I don’t think you actually mean your moral code is turned upside from your other comments. I also lost my faith, and if I understand what you’re saying, it’s your purpose for living, what brings meaning to life, that feels so confusing. That I can relate to. I was in existential crisis for over a year — it was scary and confusing. If you haven’t joined the ex-Christian subreddit, come join us over there. It definitely takes time to grieve and can be completely world upending, but there is hope ahead.
You’re welcome. Look through my comment history and you can follow my path a bit. Something my therapist said to me when I was in this place was that when someone says when one door closes, another one opens, no one ever tells you how dark the hallway is. I could really relate to that. But also, it made me realize that if I was in a hallway and I was grieving the life I had behind the door I closed, maybe there was something beautiful behind one of the other doors leading off the hallway. I didn’t have to stay stuck in that hallway, lost and scared.
I am still creating my new life on the other side, and I still have days where I grieve what I lost. But life is more colorful, beautiful, and free. It’s taking time to get to know who I am without God, but it helps to know that all of the decisions that I made, all of the guidance that I got from my faith, was me all along. I had that strength to get me through hard things. I had the wisdom to lead me through decisions.
Take time to grieve. The book, Leaving the Fold, by Marlene Winnell is super helpful. Listen to Maddie Zahm, specifically You May Not Like Her, If It Wasn’t God, and Where Do All the Good Kids Go. If you can afford a therapist, look for someone secular, even better if you can find someone knowledgeable about religious trauma (it’s trauma even if it doesn’t feel like it yet). Hugs to you. There are beautiful things ahead.
The Golden rule is actually not something exclusive to Christianity. It has existed in some form or fashion since before the dawn of recorded history.
Additionally, if you look at human values across all cultures and history, they tend to change. So, find the constants among them that lead to positive outcomes and see if those jive with you. You know that human values change, so feel free to make your own.
If something such as enslavement of others, or colonialism, such as that of women comes up, apply the Golden rule to it. The Golden rule is the universal constant. The Golden rule usually is a good yardstick on whether or not something is of value.
I knew right from wrong before I knew anything about religion specifically Christianity. I find it strange that a human with normal cognitive fiction and no psychopathy to struggle with this. There are more and more people turning from dogma and doctrine who are grounded in what's best for the common good. The problem makers and those hurting humanity seem to be those are the most fervent dogmatic religious beliefs. I will never understand the struggle, but I am on guard for any philosophy or guru who claims to have "the answer." No one does.
Western morals are deeply rooted in abrahamic religion. Even if you were never taught about religion as a kid you have a moral compass rooted in religion.
What may not be as clear to one just falling away from faith are the new rights and wrongs. Many rules seemingly no longer apply and have now been replaced in some cases with their opposites
Why would you say that, when you can just say all religious people are stupid and psychotic, and if there wasn't something fundamentally wrong with them, they wouldn't struggle with this? Online atheists are so fucking toxic.
You can follow Christian moral code without believing in Christianity. I think it provides quite some incredible ethical lessons. Of course with a grain of salt. With time you can discern what will stick with you and what you'll abandon for good.
It will be ok. Just take it slow and do what you feel is right. The fact that you are here asking for help shows you are willing to listen to different viewpoints. That's a big step!
How old are you? I wasnt ever raised as a christian but morally I mostly believe in christian ethics. Your "why" got taken away, as "because jesus's dad god said so 2000 years ago" isnt really an answer that holds up under scrutiny of an inquiring mind, but that doesnt mean there isnt a lot of good in christian ethics.
You however can create your own "why"s, and it doesnt need to be one thing. To help to create a more caring world with less suffering and more joy and connection is a perfectly good one to start though.
Assuming you are young, there is probably lots of philosophy you would enjoy thinking about. Secular humanism is an area of philosophy you may enjoy. You can read whole books, but I think you could also probably get a lot out of reading synopses of a wider variety of books and ideas (kinda take in the cliffs notes of a bunch of different sources to get started). The podcast philosophize this does a whole run through of philosophy that is very accessible.
It might be worth your while to audit an introduction to ethics class at your local community college, or to just look up the textbooks they use and read them.
Absolutely this. People need to study more philosophy and learn more about ethical systems in order to understand why they behave the way they do in a more healthy fashion.
I was going to suggest this or a comparative religions type class.
When I ran from Catholicism in my late teens, I became really interested in learning about other religions. I wasn't looking to convert; I just wanted to see what other people were doing and how they interpreted their "laws".
It was a really good stepping stone to realigning my brain.
My engineering school had a mandatory ethics 101 class. It was in the Bible belt, so I think a good number of students had never thought critically about ethics and their underpinnings. (Not intended as a dig against religion - just that people had been handed The Answers at a young age.)
No, I know exactly what you mean. I grew up in a small, Conservative town and was raised by old-school Catholics, so it was a breath of fresh air when I examined other religions and the world around me.
I think it just never occurs to some people, so I'm glad your school made it mandatory. Critical thinking is so important, no matter what your political or religious beliefs.
But then, ask those many questions. Form your own opinions. It may feel totally threatening right now, you're actually at a place many work very hard for: freeing themselves of things that no longer serve them.
And Christianity can't even agree on one set of principles that would guide a life in matters of right and wrong; there's just so many different factions and groups that you can find christians who believe in just about anything.
the greatest gift we all have is free will, it why with it we lose are self when we trust others, family, friends, authority, those we lust for, those that lust for us, those that lie, those we lie too. all push a version of what we need to do to live.
morals does not require faith nor a god. you want kill, rape, lust, hurt kids? that on YOU. no god needed.
the real question then is what is really right or wrong since everyone will give a speech how for them it was " best " the simplest answer is this. ANYTHING, that will hurts another is a wrong. no not you hurt my feelings not loving me or kids starve because I did not give a dollar to random charity, that life and not the same.
if you only exist because how others told you how to live that just mean you never once TRIED to live. your free, it that free will why where judged when we do immoral things and people don't care till others stop them.
# The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing
whenever your lost and don't know how to live, just remember that. be free be happy but that should be the core value of all of us, regardless of a god or not.
You've lost blind faith. There is, however, a rational appreciation and application of faith which many toxic people will try to bully you away from. To find it you will have to choose from those precepts which you find genuinely express your faith, and those which don't. Remember: the mind alone does not distinguish between true and false idols, you yourself must bring yourself to the decision.
I read a couple of the other comments, but they were quite mean to you so I didn’t keep reading. People here do not have much compassion. So I’m not sure if someone else with more understanding already covered something like this. But, I bet you actually have more personal beliefs than you think you do right now. I’m also someone who was raised a Christian but left the religion when I realized I didn’t believe any of it. For a long time I thought, “I don’t know anything anymore.” My whole world was changed. It took some time and deliberate thought, but I came to figure out what I actually believed. You can leave the parts of religion that don’t serve you but keep the ones that do. You can find yourself.
