Religion

mgardener

(2,102 posts)

34. I formally left the Catholic church almost 15 years ago.

Tue Jun 24, 2025, 08:46 AM

Jun 24

12 years of Catholic school and I was a Lay Minister.

I left because of the child sexual abuse scandal and because of the roles women were not afforded in the Catholic church, simply because they were women.

Since then I have done a lot of reading and joined book groups that read books by progressive Christian writers.

I am amazed a my depth of ignorance about the Bible and also the weapon the Bible has become.
I question everything that I was told to believe.
And I am not sure I could ever be part of a church an organized religion, ever again.
I may be wrong about what Jesus wants me to do for others, but I volunteer at a food shelf, try to be kind to others ( although I am having a difficult time with Trump and Republicans!).
It is hard to trust " religion" when you see how it is twisted and manipulated it becomes to be so cruel to others.

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Highlight:

A question if you want to answer. What caused you to deconstruct from your religion. [View all] Duncanpup Jun 24 OP

1984. I was sitting with my family in synagogue on Yom Kippur, no_hypocrisy Jun 24 #1

I was raised Southern Baptist, which is enough in itself. Haggard Celine Jun 24 #2

I was raised Southern Baptist, too! ShazzieB Jun 24 #75

I was born without a religion gene. Girard442 Jun 24 #3

Or perhaps within your genes, there is an inate immunity to religion? 70sEraVet Jun 24 #11

Raised Jewish moonshinegnomie Jun 24 #4

The absolute hypocrisy. OldBaldy1701E Jun 24 #5

I suspect he wanted the tithes. Joinfortmill Jun 24 #15

He just thought that gawd made him lord over men. OldBaldy1701E Jun 24 #53

In High School Fiber Lady Jun 24 #6

Lunch time at Catholic school dlilafae Jun 24 #7

I too have struggled with religion since I was a teenager. Lonestarblue Jun 24 #8

I was nine and my catechism teacher told me that dogs don't go to heaven. Javaman Jun 24 #9

I was about to make my Confirmation mgardener Jun 24 #41

Eight years of Catholic school. The second grade teacher LuckyLib Jun 24 #80

Will Rogers said.. Permanut Jun 24 #77

You could say my parents believed in freedom of thought EverHopeful Jun 24 #10

By their preachers shall you know them RVN VET71 Jun 25 #82

Plain and simple indigoth Jun 24 #12

Locus of Control. multigraincracker Jun 24 #13

Catholic girl. I was divorced in my 20s. Joinfortmill Jun 24 #14

The Rev. James Cheek was the beginning for me. He was my Western Civ. instructor at Union Junior College. 3Hotdogs Jun 24 #16

Once I was old enough to study human biology, any belief in a virgin birth disappeared. Lonestarblue Jun 24 #18

Alcoholism OC375 Jun 24 #17

Going to seminary :-) markie Jun 24 #19

I grew up in a convent SLClarke Jun 24 #20

Was raised Catholic Woodwizard Jun 24 #21

Do unto others as you would have it done unto you. BattleRow Jun 24 #22

Many of us have a very strong faith. beemerphill Jun 24 #23

Hoping to impress a girl in college, I went to her fundamentalist church... lastlib Jun 24 #24

I tried for many years to be a Christian. Trueblue Texan Jun 24 #25

"...I could see no convincing evidence." rubbersole Jun 24 #37

I respect all belief systems. Trueblue Texan Jun 24 #43

When it gets used as a political WEAPON. Which seems to be always. usaf-vet Jun 24 #26

Raised Catholic purple_haze Jun 24 #27

Reason orangecrush Jun 24 #28

Nuns and priests were mean, physical and mental. Picked on "slow" kids. twodogsbarking Jun 24 #29

Eight years of Catholic school. 2MuchNoise Jun 24 #66

Rest easy my friend, they are all dead by now. We survived, but there are scars. twodogsbarking Jun 24 #69

Recovering Catholic: Chasstev365 Jun 24 #30

I didn't know about the passports!!! cpamomfromtexas Jun 24 #45

No able to post links Chasstev365 Jun 24 #49

The hypocrisy of organized religion Bluestocking Jun 24 #31

Never really belived. Went to Catholic school for 12 years, did all the stuff with respect but no real faith. Srkdqltr Jun 24 #32

Born and raised a Roman Catholic... BobsYourUncle Jun 24 #33

I formally left the Catholic church almost 15 years ago. mgardener Jun 24 #34

I grew up. Became an adult... Layzeebeaver Jun 24 #35

I never believed a word of it myself. mwb970 Jun 24 #36

Now there is a strategy! Trueblue Texan Jun 24 #55

I went to Catholic school. As I grew up I'm thinking if God is all love why is there so much hate. TommieMommy Jun 24 #38

As soon as I went away to college I stopped attending Mass Ritabert Jun 24 #39

I haven't: I practice Christ's teachings on my own LSparkle Jun 24 #40

"I've cut out the middle man and am a DIY Christian." Love it! 2MuchNoise Jun 24 #72

I was a teenager going to confirmation classes Qanisqineq Jun 24 #42

The people I was sitting next to in church were not good people outside of church. NoMoreRepugs Jun 24 #44

Raised Catholic LoCo Cat Lady Jun 24 #46

i was lucky I think. barbtries Jun 24 #47

Old School Methodist here SARose Jun 24 #48

I had those experiences at Methodist Summer Camp yellowdogintexas Jun 25 #81

Awesome! SARose Jun 25 #83

Not mocking religion. However, Chasstev365 Jun 24 #50

That is FABULOUS!!! Trueblue Texan Jun 24 #59

Good Question Aaeia Jun 24 #51

I read all the responses Aaeia Jun 24 #57

First week of school Conjuay Jun 24 #52

She told me in a dream bfoxmatt Jun 24 #54

Being excommunicated at 18 was but one step in a process that had niyad Jun 24 #56

How does one reconcile a 'sky god-trnity' with vast endlessness of the universe? brush Jun 24 #58

Too many traumas to remember from mountain grammy Jun 24 #60

It happened in my single digits. Jirel Jun 24 #61

Nasty malicious gossiping church "ladies" and their equally nasty daughters. Clouds Passing Jun 24 #62

I once read that most people leave their church because they feel misunderstood and rejected. Tbear Jun 24 #63

I was raised to be a believer, but it never really took. Americanme Jun 24 #64

Nothing Delarage Jun 24 #65

Eight years in Catholic school. Enough said. 2MuchNoise Jun 24 #67

I gave up being my rural church secretary at age 14 and have only returned for weddings and funerals. It just got sinkingfeeling Jun 24 #68

Lifelong atheist angrychair Jun 24 #70

It began when I was 8 years old sitting in church, cksmithy Jun 24 #71

Reason, snot Jun 24 #73

about 12 yrs old: this shit don't make sense. ret5hd Jun 24 #74

Common sense. Polly Hennessey Jun 24 #76

I was eight CloudWatcher Jun 24 #78

For me, I am 71 JPK Jun 24 #79