were searching for was the living word of christ.

If you seek him you will find him but if you truly do not want to find him then I can only wish you well, but ask yourself are you being called to something else by him.

originally posted by: eluryh22
a reply to: Akragon

Don't know if I agree....
But if we were in a virtual bar,the next round would be on me my friend.

Thanks man..

One thing I will say, IF the OPer does leave take the gospels with you if nothing else

a reply to: LABTECH767

A little harsh on Catholics maybe... But fantastic post. Fantastic.

a reply to: Akragon

I've often reminded myself of the saying that has been credited to Saint Francis.

"Teach the gospel always; use words when necessary."

I dont preach to people and try to convince them of anything. I try to do my best and lead by example. If that has an affect, great.

a reply to: eluryh22

Well... I actually mean Just the four books...

I guess I should have said that