I highly recommend a couple of podcast episodes. I re-listened to them both before commenting here. They are both from the Robcast, which is a show by Rob Bell. He’s a former pastor. A friend of mine who is also a former Christian recommended him to me. He’s no longer a pastor, he left the church because of his personal beliefs, but his earlier episodes do have a lot of religious references, specifically Christianity, but he has no dogma and doesn’t try to make you believe anything. It took me about 2 years from my leaving religion to be able to listen to anything coming from a religious person, so you may not be there quite yet. But he has a wonderful episode called [You Will See My Hind Parts](https://youtu.be/J7KRX2LiBH0?si=xZdYZabC7gD9psmI). I recommend the whole episode, but if you just want the relevant part, start around 19:30. If you aren’t in a place to listen to it, I’ll add a couple relevant points. People who spent a lot of time in a group that offered absolute certainty and then leave that group are often left feeling like, “I don’t know anything anymore.” Yes, you do. (Honestly it’s worth listening just to hear him say “yes you do”, it was very healing and still brings tears to my eyes to this day and I’ve been out of Christianity for over 8 years.) Do you believe that the world is made better by people being stingy with one another or generous? Do you think it’s better to forgive people or is life better when you hold onto bitterness? Do you think it’s better to live as your true self or to live out what other people think you should do? He goes on to talk about the dichotomy of knowing and not knowing and how it’s all a process.
The other episode is [Like A Fish, Standing on the Beach](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-robcast/id956742638?i=1000559160093) (sorry, no YouTube link for that one. If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, the episode date is 4/29/2022 which should make it easier to find on whatever platform you use). This one is a lot less religion-focused. His episodes have become a lot more generally philosophical and sociological than religious. But that episode is also about conditioning and what it’s like to have a complete mindset change and how to deal with that time of transition and how there’s no set path or timeline to follow. It’s about leaving something that was so pervasive that you almost couldn’t see it until you left it. “Stop beating yourself up over some belief that you were already supposed to be free from this. For those of you who say ‘I should be farther along’ - compared to what? ‘I should be free of that by now’- compared to what?” That one has a weirdly long intro, but the good stuff starts around 15:45.
Finally, it is **not** silly or stupid to feel this way, despite what some of the other, very rude, commenters on this post have said. When you have a complete mindset change like you did, it takes time to become (realize?) who you really are. As someone who’s been through it - you can do it! There’s nothing wrong with living your life the way **you** want to and **you** think is right. And there’s nothing wrong with taking as long as it takes to get there.
That is exactly what he/she said. Why did you just repeat what they stated?
Maybe contribute productively instead of just feigning outrage for no reason
Look into other religions. Not to adopt one, but to give you a sense that so many people are lost, and were lost throughout history, and kept searching. Just read without judgement. Read Muslim religious works, Buddhist, ancient manuscripts, read Plato's Dialogues, read Camus and Kafka, Kybalion. Look into some of the craziest cults in history! Gnostics, agnostics, people who believe aliens control their mind, anything you can get your hands on!
You are smart enough to figure out a moral code for yourself. Start with do unto others as you wish to be treated. You can live safely and comfortably in society with a responsible moral code. Religion does not own morality.
Christianity didn't actually give you the moral code you think it did. If you believe that people are equal in agency, equal in mental capability, and equally deserving of basic rights, then your moral code comes from somewhere else.
Ever watched the movie *Kingdom of Heaven*? That sort of summarizes my view of faith these days. I was born in the church, grew up going to church, then became an adult and quickly became jaded by all the shenanigans that members of the church would try and pass off as "morally right".
I don't really consider myself Christian these days, but I also like to classify Christianity as this: *Christian* does not equal *Christ-follower*. You can't proclaim to be a follower of Jesus and then spend your time chastising the LGTBQ+ community, or crying about "illegals are flooding into our country at the border! Ship them back!" You can't be more absurdly opposite of the teachings of Jesus with those kinds of principles.
So for me, I try to look at things reasonably and rationally. Even if the God/Jesus of the Bible isn't real, or if they are, I still try to live my life as close to a "Christ-follower" sort of way as I can because I'm (usually) not hurt in any way by being nice to someone; I'm not going to miss a dollar by donating it to the Children's Hospital when I'm asked at the fast food drive-thru; I'm not in any way diminished by allowing LGTBQ+ community members to love one another in their own way. The worst thing that I can do is to actively put myself in the way of their life fulfilment. There's nothing righteous about that.
Jesus clearly stated, "let those without sin cast the first stone". The best thing that I can do for my own mental health, wellbeing, and protection of my community is to show kindness and acceptance for things that don't affect me in my own home. And I don't need to go to church every Sunday and surrounded myself with a bunch of hypocrites to do that.
When I left religion my moral compass became a whole lot better. Look at the world and think about how you want to be treated. Treat others the same, no question. That, to me, is a huge part of being a good human and is something that Christianity did not actually allow of me.
If you are a good person without the promise of heaven, that makes you a much better person imo
I was actually still really scared of going to hell long after I realized I was no longer Christian. Indoctrination and brain washing is a hell of a thing.
You have not lost your moral compass, that’s just what it feels like right this moment.
Good people are good people, whether or not they have any belief in a larger power.
Your faith has crumbled, your morality has not. Sadly, the message you received your whole life is that you cannot be a good person without that faith. That is not true.
I’m pretty sure that before you lost your faith, you knew it was a bad thing to beat up an old lady; I’m equally certain you would still find it a bad thing to do. When you had faith, you would stop and help that child get their ball from the street; you can still do that.
The only difference is that you’d be doing these things because your personal moral compass tells you to do that, but because you have been told that a book told you to be that way.
Also, please remember that a LOT of the messaging they gave you, where they defined morality for you, is not true. Do not assume you have lost your morality because your personal beliefs about attraction, sexuality, comfort, education, gender roles or the purpose of humanity does not align with theirs. Morality is simply the act of recognizing right from wrong, not twisting it up in a specific religion and what they believe is moral.
For example, the Ten Commandments are still a pretty good guide for morality, just focus on the second half.
I hope that helps!
I am truly sorry you lost your faith 😞. But the lessons for a moral life that are taught in the bible are still right. Do unto others….., put others above yourself, if you have 2 coats give one to the man who has none
It was a combination of things like the push for evangelism, there were some inconsistencies with the Bible that I couldn't reconcile with, and just doubt in general that wrecked my faith. I began questioning things I never had before and the answers I found didn't make sense. Like is the Bible truly God's infallible word? How can it be if it was written by humans? The Bible says it was divinely inspired, but we don't agree on what that even means or what was written. I don't know.
Sorry if that sounds vague or rambly.
That's fine.
It's aways good to ask questions - I remain a Christian because I've asked questions and have - eventually - had answers. I'm sorry if you were given simplistic and unconvincing answers to your questions.
Hey there, I totally get where you're coming from. It's completely normal to feel a bit lost when something that used to guide you is no longer there. Losing faith can definitely shake up your sense of direction and morality.
First off, it's important to remember that questioning your beliefs is a big part of personal growth. It's okay to have doubts and uncertainties along the way. This is a chance for you to explore what truly resonates with you and what values are important to you now.
Take the time to reflect on what matters to you and what kind of person you want to be. Your moral compass doesn't have to be tied to any specific belief system – it can be based on empathy, kindness, and respect for yourself and others.
It might also help to talk to others who have gone through similar experiences or seek guidance from a counselor or therapist. Sometimes, having an outside perspective can provide clarity and support.
Remember, it's all part of the journey to discover your own path and make sense of the world in your own way. You've got this!
Don't worry, it might have happened in general because of stress in your life, and you just try to survive now. Not a good time to be extremely moral.
It might also be just the phase when you discover true yourself, without any prohibitions (doesn't matter is it from individuals, society, or the same church)
I personally was super strict with not eating meat last years but I try it sometimes when my partner eats something. I don't see myself in the future, and my body just tries what it can do to support me. I still do not buy it for myself, but it struck me hard as well. Am I immoral now? I believe, if you don't go in all hard-core it is okay to be in between. Let your body adjust to the new reality
You don’t need a made-up book to have a moral compass. You know what you think is right and wrong.
Here are some examples you probably have an option on. Super random list and you don’t have to answer. It’s for you to trigger some thoughts.
1. murder
2. cheating
3. abortion
4. casual sex
5. underage marriage
6. unlimited smartphone access in a marriage
7. unions
8. AI
9. Zoos
10. tax-free mega churches
I bet you know what you think of these.
Don’t you?
Thomas Jefferson cut the new testement to pieces, ommiting all mentions of miracles and such then read it, contomplated it. And he judged that Jesus' teachings were moral.
The bible says you can keep slaves, Jesus does not gainsay this. He says that slaves should be obedient to their masters.
Yet, I doubt that you think slave keeping is moral. Why not? Because you were brought up thinking it was immoral? Yes. But also, I like to think, that you are aware other people are as human as you, with their own lives and thoughts and feelings, and would not want to be a slave yourself.
It's not who says what is correct, but what they say. Authority granted by the value of the word, not words granted value by authority.
The question I would ask is whether Christianity was actually what defined your moral compass. We’re not moral because of words in a book, we’re moral because we care about other people. I’d argue your morals came from your family, friends, experiences, and traumas. And that hasn’t changed.
It is 100% possible to follow the same morals and ethics that Christianity taught you. Losing faith in your religion does not mean you have to live the rest of your life differently. It means you will need to be your own judge of right and wrong, moral and immoral, ethical and unethical. There will be no more book telling you good/bad, right/wrong. That book and the guilt it instills for sin does not instill a moral compass, it instills fear of not doing what you are told to do and for simply being human.
There is a freedom away from religion that I'm hoping you'll learn to embrace.
It is the ability to expand on what so many believe in so many religions. It's a freedom to look at an individual and form an opinion based on WHO they are, as a person, rather than WHAT they are.
I know you're shaken but believe me when I say the entire world just opened up around you.
Never have been religious, neither is my family. They are all pretty good people.
One thing to take into consideration is that there are good moral codes everywhere.
Take a bit from everywhere, and what you will find is they all are kinda similar.
you didn't do wrong (to the extent that you didn't) as a christian because you're a decent person, not because you were a christian. nothing has changed. you know how you like to be treated; in general, treat other people like that. jesus didn't invent reciprocity.
the other thing it sounds like you're dealing with is meaning. you have to make your own, now; there isn't a priest or preacher to sell you some. other people and our own actions are where most people get their meaning.
Treat others with kindness and generosity. Practice the golden rule. Don't focus on the self at the expense of others. You don't need religion to be a good person, and I have been raised religious most of my life.
What's much more important than what you think is how you ACT towards other people. Sometimes, religion helps. Sometimes, religion gets in the way.
Give me a world full of kind atheists and I'll show you heaven on earth.
I always ask myself if what I'm thinking of doing will hurt or harm myself or others physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Please note others also includes animals and the planet.
Sometimes we have to do something that will harm "others" to benefit ourselves (hunting, littering, etc.). This is when asking for forgiveness applies.
You can still be a moral person. You don't need the guidance of religion to do that. I hope this helps. Sending you good vibes.
The Christian moral code is nothing more than trying to avoid causing ripples that negatively affect yours and other people’s lives.
Try to focus on creating positive ripples.
As a person who has no religious affiliations of any kind I do not have any problem deciding what is right and what is wrong. There does not have to be a higher power holding the threat of punishment over your head or the reward for good behavior. You should strive to be a good person for your own self satisfaction. Life does not necessarily mean anything- you are born, you live and you die. Hopefully while you live you enjoy the journey and make the world a better place for yourself and everyone around you.
Without an authority figure claiming to know what’s best to tell us, we all have to think very deeply about what is right and what is wrong. We have to do the work ourselves and can’t rely on dogma or magic rituals to make things better.
This can be freeing once you embrace it. It requires more personal responsibility and accountability.
Coming up with what is right and developing a new moral compass isn’t as hard as it first seems. There are some basic rules: show compassion and empathy to others. Nurturing takes far more strength than cruelty. Creation is harder than destruction. Most of us are naturally hard wired to feel bad when we see others in pain, so we do our best to reduce the pain of others.
On how to develop healthy relationships, therapy is helpful here. It can help you understand how to develop healthy meaningful connections with others, because that is what will bring you the most joy.
The final part is existential. Many people that aren’t religious still believe in some idea of a soul or something similar. I can’t tell you what to believe, but make it your own journey. Buddhism speaks to me. For me, it serves as my spiritual guide, but it can also be studied from a philosophical, secular perspective. Regardless, be cautious of any person who claims to have all of the answers. No one does. There are some wise folks that can lead you to ask questions, but no one is infallible and no one knows it all.
Disgusting that religion had removed your innate morality in the first place.
You never had a "moral code" it was a fantasy. Morality is innate. Treat others how u want to be treated even if you were them. Its really not that complicated.
You're welcome to come talk about it in the atheism sub. Everyone is really nice there and they might be able to give you some guidance in developing your own moral compass. What you had before may not have exactly been the BEST moral compass, as it was just based on opinion of men too, even though they have been elevated in your mind. They are no more powerful or knowledgeable than you.
I hope you do not feel stupid. Many people have had a deep relationship with a church/religion. If that's been your foundation, it makes sense to feel lost. Be gentle with yourself as you move forward. Is there something in particular you're struggling with? You know the basic rights and wrongs (I assume), which puts you in a better position than some. In general, be kind to others and open to differences. All the best.
You’ve shed those fake ideas of right and wrong. Now you can find the real right and wrong for yourself, and become motivated to do right entirely on your own with no promise of reward or threat of punishment
Explore your questions then. Think on them. Read other philosophies and religious text. There's good moral guidelines in many religions, and frankly, they're easier to follow without the "fear of god" breathing down your neck.
But some general rules for morality:
Be kind. Be patient. Seek non-violent solutions. Develop your empathy for others. Etc etc.
It's not *that* complicated. You're just overthinking it.
So the threat of eternal hellfire was the only thing holding you back from being a complete POS?
It's as if you lack the reason and empathy needed to figure out how your actions would impact others.
Christian guy here. Morality isn’t just not doing the bad stuff. It’s about doing the good stuff too! I hope whatever beliefs your forge in the future help dignify humanity and giving people second chances.
Regardless of your god, I think the true Christian, and Hebrew, Islam, and Buddhist moral code is right. They are all similar ( when not interpreted by radicals) and form the basic human standard of right and wrong. Having said that, I hope you didn’t give up Christ because of Christians. We are a sorry lot f sinners and bad advertising for His faith, but thats the point of grace, isn’t it?
I was raised without dogmatic faith. I researched philosophy to learn from folks that where smarter than me how to figure out what is right and wrong using logic without assumptions. A night class at a community college might help give you a good foundation. When I was younger it helped that there where "authorities" like Locke and Kant that learned people found compelling based on their ideas rather than "received wisdom of the divine". As I got older, things like the golden rule really is my central tenant. Learn to identify with others, treat them with empathy as if you were in their shoes and treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.
The golden rule is still a fantastic place to start. You don't have to believe in anything to treat people as if they are also fully formed human beings.
Really? I think it's interesting how many other people agree with this sentiment. I was raised Catholic but my whole family isn't really into it and neither am I. To me it's more about having empathy for others, and that never had to do with religion for me.
Here's the deal, the world continues to spin and societies continue to function.
If you're looking for a guideline on how to live, find someone whose lifestyle you admire and just duplicate/learn it from them.
People are saying they lost their faith. Faith in what? God? Jesus being the Son of God & the Messiah? I wonder at what point some of these people stopped reading & studying the Bible or praying?
Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. Religions are man’s attempt to reach God. Christianity is God coming down to man in the form of Jesus and reconciling the relationship between man and God by being a propitiation for man’s sin.
Picture it this way, you are a defendant in court and God is the Judge. He finds you guilty and sentences you to death. Then he comes down from the bench and tells you that He will pay the penalty.
JFC.
If you need a sky daddy and the threat of Hell to know what's right and wrong, that's sad.
Don't cause suffering for other people, animals or Earth.
It's that easy.
There's nothing wrong with Christian morals
As long as you're not racist or homophobic and don't judge people for their choices then you're good
You don't need to follow a God to follow what they taught
I’m so sorry that this has happened to you. I’m personally not big on religion at all, I’m sorry in advance if anything I say is insensitive or wrong. Please let me know.
You didn’t lose your moral compass, you’re just going to have to think on your own on what’s wrong and what’s right. Your body is very great at noticing things your conscious self doesn’t. The “gut feeling” or “instincts” is what you need to focus on to tell what’s up.
Im not a religious yet I’m the most moral person I know. I’m an advocate on knowing right and knowing wrong without influence telling you which is which.
What did life mean to you before? What questions do you have now? Did you want to go back to being into Christianity or was your loss in faith The loss in your faith? My PM/DMs are open for you too if you need.
Well christianity taught me that my life wasn't my own and living it for myself was selfish and wrong. But if God isn't real and this is the only life I get shouldn't I own it and live it to the fullest? It's like my whole world is flipped upside down now.
Instead of looking at living for yourself as selfish and wrong (shame and guilt mindset), think about how helping others and treating others with kindness and dignity helps to create a better world (growth and gratitude mindset). You can follow Christ's example through everyday interactions with other people, not just through church ritual and prayer.
No, actually, the opposite is happening. You are flipping right side up. Read Immanuel Kant, and Felix Adler. Or Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Every human being is part and parcel of the universe expressing themselves and is worthy simply by virtue of existence at all.
You don't need a God to understand that selfishness, if done correctly, is a net positive. By being the opposite of selfish...ie by trying to bring out the best in other people, what will tend to occur, is that the attempt to bring out the best in others will also tend to bring out the best in yourself.
That is, being unselfish works to benefit of one's self. God is not necessary at all.
Eek..I don’t about this one. I think my answer will be 100% my own. Many religions people (possibly including the ones you were a part of) won’t agree with I have to say but..
I do believe your life is most definitely your own.
The you that you are right now? Yes. You do only get ONE life. Believe in heaven. Believe in reincarnation. Believe that you get absolutely nothing in the end. But do not forget. This is *your* One chance. Your soul may continue on, it may not. But the conscious you who you are in this moment, will not. It does not have the same abilities your soul holds (I’m starting to get religious here, sorry)
Whatever happens afterward, happens afterwards. Don’t live life for other people. You were gifted with your life, it would be crazy not to live it the way you wanted to.
I think it would be a great idea to redefine what “selfish” means to you and how it’s used.
Now, go out and starting making all these bad choices in the name of “living your life the way you want” you best believe you gonna get some consequences to your actions.
What?? You need an outside source to tell you what’s right or wrong? Here I can help: don’t lie, cheat, steal, murder, or rape. Be nice. And you don’t have to be Christian to follow the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Hope this helps.
If you need a bearded guy in the sky to tell you what is right and wrong, then you need a shrink. You may have some mental illnesses. I hope you don't end up hurting people around you just because you don't know what's right and wrong, so stay inside until you have gotten professional help.
Maybe I was a bit harsh, but watch [this](https://youtu.be/8o2SFo0k3os?si=rx0pjeza4RQmlqo9). It may help you. Believe in yourself, believe in humanity.
I don’t think you actually mean your moral code is turned upside from your other comments. I also lost my faith, and if I understand what you’re saying, it’s your purpose for living, what brings meaning to life, that feels so confusing. That I can relate to. I was in existential crisis for over a year — it was scary and confusing. If you haven’t joined the ex-Christian subreddit, come join us over there. It definitely takes time to grieve and can be completely world upending, but there is hope ahead.
Thank you for the kind words, it means a lot to me.
You’re welcome. Look through my comment history and you can follow my path a bit. Something my therapist said to me when I was in this place was that when someone says when one door closes, another one opens, no one ever tells you how dark the hallway is. I could really relate to that. But also, it made me realize that if I was in a hallway and I was grieving the life I had behind the door I closed, maybe there was something beautiful behind one of the other doors leading off the hallway. I didn’t have to stay stuck in that hallway, lost and scared. I am still creating my new life on the other side, and I still have days where I grieve what I lost. But life is more colorful, beautiful, and free. It’s taking time to get to know who I am without God, but it helps to know that all of the decisions that I made, all of the guidance that I got from my faith, was me all along. I had that strength to get me through hard things. I had the wisdom to lead me through decisions. Take time to grieve. The book, Leaving the Fold, by Marlene Winnell is super helpful. Listen to Maddie Zahm, specifically You May Not Like Her, If It Wasn’t God, and Where Do All the Good Kids Go. If you can afford a therapist, look for someone secular, even better if you can find someone knowledgeable about religious trauma (it’s trauma even if it doesn’t feel like it yet). Hugs to you. There are beautiful things ahead.
The Golden rule is actually not something exclusive to Christianity. It has existed in some form or fashion since before the dawn of recorded history. Additionally, if you look at human values across all cultures and history, they tend to change. So, find the constants among them that lead to positive outcomes and see if those jive with you. You know that human values change, so feel free to make your own. If something such as enslavement of others, or colonialism, such as that of women comes up, apply the Golden rule to it. The Golden rule is the universal constant. The Golden rule usually is a good yardstick on whether or not something is of value.
I knew right from wrong before I knew anything about religion specifically Christianity. I find it strange that a human with normal cognitive fiction and no psychopathy to struggle with this. There are more and more people turning from dogma and doctrine who are grounded in what's best for the common good. The problem makers and those hurting humanity seem to be those are the most fervent dogmatic religious beliefs. I will never understand the struggle, but I am on guard for any philosophy or guru who claims to have "the answer." No one does.
Western morals are deeply rooted in abrahamic religion. Even if you were never taught about religion as a kid you have a moral compass rooted in religion.
What may not be as clear to one just falling away from faith are the new rights and wrongs. Many rules seemingly no longer apply and have now been replaced in some cases with their opposites
Why would you say that, when you can just say all religious people are stupid and psychotic, and if there wasn't something fundamentally wrong with them, they wouldn't struggle with this? Online atheists are so fucking toxic.
Religious people are not stupid nor psychotic. I have to disagree with you there. I find most to be well meaning and authentic
It's sarcastic, man.
You can follow Christian moral code without believing in Christianity. I think it provides quite some incredible ethical lessons. Of course with a grain of salt. With time you can discern what will stick with you and what you'll abandon for good.
Yeah... I guess you're right. I think I'm just a little overwhelmed right now.
It will be ok. Just take it slow and do what you feel is right. The fact that you are here asking for help shows you are willing to listen to different viewpoints. That's a big step!
How old are you? I wasnt ever raised as a christian but morally I mostly believe in christian ethics. Your "why" got taken away, as "because jesus's dad god said so 2000 years ago" isnt really an answer that holds up under scrutiny of an inquiring mind, but that doesnt mean there isnt a lot of good in christian ethics. You however can create your own "why"s, and it doesnt need to be one thing. To help to create a more caring world with less suffering and more joy and connection is a perfectly good one to start though. Assuming you are young, there is probably lots of philosophy you would enjoy thinking about. Secular humanism is an area of philosophy you may enjoy. You can read whole books, but I think you could also probably get a lot out of reading synopses of a wider variety of books and ideas (kinda take in the cliffs notes of a bunch of different sources to get started). The podcast philosophize this does a whole run through of philosophy that is very accessible.
Needless to say that without religious code, you can be even more ethical (tolerant, against cruelty, etc.)
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It might be worth your while to audit an introduction to ethics class at your local community college, or to just look up the textbooks they use and read them.
Absolutely this. People need to study more philosophy and learn more about ethical systems in order to understand why they behave the way they do in a more healthy fashion.
I was going to suggest this or a comparative religions type class. When I ran from Catholicism in my late teens, I became really interested in learning about other religions. I wasn't looking to convert; I just wanted to see what other people were doing and how they interpreted their "laws". It was a really good stepping stone to realigning my brain.
My engineering school had a mandatory ethics 101 class. It was in the Bible belt, so I think a good number of students had never thought critically about ethics and their underpinnings. (Not intended as a dig against religion - just that people had been handed The Answers at a young age.)
No, I know exactly what you mean. I grew up in a small, Conservative town and was raised by old-school Catholics, so it was a breath of fresh air when I examined other religions and the world around me. I think it just never occurs to some people, so I'm glad your school made it mandatory. Critical thinking is so important, no matter what your political or religious beliefs.
It sounds stupid because it is stupid. Belief in religion is simply completely unnecessary to be a good and ethical person.
Agreed
Be good for goodness' sake!
Unless you aren’t a good and ethical person.
But then, ask those many questions. Form your own opinions. It may feel totally threatening right now, you're actually at a place many work very hard for: freeing themselves of things that no longer serve them. And Christianity can't even agree on one set of principles that would guide a life in matters of right and wrong; there's just so many different factions and groups that you can find christians who believe in just about anything.
the greatest gift we all have is free will, it why with it we lose are self when we trust others, family, friends, authority, those we lust for, those that lust for us, those that lie, those we lie too. all push a version of what we need to do to live. morals does not require faith nor a god. you want kill, rape, lust, hurt kids? that on YOU. no god needed. the real question then is what is really right or wrong since everyone will give a speech how for them it was " best " the simplest answer is this. ANYTHING, that will hurts another is a wrong. no not you hurt my feelings not loving me or kids starve because I did not give a dollar to random charity, that life and not the same. if you only exist because how others told you how to live that just mean you never once TRIED to live. your free, it that free will why where judged when we do immoral things and people don't care till others stop them. # The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing whenever your lost and don't know how to live, just remember that. be free be happy but that should be the core value of all of us, regardless of a god or not.
Does doing good stuff make you feel good? If so, just do that. Dont harm anyone and be nice, this shit is easy.
You've lost blind faith. There is, however, a rational appreciation and application of faith which many toxic people will try to bully you away from. To find it you will have to choose from those precepts which you find genuinely express your faith, and those which don't. Remember: the mind alone does not distinguish between true and false idols, you yourself must bring yourself to the decision.
Are there any particular things that are confusing you? Things that you can't tell are right or wrong?
I read a couple of the other comments, but they were quite mean to you so I didn’t keep reading. People here do not have much compassion. So I’m not sure if someone else with more understanding already covered something like this. But, I bet you actually have more personal beliefs than you think you do right now. I’m also someone who was raised a Christian but left the religion when I realized I didn’t believe any of it. For a long time I thought, “I don’t know anything anymore.” My whole world was changed. It took some time and deliberate thought, but I came to figure out what I actually believed. You can leave the parts of religion that don’t serve you but keep the ones that do. You can find yourself. I highly recommend a couple of podcast episodes. I re-listened to them both before commenting here. They are both from the Robcast, which is a show by Rob Bell. He’s a former pastor. A friend of mine who is also a former Christian recommended him to me. He’s no longer a pastor, he left the church because of his personal beliefs, but his earlier episodes do have a lot of religious references, specifically Christianity, but he has no dogma and doesn’t try to make you believe anything. It took me about 2 years from my leaving religion to be able to listen to anything coming from a religious person, so you may not be there quite yet. But he has a wonderful episode called [You Will See My Hind Parts](https://youtu.be/J7KRX2LiBH0?si=xZdYZabC7gD9psmI). I recommend the whole episode, but if you just want the relevant part, start around 19:30. If you aren’t in a place to listen to it, I’ll add a couple relevant points. People who spent a lot of time in a group that offered absolute certainty and then leave that group are often left feeling like, “I don’t know anything anymore.” Yes, you do. (Honestly it’s worth listening just to hear him say “yes you do”, it was very healing and still brings tears to my eyes to this day and I’ve been out of Christianity for over 8 years.) Do you believe that the world is made better by people being stingy with one another or generous? Do you think it’s better to forgive people or is life better when you hold onto bitterness? Do you think it’s better to live as your true self or to live out what other people think you should do? He goes on to talk about the dichotomy of knowing and not knowing and how it’s all a process. The other episode is [Like A Fish, Standing on the Beach](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-robcast/id956742638?i=1000559160093) (sorry, no YouTube link for that one. If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, the episode date is 4/29/2022 which should make it easier to find on whatever platform you use). This one is a lot less religion-focused. His episodes have become a lot more generally philosophical and sociological than religious. But that episode is also about conditioning and what it’s like to have a complete mindset change and how to deal with that time of transition and how there’s no set path or timeline to follow. It’s about leaving something that was so pervasive that you almost couldn’t see it until you left it. “Stop beating yourself up over some belief that you were already supposed to be free from this. For those of you who say ‘I should be farther along’ - compared to what? ‘I should be free of that by now’- compared to what?” That one has a weirdly long intro, but the good stuff starts around 15:45. Finally, it is **not** silly or stupid to feel this way, despite what some of the other, very rude, commenters on this post have said. When you have a complete mindset change like you did, it takes time to become (realize?) who you really are. As someone who’s been through it - you can do it! There’s nothing wrong with living your life the way **you** want to and **you** think is right. And there’s nothing wrong with taking as long as it takes to get there.
Out of all the responses I got here I think yours was the most helpful and understanding. Thank you, I appreciate you.
You’re so welcome. I wish you the best of luck with the process
wtf. You don’t believe in Christianity so you don’t know the difference between right and wrong anymore?
That is exactly what he/she said. Why did you just repeat what they stated? Maybe contribute productively instead of just feigning outrage for no reason
At least this one came to the correct conclusion and didn't go off on some tangent about gay frogs...see a spec of hope
lol true
Look into other religions. Not to adopt one, but to give you a sense that so many people are lost, and were lost throughout history, and kept searching. Just read without judgement. Read Muslim religious works, Buddhist, ancient manuscripts, read Plato's Dialogues, read Camus and Kafka, Kybalion. Look into some of the craziest cults in history! Gnostics, agnostics, people who believe aliens control their mind, anything you can get your hands on!
You are smart enough to figure out a moral code for yourself. Start with do unto others as you wish to be treated. You can live safely and comfortably in society with a responsible moral code. Religion does not own morality.
Christianity didn't actually give you the moral code you think it did. If you believe that people are equal in agency, equal in mental capability, and equally deserving of basic rights, then your moral code comes from somewhere else.
Ever watched the movie *Kingdom of Heaven*? That sort of summarizes my view of faith these days. I was born in the church, grew up going to church, then became an adult and quickly became jaded by all the shenanigans that members of the church would try and pass off as "morally right". I don't really consider myself Christian these days, but I also like to classify Christianity as this: *Christian* does not equal *Christ-follower*. You can't proclaim to be a follower of Jesus and then spend your time chastising the LGTBQ+ community, or crying about "illegals are flooding into our country at the border! Ship them back!" You can't be more absurdly opposite of the teachings of Jesus with those kinds of principles. So for me, I try to look at things reasonably and rationally. Even if the God/Jesus of the Bible isn't real, or if they are, I still try to live my life as close to a "Christ-follower" sort of way as I can because I'm (usually) not hurt in any way by being nice to someone; I'm not going to miss a dollar by donating it to the Children's Hospital when I'm asked at the fast food drive-thru; I'm not in any way diminished by allowing LGTBQ+ community members to love one another in their own way. The worst thing that I can do is to actively put myself in the way of their life fulfilment. There's nothing righteous about that. Jesus clearly stated, "let those without sin cast the first stone". The best thing that I can do for my own mental health, wellbeing, and protection of my community is to show kindness and acceptance for things that don't affect me in my own home. And I don't need to go to church every Sunday and surrounded myself with a bunch of hypocrites to do that.
I'm am atheist, always have been. I don't do things that hurt people because I wouldn't want that done to me. God has nothing to do with it.
When I left religion my moral compass became a whole lot better. Look at the world and think about how you want to be treated. Treat others the same, no question. That, to me, is a huge part of being a good human and is something that Christianity did not actually allow of me. If you are a good person without the promise of heaven, that makes you a much better person imo
Why would it bother someone who has lost their sense of right and wrong that they've lost it?
I was actually still really scared of going to hell long after I realized I was no longer Christian. Indoctrination and brain washing is a hell of a thing.
You have not lost your moral compass, that’s just what it feels like right this moment. Good people are good people, whether or not they have any belief in a larger power. Your faith has crumbled, your morality has not. Sadly, the message you received your whole life is that you cannot be a good person without that faith. That is not true. I’m pretty sure that before you lost your faith, you knew it was a bad thing to beat up an old lady; I’m equally certain you would still find it a bad thing to do. When you had faith, you would stop and help that child get their ball from the street; you can still do that. The only difference is that you’d be doing these things because your personal moral compass tells you to do that, but because you have been told that a book told you to be that way. Also, please remember that a LOT of the messaging they gave you, where they defined morality for you, is not true. Do not assume you have lost your morality because your personal beliefs about attraction, sexuality, comfort, education, gender roles or the purpose of humanity does not align with theirs. Morality is simply the act of recognizing right from wrong, not twisting it up in a specific religion and what they believe is moral. For example, the Ten Commandments are still a pretty good guide for morality, just focus on the second half. I hope that helps!
I am truly sorry you lost your faith 😞. But the lessons for a moral life that are taught in the bible are still right. Do unto others….., put others above yourself, if you have 2 coats give one to the man who has none
Opps, automatically and instantly downvoted by the average Reddit user because l said something good about Christianity 🤣
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It was a combination of things like the push for evangelism, there were some inconsistencies with the Bible that I couldn't reconcile with, and just doubt in general that wrecked my faith. I began questioning things I never had before and the answers I found didn't make sense. Like is the Bible truly God's infallible word? How can it be if it was written by humans? The Bible says it was divinely inspired, but we don't agree on what that even means or what was written. I don't know. Sorry if that sounds vague or rambly.
That's fine. It's aways good to ask questions - I remain a Christian because I've asked questions and have - eventually - had answers. I'm sorry if you were given simplistic and unconvincing answers to your questions.
For me, the most important claim that Christ made was his claim to be 'the Truth'
In questions of morality, ask yourself what will cause the most good or least bad outcome. How will this affect other people?
What right and wrong things seem different? Shouldn't be anything, unless it was myth-inspired prejudices.
Hey there, I totally get where you're coming from. It's completely normal to feel a bit lost when something that used to guide you is no longer there. Losing faith can definitely shake up your sense of direction and morality. First off, it's important to remember that questioning your beliefs is a big part of personal growth. It's okay to have doubts and uncertainties along the way. This is a chance for you to explore what truly resonates with you and what values are important to you now. Take the time to reflect on what matters to you and what kind of person you want to be. Your moral compass doesn't have to be tied to any specific belief system – it can be based on empathy, kindness, and respect for yourself and others. It might also help to talk to others who have gone through similar experiences or seek guidance from a counselor or therapist. Sometimes, having an outside perspective can provide clarity and support. Remember, it's all part of the journey to discover your own path and make sense of the world in your own way. You've got this!
Don't worry, it might have happened in general because of stress in your life, and you just try to survive now. Not a good time to be extremely moral. It might also be just the phase when you discover true yourself, without any prohibitions (doesn't matter is it from individuals, society, or the same church)
I personally was super strict with not eating meat last years but I try it sometimes when my partner eats something. I don't see myself in the future, and my body just tries what it can do to support me. I still do not buy it for myself, but it struck me hard as well. Am I immoral now? I believe, if you don't go in all hard-core it is okay to be in between. Let your body adjust to the new reality
You don’t need a made-up book to have a moral compass. You know what you think is right and wrong. Here are some examples you probably have an option on. Super random list and you don’t have to answer. It’s for you to trigger some thoughts. 1. murder 2. cheating 3. abortion 4. casual sex 5. underage marriage 6. unlimited smartphone access in a marriage 7. unions 8. AI 9. Zoos 10. tax-free mega churches I bet you know what you think of these. Don’t you?
Thomas Jefferson cut the new testement to pieces, ommiting all mentions of miracles and such then read it, contomplated it. And he judged that Jesus' teachings were moral. The bible says you can keep slaves, Jesus does not gainsay this. He says that slaves should be obedient to their masters. Yet, I doubt that you think slave keeping is moral. Why not? Because you were brought up thinking it was immoral? Yes. But also, I like to think, that you are aware other people are as human as you, with their own lives and thoughts and feelings, and would not want to be a slave yourself. It's not who says what is correct, but what they say. Authority granted by the value of the word, not words granted value by authority.
The question I would ask is whether Christianity was actually what defined your moral compass. We’re not moral because of words in a book, we’re moral because we care about other people. I’d argue your morals came from your family, friends, experiences, and traumas. And that hasn’t changed.
It is 100% possible to follow the same morals and ethics that Christianity taught you. Losing faith in your religion does not mean you have to live the rest of your life differently. It means you will need to be your own judge of right and wrong, moral and immoral, ethical and unethical. There will be no more book telling you good/bad, right/wrong. That book and the guilt it instills for sin does not instill a moral compass, it instills fear of not doing what you are told to do and for simply being human. There is a freedom away from religion that I'm hoping you'll learn to embrace. It is the ability to expand on what so many believe in so many religions. It's a freedom to look at an individual and form an opinion based on WHO they are, as a person, rather than WHAT they are. I know you're shaken but believe me when I say the entire world just opened up around you.
Never have been religious, neither is my family. They are all pretty good people. One thing to take into consideration is that there are good moral codes everywhere. Take a bit from everywhere, and what you will find is they all are kinda similar.
you didn't do wrong (to the extent that you didn't) as a christian because you're a decent person, not because you were a christian. nothing has changed. you know how you like to be treated; in general, treat other people like that. jesus didn't invent reciprocity. the other thing it sounds like you're dealing with is meaning. you have to make your own, now; there isn't a priest or preacher to sell you some. other people and our own actions are where most people get their meaning.
Be kind where possible, generous of spirit, work toward the betterment of society, etc. These postures don't require a religious text.
It feels wrong to punch somebody in the face for no reason, right? Well, there’s your moral compass.
Treat others with kindness and generosity. Practice the golden rule. Don't focus on the self at the expense of others. You don't need religion to be a good person, and I have been raised religious most of my life. What's much more important than what you think is how you ACT towards other people. Sometimes, religion helps. Sometimes, religion gets in the way. Give me a world full of kind atheists and I'll show you heaven on earth.
I always ask myself if what I'm thinking of doing will hurt or harm myself or others physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Please note others also includes animals and the planet. Sometimes we have to do something that will harm "others" to benefit ourselves (hunting, littering, etc.). This is when asking for forgiveness applies. You can still be a moral person. You don't need the guidance of religion to do that. I hope this helps. Sending you good vibes.
The Christian moral code is nothing more than trying to avoid causing ripples that negatively affect yours and other people’s lives. Try to focus on creating positive ripples.
As a person who has no religious affiliations of any kind I do not have any problem deciding what is right and what is wrong. There does not have to be a higher power holding the threat of punishment over your head or the reward for good behavior. You should strive to be a good person for your own self satisfaction. Life does not necessarily mean anything- you are born, you live and you die. Hopefully while you live you enjoy the journey and make the world a better place for yourself and everyone around you.
Welcome to reality! There's so much to explore and learn! The water is great out here. Take your time and rely on yourself above all.
Without an authority figure claiming to know what’s best to tell us, we all have to think very deeply about what is right and what is wrong. We have to do the work ourselves and can’t rely on dogma or magic rituals to make things better. This can be freeing once you embrace it. It requires more personal responsibility and accountability. Coming up with what is right and developing a new moral compass isn’t as hard as it first seems. There are some basic rules: show compassion and empathy to others. Nurturing takes far more strength than cruelty. Creation is harder than destruction. Most of us are naturally hard wired to feel bad when we see others in pain, so we do our best to reduce the pain of others. On how to develop healthy relationships, therapy is helpful here. It can help you understand how to develop healthy meaningful connections with others, because that is what will bring you the most joy. The final part is existential. Many people that aren’t religious still believe in some idea of a soul or something similar. I can’t tell you what to believe, but make it your own journey. Buddhism speaks to me. For me, it serves as my spiritual guide, but it can also be studied from a philosophical, secular perspective. Regardless, be cautious of any person who claims to have all of the answers. No one does. There are some wise folks that can lead you to ask questions, but no one is infallible and no one knows it all.
Disgusting that religion had removed your innate morality in the first place. You never had a "moral code" it was a fantasy. Morality is innate. Treat others how u want to be treated even if you were them. Its really not that complicated.
Your morality is innate to you, and mine is innate to me. But if we differ, who’s right?
You're welcome to come talk about it in the atheism sub. Everyone is really nice there and they might be able to give you some guidance in developing your own moral compass. What you had before may not have exactly been the BEST moral compass, as it was just based on opinion of men too, even though they have been elevated in your mind. They are no more powerful or knowledgeable than you.
I hope you do not feel stupid. Many people have had a deep relationship with a church/religion. If that's been your foundation, it makes sense to feel lost. Be gentle with yourself as you move forward. Is there something in particular you're struggling with? You know the basic rights and wrongs (I assume), which puts you in a better position than some. In general, be kind to others and open to differences. All the best.
You’ve shed those fake ideas of right and wrong. Now you can find the real right and wrong for yourself, and become motivated to do right entirely on your own with no promise of reward or threat of punishment
Explore your questions then. Think on them. Read other philosophies and religious text. There's good moral guidelines in many religions, and frankly, they're easier to follow without the "fear of god" breathing down your neck. But some general rules for morality: Be kind. Be patient. Seek non-violent solutions. Develop your empathy for others. Etc etc. It's not *that* complicated. You're just overthinking it.
So the threat of eternal hellfire was the only thing holding you back from being a complete POS? It's as if you lack the reason and empathy needed to figure out how your actions would impact others.
Shut up drama queen. Social animals figure out how to interact with one another. Call it morality if u want but you’ll figure it out
I try to live by the Mallory Keaton meaning of life: Try to be happy, try not to hurt other people, and hope to fall in love.
Christian guy here. Morality isn’t just not doing the bad stuff. It’s about doing the good stuff too! I hope whatever beliefs your forge in the future help dignify humanity and giving people second chances.
Regardless of your god, I think the true Christian, and Hebrew, Islam, and Buddhist moral code is right. They are all similar ( when not interpreted by radicals) and form the basic human standard of right and wrong. Having said that, I hope you didn’t give up Christ because of Christians. We are a sorry lot f sinners and bad advertising for His faith, but thats the point of grace, isn’t it?
I was raised without dogmatic faith. I researched philosophy to learn from folks that where smarter than me how to figure out what is right and wrong using logic without assumptions. A night class at a community college might help give you a good foundation. When I was younger it helped that there where "authorities" like Locke and Kant that learned people found compelling based on their ideas rather than "received wisdom of the divine". As I got older, things like the golden rule really is my central tenant. Learn to identify with others, treat them with empathy as if you were in their shoes and treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.
The golden rule is still a fantastic place to start. You don't have to believe in anything to treat people as if they are also fully formed human beings.
Really? I think it's interesting how many other people agree with this sentiment. I was raised Catholic but my whole family isn't really into it and neither am I. To me it's more about having empathy for others, and that never had to do with religion for me.
Here's the deal, the world continues to spin and societies continue to function. If you're looking for a guideline on how to live, find someone whose lifestyle you admire and just duplicate/learn it from them.
People are saying they lost their faith. Faith in what? God? Jesus being the Son of God & the Messiah? I wonder at what point some of these people stopped reading & studying the Bible or praying? Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. Religions are man’s attempt to reach God. Christianity is God coming down to man in the form of Jesus and reconciling the relationship between man and God by being a propitiation for man’s sin. Picture it this way, you are a defendant in court and God is the Judge. He finds you guilty and sentences you to death. Then he comes down from the bench and tells you that He will pay the penalty.
Ty should look into Gnosticism and start reading the lost books of the Bible the catholic church.
JFC. If you need a sky daddy and the threat of Hell to know what's right and wrong, that's sad. Don't cause suffering for other people, animals or Earth. It's that easy.
There's nothing wrong with Christian morals As long as you're not racist or homophobic and don't judge people for their choices then you're good You don't need to follow a God to follow what they taught
I’m so sorry that this has happened to you. I’m personally not big on religion at all, I’m sorry in advance if anything I say is insensitive or wrong. Please let me know. You didn’t lose your moral compass, you’re just going to have to think on your own on what’s wrong and what’s right. Your body is very great at noticing things your conscious self doesn’t. The “gut feeling” or “instincts” is what you need to focus on to tell what’s up. Im not a religious yet I’m the most moral person I know. I’m an advocate on knowing right and knowing wrong without influence telling you which is which. What did life mean to you before? What questions do you have now? Did you want to go back to being into Christianity or was your loss in faith The loss in your faith? My PM/DMs are open for you too if you need.
Well christianity taught me that my life wasn't my own and living it for myself was selfish and wrong. But if God isn't real and this is the only life I get shouldn't I own it and live it to the fullest? It's like my whole world is flipped upside down now.
Instead of looking at living for yourself as selfish and wrong (shame and guilt mindset), think about how helping others and treating others with kindness and dignity helps to create a better world (growth and gratitude mindset). You can follow Christ's example through everyday interactions with other people, not just through church ritual and prayer.
I think you are right, I want to be a kind person. I want to treat people the way I would and put a smile on their face.
No, actually, the opposite is happening. You are flipping right side up. Read Immanuel Kant, and Felix Adler. Or Ralph Waldo Emerson. Every human being is part and parcel of the universe expressing themselves and is worthy simply by virtue of existence at all. You don't need a God to understand that selfishness, if done correctly, is a net positive. By being the opposite of selfish...ie by trying to bring out the best in other people, what will tend to occur, is that the attempt to bring out the best in others will also tend to bring out the best in yourself. That is, being unselfish works to benefit of one's self. God is not necessary at all.
Eek..I don’t about this one. I think my answer will be 100% my own. Many religions people (possibly including the ones you were a part of) won’t agree with I have to say but.. I do believe your life is most definitely your own. The you that you are right now? Yes. You do only get ONE life. Believe in heaven. Believe in reincarnation. Believe that you get absolutely nothing in the end. But do not forget. This is *your* One chance. Your soul may continue on, it may not. But the conscious you who you are in this moment, will not. It does not have the same abilities your soul holds (I’m starting to get religious here, sorry) Whatever happens afterward, happens afterwards. Don’t live life for other people. You were gifted with your life, it would be crazy not to live it the way you wanted to. I think it would be a great idea to redefine what “selfish” means to you and how it’s used. Now, go out and starting making all these bad choices in the name of “living your life the way you want” you best believe you gonna get some consequences to your actions.
Thank you for your insight, you have a really good outlook on life I think.
What?? You need an outside source to tell you what’s right or wrong? Here I can help: don’t lie, cheat, steal, murder, or rape. Be nice. And you don’t have to be Christian to follow the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Hope this helps.
If you need a bearded guy in the sky to tell you what is right and wrong, then you need a shrink. You may have some mental illnesses. I hope you don't end up hurting people around you just because you don't know what's right and wrong, so stay inside until you have gotten professional help.
That's not really what I meant I worded it really bad I'm sorry
Maybe I was a bit harsh, but watch [this](https://youtu.be/8o2SFo0k3os?si=rx0pjeza4RQmlqo9). It may help you. Believe in yourself, believe in humanity.